Monday, Swaps, & Brains

The only thing wrong with doing nothing is that you never know when you're finished.
                                                       ~Author Unknown


We are starting a new week.  Monday is here and I'm sure you have as many things planned for this week as I do.  I wonder how many things will happen that I didn't plan on - a surprise phone call, a visit from someone unexpected, a letter telling you that you won something (like that will ever happen).  No matter how much we plan, life gets interrupted.  What are your plans for the week?


Photo of the Day

Old Man Birdhouse - one of several birdhouses in my yard - none have ever been inhabited

The practice of keeping birds has been around for centuries, but aviculturists are still far from knowing all there is to know about our feathered friends. Even so, the knowledge that we have accumulated up to this point has brought to light many fascinating and sometimes amusing facts about the birds that we share our lives with.  Here a few of those facts - 1.  At any given time, there are anywhere between one and two billion living birds on the planet.  2. The most common bird on the planet is the Chicken.  3.  A bird's feathers weigh more than its skeleton does. 

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Friday I finished my Candle Mat for the Swap from the Quilting Gallery.

Here is a close up of the quilting I did.  I decided to go with a decorative stitch for something different

I used little Christmas buttons in the corners for decorations instead of applique. 

Here is the back with a personalized label (the name of my swap partner is covered)

And here is the finished product.  I hope my swap partner will like it!!  This will go out in the mail later this week.

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I am participating in the Christmas Quilting Block Swaps Australia.  It is such a fun group!  You swap with people all over the world, not just Australia.   Robyn received my Christmas Tree Block last week so I can finally share it with you. 

You are to make a 12" finished block.  Robyn requested a Christmas tree and I could only find a 10" patchwork tree.  So I added the border of holly leaves to finish out the size.  The group is looking for two more participants to finish out the second group (there are twelve in a group).  If you are interested in joining, just click on the link above or on the button in the right sidebar.

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GIVEAWAY

My friend Leona, over at Leona's Quilting Adventure is have a super giveaway.  There are so many things to win you won't want to miss out.  This giveaway ends October 30.

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Final Thought

I have many projects planned this week - I hope to get to at least two of them.  I'm thinking about starting a block swap some time after the holidays - would you be interested?  My mind seems to race from one thought to another, constantly on the go, meandering through all of the corners of my mind.  I can think of one thing, move on to another, but darned if I can go back and retrive that first thought.  So I leave you with this quote:

"Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?"     

~Winnie the Pooh

Have a marvelous, material, mind blowing Monday!!