Celebrating Thelma

Paprika quilt, originally uploaded by Shadrach Meshach & Abednego.

Here is my next new project. This quilt, designed by Colleen Reale, is featured in the current issue of the Fons & Porter quilting magazine. I found out about it from Thelma, who is the loveliest blogger. She is celebrating her 100th blog post today, and this is one reason I am celebrating her in today's post. Thelma bought a kit for this quilt at a show recently, and featured it on her blog. I was immediately smitten. I have never bought fabrics to exactly reproduce a quilt in my life, until now. I am agog with quilty lust over this old line: 19th Century Reds by Windham.  I don't consider myself a reproduction fanatic, and I really like modern quilts, but I'm learning that I really have a very eclectic taste.  In this case, "the heart wants what the heart wants", to quote Woody Allen.

Here's another shot of the quilt from the mag. Thelma and I will make it together - she's already washed and ironed her fabric, and I'm waiting impatiently for the postie to deliver mine. It will be fun to work alongside Thelma in making this - although she works so fast, I'm sure she'll leave me in the dust!
The other reason I'm celebrating Thelma is that I received the beautiful blue fabric that I won from her giveaway. I was gobsmacked by the gorgeousness of the fabric and Thelma's generosity - there must be close to 10 yards of blue, yellow and white fabric here! I know I'm not alone in enjoying Thelma's blog. She does beautiful work and her stories are always interesting and full of good information. If you don't know her, go and introduce yourself. Today would be a good day, as her 100th blog post giveaway defies description.

One more thing - have you ever met someone from the blogopolis out of the blue? Over the Christmas holiday, I bought a quilting mag at our local chain bookseller. My daughter also had a few things, and we took them to the cash, where the woman at the till rang out our items and then asked me, "Do you have a quilting blog?" I was so taken aback that all I could say was "duh"! Annette, who is a local crafter and blogger, recognized my daughter from this post, and made the connection. I was so startled to see a virtual person take flesh! It was lovely to meet her so serendipitously! I saw her again the other night when I bought this F&P mag - cheers, Annette!