Friday, February 4, 2011

Gummy, Wooly Swappers

If I had to sum up Friendship in one word, it would be Comfort.
 ~Terri Guillemets

Thank you so very much for all of your kind thoughts and the prayers sent for my Mother.  We found out yesterday that she will be having surgery Saturday morning to fix the 90 to 95% blockage on one side of her neck.  They will be using a vein from her leg to replace part of the artery in her neck similar to the way they do heart surgery.  They have decided the blockage is being caused by scar tissue.  This is the side that she had surgery on in September.  At one point she had expressed the desire not to have surgery but when the doctor said "It's either surgery or death" she opted with the side of life.  That's a good thing!  I just hope this isn't a reoccurring problem and that she will have to have surgery every 4 1/2 months.  The other side is 70% blocked but surgery will be put off to a later date for that one when it becomes more serious.  Thank you again for all of  your support and warm wishes - they mean more to me than you can ever know.

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

Chewing Gum

Though it's hard to imagine, chewing gum is one of the oldest candies in the world! For thousands of years, people of all cultures have enjoyed the many benefits of gum.   Here are a few chewing gum facts:  
  *The average American chews over 300 sticks of gum each year.
*In the early 1860s, doctors advised patients to stop chewing gum, often telling patients it would cause their intestines to stick together.
*Over $2 billion of gum is sold in the United States each year.
*Dried chewing gum can be removed from hair using peanut butter.
*The Wrigley's company originally sold scouring soap and baking powder. Today, they are known only for their gum.
*While the sale of chocolates and other candies has gone up and down over time, the sale of gum has always remained strong.
*Most gum is purchased between Halloween and Christmas.
*Sugarless or sugar-free gums hit the marketplace in the early 1950s
*Pink remains the most popular color for bubble gum
*In 1951, the Topps Company reinvented the popularity of bubble gum by adding a stick of it to a package of baseball cards, replacing their previous gift of a single cigarette.

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WOOL PREPARATION & A QUESTION FROM A NEWBIE
Yesterday I traced all of the pattern pieces for my Garden Fancies table runner onto fusible web (per instructions).  I then pressed it onto the appropriate colors of wool.

I had hoped to cut out the pieces but I ran out of time.  I have a question for you wool experienced stitchers out there.  When it tells you to "trace the words" onto the wool, what method do you use?  I can't see the words through the wool to be able to do that.  And how do you do that if the wool is dark (I will be doing a dark one soon too)?  I sure would appreciate any guidance that you might be willing to share with me

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ORIGINAL BEE BLOCK DESIGN

In yesterday's mail I received my second to last Bee block for the January Let's Bee Together

This wonderful block is an original design by Colleen Yarnell.  I just love the way the fabrics are displayed in this block.  Thank you, Colleen!!

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BLOCK FROM BRAZIL

Also in yesterday's mail, I received my first ever anything from Brazil.

This beautiful block was made by Gina, my January swap partner for the Quilting Block Swaps Australia.  You can check out her blog, Catwhiskers, to see some of her wonderful work.  Gina included a beautiful little note and apologized for the less than perfect craftsmanship.  I think a little imperfection in a quilt block is what makes it special and unique.  Thank you, Gina!!

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today is sort of a continuation of yesterday.  I will finish my Birdie Stitches BOM #2 that I had intended to complete yesterday.  I also plan on cutting out hexies so that I have some hand sewing to do while waiting for Mother to come out of surgery.

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GIVEAWAYS

Mom Loves 2 Quilt is having a Round Robin Book Giveaway.  If you've ever wanted to read the Aloha Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini here's your chance.  Patty will be 'doing the random.org thing' on Monday.

Shauna is celebrating the opening of her store, 1 Choice 4 Quilting, with a giveaway!  She is giving away a jelly roll of  your choice.  Plus, there are all sort of specials going on too.  This giveaway will end on Monday, February 7th, at 8:00 PM EST.

U Create is having a gift certificate giveaway.  You could win a $50 gift certificate to The Ribbon Retreat.  This winner will be announced on February 9th.

Quilting In The Rain is having a February fabric giveaway.  Jera is giving away a Giddy Jelly Roll and
a Fairy Frost charm pack - there are two chances to win!  This will end on Monday, January 7th.

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FINAL THOUGHT

The week is finally coming to an end.  What a long week it has been.  Ups and downs, trials and tribulations.  A week that I hope doesn't repeat itself too soon.  A week that started out with such promise and high hopes.  The hopes are still high but the promise sort of went 'poof'.  The weekend will be busy but manageable.  I hope for some down time and DH time on Sunday - watching the Super Bowl, I'm sure.  Do you have big plans this weekend?  Will you be attending a Super Bowl party or will you be shopping or sewing away?  Me?  At home, probably doing the wash and hopefully a little hand stitching.

Watching football is like watching pornography. There's plenty of action, and I can't take my eyes off it, but when it's over, I wonder why the hell I spent an afternoon doing it.
~Luke Salisbury


May your Friday be fantastic, your Saturday satisfying, and your Sunday super!!

18 comments:

Staci said...

Watching your wool project with interest. I bought wool felt for a Halloween project several years ago, but have never the courage to cut into it. Too worried I'd ruin it! I, too, wonder about the whole tracing thing. So, thank you for making your project and letting me learn along with you!

Cheryl said...

