wow, some awesome toppers and runners being shown here

You ladies are amazing! I am very IMPRESSED!!!!!

awesome table runners/toppers being sent this go round - great job everyone

Mom-6, I have half the strips sewn and it is really BIG! Hope you have room because there is no turning back now.
All the runners and mats are beautiful.
Everybody keep warm. Too cold here in Ohio!

I guess I shouldn't rub it in, but 76 today and 81 tomorrow..... yeah, nice and warm, HOWEVER, we are moisture starved again this year, no rain since mid-December! I could stand to have it a bit cooler since we have 5 months of blistering heat here every year. And rain, I would love to have rain. Lots of it.
On the table mat front, I haven't done much more than the center piece on mine yet. I have the sewing and craft show on Saturday, and Sunday my friend is going to help me start unpacking and organizing my sewing studio! This has been over a year in the planning and executing at this point. I will have time on sunday afternoon to do more piecing since I'm being abandoned for some goofy football game party. Don't know what that's all about.....!!!
I should have made more progress by next week! While the studio rebuild commences.

Oh my goodness, skaduzy, I feel bad that yours is not big at all. But I hope you will like it anyway.

I will love it, just don't you worry. :thumbup:

I dropped in looking at all the pretty table runners and toppers. You all are doing a wonderful job with this.

gee JennieiPenny, that's lovely!

Oksewnsew, that is awesome rooster fabric. Do you know the name of that line. I don't think I've ever seen it and I'm constantly browsing fabric :-) Your table mat is lovely.

Just checking in:)
How's everyone doing? I've seen pics of 4 received runners and what beauties they are. Its fun it is to see everyone's interpretation of their partners favorite things. I bet there has to be an added anticipation when opening those packages, when you know your partner has created something "just for you" with your list in mind.
Great job everyone. Keep the communication and pics coming. Only 20 days left in this swap. But, I bet everyone will be mailing wayyyyy before then.
Have a great wknd all.

Tlambing- Rose and I swapped with us receiving out respective runners. Rose can't post pics on here so I am posting for her. Things have been crazy here. Someone let the plague loose in my house again and my toddler got shots yesterday. I'm ready to run and hide for a little lol.

Here is the runner I made for Rose.

<a href="http://s805.photobucket.com/user/tfch8184/media/76527E30-0C6B-418E-9556-4474F822B3B1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy335/tfch8184/76527E30-0C6B-418E-9556-4474F822B3B1.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 76527E30-0C6B-418E-9556-4474F822B3B1.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s805.photobucket.com/user/tfch8184/media/79F64D7B-2080-4589-B258-B743020EF61B.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy335/tfch8184/79F64D7B-2080-4589-B258-B743020EF61B.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 79F64D7B-2080-4589-B258-B743020EF61B.jpg"/></a>

I will have todo another post with the pics of my runner rose made me. My phone is acting up

I have one side finished, the other side in process. I have to work part of the weekend, but hope to finish the table runner for my partner, as well.

Here's the runner rose made me. My old man cat has claimed it as his already. The old booger has taken to being offended by my candle sitting on it.

<a href="http://s805.photobucket.com/user/tfch8184/media/38EE4C67-858F-442B-A086-702CFC55A0C2.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy335/tfch8184/38EE4C67-858F-442B-A086-702CFC55A0C2.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 38EE4C67-858F-442B-A086-702CFC55A0C2.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s805.photobucket.com/user/tfch8184/media/56E858FB-BB16-418A-8CCD-F03878FBF527.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy335/tfch8184/56E858FB-BB16-418A-8CCD-F03878FBF527.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 56E858FB-BB16-418A-8CCD-F03878FBF527.jpg"/></a>

I love it. It's fits in my house so perfectly.

How cool are those! So nice ladies :) Quite an opposites swap, the very brights for Rose and the earth tones for Tyler. How fun!

TFCH, what a bright and bold runner you made. I really like how you quilted it!

Just a quick reminder....the table runners fashioned and sent should include batting and binding. The "ten minute" table runner type, or flipped and stitched with no batting are not adequate for this swap. Honestly, it's just not fair to the partner that spends tons of time to create a "quilted" runner for their partner to receive one that didn't take the same effort to generate.

Teresa, just tried to send you a PM......your mailbox is full!!!

You caught me while I was cleaning it out :) all finished!

WELL HELLO PUMPKINS! you missed me I know it! (wishful thinking). We have some marvelous news for you! Teresa and I have discussed this and I will be coming back to run the next table runner swap! I know your getting just jazzed up excited now. The deal is you have to behave for Teresa til I get back! and (drum roll) FINISH YOUR Quilted Table Runners as requested by the deadline. We have to go to a the newer rules now of leaving non positive feedback for anyone who does not complete a swap they have signed up for. A few very few exceptions will be made for serious health problems. Being just too busy is not one of the exceptions that we can take. Just fair warning as you have almost 3 weeks left to finish up. Plenty of time for a runner! yahoo! yee haaa! le brat is coming back!!

