Friday, March 18, 2011

A Mystery To Solve


Unmentionables - those articles of ladies' apparel that are never discussed in public, except in full-page, illustrated ads.
~Changing Times

Yesterday was one of those off kilter days.  Do a little sewing; check out something on the computer; do some wash.  OK, back to sewing again.  Wait!  I forgot to start the dryer.  Back to sewing.  Oh, it's time to get ready to go to lunch.  Great food and fun conversation with my BFF.  Back home, change clothes.  Rip out a seam.  Oh no!  I forgot about the clothes in the dryer.  Clomp, clomp, clomp.  Set the dryer to fluff.  Remember - 10 minutes.  Time to pay bills.  Now fold clothes.  Read a couple of blogs.  Put more clothes in the washer.  Do prep work for tomorrow's blog.  5:00 already?!?  And that's how my day went yesterday.  How was yours?

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

Aluminum Foil

Aluminum foil is found in nearly every kitchen, and it’s surprisingly useful - but not only for its traditional purpose. From the cookbooks of grandmothers and the journals of contemporary internet homemakers, here are 10 uses for that most unassuming of all shiny flexible metals: aluminum foil.
1. Frosting a cake but you’ve run out of pastry bags? Just grab a double thickness of aluminum foil and roll it into a cone shape, leaving a small opening at the point. Fill with frosting of spreading consistency. Twist the top to close the cone and use the device to make pretty frosting designs on your cake.
2. Sharpen  your inexpensive scissors.  Cutting through 6-8 layers of aluminum foil will improve the cutting surface of most scissors.
3. Make an aluminum foil deflector beanie. You know, for protection from mind control enemies.
4. Shine up rusty chrome. With a bit of water on a wadded-up piece of aluminum foil, you can rub most rust spots off of chrome car parts.
5. Make your soap last longer. Put a piece of aluminum foil on the bottom of your bar of soap to keep it from sitting in a puddle of water and wearing away quickly.
6. Re-soften hard brown sugar. Many people put hard brown sugar in the microwave to soften it up, but this can actually backfire and make the sugar harden even more. Instead, wrap the block of hardened sugar in some aluminum foil and bake in a 300° (Fahrenheit) oven for 5 minutes.
7.  Protect your furniture. Pets can’t stand the feeling or the sound of crinkling aluminum foil.
8. Get creative and make fun sculptures with your aluminum foil.
9. Put a wadded-up ball of aluminum foil in your dryer with a load of clothes to reduce static cling.
10. Keep birds out of your fruit trees. Hang twisted strips of aluminum foil all over your fruit trees using fishing line.

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MYSTERY BLOCK DAY

On Tuesday I made the 10th block in the Designer Mystery BOM from the Fat Quarter Shop.  Would you like to play along and help me figure out what it might be?


This is the fabric I was sent to create this month's block. Cheery and bright as usual.

After pressing the fabric, I cut out all of the needed pieces.  Mostly rectangles and a few squares.

First I made 6 flying geese and 2 HSTs.  Any guesses yet?  Too early for me!

Two matching blocks were made next.  Some one's pigtails?

This is where the rest of the flying geese were used - a pinwheel.

Guess it wasn't pigtails.  Fireworks, maybe?

This looks like the start of a journal cover but I don't think that's where we are headed for the block.  Have you ventured a guess yet?

Ta-Da!  Finished.  This block is called "All Tied Up With Pretty Red Tinsel" and was designed by Polly Minick & Laurie Simpson.  This isn't one of my favorites of the series so far but I'm sure it will work well with the others.  Did you guess correctly?

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TODAY'S GOAL

I did work on the hot pad for the swap I'm involved in yesterday.  Maybe I will be able to finish it today.

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GIVEAWAYS
(And there are a lot of new ones to share!)

The Q and the U is continuing her Blog-O-Versary giveaway.  This time Riel is giving away 3 charm packs of Moda Eclectic.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, March 23, at 7:00 pm AST.

