I was trying to daydream, but my mind kept wandering.
~Steven Wright
Just another one of those days.....what? Did I say something? Oh, maybe I was just thinking it. I sit here thinking about my post and ....... oh look, the parrots are back in the tree! OK, back to the blog. The sun actually came out today ....... boy I ate too much at lunch. Did you ever want to nail your brain to something ...... maybe I'll fix pork chops for dinner. Oh, I give up! Wait, what was I giving up? It was just one of those days. Have you ever had one......let's see what was I looking for?
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PHOTO OF THE DAY
Camellia bud
Yesterday I noticed that my two camellia's are putting on buds. This is my favorite if I could remember the name I would share it with you. The camellia is native to eastern and southern Asia and there are between 100–250 described species. The various species of camellia plants are generally well-adapted to acidic soils, and most species do not grow well on chalky soil or other calcium-rich soils. Most species of camellias also require a large amount of water, either from natural rainfall or from irrigation, and the plants will not tolerate droughts. When given as a gift the pink camellia means 'longing for you'. The red camellia means 'You're a Flame in My Heart'. And the white camellia means 'You're adorable'. So be careful which one you give!
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Yesterday I had no trouble reaching my goal of working on the Birdie Stitches BOM for January. I am using Dream On by Urban Chiks for Moda. First I cut 2 1/2" squares out of the jelly roll. Then I cut out an 8 1/2" square from Bella Solids White Bleached. Then I had to trace the stitchery pattern onto the solid fabric. Next came assembling the 2 1/2" squares into strips for the border and sewing them around the square.
This is the block.
I used a mechanical pencil with #2 led in it to make the tracing. It's a little hard for the camera to pick up but I think you can get the idea.
And here is the stitching I did in the afternoon. I know snowmen are supposed to be white but I wanted him to show up. Just think of him being so cold that he turned blue. This is so fun and I'm enjoying getting back into embroidery. I've got all sorts of ideas bouncing around in my head for other projects. I hope to work on him more tomorrow.
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Yesterday I joined a new swap called Once A Season Swap. This is being hosted by the wonderful Cheryll of the blog, Gone Stitchin'. The best thing about this swap is that it only happens four times a year - Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer - but in the Australian seasons (which are opposite of mine). Each season Cheryll will assign secret partners for you to send a little gift to - nothing too expensive or too time consuming and consider the postal costs too. The gift can be crafty or personal, it's up to you. The ideas for this swap are:
Autumn could be a gift of a hand/kitchen towel with autumn leaves... or a small table mat in autumn colours... or browns/creams/ orange cottons... burgundy nail polish ???....
Winter gift... a chockie &; a magazine.... or a few flannel fabrics...
Spring... something with pretty flowers on it...
Summer.... well ...you get the picture
So if you are interested in joining in this little swap, click on the link above or on the button on the sidebar. Cheryll would like you to contact her before the 25th.
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TODAY'S GOAL
Today my goal is to make the Mystery Designer BOM from last month. After all, the next block will be in the mail on Monday. Won't you join me on Monday to see if you can guess what I am making?
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GIVEAWAYS
Bearpaw is celebrating her 100th post with a giveaway. You could win 10 fat quarters, a skein of Rico Wool and an adorable framed mini quilt in a box frame. This giveaway closes midnight on January 12, 2011.
The Fat Quarter Shop is having a giveaway through their blog, Jolly Jabber. They are giving away two fat quarter bundles - one each of Espresso and Mocha Swiss Chocolate for Robert Kaufman. You must enter by Wednesday, January 12 at midnight for this one too.
And, once again, don't forget to enter my 300+ Follower Giveaway Thank You before Sunday, January 9th at 8:00 PM PST.
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FINAL THOUGHT
The problem with starting a new project like I did yesterday is now I have to store the blocks for a whole year. I thought if I could move this out of this box....no, that box won't be big enough to allow the blocks to lay flat. Maybe if I move some fabric around here......but then where would the fabric go that won't fit in that cubby hole. I give up. I guess it's time to pull out a Joann's coupon and buy another storage container. What do you do when you have more projects that storage areas? And, please, don't tell me to finish one of them. Most of them are BOM or SAL.....well, not all of them - LOL!
The trouble with, "A place for everything and everything in its place" is that there's always more everything than places.
~Robert Brault
Have a fun and fabric Friday!!
12 comments:
LOVE that Dream On fabric...can't wait to start working with mine. This "going to work everyday" really puts a crimp in my sewing & leisure time. TGIF!
More design wall! That way, you can enjoy the finished blocks year round! I have a big design wall with my current project, and a smaller design wall with a couple of stalled out projects or orphan blocks up there for inspiration.
For BOM's I hung a white sheet on a wall in the spare bedroom & line up my finsihed blocks there. When the whole year is complete I store them in a clean pizza box & label the front then stack them under the bed where they become UFO's that I can pull out & admire every so often!
Thanks for the link to the Once A Season Swap - I think I'm going to join.
Linda, the snowman is so cute! I bet you can guess why I was smiling so big when I saw the border for the snowman block, GODWINK! Did you have the same thought? Love, Em
Do the rose colors mean the same as the camellias? Interesting!
I love your fabrics for the snowman and your snowman looks great in blue. Are you using the six strands?
I am with you Wendy! I want to cut my work time in half and give it to my sewing time!
and Linda...I totally get it.
I can't concentrate today for anything!
TGIF Girls!
To answer your question about what I do when I run out of storage...I buy a new tote. LOL!! Just like you. I love the ones from Joann's, I have about 12. I need more. I use those dividers to stack up different BOMs. Have fun with your new group.
Oh the snowmen is so cute! I love the bright colors around it as well!
I like the blue in the snowman. I think I want to do this stitching BOM, but right now there is paper jammed in the printer that I need to get out.
Buy new storage....that was my first thought. I definitely have more everything than places.
I'll give another go at the guessing of what the block is. I haven't got one right yet.
My block lotto package arrived today!
I love it, thank you!!
I like your blue snowman. I am using Dream On for my Birdie stitcheries too.
I do exactly what you did when starting a new project, buy another artbin box from Joann's........grin. What's a girl to do. At least the ones I use can be stacked to the ceiling.
Love your block
Oh you sound like you had my kind of day. I love pizza boxes for blocks - the extra large are great for those large blocks. I get them (new and unused) from a friend who owns a pizza shop. I loved the post on the season swap and joined - thank you for that, it looks to be a lot of fun. I hope you find all the right places for everything.
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