Don't you just love getting surprise mail! 
I arrived home to find this mysterious parcel waiting for me on my doorstep. 

Such a fun card!

My heart did such a happy dance when I opened it and found a wonderful little Downton Abbey quilt from my friend Barb, of Fun with Barb. 

I'd admired this quilt on Barb's blog when she showed it a few weeks ago. I really love the swirly movement of the paisley shapes. 
Note how the sevedge pieces say 'Village', how perfect when Downton Abbey would indeed over look the nearby villiage, 

Gorgeous toile on the back! 

They look like scenes from the show. 

The parcel was padded with this cute fabric. 
Opal Owl by Tina Givens. 
Thank you Barb!! I love my wonderful surprise, it made my day! 
Ps Barb calls it a little table mat, but I'm going to hang in on the wall with my other little quilts.  

***
Now to prove I've been sewing, here's my Octopus's Garden quilt sandwich being basted. It has approximately one thousand safety pins in it, I'm a chronic overpinner, I don't want those layers moving!
My plan is to machine quilt it over the weekend, then I'll add hand quilting during the week, binding next weekend and it'll be done. Sounds good in theory, doesn't it. I'm trying to be more organised and work to deadlines. Wish me luck... 


Here's a snippet of a little hand sewing project I've been slowly working on.

another little bit,  

and one more peek

Hee Hee, I bet you're curious now :)