Blocks Completed & Some Quilting Done!

"Before Prozac, there was quilting"
                                               ~author unknown

The above quote was how I felt yesterday.  I finally was able to spend most of the day back in front of the sewing machine.  Much more relaxing and a better way to start the week than last week.  I had a very happy day!

Photo Of The Day:

Fern on my side yard

A fern is any one of a group of about 12,000 species of plants.   Ferns do not have either seeds or flowers, they reproduce via spores.  Ferns first appear in the fossil record 360 million years ago.  Ferns are not of major economic importance, but some are grown or gathered for food, as ornamental plants, or for remediating contaminated soils. Some are significant weeds. They also featured in mythology, medicine, and art.  Fern species live in a wide variety of habitats, from remote mountain elevations, to dry desert rock faces, to bodies of water or in open fields.  Ferns are sometimes used in medicine to treat cuts and clean them out. Ferns are also good bandages if you are stuck out in the wild.  I love ferns, but unfortunately, the varieties I like best are not very grower friendly here in the central valley of California where the summer temps can reach 110 degrees.

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My daughter, Megan, is hosting a recipe exchange over at her blog, Kitschy Suburbia.  This isn't a normal recipe exchange as it has to be a fall recipe.  Jump on over there and join in the fun - I am!
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Yesterday I joined another block swap group.  This time it is the Christmas Quilting Block Swaps Australia.  They are gathering groups of 12 to participate.  If you think you might be interested either click on the link above, or the button on the sidebar to the right or email to crafty.pug@hotmail.com and let her know that you are interested in joining the group.  In a years time you could have a wonderful Christmas quilt made with block from people all over the world.  Doesn't that sound like fun?  The group I am in is currently looking for 9 more members (as of posting time of this blog)
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Yesterday I managed to sew two more of Cheryl's Sew Along blocks.  This was block 5 and 6 - only 6 more to go!!

Block 5 - Cubed Lattice

I'm not too sure about the colors in this one but it does work with the others

Block 6 - Evening or North Star Variation

I did like the look of this one.

Here are the first 6 blocks in the SAL that I have completed

These are all going to finish out at 4" blocks and will create a miniature quilt, a wall hanging, or a table topper.  If you are interested in making these block, go visit Cheryl's blog So Many Quilts, So Little Time.  She provides great tutorials for each block.

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Also yesterday I was able to start quilting on my Paganini.  I am just doing straight line quilting using my walking foot.  I am using contrasting colored treads on the red and white portion of the quilt.  And, then, am using a blue variegated thread in the blue areas.  Here is a close up of the stitching - please don't be too critical as I know that my quilting is far from perfect.

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Giveaways
I am so far behind on reading blogs and going through the Fall Into Fall Bloggers Giveaway that I only have one additional giveaway to list today (other than my own).  So click on the above link or the Scarecrow on the sidebar to check out all of the great participants in the Fall Into Fall Bloggers Giveaway!

You can find a great giveaway over at Learn 2 Quilt Online.  They are giving away 8 fat quarters and a book on machine quilting.  Check this one out today!

And, don't forget to enter my giveaway!  I'm giving away a great kit from Connecting Threads.  You can enter HERE!
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Final Thought

As you make your way through Tuesday, take a moment to ponder "Am I happy with what I am doing?"  I've always told my husband and kids, no matter what kind of job you have the most important thing is to be happy - all the money and the prestige in the world will not bring you peace if you are not happy.  Happiness will help you live longer, rest better, and just have a better outlook on life.  I leave you with this quote:

"If you observe a really happy man you will find him building a boat, writing a symphony, educating his son, growing double dahlias in his garden, or looking for dinosaur eggs in the Gobi desert.  He will not be searching for happiness as if it were a collar button that has rolled under the radiator.  He will not be striving for it as a goal in itself.  He will have become aware that he is happy in the course of living life twenty-four crowded hours of the day."  ~W. Beran Wolfe

Tootles for Tuesday!