I’m slowly making my way through the New Hexagon Millefiore Quilt-Along, and have finally finished Rosette #1. Because of the deep colors, it’s a bit harder to photograph than I’d thought, but here it’s tacked up on my fence, in the daylight.  I’ve got the template ready for the next partial rosette, but will get to it a bit later, as there are some projects in the line-up ahead of it. This was the beginning of my Mid-Century Modern Bee Sampler, with all the blocks from my bee mates, plus a a couple I’d sewn together. Not Working was what I called it over the last few days.  Definitely Not Working at all.  I kept in all the bits and pieces of extras they’d given me, then I’d take them out.  I’d move them around some more; this quilt was more challenging than I’d thought! The last post talked about the basket block, but I pulled out a vintage quilt block book I’d purchased at a garage sale, to find another. Four blocks of Road to California it is, as all my mates had to send blocks to California. Finally it came together and I declared the top done.  I sewed all the pieces together while I listened to the next book in my Inspector Gamache series: Today I used the bits and pieces my bee mates had sent on the back and got it ready to go to the quilter’s.  It’s the first one headed over there since October of 2014.  How had it been so long?  Teaching had taken a lot out of me, and I left room for church service, teaching Sunday School, going to QuiltCon, and my family: My son, Peter and his wife, Megan moved back to California from Betheseda, MD.  They did the cross country trip in 3 1/2 days.  You can tell they are young. And I left some time to clear the garden, with a few cabbages, Swiss Chard and Brussels sprouts left. We planted seven different kinds of tomatoes, but are waiting for the weather to stop being so hot and dry before continuing.  My lettuce isn’t going to be happy this weekend that California has skipped winter, skipped spring and gone right to summer. But this cute tote and fabulous card arrived today as if to celebrate with me that I’d finally finished up.  Rachel, of The Life of Riley, sent them over as a little gift.  Her timing is impeccable! And so, to continue the celebration, I have a little giveaway.   I actually have two: The first is this little book of Quilting Techniques.  I’ve actually enjoyed looking through it, as I picked it up at a recent quilt show. And since California thinks it’s summer, it must be time to spruce up those toes with a weensy cute pedicure set in a flip-flop case, a Passive-Agressive notepad (in honor of our freeways) and a wee pair of Itty Bitty Scissors, for those summer trips you are planning.  I’ll pick two winners.  Just leave me a note telling me your latest success and somehow I’ll randomly draw a name and send off these gifts.   International is okay, but I’ll just send one overseas (the other one is domestic).  I’ll let you know the winner in the next post.  Giveaway will close Tuesday evening, SoCal time.

Giveaway closed.  Thank you all for entering.