Sheep Shots

Talk about a UFO (UnFinished Object) of long standing!

Back in the Last Century (1995 or so, to be exact) a group of quilting friends on the old *P (Prodigy Internet) boards read an excerpt from
this book in one of the current "womyn's" magazines. Being the intrepid group they were (bein' on the Internet and all, way back then. . .) they picked up on the theme and decided to form their own club--long distance.

A leader was appointed. Money was collected to purchase the paisley fabrics that would form the base of what we were all sure would be drop-dead gorgeous friendship quilts.


I don't think I was alone in expecting that my Persian Pickle squares would eventually grow abundant enough to cover my king-size bed. So confident in fact, was I, that I bought the batting and very, very wide backing fabric, and several yards of white-on-white paisley cotton to use as sahing.

Every month, we made 5 (I think) squares and swapped with 4 other people, keeping one square for our own quilt.



One month (as you can see), the theme was stars. Still others, it was "hearts"(I believe that was February) or "baskets (must have been Easter).

Our fearless leader bought enough of her chosen fabric so that we each had a piece about 9" X 1/2 the width of the goods ("fat quarter"?) and mailed it to us along with the required theme. It was up to us to match fabrics from our stashes (or go get more--such torture), find a pattern for suitable block, and get it made up in quintuplicate in time for the deadline.



Some months it was easy, others were harder. We experimented with paper-piecing and crazy-quilting and applique and (I think) stretched our skills. (I know that I sure did! Those hearts were a bear!) We even had a new baby born during the time (just like in the story) and I organized a baby quilt on top of the blocks we were already creating.

Sadly, the group disintegrated (as many swap groups do) over time and I wound up with a total of 25 lovely 9.5" blocks, far less than I needed to make a quilt top, but enough to make a lovely crib quilt.


So, today, while I was having my self-imposed 3-day weekend, I stitched them all together, adding batting and backing and Voila! A baby quilt is born! As much as I love it and loved the folks that helped me make it, it will be wending its way to the reservation along with




the 2-tone baby sweater which I finished last night, buttons and all.

For a day that was supposed to be restful, this one was not. I have acquired some sort of crud that is laying me low, low, low.

I will not describe the state of my Puffs after I blow. Just too nasty. If Dayquil and Nyquil don't fix me up, I'll be checking in with my physician.

For now, I think I'll go make dinner, snuggle under a blanket on the sofa, and watch what's on TiVo. Will Susan get back together with her plumber? Will Meredith get back together with her doctor? Will Claire and the musician hook up? And what the heck will happen to Dr. Kovatch now that Sam doesn't want to have his baby?
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