Canton Village Quilt Works is having a book giveaway.  You could win a copy of Pat Sloan's new book Tour Ireland.  Be quick as this giveaway ends Saturday, March 19th.

Sewplicity says it's giveaway time!  Jennifer is giving away a SideWinder.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, March 23, at 11:50 pm EST.

Hancock's of Paducah is having a giveaway.  You could win a Beach Walk Quilt Kit.  This giveaway ends April 1st at 10:00 am CST.

The Jolly Jabber is having a Schnibbles giveaway.  You could win one of three sets of the six new Schnibbles patterns – which come tucked into a Schnibbles project bag.   Not exactly sure when this giveaway ends. 
Carol's Crafty Creations is also having a giveaway.  You could win a set of Schnibbles patterns plus a This & That pattern too.  This giveaway ends Saturday, March 19.

The Other Side Of Me is having a spring giveaway.  You could win 6 beautiful Moda fat quarters and a copy of Quilting - 20 Fresh & Fabulous Projects, by Karol Kavaya and Vicki Skemp.  This giveaway ends March 26th.

Pigtails and Quilts is having a sponsored giveaway.  You could win stunning hardwood box created by Dave Grunenwald of Quiltboxes.  When you enter, please tell Thearica I sent you over.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, March 23, at noon EST.

Jaybird Quilts is having a Build Your Own Giveaway with the Fat Quarter Shop.  You could win a $100 gift certificate to purchase whatever you would like from the Fat Quarter Shop!  Doesn't get much better than this.  This giveaway ends Sunday, March 20, at 10:00 pm EST.

There are just a couple days left to enter one or both of my giveaways.  If you would like to win a pattern from B. Bumble and Company go HERE.  Or if you want to give a Novel Giveaway a try you could win a book by Jennifer Chiaverini.  Oh heck, why don't you enter both!

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FINAL THOUGHT
I really enjoy reading magazines.  I subscribe to just a couple.  There are great patterns and hints.  Ads to check out and new products reviewed.  Stories on designers and places to visit.  So many things included in those smooth, glossy pages.  I tried an online version of one magazine but I found that I never looked at it.  Luckily it was a test market subscription so it wasn't too expensive.  I guess I like to turn the pages and hold it in my lap.  I can take it with me on the road (since I don't do the driving) or throw it in a bag to read when waiting at the doctor's office.  I used to subscribe to several magazines but had to reduce those number when the subscription price went too high.  For some reason I don't read the magazines the minute they hit my mailbox.  I wait until a few have accumulated and then sit down with the stack for some eye candy and a leisurely stroll through the written word.  Do you subscribe to any magazines?  If so, which ones and why?

Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. 
~Richard Steele

May your Friday be fun and your weekend endless!

22 comments:

Barbara said...

I love those pigtails! Very pretty project!

Vroomans' Quilts said...

I actually did not sew at all yesterday - enjoyed a day of sunshine and the outdoors and some shopping - then I needed a nap.

I don't subscribe to any magazines. I can find so much right on-line - and I think I am over stimulated????!!!

Better tackle that binding today.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for blogging about my giveaway!

Lynette said...

Wow! I do love that block, and especially the ice-skating fabric! :D

Another use for foil I just overheard someone talking about yesterday:

Line your wallet and/or purse with it to FOIL the scammers who scan for your RFID credit card info when standing near you. I should pop up a blog about that. . .

Pat said...

I subscribe to about 10 different magazines. I usually set aside a day or two to read them. I give them to my mom afterwards so I feel like we get my money's worth. I've let some lapse because the articles are somewhat duplicated in a few others.

Barb said...

Thanks for all the uses of aluminum foil......love the pinwheels...

Sunnybec said...

I love magazines but subscription to France is just too high for me. I try and pick up a few when I go to the UK. I like that block its different. Thanks for the foil tips and thanks for the links to all the giveaways.

