What a week.

I had a crummy week last week,  but this week is more than making up for it. I felt like a bit of wool therapy, just enough so that my blinkers would stay on my current projects. It only took a couple of hours to whip up this gnome and it makes me smile so what better reason could I have to make it?
The pattern is free here and if you want to see what one hundred of them look like check this out. 

I had wanted to buy some flowers last Sunday and couldn't find anything that I wanted to bring home. Mr Quiltsalott bought this gorgeous Moth Orchid home for me on Monday. He heard me a long time ago when I said I was looking for the huge original classic white one with it's big blooms.

Then my cactus decided to flower.

That's not all folks, I got luscious mail from Liz at Broderie. I had won a giveaway to celebrate her 200th post and I nearly fainted when I opened the surprise package. Be still my heart! Check out the perle threads. Their varigated loveliness had me playing, arranging them according to colour, sigh, talk about overwhelmed.

That wasn't all, there's more. Kaffes, and one I didn't have and another that I'd run out of, double sigh, doing the happy dance.

If that wasn't amazing enough, there was this cute panel too. Something to make for the grandchildren. Thanks Liz, you made my week extra, extra special.

On the sewing front,  I finished three applique blocks.

I'm so happy with the progress I'm making, those blinkers are working. Four rows, five to go.

This one funny photo of a portion of the back of my work is for another Janet (no blog) who asked to see it.

I've been hanging out with handsome men too, Richard Armitage.

And Patrick Swayze, from the miniseries, North and South. Yup, he's in 24 hours of period drama with amazing costumes to boot.