Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Mail Me a Flower

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.
~William A. Ward

My mailman has been bringing both gifts that I am giving and gifts that I have received.  I have been a very lucky gal lately as you will see later in this post.  WOW!  Can you believe it is already December 1st?  Are you ready for gift giving?  Trying to figure out just the right gift for someone is sometimes down right exhausting.  Will he like it?  Is it the right size?  The right color?  So many times it's just easier to buy a gift card and let the recipient do their own shopping.  However, I don't especially like giving that kind of gift.  It just seems that I haven't put much thought into what might be just the right gift.  It does help that I require a 'wish list' from each of my family members.  What do you do for your gift giving decisions?

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PHOTO OF THE DAY

One of my favorite Norman Rockwell Christmas pictures

My camera has been rather idle as far as scenic pictures lately.  My yard is ugly and the neighborhood isn't producing anything but brown leaves.  So, today I give you Norman Rockwell.  Norman Rockwell thought of himself first and foremost a commercial illustrator.  Born in New York in 1894, Rockwell had early hopes of becoming an artist. As a young man he left high school to attend art school. A diligent student at the Art Student’s League in New York, he graduated to find immediate work as an illustrator for BOY’S LIFE magazine. By 1916 Rockwell had created his first of many SATURDAY EVENING POST covers. He would continue to create memorable covers for them for nearly fifty years — making three hundred and seventeen in all. Although his vast body of work has often been dismissed or stereotyped, Rockwell remains one of 20th-century America’s most enduring and popular artists. Now, more than one hundred years after his birth, he is achieving a new level of recognition and respect around the world.

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Today is Wednesday, so it must be One Flower Wednesday
I liked the petals for the flower when I was cutting them out.  I'm not so sure about them actually on the flower though.  I can't say that this is one of my favorites but it will work in the GFG quilt as it is bright and cheery.

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Last week I received a Mosaic Tile Block from Lynn in Ontario, Canada.  We are both member of the International Friendship Quilters swap group.

For this swap you send your partner a 4 1/2" block that they then add to with their own fabrics.  Didn't Lynn do a nice job of matching the colors?

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On Monday, my mailman brought me a package from my friend, Leona.  We have only been email friends for a few short months but I think we have made a lasting friendship and one that I am honored to have.  Look what Leona sent me......

Lots and lots of Connecting Threads fabrics.  Leona knows how much I like their fabric and thought of me when she was recently destashing.  She also included a little packet of 1" hexagons with some adorable reproduction squares and a package of 80 die-cut hearts also of reproduction fabrics.  Leona has a super blog - go check her out at Leona's Quilting Adventure.  Thank you so very much, Leona!!

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A few weeks ago I was the lucky winner of a contest being held by Em Celebrates!  The winner, me, received one of Emily's very own handmade quilts!!  I couldn't believe it when she let me know I was the winner.  The quilt is adorable - let me share it with you.....

Isn't it cute?!?!?!?!  I just love it.  The wonky houses are so original and the colors are so bright.

Here is a close up of one of the houses......

Can you see all of the wonderful quilting she has done?  And she emailed to say that she is still in the learning phase of quilting - if only I could be so talented.
I will treasure this quilt for years to come.  Thank you so very much, Emily!!!!

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GIVEAWAYS

Quilt Times is giving away Quilt Calendar 2011.  You must enter this giveaway by December 7th.

One More Quilt is having a great giveaway to celebrate her 100th post.  She is giving away 5 yards of fabric.  There are several options available.  Enter this giveaway by December 5th for a chance to win. 

And, of course, there's always my BIG GIVEAWAY to enter!  The Thimbleberries are just waiting for you.  Coming this Friday, I will give you another way to enter.   You must enter by December 10th!!

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FINAL THOUGHT

My head is fuzzy this morning.  I think I'm tired of thinking.  Possibly could be from not getting enough sleep.  Who knows.  Hopefully my brain will become clear once I have my first cup of coffee and the sun peaks over the eastern horizon.  I have a big problem with over thinking things, especially this time of year and I'm sure that is a lot of my fuzziness.  I know I promised that I wouldn't stress this Christmas season and I'm really working on that!  Breath in..........breath out.  Relax.  And breath again.  I think some therapeutic sewing will help today!

Often the hands will solve a mystery that the intellect has struggled with in vain.
~Carl G. Jung

Have a wonderful and wacky Wednesday!!

19 comments:

Cheryl said...

I'll spend my Wed. morning whacking a tennis ball to release some stress!! Great gifts and winnings!

Stitched With Prayer said...

