Gift alert: Cowboy purse

Last March, Eric and I took a Spring Break trip to Tecumseh, NE, of all places. Friends of Eric's lived there, and we thought it would be fun to crash with them for a weekend and catch up. I seized the opportunity to use my handy-dandy "Quilts Shoppes of Nebraska" pamphlet and stop at each one we came across. Fun!

While visiting, Anna took me to a quilt store in Pawnee City, NE called "Heavenly Treasures." This little shop was jam-packed with all sorts of fun fabric and sewing supplies, and was in an old church, to boot! While shopping, Anna pointed out this really fun cowboy boot fabric. Having just made a high-dollar purse, I thought it would be fun to use the fabric in my next designs (and make one for Anna, too!).

Later in the day Rob and Anna took us to Schilling Bride Winery, also located in Pawnee City, for some tasty samples. I liked the "Red Hot Red" vino.

Anyways, while we visited, Anna mentioned she liked my Mini-Bow Tucks purse (which I have in MN 2009 Shop Hop Fabric). I thought, "Wouldn't it be fun to make Anna a purse like that using the cowboy boot fabric we found?"

With the idea hatched, I plotted. Because of other projects ahead of this, I finally completed it in August. After showing my Quilt Guild, mom, best friend and anyone else who was near how cute it turned out, I lovingly packaged it up with a short note to Anna and mailed it last week.

(See the cute red button we found? It's leather...)

In case you didn't know, I love to get mail. But what I love more, is surprising people with something fun in their mailbox.

I got the sweetest thank-you note from Anna yesterday. It made my heart plum-tickled. Anna wrote:

"I was so surprised to get your package in the mail, and then I open it and you made me a special purse!! Wow, I love it!" and continued, "It is perfect size! Love all the pockets."

(There are the pockets she's raving about)

But what really got me in the heart strings was how she signed the card, "Keep that Range Man in line!" Ah...she knows us too well.