I got my top finished yesterday! Now for the fun (or not so fun) part of having to do the machine quilting. Forging ahead, I should be able to mail to Quilty-Louise by the 13th.

You go Girl! I used to dread the thought of the FMQ part, now I kind of look forward to it. Can't wait to see what you've created.

Sew excited! I got the binding finished and now I can get it ready to mail as soon as my partner sends me her address.

MizMelly my visions for your's is not turning out the way I wanted
it to.

I am on remake #3 now.

I'm almost ready to send!

How funny! Mine didn't turn out how I wanted it to either, so I'm going to do a little seam ripping tonight and do something more creative on one section. Guess I wasn't thinking yesterday, because I know I can do better.

Just checking in. How's everybody doing? I finished one Round robin quilt last wknd and started on another. I also hung the "Christmas" runner that I didn't get done for my cousin up on my design wall. Looking for just the right inspiration on how to quilt it out. It's LOooong, so more than just a tiny undertaking. Hopefully something will come to me soon.
Do you FMQ or is stitch in the ditch your fav?

I do both ways Teresa, depends on the pattern I used and what I think will look better. Big help aren't I? Waiting for my runner too but Laquinta did let me know that it would be awhile before it was done. She pulled a tendon in her elbow and is going to physical therapy, so it may be quite a long time before it's done. Sometimes those take a while to heal. I'm just waiting to see all the pics of the ones all of you receive....

I have an idea!

How 'bout everyone check in with us and let us know how your runner is coming? It's so much more fun when everyones chattering. According to my records just under 1/2 of you have received your runners already(very cool) and the rest of us are being patient.
Sneak peeks are fun too.

I tore out the border on mine, redesigned it, and will stitch it back together this coming weekend. It's going to be something like 26" square when finished. I may post another sneak peek this weekend prior to mailing it next week!

And I think I'll do decorative quilting stitches instead of stitch in the ditch, or maybe a combination of both! No free arm for me right now. I paid $$$ to get my feed dog gear fixed last time I attempted that, so now I'm paranoid that it will break if I try it again!

Thanks for checking again my friend MizMelly. Can't wait to see what you've done.

Ohhh can't wait to see it.

My runner is finished, except for a final pressing. The iron seems to have wandered away into DH's shop. Wish me luck while I go in there to retrieve it -- strange sounds come from that place.

Teresa,
I'd sent you a PM a week ago and have not heard from you. So I resent a short one to see if your getting them. Please LMK. Just in case I will post her to let you know that I have been slowed down with the making of my table runner, (Jaba knows about this & is very understanding) THANK you Jaba :). Anyway, I have minuscule tears at my elbow, right side and I am .....right handed. I have been placed I. A brace and told to 'rest' my arm for a few weeks. (The nerve of the Dr and PT telling a quilter to rest her arm!). Hum! Anyway that is what I am having to do. I am ding the small hand work required on this when I can. It it will be late.

I tried sending you a PM b/c I don't want negative feedback and believe communication is the key, especially with swaps, please forgive me but I can't do anything but follow Dr & hubby's orders to rest my arm. :(

I hope everything heals well for you LaQuita

SO sorry LaQuita. I thought I had answered you. I have pm'd you back and thanks so much for your follow through.
Hope your arm is feeling better soon.

I am trying once again to sew the table mat. Everything I come
up with looks like ...... well I can't say the words or I might get
in trouble.

Anyways I am back to the drawing board for a design.

Don't stress Louise!! It will be lovely, whatever you design! I'm sorta having the same issue, but think I've got it nailed this time. (I hope???). I don't know why this is so difficult, I have made many commission memory and tshirt quilts and never had a problem with design! (I don't use other's designs, I make up my own). Maybe because it's so small compared to what I normally make..... or that my creative mojo is missing??

can I ask what is frustrating you on your quilt tops? I hear seam ripping, seam ripping and wonder is it the combo of fabrics your not feeling? the design? simple is sometimes very nice in fact a lot of the time.. if you post maybe your trouble or write to Teresa or one of your fellow quilters maybe someone can help? glad to offer some advise if you would like two bits from another quilter. I know this is one fun swap. In an effort to keep it fun and light why not work with your partner to come up with something simplier.. one favorite thing not five. that should make it plum easy.. and you will finish on time and mail ON TIME and your work will make you happy and your partner happy. I wish that all of you can finish as best you can. Its all your partner is hoping for too.

I am working on my mothers favorite things quilt top. Each round on the quilt is to represent her favorite flowers. My issue? they don't particularly go together. a big challenge .. I find gorgeous flower fabrics individually but not so much when you dump them on top of each other.. I may have to rethink my drink here on the flowers or be prepared for a hodge podge of stuff in a quilt. if your quilted mat is not working .. figuring out WHY is the biggest challenge then you can move forward. Reduce your challenge ladies and gents. This weekend I know you can make a huge dent on any sewing you have to do. I have seen the work everyone here produces. I know you can do it :)