I've been AWOL for a couple of weeks because we've had a busy time with our family. My sister-in-law came over from Syracuse NY with our two nephews to stay with use for 10 days and we also travelled down to visit my in-laws in Basingstoke. Margaret had brought me a whole package of gifts she's picked up in Jo-Ann's - they are fabulous! First, the two bag patterns above. The 'Cover-all Tote' is a very clever pattern for a bag with removable button-on covers and Jennifer's bag is very apt as my daughter's name is Jennifer!

I also received fabric for bag making:

 and some beautiful buttons:

 A copy of American Quilter magazine which I have never seen in the shops here:

 And this great book on landscape quilts:

I'd also asked Margaret to bring me a couple of rolls of freezer paper from the supermarket and she arrived with three large rolls:

This may seem strange to those of you resident in the US but we can only buy this in quilt shops and online at a much higher price. You may need to sit down for this! The cheapest I can find this sized roll in the UK is £9.50 - about $15. I understand this is about 5 times the price Margaret paid!!!

Thank you Margaret for all the gifts and for coming to visit. We had a fabulous time and we're hoping to get together again at Jennifer's wedding next year.