Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Return to Sender

Return to Sender 

I gave a letter to the postman,
he put it his sack.
But in early next morning,
he brought my letter back.

She wrote upon it:
Return to sender, address unknown.
No such number, no such zone.
We had a quarrel, a lover's spat
I write I'm sorry but my letter keeps coming back.

Poor Elvis.  Sad, huh?  Why would anyone want to avoid him?  Silly girl.

Nothing sad about my quilt above.  This quilt is all about friendship.  The pattern is one by Miss Rosie's Quilt Company called Return to Sender.  It is made up of one repeating block  called "Envelope".  The fabric I used is April Cornell's Christmas Presence collection for Moda.  I threw in some Hollywood and Vines plaids as well, because everyone knows plaids add interest.

I began this quilt at an Open Sewing group at my favorite quilt shop, Prairiequeen's, in San Jose, CA.  What a totally different experience than the one I described in Friday's post.  I was welcomed by one and all, the leader of the group was thoughtful and funny, and I made a wonderful friend, Isabel.  I brought my blocks to the group each week and worked on them while I chatted and visited and got to know the other gals in the group.  This is the camaraderie I am talking about–the magic that can happen when a group of supportive, friendly women get together to share their passion for quilting.

Close up

All that is wonderful, but the real story of this quilt is what happened when I began to put the blocks together. 
I didn't think I liked the blocks with low contrast.  I had plenty of
fabric on hand, and ended up making 30 extra blocks to get the look
that I wanted for my quilt.  So what to do with the orphan blocks that
were left over?  They were great blocks, someone should use them.  Have
a giveaway!  That's what I did.

The winner of my giveaway was Mary from Australia.  Originally from Scotland, grandmother to a gazillion children (31), newlywed (!), and frequent commenter on my blog.  I sent my leftover blocks off to Australia, and what do you suppose happened?

Marys_quilt

Mary, a new quilter, turned them into a lovely quilt!  Seldom has anything I have experienced through blogging given me such a sense of pride and pleasure.  Mary has a blog of her own now, Scottish Nanna. She just decorated her house for Christmas, and maybe this quilt will be tossed over the back of a chair somewhere in her house.  Go on over and wish her a Happy Christmas Down Under.  

Think you can't make friends through blogging?  Think again!  I hear from Mary often, and she even remembers my birthday.  That's Friendship.

 

46 responses to “Return to Sender”

  3. What a great story – I went over to her blog and, sure enough, there is the quilt, under some of her Christmas decorations. Wonderful!

  4. What a great story – I went over to her blog and, sure enough, there is the quilt, under some of her Christmas decorations. Wonderful!

  7. Aww…I wish the stores here had such friendly groups. I remember the giveaway too, and I loved both quilts then and I still do.

  8. Aww…I wish the stores here had such friendly groups. I remember the giveaway too, and I loved both quilts then and I still do.

  11. I love this one too . . . you are so making me want to get to my sewing machine . . . but with all that’s happening right now with Mom . . . that won’t be until January . . . I hope this pattern is still available . . . it’s beautiful !!

  12. I love this one too . . . you are so making me want to get to my sewing machine . . . but with all that’s happening right now with Mom . . . that won’t be until January . . . I hope this pattern is still available . . . it’s beautiful !!

  17. Oh, I’m a firm believer in meeting wonderful friends through blogging. Ask me how I know! I love your Return to Sender quilt, and how fun that your contest winner shared a picture of the one she put together with your extra blocks!

  18. Oh, I’m a firm believer in meeting wonderful friends through blogging. Ask me how I know! I love your Return to Sender quilt, and how fun that your contest winner shared a picture of the one she put together with your extra blocks!

  25. Very nice thing you did and she turned out such a nice quilt with it. Amazing that a few blocks can bring people together and cheer many others. Sweet story.

  26. Very nice thing you did and she turned out such a nice quilt with it. Amazing that a few blocks can bring people together and cheer many others. Sweet story.

  35. Thank you for sharing your quilt and your story with us. What a wonderful post for this Christmas. I am a new blogger and this is such an encouragement to me.

  36. Thank you for sharing your quilt and your story with us. What a wonderful post for this Christmas. I am a new blogger and this is such an encouragement to me.

  37. OH Nicole their are a few tears here at the moment I love.d the blocks you sent me the cloth is my pride and joy I have it on the table under the xmas tree You are A good friend.
    Hugs Mary.

  38. OH Nicole their are a few tears here at the moment I love.d the blocks you sent me the cloth is my pride and joy I have it on the table under the xmas tree You are A good friend.
    Hugs Mary.

  39. Thanks so much for showing your Christmas quilts! I’m loving the “Christmas Quilt Show.” I truly must finish some of my Christmas quilt U.F.O.’s
    Take care!

  40. Thanks so much for showing your Christmas quilts! I’m loving the “Christmas Quilt Show.” I truly must finish some of my Christmas quilt U.F.O.’s
    Take care!

  45. Envelope block..that’s new to me. Thanks for the close-up shot. That holly berry quilt pattern is perfect! How simple, two big old flying geese with some triangles on the corners..how simple but how clever! Mary’s quilt looks great too.
    I was lonely but didn’t know it until I got some internet friends!

  46. Envelope block..that’s new to me. Thanks for the close-up shot. That holly berry quilt pattern is perfect! How simple, two big old flying geese with some triangles on the corners..how simple but how clever! Mary’s quilt looks great too.
    I was lonely but didn’t know it until I got some internet friends!