Happy Monday!

In late winter each year, we are overrun with ladybugs. I guess technically they are not true "ladybugs" but rather a species of beetle--blah, blah, blah--I just know that they are each very unique. Pictured above is a pewter votive holder where two ladybugs decided to take up residence. Too cute for words!

Christmas 2007 saw me as the lucky recipient of not one but two very special gifts from friends/students. The red scarf is made from baby alpaca yarn--so soft and smooth. Carol R. made it especially for me--I just love it!

Barb MacA. knitted these wristers for me in cashmere yarn on those dreaded double pointed needles. I must admit to putting my scarf and wristers on and running through the house saying "I'm rich, I'm rich!" And I am--with fabulous friends who care about me!

Here's something to strike your funny bone: See the quilt below? Well, I had just finished it last week and I took it to a hand piecing class to show it off. (The borders were put on by machine, but the rest is hand pieced.) A lady from a bus trip sat down at the table, saw the quilt, and said "Who would want that!?!?" I calmly said that I would since I had made it, but that it definitely wasn't to everyone's taste. It was just one of those pieces that I had to get out of my system. You may notice a bit of white stuff around the skull. That's a new batting that I was trying--it bearded with every stitch, so I am definitely not going to use it again. As I do more of these 5-pointed stars for classes, I will share them.

Please note that when you leave a comment from the blog you will be listed as anonymous unless you have a Google account or unless you leave some indicator within your message. It' s so exciting to get mail!

Be sure to visit my website at http://www.sharonstroud.com/ to see my teaching schedule and to visit my student gallery. My workshops and lectures are also listed there, and I do travel to spread the quilting word according to Sharon.

Have a wonderful Monday--may it be filled with quilting!