Now that's better! The last brush strokes went on the front door this morning.  I love having some color on the exterior.  Better yet - the neighbors all seem happy,  too. I admit I was a bit worried. Most of the homes are very neutral relying on the tile roofs for their *pop* of color.

My fabric stash saved the day! We are about to paint the exterior of our home. Choosing colors was a bit of an agonizing process.  I want color, the rest of the neighborhood is pretty neutral.  Finally settled on the gold for the body of the house, terra cotta for trim and green for doors/accents. We made selections from paint chips and brushed on some samples.  That green just wasn't right (the lightest).  So I dug through my fabric for the shade I wanted (the darkest). Prep work begins tomorrow.  This time next week, we should be bathed in color!

Much to my great delight,  I was invited to join Cheri Payne for her Christmas Craft Day this week.  It was a full day of crafts with a group of ladies who are such fun and so talented. Some I have known and called friend for years, some I have known through others and now have a face to go with the name, and some new friends that I hope to enjoy time with again and again.
Cheri lined up a fun variety of projects. We moved about from station to station around her warm and cozy home, gabbing, gluing, glittering, painting, staining and stitching the day away.
What a fun way to spend a Wednesday.  Thank you, Cheri!

Quilters are such a generous breed. Cheri Payne designed this delightful little quilt as part of her Three Bowls Full series.  Fearless Leader (at our Wednesday ongoing quilt class at Fat Quarters Quilt Shop) kitted up all the pieces for us - all we had to do was show up with our machines and stitch.
I love my quilting friends - the ones I know in real life and the ones that live in my computer.

The upside to being surrounded by unfinished projects,  whatever you're in the mood for is always available. Today I really wanted to do some hand quilting. Only took a few minutes to find where I left off.
I last shared this quilt in February 2009, which likely the last time I put a stitch in it. It feels like visiting with a long-lost friend.