Lots of activity here

We have had sun and deep blue skies for three days running. Monday, it was nearly 50 degrees out and a lot of people were chopping ice in driveways and on walks. Our driveway has been clear for a while although there's a big lake at the end that freezes over every night. Last night it was around zero and today it's supposed to get up to about 20.

I have been putting together a "While Away Winter" raffle basket for the library with an autographed copy of Sandra Dallas' The Bride's House, a gift certificate for a massage, puzzles, notecards, and a bag of truffles. This is something I've been doing for a few years. It's fun but I always worry that the library staff will be burdened by another set of tickets to sell. They are always so enthusiastic, though, that I keep it up.

The other day I made a cute spring mug rug for a swap. On March 1, I'll get a name from the group and will mail it off. Since we'll be away before then, I thought I'd get it done and ready to mail, especially since I had a flash of inspiration. Can't show a photo in case my secret pal is reading this! Will show it later, though.

I packed up the small basket quilt, made last fall with swap blocks, to mail to my cousin in Curacao. I kept wondering what I could send her since they don't really need to keep warm down there. With a hanging sleeve, it can serve as a wallhanging or throw now. Hope she likes it. Cousins from Holland are visiting her now - wish I could be there as they are a fun bunch. We do keep up on Facebook, though.

Most of the week, I've been making a new quilt out of a batch of batik "fat eighths" in "beach" colors my Mom gave me for Christmas. I chose a fairly simple design of quarter log cabin blogs set straight, with a scrappy border. I plan to put the last border on today and then will take a photo. It is looking pretty and is shouting for a pieced back and large meandering quilting.