Celebrate Gumdrops With A Mystery

Once in a young lifetime one should be allowed to have as much sweetness as one can possibly want and hold.

~Judith Olney

Did everybody have enough chocolate, candy hearts, or other sweet temptation yesterday?  Luckily for me, I was limited on how many calorie filled delicacies I was able to consume - only because there were very few of them in the house.  And, of course, if I have something sweet then I need to follow it up with something salty or a cup of coffee (decaf, of course).  Another holiday is over and if you are looking forward to the next one, there is St. Patrick's Day.  We don't celebrate that holiday in our house except for maybe wearing a little green to avoid that little pinch.  Then comes Easter and more sweets - ugh!  I think there is a conspiracy afloat between the candy makers and all of the health gyms out there that seem to be on every corner.  Maybe I can lose a few pounds before the next chocolate holiday rolls around.

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

Gumdrops

Happy National Gumdrop Day!  I bet you didn't know there was a day dedicated to this sweet little morsel. The origins of National Gumdrop Day are uncertain and no known records of any congressional or presidential declarations designating this day as a holiday exist.  However, it is found on many calendars. Similarly to the holiday, the facts surrounding the invention of gumdrops are also uncertain, though some believe they were created by Percy Trusdale in 180.  There are several variations on the classic, sugar coated gumdrop. Licorice flavored gumdrops appeared in the U.S. at the end of the 19th century, brought to the market by inventors Ernest Von Au and Joseph Maison.  Dots gumdrops were invented in the 1940s and can be found in movie theaters around the country.  Celebrate this deliciously sweet day by eating these colorful gelatin-based candies or using them to make wonderful gifts and crafts.

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IT'S MYSTERY TIME

Saturday I received my latest 2010 Designer Mystery BOM from the Fat Quarter Shop.  Are you ready to help me discover what this latest block is?  Just follow along and yell out your answer when you have solved the mystery......

A large assortment of fabric was included with this package ranging in size from 15" X 20" to as small as 5" X 5" - all very pretty and certainly perfect for Christmas.

This is all of the pieces cut out - the smallest being a 1 1/2 inch square to 1 1/2" X 12 1/2" rectangle.  Any ideas yet?

This shows the first two blocks assembled.  Looks sort of like candles doesn't it?

Next came some roof top looking pieces.....love the colors but no guesses yet.

Hmmmmmm.....a pair of slippers maybe?

Now what?  A door and a window?  How about part of........

These!  This block is called "Matching Ornaments" and was designed by Joanna Figueroa (http://www.figtreequilts.com/).  Did you guess what this block was before this final picture?  Another great addition to my future quilt.  Only 3 more blocks and all of the blocks will be made.  Then I will assemble the top with the finishing kit I received for Christmas.  This quilt will be going to the long-arm quilter for quilting or it will end up as another UFO.

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BARN DOOR SWAP

Yesterday I made two 7.5" blocks for my March swap partner, Karyli (of Sew and So On), for the Barn Door Swap.

She requested blue and white blocks.  We had the option of making two blocks or just one block now and one block for another month.  We both decided that two for the month would be best.  I hope to get them out into tomorrow's mail.  I hope that Karyli will like these blocks.

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I plan on cutting out some applique pieces for the Quilted Table swap I signed up for.  This is a "no sew" swap block - I only have to cut the fabric and fuse it to the background fabric. 

Oh, I did get some work done on my wool table runner that was yesterday's goal but not enough to share a photo of (just in case you thought I didn't follow through with yesterday's goal - lol).

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GIVEAWAYS

Jenny of Elefantz is celebrating having over 1300 followers (can you imagine?).  She is giving away a copy of Lynette Anderson's "It's Quilting Cats and Dogs".  Jenny will draw a winner on her birthday, February 21st.

Plushka's Craft is celebrating 300 'likers' on their FB page.  To celebrate she is giving away 1 yard of linen/cotton/rayon ribbon of your choice, a half yard of Japanese fabric with Russian dolls, and a cute fat quarter with cakes.  This giveaway ends Friday, February 18th.

Rsislandcrafts if having a Monday Giveaway!  Robin has crocheted an adorable eagle that she is giving away.  This giveaway ends Friday, February 18th.

Jane's Fabrics and Quilts is celebrating Valentine's Day with a giveaway.  Jane is giving away 2 charm packs of Domestic Diva.  She will pick a winner on Friday, February 18th.

13 Woodhouse Road is having a sponsor giveaway.  You could win either an Oasis Jelly Roll by 3 Sisters for Moda Fabrics or a Max & Whiskers Layer Cake (that's the one I hope to win) by Basic Grey for Moda Fabrics.  I'm not sure when this one ends :(

Pigtails and Quilts is having a Quilters Depot giveaway.  You could win 4th Quarter Bag Kit with everything you need to make the bag from Silk Road Creations! She has also included 3 extra goodies... a seam ripper, an ink pen, and one other goodie

BlueBird Swing is celebrating her birthday with a giveaway.  You could win a fat quarter bundle of Tidbits, or mini fat quarter bundle of Sunkissed, or a basket that she is filling with mystery gifts.  Cyndi will draw the winners on Saturday, January 19th.

Lily's Quilts is having a giveaway.  Lynne is giving away a Sherbet Pips Layer Cake.  This giveaway ends February 27th in the morning UK time (so the 26th for us here in the USA).

Craftaholics Anonymous is having a Ribbon Retreat Giveaway!  You could win 1 yd Kate Spain's Central Park Stone North Meadow, 1 yd Kate Spain's Central Park Plaza Esplanade, 1 yd Sweetwater's Sunkissed Misty Grey Petals, and 1 yd Sweetwater's Pink Sorbet Picnic Plaid.  This giveaway ends Monday, February 21, at 11:59pm.

Lilac Lane is also having a wonderful giveaway.  You could win 6 fat quarters of Dream A Little Dream With Me by Keri Beyer.  This giveaway ends Friday, February 18th at midnight CST and Melissa will announce the winner on Saturday.

Patsy and Ernie are celebrating their 20th anniversary with a giveaway!  They are giving away a $50 gift certificate to their online store.  This giveaway ends Thursday, February 17, at 11:59 pm EST.

And, last but not least, don't forget to enter my THINK SPRING GIVEAWAY!  You could win....

5 yards of this beautiful geranium fabric.

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FINAL THOUGHT

Have you noticed all of the giveaways out there in blogland.  There seems to be a sudden onslaught of them.  You could win fabrics, store gift certificates, pre-made items and so much more.  I love entering the giveaways and occasionally even win one or two.  Do you think they are a waste of time?  I like having a giveaway, I think it's a good way to give others some of my stash that I will not use or no longer remember what I bought it for.  I like the sharing aspect of it all.  Do you enter giveaways?  Are you picky about which ones you enter or do you enter all that you can?  I no longer enter those that require you follow their blog - and, yes, I know, my first couple of giveaways required that (see me hanging my head in shame).  I have discovered many fun and interesting blogs by popping around the web in search of giveaways.  Let me know what you think are the best giveaways - fabric, gift certificates, pre-made items or something else.

There is nothing so well known as that we should not expect something for nothing - but we all do and call it Hope.

~Edgar Howe

Today is Tuesday!  What will you be doing?