Quilting Daze

Blessings!

I feel a strong need to share a few things with you - I hope you'll indulge me and keep reading. :-)

I've been doing something free of charge for a couple of quilt pattern designer friends as they are preparing to show their wares at the Houston Quilt Market next month. I don't want to tell you who they are or what I'm doing because I don't want to embarass them. Anyway, last week I was chatting with a local quilt store owner and one of the employees about what I've been doing (they guessed I was doing it free of charge) and they both told me that I would be repaid in so many ways for helping my friends. I don't expect repayment - I'm just doing it because I want to (that's who I am). A few days later I received an adorable card with a gift card for Chili's from my designer friends just to say thank you and that they love me. I felt loved and appreciated!

A few months ago I pieced, quilted and wrote a pattern for a store sample for the same local quilt store owner using fabric she provided. This sample helped her more than we thought it would. As Martha would said "that's a good thing". A simple thank you was enough for me however today she gave me the quilt. Needless to say my eyes were brimming with tears.

Last week I received an e-mail from Carol in Florida telling me that a little bird told her that I'd been coveting the book "Prairie Children and Their Quilts" so she put a book in the mail for me. The book arrived and she'd included a sweet note on the inside front page. I'm not sure what I did to deserve this special treat from Carol but I appreciate her thoughtfulness very much!

Today a package arrived from Carole in Upstate NY and I couldn't believe what I found when I tore open the package. Inside was the cutest Halloween tabletopper - oh my goodness I was shocked. Again, I'm not sure what I did to deserve this special treat from Carole but I appreciate her thoughtfulness, as well.

The pumpkin pillow I showed you in an earlier post came from Wendy recently! Just because she wanted to send it. Another appreciated special treat.

I won some squares on Sharon's blog in July and when she sent them to me she also included a birthday gift. Yet another appreciated special treat.

Bren was bagophobic like I am and she sent an adorable bag, beautifully made by her, just for me. Another appreciated special treat.

Since I started blogging there have been many other surprises at my door and in my mailbox and I do hope that I've been kind and publicly acknowledged every little treasure. If I haven't mentioned you here today please know that I appreciate you, too.

Blessings are not necessarily things that you can feel and touch - they are sweet e-mails, they are offers to help with learning how to do something. Like Vicky and Patti inspiring me to learn how to do hand applique. Linda and others doing exquisite stitchery projects that inspired me to jump into doing stitchery when I thought I'd forgotten how. Linda and Kim making sure I received a coveted publication!

When the special surprises and treats arrive I struggle with whether or not I should publicly thank you on my blog or just send a thank you via e-mail. I hope I've done it the right way every time!

I don't know what I've done to receive so many blessings however I want to say thank you to each and every one of you for your special friendship! I hope that I've been a friend, as well.

Of course, I must say thank you for indulging me and reading this!

In Friendship!