Love, Hearts & Cupid, Too!

I don't understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine's Day. When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon.
~Author Unknown

Happy Valentine's Day to one and all.  Are you munching on your candy hearts?  Reading a sweet card from a loved one?  Planning a big night out on the the town to celebrate the night of love?  Here at our household it's pretty much just another day.  My sweet DH surprised me Friday evening with a beautiful bouquet of tulips!  The card read "Happy 37th Valentine's Day - and here's to 37 more".  How sweet is that?!?  Thank you, honey!!!  We did get a little special something for the grandsons but for the rest of the family it was just a specially selected card from my Hallmark Card program.  Mailed them off last week in hopes that they reach their destination by today.  We gave up going out on this special night years ago as every restaurant in town was always overly crowded.  DH and I will spend the evening together as we usually do - chatting, eating dinner, and watching a few programs off of the DVR.  What are your plans for one of the most profitable retail days of the year?

PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

Cupid

The history of both Valentine's Day and Cupid go back thousands of years but are not typically associated with each other. So how did Cupid become associated with Valentines Day? Lets take a look at the history of Cupid. Cupid is a ancient Roman god. He is one of the son's of Venus, the goddess of love. He had arrows that he would shoot to make people either fall in love with each other or lust after each other, depending upon if he used his golden or lead arrows. In the legend and the stories about him, he has always been an adult, not a child. He also has been represented with and without wings. His wife is Psyche also a Roman goddess. She was once a human that he fell in love with.
So how did a legendary adult Roman god become to be a small winged baby that we see on Valentines Day cards? It appears that one of the card makers in the early 1900's in the USA started to add cherubs (baby angels) to the cards and soon added the bow and arrows from Cupid. Over time, Cupid was the name that became associated with the baby angels with bows and arrows.  Cupid had changed from an adult Roman god with full love passions for his wife to a baby with wings for the sake of selling Valentines Day cards.

FRIDAY'S MAIL

I don't know if you remember my showing you the four heart blocks I made for the Quilted Table swap?

I mailed those four blocks to Sharon, our wonderful hostess, and she swapped them out for four hearts made by other members.

Didn't these ladies do a wonderful job?  I think I will probably be making a table runner with these lovelies.

LOVE BIRD BLOCKS

Friday I appliqued the two Love Bird blocks from the Garden Party BOM.

I'm still learning a lot about my machine and which stitch to use for the blanket stitch.  I started out using the one actually labeled 'blanket stitch' and then noticed one label 'Applique Stitch'.  Looked the same to me.  Gave the applique stitch and try and like it even better.  Looks like a regular blanket stitch but it doubles the stitches giving a little more body to the stitches that actually edge the fabric.  Hopefully it's not too noticeable that I changed things up part way through.  I'm also learning what size stitch to use for the different sizes of applique.  What rule of thumb do you use for deciding how big to make your stitches and how close together?  I'm still having a little trouble with points because a stitch doesn't always end up exactly where I would like it to.  I guess that will come with time.  I welcome any suggestions and critisisms!

I WAS A WINNER

Last week I won a giveaway over at One More Quilt and the fabric has already arrived!

Isn't this some fun fabric?  I'm not sure what I will be doing with it but I love the sayings on the license plates.  They certainly fit the day, don't they.  Thank you, Frances!

MUG RUG SWAP

I know I said I was through joining swaps but I just couldn't resist this one.  My friend, Leona of Leona's Quilting Adventure, is hosting a mug rug swap.  Deadline to sign up is February 28th.  You will be given a partner and must have your mug rug in the mail by April 15th.  Definitely sounds doable and like loads of like fun!

TODAY'S GOAL

Today I am going to work on my wool table runner.

GIVEAWAYS

Are you still hoping to win a Accuquilt GO! Cutter?  A Few Scraps is having the giveaway you are looking for.  If you already have the cutter than you can select to win dies of your choice.  Entries welcome through today, the 14th.

Samelia's Mum is having a Fresh Cottons giveaway.  Anorina is giving away a charm pack in that wonderful line of fabric.  This giveaway is open until Tuesday, February 15, until 7:00 PM AEDST.

I'm Just A Guy Who Quilts is having a sponsored giveaway.  Ryan is giving away a copy of Tidbits from Triangles, by Kari Ramsay, and a fat quarter bundle of Tidbits to go along with the book.  Ryan will pick a winner on Friday, February 18th.

Deena Rutter is having a giveaway.  Deena is giving away a fat quarter bundle of her new line of fabric, Penny Lane.  This giveaway ends Friday, February 18, at 10 PM MST.

Stash Resolution is having a Delilah giveaway.  You could win a 6 fat quarter bundle of Tanya Whelan's Delilah.  The deadline to enter is Wednesday, February 16, at midnight EST.

Hawthorne Threads is having their weekly giveaway.  Just for registering you have a chance to win Riley Blake's entire Feeling Groovy collection in Fat Quarters!  They will announce the winner in their weekly newsletter.

Simplify is having a giveaway.   Camille is giving away a Bliss fat quarter bundle.  The winner will be announced on Febrary 16th.

Jonquils & Ladybugs is helping Veramoos Creations celebrate her 100th sale in her etsy shop.  To celebrate she is giving away a darling little bag which she has filled with designer scraps.  This giveaway ends on Tuesday, February 15th, at midnight.

And don't forget about my giveaway - THINK SPRING GIVEAWAY!  You can enter the giveaway for 5 yards of fabric HERE.

FINAL THOUGHT

Valentine's Day was looked upon differently by our two daughters as they were growing up - especially in high school.  DD#1 loved it.  It meant a date with the current boyfriend, receiving flowers and chocolate covered cherries.  DD#2 hated it.  It meant another day pointing out that there was no one special in her life.  DD#1 ended up married and divorced twice before finding her forever love.  DD#2 waited longer but found her soul mate and has been happily married for almost 5 years.  They blamed their love downfalls on my DH and me.  How do you figure?  We have now been married almost 36 years.  Well, I was told that we set too high of an example.  DD#1 figured it was impossible to find someone you wanted to spend your entire life with.  DD#2 was afraid to commit because the fear of failure was just too much to bare.  How can you apologize for being happily married to one person?  We don't.  They learned, grew and discovered that true love is possible.  It's a wonderful thing!

Love is a game that two can play and both win.

~Eva Gabor