It Was A Better Day!

A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be.
~Douglas Pagels

OK.  I'm going to get a little mushy here.  I was overwhelmed by the amount of comments I received yesterday!  I would like to thank all of my friends for the supportive and encouraging comments after my post yesterday.  I will do as you all suggested and not worry about the numbers - or at least try really, really hard not to worry - lol.  I will continue plodding along, writing my blog just as I have since the beginning.  You don't know how much your kind words meant to me.  And I hope you realize how much I appreciate each and every time you leave a comment.  I'm going to do my best when visiting blogs to leave a comment too, even if it's just one or two words.  That way you will know that you are being read.  Because, speaking from experience, there are days is seems as though your writing has gone unread and you feel like "well, guess that was boring".  And maybe it was but I bet somebody read it - lol!  Let your fellow bloggers know you are there.  Thank you again, each and every one of you, for your friendship and support! 
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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

Girl Scouts

Saturday, March 12, is the Girl Scout birthday.  It commemorates the day in 1912 when Juliette Gordon Low officially registered the organization's first 18 girl members in Savannah, Georgia.  GSUSA aims to empower girls and to help teach values such as honesty, fairness, courage, compassion, character, sisterhood, confidence, and citizenship through activities including camping, community service, learning first aid, and earning badges by acquiring other practical skills. Girl Scouts' achievements are recognized through rank advancement and by various special awards. Girl Scouts welcomed girls with disabilities early in their history, at a time when they were not included in most other activities.  President Obama signed the "Girl Scouts of the USA Commemorative Coin Act" for the 100th Anniversary celebration. The act authorized the minting of 350,000 silver dollar coins in honor of Girl Scouts and the achievements of the 50 million women influenced by Girl Scouting during the last 100 years.

Don't forget!  It's Girl Scout Cookie time.  Show your support - after all, their cookies are delicious and they freeze well too.

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BALTIMORE BLOCK

Yesterday I did as planned and didn't touch my sewing machine.  I sat in my recliner and worked on my first Baltimore square.

Above is what I accomplished.  I can now see where some of my leaves weren't perfectly placed and there are a couple of wiggles in my stems.  But I like my stitching, so that's a plus.

Above is the back side showing all of the stitches.  Each stitch is about 1/8 inch long.  I hid all of the thread tales except the one in the top right.  Somehow I ended up with a knot and loop that I just couldn't untangle.  I didn't want to unstitch so I just made another knot and then hid the tale.  At least that error won't show once it's all quilted up.

I'm really enjoying the process of hand applique.  Oh, it won't take the place of the old sewing machine method but I do find it relaxing and I love having some sort of handwork to do.

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NEW TOOL

Yesterday the UPS man brought my newest stitching tool.  No it wasn't new needles, pins, or pens.  It was....

My very first light box.  I was having trouble seeing patterns for stitchery unless I taped the pattern to a window and then taped the fabric over that.  And then it better not be a cloudy day.  It was so uncomfortable to work that way and my arms would start tingling if I had much to do.

Here is the quilt block I'm working on on top of the pattern on the light box.  You can see all of the lines so clearly!  This is going to make my life so much more easier, especially when it comes to tracing for stitchery.  I think this was a wise purchase.

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QUILTED TABLE SWAP

I am currently involved in a secret swap called the Sping/Easter Table Topper/Candle Mat Swap being organized through the yahoo group, Quilted Table.

This is the candle mat I made for my secret partner.  Remember the disappearing 4-Patch tutorial I had on my blog the other day?  Well, this was made using four of those blocks.  It looks like a much more difficult piece than it really was.  No cuts of little pieces just matching the seams was all it took.  It really didn't take much time at all.  I think it fits into the Spring theme quite well.  There will be a couple of extra goodies included with this candle mat when I mail it out next week.

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I'm going to work on a mug rug for a swap I'm involved in.  Hopefully I will have some time to do some stitching on my Baltimore block.

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GIVEAWAYS

Leona's Quilting Adventure is having a sponsored giveaway.  You could win a copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volume 2!  So if you missed getting a copy, here's your chance.  This giveaway will end Friday, March 18, at midnight EST.

Sew Fabulous Quilt Shop is having a March giveaway.  They are giving away a Central Park fat quarter bundle by Kate Spain.  This giveaway ends March 31st and the winner will be announced on April 1st.

Spun Sugar Quilt is having a Pot O'Gold giveaway.  You could win one of three $50 gift certificates to the Fat Quarter Shop!  (There is also a discount code for 20% off on the Spun Sugar blog for the Fat Quarter Shop).  I believe this giveaway ends Thursday, March 17th.

The Vegetarian Hunter is having a giveaway.  You could win 4 beautiful fat quarters and a copy of Carolyn's self created pattern.  This giveaway will end March 20th, at 12 pm MST.

Jaybird Quilts is having a sponsored giveaway by Wondrous Woven Fabrics.  You could win all the fabric you need for the quilt top & enough jelly roll strips to make a scrappy binding for the quilt on the front cover of Julie's new pattern, Hugs and Kisses, the pattern and the Lazy Angle Ruler too!  The giveaway will end Sunday, March 13, at midnight EST.

Sew WE Quilt is having a Spring Giveaway!  Her sponsors are donating layer cakes, charm packs, jelly rolls, fat quarter bundles, patterns, silk fabric, silk floss, embroidery packages complete with pattern and floss, background fabric...books...( oh and this is just some of the sampling...I have just been informed there is more coming...a lot more) for the giveaway.  Saturday will be the draw day.

Would you like to win a B. Bumble and Company pattern?  Then you should check out my giveaway by going HERE!

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FINAL THOUGHT

The correct tools can make all the difference in the world.  Have you ever thought about the tools you use everyday?  In the kitchen there are knives, pots and pans, measuring instruments and more.  In the bathroom there are toothbrushes, razors, scrubbies and others I won't mention here (tee-hee).  Cleaning tools, washing tools, and even tools for watching television - yes, the remote control is a tool too.  Life is so much simpler for us quilters now than it was even 30 years ago.  With our fancy machines, rotary cutters, and long arm frames, quilting is more fun because it is easier to accomplish.  Thank goodness there are people out there who figure out ways to make life simpler.  Blessed are the inventors in the world!

 Name the greatest of all inventors. Accident.
~Mark Twain

Enjoy your Friday and your weekend, too!!