Oh my gosh, the Wonky House Quilt is so wonderfully cheerful! How could anyone look at it on even the worst of mornings and not smile??? What a wonderful treasure. I'm so happy you won that giveaway. As for the Christmas stress...we are in the middle of giving parts of our 33 year old home a sorely needed facelift. Nothing extravegant, but we may add a small gas log fireplace to the living room. I have always wanted one and we found a lovely free standing gas log stove that would be wonderful. Ah but I digress, I was getting to the point that we will be in a total mess through the end of January so no decorating, except maybe a bit in my sewing room where I have forbidden anything to be stacked stored or hidden because...as you pointed out, sewing is totally theraputic for me. It even relieves pain when my Scleroderma kicks in with the bitter cold Utah weather. But better than that, sewing is the best stress reliever in the world. Doctors should prescribe it instead of tranquilizers, LOL. I'm with you today my friend, some theraputic sewing is in order here too. As for it already being December 1st...where did the year go? Did someone steal yours too??? Wow, gone like smoke through a keyhole!!! December 1st is also a day of rememberance for me as I lost my dear mom to breast cancer at Noon on Dec. 1, 1976, it also happened to be a Wednesday that year. BUT...it is not a sad day. Because I was only 26 then, I decided many years ago that on this day I would celebrate all the fun and loving memories of the times we had, especially Christmas shopping. It was her favorite season and that helps me take pleasure in all the beauty of the decorations, and reminders of 'The Reason for the Season'. Sew while I'm sewing today, using my moms old victorian shoe pin cushion, I will have a smile on my face and in my heart in gratitude for the wonderful mom she was. Okay, I'm off to do some sewing, (I'm trying to learn needle turn applique) and enjoy this special day! Hugs...

Needled Mom said...

I love that wonky house quilt!! That was a great win.

During this time we have to take the time to focus on the reason we celebrate Christmas. It is so hard to find those moments.

Jocelyn said...

I've got sunshine and flowers here this morning. Wish I could put some in an envelope and send them your way :-)

Em said...

Linda, you are such a dear and all of the celebrations you include in your posts are so uplifting!!! I am tickled that you are so excited for the quilt, it is packed with love shouting out the windows and chimneys!!! Great things happen to great people and you are so deserving of all of the love in your mailbox!

Char said...

Linda, Isn't Em the best? She is definitely one of the reasons I'm so happy I started my blog! You get to meet such wonderful people!

Joanna said...

First, I love the quote opening your post today. I'm beginning this month with the intention of being grateful for all I already have and will receive. Thanks, Linda, for that. Second, the quilt you won is too cute. It's so original. I love it.
Third, another thank you for your giveaway mentions. I won something the other day because I read about the giveaway on your blog. Very generous of you. Have a great day.

Megan Harmeyer said...

How do I make gift decisions? I wait for everybody's list that you make them do. LOL I really like that quilt with the little houses - it's so cute! Now that you've had your coffee, are you less fuzzy?

Gerda Hartman said...

What a lovely flower and the quilt with the little houses is very cute.

Birdie said...

I think your hexie is simply wonderful, so nice and bright. I also love your houses.

Jeanette said...

Your flower is gorgeous. I love the way you placed blooms on each petal. The wonky houses are very cute.

Marcia W. said...

Christmas stress - we started drawing names for the adults in the family -- it has so reduced the stress of Christmas because we are only shopping for 4 little kids except for that one adult present. In the scheme of things, I ask myself how important is it compared to my family's love for one another? That perspective helps me.

WoolenSails said...

My favorite last words, I will not stress, lol.
When my kids were little they could make a list, but I taught them that christmas was for giving not getting and I always knew what they wanted anyways;)

I tend to shop around and look for the perfect gifts from the sale racks. There are a lot of items they would love and sometimes I get lucky and am able to find it for a price I can afford.

Debbie

Anonymous said...

The wonky house quilt is adorable! Enjoy it with happy thoughts! Norman Rockwell is also one of my favorites. His illustrations are so expressive. My kids and I bring in the holidays differently. I do things for them all year when they need things. When the holidays roll around we share a special meal and time together without the stress of alot of presents and celebrate the true meaning of the holidays. We truly have learned to cherish each other and the gift of being family.

Lee Prairie Designs said...

Thanks for sharing your flowers are beautiful.

Carolyn :)

Karen said...

Love the wonky houses and I think your flower is great!

Wendy said...

Don't know HOW you keep up with everything but as always I love reading your posts. Also like your bright fun flower this week!!

Renate Bischoff said...

Your flowers are so beautiful!
I love the Wonky Houses too.
Renate

Toni said...

what a lucky girl you are this week!! Are you hanging your new quilt up? It's adorable!

I still have to work on my gift giving, it's harder for me this year because all my friends are still back in MD :(

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