Blocks And Stitches

Happiness is never stopping to think if you are.
 ~Palmer Sondreal

Yesterday was a good day.  I finished both of the blocks I set as my goal.  I prepared several packages to put in the mail making me smile with so many completed monthly obligations out of the way.  I went to lunch with my BFF and we had a fun time discussing politics and the housing market (he is a real estate agent) with a little bit of gossip thrown in for good measure.  I found another charity to donate to (more on Monday) that will only take a block contribution and still make someone happy.  My dog, Weasley, was snoring loudly next to me which means he was also in a happy place.  The only mar to a perfectly good day was going grocery shopping, but, alas, it had to be done and unfortunately wouldn't do itself.  Yesterday brought me happiness :)

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

An Oreo Cookie

Though most of us have spent a lifetime cherishing Oreo cookies, did you know that since their introduction on March 6, 1912, the Oreo cookie has become the best selling cookie in the U.S.?   In 1912, Nabisco had a new idea for a cookie - two chocolate disks with a creme filling in between. The first Oreo cookie looked very similar to the Oreo cookie of today, with only a slight difference in the design on the chocolate disks.  The shape and design of the Oreo cookie didn't change much until Nabisco began selling various versions of the cookie. In 1975, Nabisco released their DOUBLE STUF Oreos.  So how did the Oreo get its name? The people at Nabisco aren't quite sure. Some believe that the cookie's name was taken from the French word for gold, "or" (the main color on early Oreo packages). Others claim the name stemmed from the shape of a hill-shaped test version; thus naming the cookie in Greek for mountain, "oreo." Still others believe the name is a combination of taking the "re" from "cream" and placing it between the two "o"s in "chocolate" - making "o-re-o." And still others believe that the cookie was named Oreo because it was short and easy to pronounce.  No matter how it got named, over 362 billion Oreo cookies have been sold since it was first introduced in 1912, making it the best selling cookie of the 20th century.

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SWAP BLOCKS

Yesterday I completed blocks for two different swaps.

This block was made for my swap partner, Caroline, in the Block Swap Adventure.  She requested a star block made in blue and white.  I think this fits the bill and hope that she will like it.  P.S.  We are always open for new members to join us in this fun monthly swap.  You can either click on the link above or on the button in the right sidebar for more info.

This block was made for Rosemary, one of my March partners in the Christmas Quilting Block Swaps Australia group.  I used the same pattern as before but traded places with the print fabrics.  Rosemary requested a block with traditional Christmas colors.  I hope she likes her block, too.

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A SQUISHY PACKAGE

As promised earlier in the week, here are the contents of one of the squishy envelopes I received on Monday.

Last month I was the winner of a giveaway over at Briarside Lane!  There is 3 1/2 yards of gorgeous fabric here.  Don't you just love the colors?  These will be very fun to create with.  Thank you, Karen!!

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GARDEN FANCIES UPDATE

I had a hard time coming up with a solution to marking the words I needed to stitch on my wool.  I had a couple of great suggestions from followers - thank you!  However, I came up with an idea of my own and probably one that many of you experienced in working with wool have already used.

I traced the words onto a tear away stabilizer and then pinned that to the wool.  I am able to stitch right through stabilizer with no problem.  I just have to be a little careful tearing it off so it doesn't pull the stitches out.  This is a medium weight stabilizer.  I think if I used a light weight piece next time it would be just that much easier to remove.  But the main thing....Problem Solved!  Now I'm almost ready to put on the backing and will soon be able to call this FINISHED!

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I hope to make a block for charity and maybe another block for a swap

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GIVEAWAYS

Diary of a Quilter is having a giveaway.  You could win a signed copy of Amy Ellis' new book, Modern Basics.  This giveaway ends on Sunday, March 5, at midnight MST.

There's a giveaway over at Quilt Story.  You could win 10 fat quarters of Fresh Squeezed Fabrics.  Don't know when this giveaway ends.

Quilt Taffy is having a giveaway.  You could win a charm pack of either not yet released Hullabaloo or Oh My!.  Another unknown end date.

The Knit Wit is having a CSN giveaway.  This time you could win a $45 gift certificate.  This ends March 17th at noon EST.

Creative Confessions is having a giveaway to celebrate her birthday!  Heather is giving away a set of 100 1/2" die cut hexagon papers, a set of 100 1" die cut hexagon papers, and a gorgeous book called, "Quilts from Grandmother's Garden".  This giveaway ends Sunday, March 6th, at midnight.

The Plaid Scotty is having a Blogiversary Giveaway.  Kaelin is giving away a fat quarter bundle of the Beach Mod Circa 60 line by Monaluna and a copy of Denyse Schmidt Quilts.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, March 9th, at midnight.

Clover and Violet are having a birthday giveaway.  Jennie is celebrating by giving away five lovely fat quarters of Tea Garden by Dena for Free Spirit and your own copy of the Jane bag pdf sewing pattern.  This giveaway ends Monday, March 14, at midnight EDT.

Sew Cal Gal is having a giveaway.  She is giving away a signed copy of Quilt Fiesta (a book I would love to have).  The winner will be drawn sometime in the evening of Tuesday, March 8th.

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FINAL THOUGHT

This weekend promises to bring in some beautiful weather.  Our high for tomorrow is supposed to be just shy of 70 degrees.  We will make our normal run to the Farmer's Market to start the day.  After we return home I think we will spend at least a few hours out in the yard.  The weeds are growing by leaps and bounds from all of the wet weather we have had.  We are almost embarrassed by the size of some of the milkweed out there.  Hopefully the front won't take too long because the back is a regular jungle of weeds, well at least if you are the size of Weasley and Snickerdoodle.  The weeds are covering some of the plants that should be starting to bloom!  Why do they grow so profusely when the plants I baby along just barely struggle to stay alive?  Strength in numbers, maybe?  I hope we can beat back some of the battalions and starting winning the war to get our flower beds back.  What are you plans this weekend?

Despite the gardener's best intentions, Nature will improvise. 
~Michael P. Garafalo

May your weekend be full of wonder and happiness!