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The Art Exchange

A few years ago I met a professional quilter online who over time has become a friend. She proposed we do a craft exchange this year, and I got brave enough to accept. We decided to do medium size projects, and I thought I'd make her a recycled linen nap size quilt. That's what I was working on for the month of February and part of March.

The pattern is called Wave Runner by Cozy Designs, and was fairly simple to put together. I stayed with a three-color design using these remnants for the top so I could make the waves in the colors of sand, sea and snow. I used a variety of embroidery threads to quilt the piece, from #3 cotton perle to some of that ball thread I picked up in a bag from Goodwill. The poem that I wrote and embroidered on the quilt is all about my friend (and in a way, me.)

Everything I used to make the quilt was what I had on hand, recycled or leftover from other projects. Even the tag I put on the quilt is a piece of white fabric from Fabscrap. It's not perfect, of course, but I'm quite proud of how it turned out. I'm also not going to post a pic of the finished quilt because what I wrote on it is very personal.

For her project my friend made me this beautiful beach bag. It's not only perfectly made, but in my favorite colors with a lovely bird so much like those we see when we walk by the lakes.

My friend is a little psychic, too. I think it's safe to say that whatever happens to me, I do refuse to sink. Made me cry with joy, really, not only for the gift of her art but to know I've made such a good friend.

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