Cute Stuff and Disappearing Stuff

Which do you want first, cute stuff or disappearing stuff? Well, I think I'll give you the cute stuff first!

Wednesday night was my first of six classes for Kaye England's Progressive Patchwork quilt. Remember the quilt I showed you? The one I spent all my earnings from my first teaching gig on? Yeah, that's the one! So the way this works is that we make a 12-1/2" block in class each month and then we go home and make a 6-1/2" block using the same pattern--just smaller. Here's me in class:

You're right--you can't see me because I'm taking the photo! But there's my block and the always necessary and greatly appreciated iced latte. You know what's really cute though? The suitcase the fabric comes in!

Even Hubby thought it was pretty neat! Here's a look at the inside, filled with fat quarters of all the fabrics in the Back Home Again line:

Tonight I did my "homework" and made the 6-1/2" block. Here they are, side by side. The 6-1/2" blocks will have stuff added onto them to bring them up to 12-1/2" blocks, but they (the teaching staff) suggested we should wait until we've made all our blocks to decide what fabrics we want to add.

Then there's THIS cute thing:

I ordered this panel from Olde America Antiques and am anxiously awaiting its arrival! I ordered the 12" x 18" size. They have tons of old postcards and artwork reproduced onto cotton--this one is from the quilting and sewing category. I think I'll add a border of blue basket blocks and maybe some applique--I believe it will make a great summer wallhanging!

And, in the categories of both cute and disappearing stuff: My winter and Valentine decorations! Over the past week or so, it seems that all of my lights are burning out. Hubby killed my snowman when he knocked it down off the table. Poor guy is all dark and gloomy now--the snowman, not Hubby. The five ceramic houses in my little village? Only two remain lit--three have burned out. The lights on my Valentine Tree? Half the strand died about a week and a half ago and the rest died this week. Tonight I spent a bit of time taking everything off the tree, restringing lights, and putting everything back on. Why couldn't it have waited a few more weeks to die?! I took a photo in all it's newly-lit glory:

Also this week, a couple photos in my sidebar disappeared, including my nude self-portrait, but I re-uploaded them and they're back. I've noticed, though, that many of you out in Blogland have had your photos "stolen"--quite often from your profiles. Take a look and see if you're still there. If not, you might want to take a little time this weekend to find yourself.

Something else has disappeared that saddens me. Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion magazine. Did you know it's not being published anymore? I'm not sure why, but someone suggested the economy has led to decreased advertising revenue for some magazines. I don't know if that's what's happened with Home Companion, but whatever the reason, it will be missed!

One more thing. You know how I said that with that Kaye England quilt we're supposed to wait until we've done the rest of the blocks before we add onto the 6-1/2" blocks to make them 12-1/2" blocks? Well, I'm a rebel--I added mine anyway! If I decide I want something different later, I'll just take the plaid corners off and add something else. Not a huge deal.

I don't know if it was getting to bed early last night or the prospect of the weekend arriving that did the trick, but I'm feeling a bit better today and there's a renewed spring in my step. Which is a very good thing, because if the stomach bug hits again, I may need that spring to get me to the bathroom in time!

Happy weekend, and happy quilting!