Gifts and Gift Bags

I've gotten a couple of quilt blocks in the mail. This marvelous block, which my husband says looks like one of these eye tests they give you to see if you have 3-D vision:

Can you read it? It's got a great rhythm to it and it's interesting to see Jen's brights, which are actually more muted and softer than my own.

And here's a block from Quilt Diva Julie. I love that she included the spikey border bit for me and look at that way to do a Q- I bet that's easier than the way I do it!

Both Jen and Julie are in my quilt class. Thank you!!!! I am honored that you'd send me these - I'll have to think of a great quilt for them.

Here are a couple of bags that I've recently finished. I usually put some kind of button or tassel or ribbon to finish these off, but I don't think the chili bag needs it.

Finally using my sewing-themed fabric. I never used it in a quilt because it has beige.

A look at my Christmas decorating. A mix of hand-crafted (wood, pottery, fabric) and plastic Santas, gift bags, phrenology heads and canopic jars. I bet nobody else's place looks like this.

Unfortunately I can't just decorate to make it look nice - I also have to build that kitty barricade in front.

I'm listening to the BBC podcast Newspod. Not quite sure what they were refering to, but I just caught an announcement (from the metro system???): "A reminder to our American friends that you are undoubtedly speaking too loud" or words to that effect. Too true and I know I'm certainly guilty of it. Made me laugh.

I went over to Montmartre checked out the fabric store Reine, which you can spot from the carousel at the bottom of the Sacre Couer Basilica. They do have 100% quilting cotton, but nothing that you can't get elsewhere. Nothing particularly French, at least not where I was looking. So at least for Americans, I'd call it a skip unless you are looking for some other kind of fabric.

I know some of ya'all have been worried about the rioting that is going on here in France. That is all way out in the suburbs, nowhere near where I live. So no worries, we're fine here. Besides, we don't have a car for them to set on fire...

The sun is out, the sun is out! Woohoo! Later, guys.