The year was 1999

The year was 1999 when I was first introduced to the Internet and the website Sewing World , You might want to make yourself a cuppa something this may be long winded . It was on this site that I first exchanged 10" squares of fabric in various themes , great fun , then in that same year I signed up for an 18 month exchange of quilt blocks with a group know as the Friendship Quilters , each month was a different block and a different partner .If my memory is correct we each had a turn at choosing the block for that month . This all went along very well for a while and I did receive many of the blocks that were suppose to arrive but as in all things in life there were a few glitches and some blocks never did arrive . Those blocks sat idle in a box for many years and every once in a while I would take them out and tell myself you really should sew these together . Well about six years ago I was going to a woman's retreat with the church and I was asked if I had a quilt I could bring along so the women could learn to hand quilt and we would eventually form a group to quilt at church . SO...... I quickly pieced together those blocks with whatever fabric I had on hand and to make up for those missing blocks I added some blocks I had made as practise blocks , I always did that when I exchanged , I wanted the best block to be sent out . I wasn't all that happy with the way it looked but hey this was for practise, right ,so off I went with batting and backing to put this quilt on a frame at the camp . The retreat was wonderful but I think we spent less than one hour on the quilt and that group never did form . The strange thing is my quilt went home with someone else that day , it was her frame and I wasn't too concerned as I figured that we would soon be quilting as a group. After several years of wondering why this never happened I called the gal who I thought had my quilt and left messages which were never answered ,so one day we were out driving and I stopped in and asked her for it . That was a couple of years ago now and last year I finally put this on the frame at home and started to quilt it then as you may remember I broke my wrist so again it sat idle only this time taking up room on my frame . This winter I decided I was ready to tackle it again and finally it is done !!!! I sat last evening during FNSI (thanks to everyone who sewed along with me ) and sewed down two and a half sides and just now finished the rest while enjoying the sunshine and warm air on my deck .

As soon as I finished I draped it over the railing to take this picture . Then I did the clothesline ..

So there you have it , I am sure I could have arranged those blocks much better had I put some thought into it but it is what it is and I am so pleased that I was able to hand quilt this myself . Oh I must tell you we each had chosen a colour scheme and mine was sage green and pink , obviously many people have different views of sage green lol . I do love pink and green together , something calming about that colour combo . I am going to confess here too , I would not have remembered that the group was called the Friendship Quilters had I not made a label way back when and eventually sewed them as part of the backing when I took it to the retreat .

Here are some of the labels sent ..

and here are the rest which makes 12 labels that I have attached so the rest of those blocks were made by myself . Carrie Ingram is the only person here that I still have contact with .One more picture ,on the bed .

 Now  about the postcard exchange , I think by majority rules the theme for our upcoming postcard exchange will be the beach / sun , essentially summer !

For a little inspiration here are three I did for an exchange a few years ago with a yahoo group .Thanks to everyone who has signed up and still lots of room so don't be shy . 

 Thanks for stopping by today and taking the time to read my ramblings .

 Hugs Sheila