First and most importantly, I want to thank you for all of your prayers, words of support and comments and emails during this past month. David & I have read every one and we both appreciate your words. I am happy to report that David is doing quite nicely with his physical therapy. He has gentle exercises that he does every day and twice a week his Physical Therapist comes to the house and works with him. He has graduated to using a cane most of the time. She advised using the walker if he was around a lot of people, like at the Mall, and since David would rather have a root canal without anesthetic than go to the Mall, he is pretty much walker free. This has been a challenging Winter for both of us this year and we are looking forward to Spring and the promise of renewed health and strength. OK-so much for that personal update.
On a much happier and exciting note...I have won the most fabulous giveaway!!!
Back in January, I saw a giveaway on a blog that I've followed for a long time,
Brynwood Needleworks.
Donna Liljegren is a quilter and knitter and at one time owned her own cross stitch business. She must never sleep because she is always working on one project or another. Anyway, she posted a picture of a quilt block she made using the Dresden plate design and a Michelle Palmer hand-drawn cardinal in the center. I love quilts and I love Michelle Palmer's work (I own and have given many pieces) so I decided to take a chance. I still have the picture and link on my right sidebar. The prize was (and there were to be 3 winners) a quilt block made into (winner's choice) a tote bag, pillow or table runner. I decided on a table runner so that I could hang it on the wall. I have quilts hanging in many of the rooms of our home..I think they are true art pieces and should be seen.
On Friday evening, February 15, I came home from the hospital exhausted and worried about David and what he was going through. When I finally got a chance to sit down and read my emails, there was one from Donna telling me I was one of the winners. I cried...this was a bright spot in an otherwise murky time.
Yesterday the mailman knocked on the door and delivered the package. When I opened the box and pulled out the package, neatly wrapped in tissue and tied with seam binding, my heart skipped a beat.
My pictures do not do justice to the colors in this beautiful piece. They are all the colors that I love. (I have many more photos but Blogger is not cooperating today...why can I upload some but not all that I choose?) I think the hardest part of quilting is the fabric...choosing which ones to blend together. Donna is a Master of color. The freeform quilting enhances the piecing. The whole thing is gorgeous! Yes, this goes on the wall.
This photo is from Donna's blog. I couldn't get the whole runner in my picture without losing something but here, you can see both runners and the tote bag. Click
here to go to Donna's post. Please take some time and visit Donna's blog and see the beauty there. If you're not a quilter, maybe you're a dog lover....you can meet Taggart, Donna's Corgi.
Now if you're a quilter and a Corgi lover...you will spend lots of time at Brynwood Needleworks. I know someone who will love Donna's blog for sure. (This photo is also borrowed from Donna's blog)
Blessings abound even in the midst of chaos. I am truly grateful.
Thank you Donna, for bringing this joy into our home. I will cherish it always!
OK-I promise not to be a once a month blogger....even though it has looked that way so far!
I have lots more to share with you...soon, I promise!
xoxo
Joyce
