Do You SUDOKU???

..You see, it all started out like this, quite innocently I might add...

Several months ago my BIL became quite ill was admitted to the hospital, expecting to be there for several days. He is a big fan of crossword and JUMBLE puzzles, (don't even tease him about having done the Sunday Jumble ahead of him, that's NOT funny!) so, naturally I thought that he might enjoy a change of puzzle pace and sent him a large SUDOKU book to keep him from being 100% totally bored while in the hospital, and wouldn't you know it...he didn't even like SUDOKU?? (I did mention is only related by marriage and not blood, didn't I?). Since my sister was sitting by his bedside for hours each day/night, she picked up the book and instantly was hooked! (I did mention she and I are related by blood didn't I??) I created a monster!!! I knew she would love it as much as I.

We are totally addicted, this SUDOKU sickness is bad. Really bad. I see the grid when I go to sleep at night! And sadly my sissy can now only count to 9! We are hopeless. (We are currently looking for a SUDOKU Anynomous Group meeting to attend, "Hi, We are the Hamilton sisters and we are SUDOKU addicts", you know...the whole bit).

So, what do you give a Sudoku Addict far a "no reason other than I just love you" gift? More SUDOKU books, lots of pencils, a fat eraser, more books. AND....

A Sudoku Quilt!!

Nancy's Sudoku Quilt
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I am totally not a good surprise keeper so when I thought about making her this quilt I knew it was either get it done right away or spoil the surprise!

I had gotten 2 sets of instructions for a SUDOKU quilt in the mail from a couple of quilty friends, but I felt both were just too small and not much of a punch to either....what to do? what to do? I knew I wanted to make Nancy a SSS (Secret Sudoku Surpise). Then EQ came into my life. AH, I can add borders~borders added....BORING....Ah...I can add "SUDOKU" across the top...Still not big enough (Sissy lives in cold weather territory and I wanted it big enough for her to keep warm while playing SUDOKU at night and maybe large enough to cuddle with a special granddaughter as well). So, added the numbers....ok, getting there...kinda fun....but still needs something else....Ah ha! Pencils!! YES!! pencils. Letters, numbers and pencils are all SewPrecise files.

So, drew it up and sent the file off to Linda for her expert opinion (she is my personal EQ expert!!). She gave it her stamp of approval so, my first EQ quilt design was born.

Designed it in a day or so, cut it out and sewed it up in the next few days, then it had to sit around for a couple of wks or so until I could get it to the quilter, got it back just in time to get the binding and label on it before my sister arrived to spend Thanksgiving with Momma while Ed and I camped with the kids (yes, we camped!!!...another story for another time).
When Nancy saw her surprise, this is what she saw (sorry, the pic keeps flipping)....new SUDOKU books, a fat pen, giant pencil, and comics all folded up into a quilt...but she had no idea what the quilt looked like...she was just thrilled to get the new books...then she opened it up and LOL...let me just say I have THE most gracious sissy around!! She loves her surprise as much as I loved planning and creating it for her.

I love surprises! And this one was pulled off just right!!! Nancy knew I had something up my sleeve, but had no idea what it was. I love it when everything falls into place!

Enjoy your quilt Nancy...I love you! SOPO!!!