Doing The Happy Dance!

Early In June almost 500 Quilters submitted their photos of unfinished quilts into

The Better Homes & Gardens, American Patchwork & Quilting, Handi Quilter Big Finish Sweepstakes.  (Boy, that's a mouthful)

I submitted the following photo of my little lap/wallhanging size top, that I made as a "second unknown til reveal time, to surprise Lynn" version

when several of us participated in the Country Charmer Quilt Along in 2013. 

This quilt was part of a little secret that Sue Abrey, aka HRH, aka Quilt Times blog, cooked up! 

Sue made her own second wonderful surprise version too,

and, as we are prone to, we had a lot of fun egging each other on!

 

Mine is a combination of Lynn Wilder's Country Charmer

& Julia Ziegler's A Tree For All Seasons.

 

Here's another photo of the still borderless quilt! 



Soooo...I've been sitting on this news for THREE weeks, waiting til we got all the i's crossed and t's dotted & now the sponsors have made their official announcement, so I can officially remove my hand from over my mouth and share!!!

 

  Out of almost 500 entries, my little quilt (with a border) & I are flying to Salt Lake soon!!!!!

  I am looking forward to meeting the other 3 winners and the Handi Quilter Educators who promise to provide "One-on-one guidance, hand-holding, encouragement and expertise"!

We will be guests in the Handi Quilter Classroom in Bountiful for a 3 day educational experience that I have been assured by Lynn is incredible! 

Yes, I told Lynn right off the bat 'cuz, afterall, I just had to tell somebody...and I wanted to pick her brain a little before I accepted the prize, knowing that she adores her Handi Quilter Longarm & has experienced a Handi Quilter retreat.  As it turns out, she enjoyed the first retreat so much she returned a second time!  She sang the praises of the Educators saying "You HAVE to go!  You'll learn so much!" & added that "the food is great & they treat you like family!"
 

Thank you SEW much to All People Quilt.com
 Meredith Corp.,

Better Homes & Gardens, American Patchwork & Quilting,

& Handi Quilter

for extending this great learning opportunity for myself and the other three ladies who are scattered across the US to learn tips and techniques to finish our own quilts!