Friday, March 25, 2011

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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!!

37 comments:

Charity said...

The chick candle mat is adorable. And so perfect heading into the holiday season.

A.J. Dub. (Amy) said...

Your embryos hatched into cutie chicks! That quote was hilarious! :) Good luck with your hot pad.

Jeanette said...

Love the candle mat. I bought the felt today to make it & the bunny one too. :) Lol. Happy Stitching

Jocelyn said...

I've been working on quilts for Japan, and I have realized that there is too much fabric in my stash!! So I must go on a fabric fast too.

Linda said...

I love the chick candle mat! It turned out really cute.
I've never participated in a swap. I'm going to have to try it soon! You seem to have so much fun.
Linda

Sallie said...

Good morning - the baby chicks are adorable! QuiltStory giveaway ends March 30.

Vroomans' Quilts said...

I so love the opening statement! A laugh to make the day. Your chicks are so cute - not the eggs on the skillet at all you cheeky dear. I love the fluff and wobbly knees. Great 'put out there' on the swap integrity. I've been very lucky with swaps, but I have stayed with very well established groups - getting burnt once taught me that.

My goal is to finish the last side of a binding and then get going on the hot pad (same swap you are in). Have a great weekend.

Cheryll said...

Love ALL your work Linda~as usual!
Thanks for the link to the PLeDGe... I took it-- I'll pass the words on! :)

Barbara said...

Adorable(!)candle mat. :)

Pat said...

I love your chick candle mat. It looks totally different from the initial picture. Much cuter for sure.

nono said...

I too am putting myself on a fabric purchasing diet. I've been spending way too much money on fabric. I have enough to get me through many projects in the future. So all my shopping will be done from stash only for awhile.

Cheryl said...

You must be clucking with joy over how cute your little candle mat is! Have a great weekend.

sewfunquilts said...

Love your little chickies! Congrats on your fabric diet..keep us posted on how it goes.

Please visit my blog too.

Pokey said...

That little chick mat of yours has me smiling, it's so sweet! (I can't top Cheryl's comment, tho)
:-}pokey

Ann Marie @ 16 Muddy Feet said...

I love your candle mat, how adorable! The fabric diet isn't too hard, quite a few of us bloggers did that for the whole month of February.

Staci said...

Your little chicks are just darling! I love how fuzzy they appear to be. Waffles are a great achievement of western civilization, aren't they? My husband adores them, and would eat them every day if I made them, I am sure. Thank you for all your hard work for the Swap and Bee.

Char said...

Those chicks are so darn cute!
I think I'm taking that same no fabric pledge. It seems I'm out of control and I have a daughter attending college in the fall.

Needled Mom said...

I need to make the same promise!!!

I love the cute chick candle mat. Those wee stitches are so sweet.

Scrappy quilter said...

That quote is so true. That candle mat is so cute. Hugs

Impera Magna said...

Too funny that today is International Waffle Day... I woke up this morning and thought about making waffles for breakfast!

*lol*

Megan Harmeyer said...

Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! I wonder where I get my hoarding tendency from! *sigh* I hope you're able to stick with your pledge because I have yet to complete a full month of no-buy on my nail polish. Anyway...that candle mat is ADORABLE! And I love your quote. Made me think of Dad. *giggle*

Kathy H said...

I love your little chick candle mat. I made that one last year (which reminds me to get it out for this spring) and I thought it was one of the cutest mats ever with the way the chicks turned out so fuzzy.

Joanna said...

Your chicks are the bees knees! I love them. I haven't made any wool candlemats, but I like them so they are going on my "someday" list. It's too bad that an integrity pledge is necessary. I think there should be one for giveaways. Have a great weekend.

Nancy said...

Linda,

The chick mat is darling. I have one cut out but haven't made it yet. Good luck with the challenge. I keep telling myself it is a good investment since the price of cotton is going up! How is that for a rationalization?

Michelle said...

I love your little chicks candle mat! Very cute!!

Anonymous said...

You have good reason to be fluffed up with pride, though you're not a rooster, so you can't crow about it! Sheesh! Terrible puns! :) I just love the candlemat, though...it is really special, and will be a cute addition to your springtime table!
Jacque in SC
quiltnsrep(at)yahoo(dot)com

Karyli said...

Love your little chicks!
I took the pledge too. Integrity is so important and I plan to do my part in helping them be fun and continue to go smoothly.

WoolenSails said...

Love your chick candle mat, it is so fun.

Debbie

Midlife Mom said...

I love the chick candle mat! You did a great job, I love the chicks legs!!

Sarah Craig said...

Your opening quote made me laugh out loud - and will now hold a special place in my heart, right next to "nobody ever expects the Spanish Inquisition!"

Unknown said...

i love reading your blog, even though I may not always make a comment. But I had to laugh at myself when you made the promise not to buy any more fabric. I am in this dilemma too. I dont need any more fabric, except maybe for borders or backing, but every week I cannot help myself as I always see some that i just must have. Good luck with your promise to yourself, i wish I was that brave.

Unknown said...

ps, thanks for the link to the pledge, I took it and put it on my blog and the swap blog xx

Unknown said...

Cute candle mat!! :)

Amy said...

I love the chick candle mat!

Anna said...

those chicks are adorable!!

Wendy said...

Cutest little chicks!! and mmmm, I love waffles...the only thing better is French Toast!

Patty C. said...

The wool chicks candle mat has to be about the cutest thing I have ever seen - Adorable !!!!

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