Box of Sunbeams + Rainbows

Remember how I entered Heather Ross' Weekend Sewing Design Challenge last month? Well my entry won! It really made my week. It was a fun challenge, and there were so many wonderful entries. The prize she had offered was a box of fabric and a copy of her new book, Weekend Sewing.



As my family knows from getting presents returned to them, my street and packages requiring signatures are opposing countries in a hundred year war. The mail that does make it, such as certificates stating my achievement as a LEED AP, arrive folded in half on the floor. So you can imagine my surprise when the stars aligned and I was home on the final attempt that the package was delivered. It was a Saturday. I don't even want to think of how embarrassing it would have been to have it sent back.

It was a simple Fed-Ex box. Matte brown, undamaged, unremarkable. I stared for a moment in anticipation before opening it, then ripped that box wide open. The contents were amazing. And it kept pouring out of the box in neatly folded piles in big ziploc bags. I can't even explain it in words. Instead, I have sketched something quickly that conveys the point better.



I think you know what this is. It's my version of the archetypal suitcase or box that is glowing gold, without the evil. My version is a box full of sunbeams, gold coins minus the leprechauns (they're scary), rainbows, angels singing, glitter, sequins, shooting stars, balloons, a house, hearts, fabric scraps and girlish dreams.

Do you know what the coolest thing was though? I've always loved her fabric with little fishes, since they have names and one of them is named Andrew. When I opened up the note she sent, this was the front of the stationary. The exact fish with the exact one that shares the name of my sweet brother. Just a nice coincidence, you know?



There is a ton of yardage nicely folded under her pretty fabrics. She included another lovely book and five skeins of gorgeous yellow yarn with a note reading, "I think I remember you knit".



Heather included a plastic bag bursting at the seams with scraps of fabric, including this swoon worthy Japanese beauty.



Mike heard me gasping (or possibly cursing), and issued his own curses under his breath when he saw the contents. In utter awe! Which was quickly followed up by, "I think we need to make another quilt."

I tried to lift an eyebrow, gave him a quizzical look and replied, "You can make your own quilt. I'm making garments."

Anyhow, what a generous lady. Thank you so much, Heather!