My first quilt. Yeah I know, it's a potholder.

A potholder, I've been informed by someone who knows, is really a tiny, tiny quilt. So, I learned how to make a quilt by making a potholder. The potholder method is in fact, just like making a quilt. I cut fabric into various size strips and then sewed them together, chose a back and then made a "quilt sandwich". The top and the back were the "bread" and the "meat" a small scrap of batting. I used my sewing machine to "channel quilt" the potholder. In other words, I just sewed evenly spaced lines. Then, I sewed a binding and bound the potholder. All pretty simple for a tiny little quilt. I'm pretty proud of my accomplishment. Needless to say, my tiny quilt does not live in the kitchen where it would most likely fall on a stove eye and burn to ash or get permanently stained with spaghetti sauce. No, it is proudly displayed on my desk where I use it for a mousepad or occasionally a coaster.

There is no frigate like a book

Yep, I've been around the world in 80 days. I am a close personal friend of both Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy. My resume includes jobs like geisha girl and cattle rustler. Just kidding. The truth is that one of my life long loves has been reading. Which is why I'm excited about my newest discovery, www.paperbackswap.com. Just as the name implies, it is a free online, super simple book swap. Here's how it works - join for free, then list 10 of your own books to swap, and get two swap points just for listing. All you have to do is key in the ISBN number from the back of the book. After you've listed, it's browse time! I chose two books: The Quilters Apprentice by Jennifer Chiaverini and The Widow of the South by Robert Hicks. I've already gotten confirmation that one is on its way! I was so surprised that within hours of listing, four of my ten books had been requested. The requests arrived in my inbox, I went to the website, printed out the mailing label, paid for the postage online and prepared my books for shipping. I didn't even have to buy a shipping envelope. I just wrapped the books up in paper, as instructed, taped them up with shipping tape, and dropped them in my mailbox. I didn't even have to leave the house (except for walking to the end of my driveway). As soon as those four books arrive at their destinations, I get four more swap points.

Cost = free membership, $12.00 for mailing four books.
I got six books at about $2.00 a piece.

What a bargain! As soon as I read these books, I plan on relisting them to swap again. No over due fines, and I can keep the book if I really like it.

They also have movies and CDs but I haven't gotten into that yet.

Emily Dickinson was certainly right - there is no frigate like a book!