I received my OTT from Weeping Cloud - my first pocket shrine!  Done in my favorite color with a beautiful mermaid on the inside.  Isn't it lovely?  The bottom is decorated too, but I forgot to take a pic.





Thank you Weeping Cloud!

Here are some instructions I typed up for my friends a few months back.  This uses material that frays (corduroy, denim, flannel, etc).  The front of this particular quilt was all corduroy, the back flannel (see pic below).  


Rag Quilt

I used 121 squares.  11 squares by 11 squares.  Its throw size, though I wish I would have made it a little longer, like maybe 11 squares by 15 squares so it could totally cover me when I'm snoozing on the couch.  
 
I cut each square 8" by 8"
So I cut:
121 squares of corduroy 8" x 8"
121 squares of flannel 8" x 8"
121 squares of batting 6" x 6"  (batting is cut smaller, because you don't want batting in the fringe)
 
Sandwich pieces together to make a block.  So from bottom to top - flannel right side down, batting centered on top (which will leave an inch around the batting), corduroy right side up.  
 
Stitch each block sandwich.  You can stitch diagonally corner to corner, or horizontal or vertical lines, or a design.  I just stitched 3 lines on each sandwich, in the grooves of the corduroy.  I decided I didn't want the stitch to be a focus, because I was going to alternate the direction of the corduroy, & I wanted that, & the colors, to be the pattern.  
 
After I had the blocks sewn, I laid out the squares & planned how I wanted the quilt to look.
 
Starting with the top horizontal row, start sewing blocks together, with a one inch seam allowance.  Blocks are sewn with backside (flannel) to backside (flannel) so that when it is opened up & is flat, the seams show on the front side of the quilt.  
 
Stitch rows together in the same manner, with the seams showing on the front side of the quilt.
 
Sew a one inch seam around entire outside edge of quilt.
 
Carefully clip all seams at 1/4 inch spacing.  Clip down to about 1/8 to 1/4 inch away from the stitching.  If you cut through your stitching, go back later & stitch over your mistake.  
 
Once all seams are clipped, machine wash & dry the quilt.  I did mine a couple times.  Clear your dryer's lint screen every couple minutes, because it fills up fast!
 
Any fabric that will ravel will work.  

Well, thank goodness!....Koi finally received her package today.  I was getting really nervous.
She asked if I took some pics, so here is what I sent:

A bottlecap cross


Two painted wooden cut-outs to hang on her wall:



She wished for a certain pair of earrings.  I tried to copy them, but failed miserably.  I sent them anyhow. 


I wasn't sure if the cross & necklace & earrings were going to turn out, so I also painted this shirt


And last, I sent these fabric pieces & some loteria cards

Here are the pics of my beautiful goods!

A Frida frame - in all of its purple & glittery glory.


These great earrings


And this spectacular Frida shrine!
Front & side


inside

 

Thank you so much, Koi!  I love everything!  I have already placed the shrine & frame on the mantle in my kitchen.  They look great with all of the other decorations.  My husband loves it all too!

Beatrice is back home (she has been home over a week, but I was away) and says she had a great time on her trip!  She is now addicted to American Idol & even wants to try out next year.  We'll have to work on her vocals.  
Cookies sent her home with all kinds of goodies.  Bea has a new (gorgeous) poncho, St. Pats party hat, comfy purple sweatpants, a matching flowered headband, a string of pearls, and a necklace with her name on it.  Cookies also sent along some treats for me:  a beautiful crocheted pouch, a felt doughnut (which is Beatrice sized, but Bea said I could have it), some Easter chicks, a St. Pats good luck coin, and an awesome bracelet, as well as Bea's scrapbook and travel journal.  Thank you, Cookies, for being such an awesome swap partner!
And now for the pics:



And from her scrapbook:
A Valentine's Day Tea Party

Riding around town in her pearls

Doggie has been visiting for a while now, & we are staying very busy.  She has already accompanied me & my own doggies on a 1,600 mile road trip & tomorrow we fly away for our next adventure.

Here she is in all her pink & silver polka-dotted glory


Checking out the neighborhood with her new buddy, Fuzz.

Yesterday, I was the happy recipient of my first swap package ever!  CosmicCranberry sent me this very pretty apron, which is big enough to protect my clothes from the worst of my sloppy messes.  (It's folded up in the pic)


She also sent along some great Christmas ornaments.  They are silly & kooky....and perfect!  They are exactly what I look for in an ornament.  The one of santa & the snowman kicking up their legs cracks me up.

Thank you so much, CosmicCranberry!  I love it all.

First time ever posting pics so I hope I can figure this out.

Here are my two blocks for January:




They are the same size, but I had to trim one down a little bit.  Its been a while since I worked on a quilt so it was a lot of fun making them.