Hope Mom's surgery is a success! It is nice to have handwork to do while you wait. I have never 'written' on wool, so I have no advice.

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Will keep you in my thoughts as well as your mom on the prayer list. I can't help with the wool, hopefully someone can assist you as well as give us a little insight, too. I hope to finish quilting (domestic machine) my flower bed quilt and then I have 6 bindings to get done thru the weekend. 2 are my quilts and 4 are for customers - I don't do football, it will be an opera or musical while I stitch.

Barb said...

I am glad that they know what is wrong with your mom and can fix it. Also glad she opted for this side of life.

I have not had much experience with wool...sorry.

Lynda said...

Your Mom will be in my prayers for a safe and speedy recovery.

The Super Bowl will be on but I'll be tucked away downstairs in my sewing room fondling fabric, getting inspired for another creation and sewing myself into contentment.

Kathy said...

I hope your mom has a successful surgery and quick recovery.

Writing on wool is the most challenging part of working with it, I think. I've seen a new product advertised on Bird Brain Designs. It looks like a thin film that you write on and press onto the front of your fabric, then stitch through and tear off. I haven't tried it, but it looks promising. You can use Glad Press and Seal (the kitchen cling-wrap stuff with the sticky dots) the same way, but it doesn't stick as well and is thicker. It's worth a try!

There is also a pen by Clover that I like. It's white chalk, and you iron over it to remove the chalk. I usually just freehand the words with that, and iron them back off if I'm not happy with them, and try again. The pen is kind of weird in that the chalk doesn't show up immediately - you have to write and then wait a few seconds to see it. I think the chalk has to dry before it shows up well. It works great on dark wool, though.

I'm anxious to see if anyone else has a better way of writing on wool. I always have a hard time with that. Hope you enjoy your wool project. I love working with it and do more of than than quilting these days!

Miss Hillbilly said...

I have written it down on my calendar to be in prayer tomorrow for the surgery!

Hugs!

Shawna Seigel said...

Linda, thank you SO much for blogging about my giveaway at 1 Choice. I am so sorry to hear about your mom and only hope that she has the BEST recovery. My mother is my best friend in the whole world and can only imagine what you have been going through. My thoughts are with you both. *hugz*

Scrappy quilter said...

Hope your mom's surgery is successful. I love the blocks, especially Gina's. As to the stats for gum...I can't believe 2 billion dollars is spent on gum. Oh that it would be spent on something more important rather on something that is chewed and then spit out!! Hugs

Impera Magna said...

My LQS is having a special sale on Super Bowl Sunday and I think I'm going to check it out...

Prayers continuing for your mom and you all! Extra prayer tomorrow morning...

Lana said...

We will not stop praying - Let us know how it all goes...
Love to you and the fam!

Janet said...

Sorry I've no suggestions for your wool project. It looks very pretty though. I'm sewing on Saturday - walker bags for the local nursing homes. Then babysitting the grandkids overnight. The weekend will go quickly. My thoughts and prayers go out for you and your mom.

Rochelle said...

I'm sorry to hear of your Mum's current challenge. I will keep her in my prayers for a speedy, successful surgery and recovery.

I too am interested in your wool project. I'm sorry I can't offer any advice3.

It's Saturday morning here in Aust. Already 32 degrees at 5am so I will probably be doing my best to keep out of this insane heatwave we have been experiencing. 47 degrees on Tuesday, that's 117 f.

I hope you manage to relax a little over the weekend.

Shannon said...

I will be going to my parents house with my family for Super Bowl. I sure hope that you have a great weekend. I hope that next week goes better for you. Get some sunshine if you can it might help!

WoolenSails said...

Your mom will be in my prayers.

When I cut shapes with wool, I use freezer paper, it is a lot easier. Then you can trace onto the paper, iron it on and then cut it out.

Debbie

Sue SA said...

I havent ever tried to trace onto wool, but I am trying to mark out a celtic quilt at present and the fabric is dark and the only option seemed to be to use dress makers carbon paper. I dont know if it has different names but thats what we call it in Australia, comes in a packet with sheets white, yellow, pink and green. You put the paper (colour side down) on the right side of your fabric, then put the pattern on top and then trace over the words/pattern with a pen - but you need to really push down so a soft leaded pencil might work better with wool so you dont go through the paper. As I havent done this before I would definately suggest a practise piece first! I am not in love with this carbon stuff, but my local shop only had a generic brand so I am not sure if it was poor quality or its just not great. When I ironed the bloock it then started to come off, so I have had to retrace with a quilters chalk pencil, so I wouldnt consider it very stable. Sorry I couldnt be more help, happy quilting Sue SA.

Robin (RsIslandCrafts) said...

Sorry to hear that your Mom will need surgery but it is better than the alternative. Sending goods thought to your family.

I once saw on a blog where the author printed off words on her computer. She then pinned the fabric to her embroidery project and stitched right through the paper. This allowed her to keep her letters all uniform and in a straight line. I don't know how easy the paper would tear away but maybe a tracing paper would work. Or, what about wash away interfacing? I have never worked with it but you could trace your words, stitch through it and spritz it away...maybe?

The block from Brazil is nice. I never mind if a block is a bit off. If I did I might never finish a quilt.

Conni said...

You may want to try Transfer-Eze. You run the sheets through your computer and then you can stick them to your wool and stitch right through it. When done, simply wet the Transfer-Eze and it will dissolve away! Works great for embroidery projects, too.

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