Opposites connect?

I just spent the evening with my new QA buddy, Kimberly, browsing quilting books at Barns and Snowballs and nattering. We have interests in common (architecture - her profession, my former major, for example) but are VERY different people. I think that will make our budding friendship more challenging - in a good way. We made a deal that she will help me to actually get stuff done and in general be more goal oriented with my work, and I am going to help her play more and try new things. I think it should be a winning combination! She also does all hand quilting, so hopefully she can help me figure it out at long last. We are planning a dyeing day for some July weekend, but, in the meantime, we are both going to start coming up with the applique pattern for Hawaiian work; something both of us have looked at but never tried before. Nice middle ground, with stretches for both of us!

I saw a flat palm-held thimble in one of the books that looks like it might be a heck of a lot easier on my fingers - any ideas on where I can get one?

BTW - I heard all of you kibitzing at me to 'show up at the page,' bored or not, so I did, at the fabric at least, and proceeded to sew right through my thumb for the first time. I changed needles and finished the motif after DH judiciously applied bandaids in a log cabin pattern to my digit, but then called it a day and went back to my book. I think I'll get the last bit of machine quilting done tomorrow, and then, lo and behold, I think I am going to use sashiko for some decorative work (Kimberly is already rubbing off on me!) and then it will be done! I'll post a shot of it in completed form, but not until then!

I did some beadwork on postcards yesterday, and had the kooky (or not so much, if I am reinventing the wheel here,) idea to make one of those fabric bowls out of the postcards I have received. I can add little triangles in the corners and make myself some baskets for the studio that will show off your fine work in a useful and visible way (and I can even look inside for the signatures when you are all famous!)

Now though? Bedtime and booktime, but I promise to show up at the fabric again in the morning. Ok? Sheesh!