Impera Magna said...

I had to laugh at your day yesterday... Sewing on the weekends is exactly as you describe... a little sewing, some of this, back to sewing, some of that... rarely do I get to just sit down and sew all day... too many chores that need doing!

Needled Mom said...

Great block. I was wondering where you were going with the pinwheels.

Another use for the foil is a cover to your ironing board. With it under the pad and cover you will get heat returning from the bottom when you iron. It works great!

I get a lot of magazines and read them all cover to cover. My favorites ares Quilting Arts, Threads and Sew Beautiful. I save them all and constantly refer back to them.

Cheryl said...

I just love all the Mystery BOM blocks! So clever.

Staci said...

Heading for the kitchen to bake a chocolate cake. I think I'll make myself a beanie and wear it while I bake! Definitely going to try the scissor sharpening trick! The pair I keep in the kitchen are getting pretty awful!

I've cut WAAAy back on magazines, too. I get two quilting and two cooking and a church publication. Hubby gets a computer mag (which he never actually reads) and popular mechanics, which he does.. I get Bon Apetit, which is a lot of fun to read, and I do cook things from it, and it is dirt cheap--$1 an issue. I get at least a $1 of entertainment out of it each month. I also get Fine Cooking, and I cook from it pretty often. I get Fons and Porter's quilt mag, and I intend to let my subscription expire. I get an awful lot of issues that have no projects I'm interested in. I borrow magazines from the library. They get a couple quilting ones, Vegetarian Times, Smithsonian and National Geographic. I can keep them for 7 days and it is free!

sewfunquilts said...

Glad to hear other gals have days like that...whew! thought it was only me. lol

Lana said...

I didn't know about the foil / brain thing...I am making one of those TODAY!
My favorite mago is Better Homes and Gardens...pictures are perfect, they give the actual paint names/colors in the photos...oh! and the FOOD!
yep...gardening too! What else could you want? Only one I subscribe to but not the only one I buy...

WoolenSails said...

I need to find some fun christmas prints for fussy cutting. I love a few magazines, but get them at the store when I like an issue.

Debbie

Deborah in Atlanta said...

Quite a day you had yesterday, my friend. And regarding magazines, I don't subscribe to a single one. I spend so much of my time reading blogs (and that's entertainment all on its own), that I would have no time to read magazines. And on a totally different mindset, I got a Nook for Valentine's Day, and even though I would never tell my husband, I really, REALLY miss holding a book in my hands. That was totally a surprise to me. dmj53(at)hotmail(dot)com

Cheryll said...

I love the "gift" block... I'll remember that one for sure. Perhaps I'll make one for each side of my topper. Thanks Linda!

Linda said...

I don't subscribe to any magazines, although I buy every quilt magazine I find. I read my mom's Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Living when she gets them in the mail (We go to her house every afternoon for coffee). I tend to buy lots of cooking magazines during the holiday season.

Joanna said...

I like the All Wrapped Up With Tinsel block, but the fabric may have alot to do with it. Have a good weekend.

joe tulips said...

Magazines...we get Birds & Blooms, and a Hunting magazine. I usually just buy them when I am out. I love Cloth Paper Scissors and the Somerset publications.
I couldn't guess the mystery block, that's no surprise.

Lynda said...

I like the mystery block you let us guess on each month. And I like this one too.

Thanks for the tips on using foil. I'm going to line my purse tonight.

I have cut out most magazines because of the price also. I do get our Church magazine and a couple of quilting magazines. I really like Fons and Porters. We get lots of magazines at work so if I want to read something I can always find it there (especially since I'm the one who gets to pick them out).

Julia said...

Your yesterday sounds like my everyday!!!! Love your blog!

Anonymous said...

Wow! I hope the scissor sharpening tip really works! Mine need it!
Jacque in SC
quiltnsrep(at)yahoo(dot)com

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