I had a hard week and needed something to cheer me up. It came in my Inbox right on the hardest day - a Doll Quilt Swap confirmation. Yay!!! I am in! Sadly, it was not enough to make up for the hard time, but was a lovely, wonderful surprise... I had forgotten about the sign up timing at all... It might seem way too strange to be happy and announce it as news about something as simple as a swap... I know! But Doll Quilt Swap is so much than a swap and I am so happy, I am taking part in its tenth round! I need to make a mosaic, do some research, make some choices, make a quilt and than send it a stranger... And it is magical in every little detail. I felt a little nervous about this round - the 10th and the chances not to get in. It is crazy as I am too busy to make it... Yet, not making it in would feel not really good. Planning a mosaic now...

Here it is in its full glory. Yay, I love it. Have to make one for me. What I really love about this is, I made it using many first ideas and my DH quilting idea. Perfect combo. LOL It was pleasure to make it. I now do hope it will be liked when it arrives where it is expected to be in a week or so... Now something about the process as I have taken a pledge. It was supposed to be all solids quilt, but I added some prints to spice it up. It was supposed to be a modern take of a classic pattern - I think it is. I was about to add curly, feathery quilting but went for a spider web quilting /DH idea!/ and I think it made it sing. At least to me. Who supposed these things mentioned anove?... me..  at first. The pattern itself was the decision that took me most of the "making" time. Thought about a spider web, but they seemed to be so popular this round, it was kind of expected... It is funny my partner was to make a spider web for me and changed it seeing I was to make one... Some part of me regrets, I showed the plan, as I am sure the web would be lovely.. the other is sooo happy with the one I got! The label is not a label actually I just embroidered all the info in a sort of circle around the web. And added a sun/flower-like spider with mother-of-pearl button to add interest. The binding was the most obvious choice to me - the perfect turquoise to match the top and the sky, the web should be surrounded by...

Well, it grows in the getting more finished sense, not in size. Getting the edges sewn together and the blocks ready, makes it all so clean and ordered. Looking forward to putting the whole top together this afternoon to enjoy an even cleaner look. Spider web blocks were expected to accumulate lots of seam allowances bulk along the seams, so I am fixing this on the way. Will see how much fixing will help me quilt it smoothly. Hopefully it will make quilting way easier.

It is so fresh, it makes me smile! Here it is in its cheerful glory! Showing it all as I promised. Lovely prints, simplest design you could think of. But still with its special style. It is not simple squares, though the prints are gorgeous enough to make it this way juts a perfect quilt. The added cream corner adds something really special. And if you are not careful enough, you can miss the corner thing - it is so perfectly made. Being in Bulgaria and being more conservative, that I would like to be with overseas fabric purchases... I am absolutely happy to have the designer mix in this quilt on my wall. This could not be more perfect! Each little square is gorgeous! I loved the ducks, the moment I saw them, when they started popping on the blogs. The aqua flower is one of my faves, the apples are just gorgeous and I have just received a pincushion in another shade few weeks ago, the tweets.. I am still not sure what I love best of this collection.. Well, the rest is lovely too. The ones I mentioned are just the ones this some more personal story behind... And the Midwest /if I am not wrong with all the excitement... / have not noticed the yellow /I am more in orange/pink. green/brown there/ and it is lovely! Did I mention how perfect the binding is?! I realize now I have no back picture... Will fix this tomorrow. The quilt is on display now. The firs thing I see every morning heading to a big cup of tea. Thank you Linda!

I received it in time. It was long ago. I realize now I have not shown it yet.... It is a stunning design in interesting colours, plus black and white. Did you notice the muttered border and the quilting? On a Whim made a lovely quilt! I am still not able to find a place for it, as I have no such a contrast corner, which is a pity as it is gorgeous design with cute little baskets in aqua and green... I have an idea where it might fit soon, but in the meantime is just adored as part of my precious Doll Quilt collection. The back is black on white little dots and the quilting is just lovely! At first I liked the back better as I felt a little ovewhelmed by the black on the front and who can not love this quilting... The picture does not show its beauty properly... Thinking about this now and looking at this picture I see negative space, and the baskets are somehow washed-out, which adds interest in a special way. This made me think about the way I design my quilts and how different it is from this one. So many new thing to try... I might make it a white twin some day...

Yay!

Time for next round. Time for fun! I am in! Yay! I kept this post for after my birthday to have e lovely kick off of the new year. It is something special for me. I have explained why so many times... still - the loveliest quilts and the most talented quilters make it a great adventure. Thank you Mamas!

Dear partner,

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I received a lovely note from my partner, who likes my creation, today. I can happily state now I am happy with half of the swap and anxiously waiting for the other half - a post delivery. LOL I can now show what I have made. I already wrote it was fun to make this little quilty and I  am waiting for some spare time to make more similar little ones. This was my first quilt in this traditional pattern. Mixing classic patterns with modern fabrics is definitely my piece of quilting LOL. Love the mixing process! Adding linen in this one was so beautiful detail too. It was something from my partners' likes and something I wanted to try for a long time. This is one of the best things in this lovely swap - trying new things!

I have participated in 4 rounds. And here are the beauties I have received! You are asked to give your secret partner some hints what you would like. And I did write almost the same each time. Can you see it in the picture? They are so beautiful, so definitely they have something in common! But they are all so unique. Each is special in different way. Different styles, techniques, stories and talents... I love them all! Thank you! Will add links to talented quilters' blogs tomorrow!

The beautiful quilt I received in the 7th round finally in pictures! It was another not too bright day but I thought it was high time I took some pictures. So here it is! A beauty made by MrsSchmenkmanQuilts. It is gorgeous! Beautiful fabrics and colours make me happy, adding great design and even better craftsmanship make it all a little master piece. I am so happy I received it! It was made for me by a talented quilter and look terrific. I love the clean lines, chatty prints and brilliant quilting and the way they all come together. Look at the pictures below and you can find more on my Flickr. I wrote already how good it feels to see this early in the morning heading for a cup of tes before a long day had began. Thank you! It is some kind of Doll Quilt Swap magic that each and every quilt is special and beautiful and the four, I have received are so different and all fantastic. I will show them all together next week. Make sure you visit Mrs Schmenkman Quilts blog to see the beautiful quilts she makes! I am looking forward to Doll Quilt Swap 8!

They are so colourful and cheerful that even thinking of them makes me smile! I promised you a glimpse at them and the lovely quilt I received. And here are the extras first. The quilt is even better of course! My partner - Mrs. Schmenkman Quilts sent me the loveliest little button tin, a stamp ring, fabrics! and magazine! , lovely postcard, buttons and handmade wallet!... I am totally spoiled now.... and I will add new pictures as soon as my camera baterries are charged. When I got the package I had not sent my quilt yet, I had a custom order to do and lots of school things to do with my little pupil. So... when I opened the big box and felt the Christmas spirit with all this Christmas colours strips on lovely tissue paper... I opened just the quilt. You will see it soon and I am pretty sure you will know why it was enough and I had the strength not to open all the little striped packages all at once... So I saw all the extras yesterday. And I love them all. Thank you, Amy!