Chicks and Integrity

No one is listening until you fart.
~Author Unknown

 Did the quote make you smile?  It did me and I love starting the day with a smile!  I did absolutely no sewing yesterday.  My foot didn't touch the pedal and my fingers touched neither needle nor thread.  I did touch fabric but only to put completed blocks into envelopes to send them on their way to swap partners.  It was a computer day.  A day to prep work for Block Swap Adventure and April swap partner assignments.  It took me a little longer than last month - both a good thing and a bad thing.  Good because we have more members this month (we're up to 66!) and bad because I had some trouble with a couple of emails.  Ended up taking about 4 hours! Whew!  But it's done and the emails will go out this morning.  Then I had to prepare packages for shipping.  The mailman will be picking up 5 large envelopes and one box.  So back to normal today.  My sewing machine awaits.

====================================

PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

International Waffle Day

Like many of Western civilization's finest achievements, the long and scrumptious history of waffles can be traced to ancient Greece, when Athenians cooked obelios — flat cakes between two metal plates — over burning embers. The word waffle is related to wafer, as in the communion wafer — one of the only victuals that early Catholics could eat during fasting periods since wafers didn't contain animal fats, eggs or dairy products. During the Middle Ages, when bakeries decided to compete with monasteries in the wafer market, the secular — and considerably tastier — waffle was born.  Eventually, waffle irons engraved with coats of arms, religious symbols and the familiar honeycomb pattern (said to resemble interlocking crosses) were used to brand the baked treats. In medieval France, an entire guild was established in 1270 to train the vendors who sold waffles on the street. Because the simplest version only called for flour and water, it soon became a staple of country cooking, though wealthier peasants would add honey, eggs and aromatized wine.
The Pilgrims discovered waffles in Holland, where they spent time before arriving in America, and brought them across the Atlantic in 1620. Dutch immigrants popularized the dish in New Amsterdam before it was taken over by the British in 1803 and became New York City. Thomas Jefferson, as legend has it, bought a waffle iron in France as a sort of culinary souvenir and began serving waffles in the White House, helping spark a fad for "waffle parties" nationwide.

=========================================

CANDLE MAT

Remember that spoiled egg with the chick embryos in it? 

Over the weekend I finished my wool Chicks Candle Mat.

You can't see it but the little chicks bodies were first whip-stitched into place before adding the 'feathers' and 'wings'.  Lots and lots of tiny stitches.  Some of the stitching was done in the car while hitting bumps and curves so some of their little legs ended up a little wobbly.  We'll just pretend that they are the newer chicks and just learning to stand ;)

And here it is on the living room table doing what it's supposed to do - holding a candle. 

====================================

INTEGRITY

Last week while cruising through blogs I discovered Tiffany at Lower Columbia Modern Quilting and Crafting.  She talked about Swapping Integrity. 

Integrity is a concept of consistency of actions, values, methods, measures, principles, expectations, and outcomes. In ethics, integrity is regarded as the honesty and truthfulness of one's actions.

On her blog she had a pledge that I took and hope you will consider taking:

I, Linda, pledge to do my very best to have integrity and honesty in my swap commitments. To be on time, to participate in discussions, and to communicate if I am going to be late or unable to complete my obligations to my swap partner.

If you would like to take this pledge publicly, you can connect to Tiffany's blog either at the link above or on the button on the sidebar.  Even if you don't, I hope you strongly believe and follow the pledge to the best of your ability.

===================================

TODAY'S GOAL

OK. So I didn't do to well on yesterday's goal of working on the hot pad.  So, once again, that will be my goal.  With an emphasis on finishing it.

=======================================
GIVEAWAYS

QuiltStory is celebrating their new sponsor, Fat Quarter Shop, with a giveaway.  You could win 5 yards of Sugar and Spice-winner's choice.  Ends ?

Jackie's Art Quilts is having a giveaway to celebrate reaching 150 followers.  Jackie is giving away 5 beautiful fat quarters.  She will draw the winner on Thursday, March 31.

Gene Black an Alabama Artist is having a giveaway.  You could win an adorable zip bag that Gene made plus the rest of the half yard of fabric he used to make it.  This giveaway ends Saturday, March 26.

===================================

FINAL THOUGHT
I have made myself a promise.  No more fabric purchases for at least one month.  31 days!  I can do this!  I know I can.  I really have enough material to last me probably a life time.  I would maybe have to by some white or cream background fabric at times, but really nothing else is needed.  This is a challenge to myself.  I can't keep buying fabric just because......just because it's on sale......just because it's cute......just because I haven't bought any in 3 days.........  I'm even going to mark the date on the calendar so I can't cheat and say "I don't remember what day I made that promise".  Now that I have put this promise out there for the world to see I will definitely stick to it.  I think I can.....I know I can.....I will succeed!!!!

To promise not to do a thing is the surest way in the world to make a body want to go and do that very thing. 
~Mark Twain

Friday is finally here - enjoy it and your weekend!!