Non-Brilliant Post with Pig

Today's post will be a non-brilliant one because I have a large shop order of patterns to print, fold, stuff and tie little bows onto. I think I'll show you a picture of the quilt I've been working on for years now:

That's my pvc floor frame that I love so much! I used to quilt in a lap frame, but this quilt was too cumbersome to manipulate. I had never used a floor frame before, so I had to teach myself to quilt in all directions. I finally got it--but I have to use 3 thimbles to do it. I still have a little trouble quilting towards the right; it doesn't look as good as the other directions, but that's okay. No one will notice.

The above picture was taken over a year ago, but I'm still working on the same quilt. I've got two of the borders almost done, so it won't be long now. I'm not rushing this quilt; I remember appliqueing some of those blocks in the hurricane shelter at the Princeville hotel during Hurricane Iniki (a category 4 storm) in 1992! Ah, what a night. The roof collapsed above us when the automatic sprinkler system broke during the hurricane, and 150 tons of water and ceiling came crashing down upon our heads. I had to scramble in the pitch black with water pouring down around me, slipping and sliding in the mass panic to collect all my blocks! We were evacuated to a new shelter during the eye of the storm, which was pretty scary--because we knew that at any moment, the winds would pick up full force as the eye wall came upon us. Our own house survived intact, but ours was the only one on the block that kept its roof. Terrible thing.

Wow...I didn't mean to get started on that, but I guess this quilt stores a few memories. Here's the whole thing displayed in a picture that was taken probably five years ago:

You can see how big it is! Large queen, I think. I got all the blocks out of the old book, 100 Applique Quilt Patterns by Jan Halgrimson (probably out of print). I designed the border myself from some of the motifs in the book. Lots of flowers and butterflies, with quilted-in rabbits jumping about between the vines.


Now, a change in topic. This is my mailbox. See the good karma light from above shining down upon it? Soon, my mailbox will contain something wonderful. Do you want to know what it is? Maybe I should keep it a secret. Nah...I have to tell you because I am sooooo excited. I WON something! Something really, really great. I won a blog drawing at Happy Zombie and this is what I won!! (No, I didn't win the pig below...click on the word "this" to see what I won....)

Fabulous Kiwi Girl picked ME to win this beautiful needlecase by the wonderful and amazing Monica, who I just adore and want to come live at her house and see her amazing studio and pet Mimi, who has lots of adventures. If you haven't visited Happy Zombie's blog yet, you definitely should because she posted a free pattern for this wonderful needlecase! Which of course, I don't have to print out because pretty soon, an already-made one will be in my mailbox!!! Whoooo hooo!

So I know today is Sunday and the mail doesn't come today, but I'm starting the mailbox vigil today anyway. We'll walk down to the mailbox every day and you can be with me when it gets here, okay??

Today, before we head back to the house, we'll stop and say hi to the pig who lives across the street and is helping me watch for the postman. Hi, Pig!

He says hi back. Okay...back to pattern-stuffing....