A win and a finish!

Sometimes it is so hard to be patient!  At least for me.  Christine over at Auntie's Quaint Quilts notified me that I won her giveaway!  I knew that the package was coming all the way from Tasmania and that would take some time but...I was so anxious for it to arrive.  Guess what arrived this week? 

This package is full of goodies!  Fabric (3 fat quarters) from Lynette Anderson, a Schnibbles pattern - Hot Cross (Miss Rosie Quilt Co.) and Tis the Season embroidery patterns by Natalie Bird! 

Thanks Christine!

I also finished my fence inspired quilt. 

[the little white specks you see...is snow]

I am not completely satisfied with the quilting.

 As I quilted the long colored spaces with straight line boxes, the middle tended to pull in the direction I was stitching.  

Can you see the way the fabric is distorted in the center?  

I never had that happen before but I probably never quilted in such long, straight segments. 

 I used my walking foot rather than trying free motion (thought it would keep the lines straighter). 

Has this ever happened to you? How can I improve on this?  Any suggestions are welcome. 

Anyhow, it is a finish and that means I need to make another quilt square for Queensland.