Originally Posted by DonnaD

Hey gang,

I have been absent from the forum for a while but have been a busy bee with my blocks and checked in even when I didn't have time to comment a lot.

*Got all my F8s.
*Finished all my blocks. Sending out the last six today.
*I have received 23 blocks and they are all great, thanks ladies.
* Still waiting on 12 blocks. But not rushing anyone. I am busy with starting to quilt my first quilt from this swap. I separated the blocks by color and in my first quilt every block has some pink in it. I also have a lap quilt basted together for a friend in the nursing home and still have 5 blocks left waiting on their friends to arrive. So I should have enough to get 2 full size quilts and 2 lap quilts out of this swap. AIN'T THAT GREAT?

Want to apologize to those who got a block from me that wasn't perfect. I've quilted since I was a kid but had a gap there of about 3 years (college, work, kids, sick relatives) when I didn't even uncover my sewing machine. And I guess "if you don't use it, you lose it" applies to sewing skills too. Also want to thank everyone who worked so hard on my beautiful blocks. I loved absolutely every single one.

Again sorry I haven't been faithful to posting on here. I have two sisters and they both are fighting breast cancer. They live 4 hours away and I spend a lot of time on the road between here and there so I can spend as much time with them as possible. Annie is end-stage, she didn't find her breast lumps soon enough and even with a double mastectomy and a horrible bout with chemo,she has liver mets. Susan just had a double radical mastectomy but is more upset by watching Annie and knowing it is a preview of what is to come. They are both in their mid-forties. Also Annie has taken care of our mom for the last 10 years and now that has fallen to me, another reason for keeping the roads hot. You girls will never know how big a part this swap has played in keeping me sane.

I don't know a single one of you but I love you all...

Hugs,
Donna