A Full Mailbox

My mind contains many good ideas, but it's not always easy to squeeze one out.
 ~Ashleigh Brilliant

Several times throughout the day yesterday I thought of the perfect opening for my blog today.  Even while I was working on another part of the post I thought "Don't forget to write about......."  Can I remember what that 'something' was?  I know it was good or at least a little interesting.  Well, I think it was anyway.  I know I was pleased that I thought of it at the time.  Now when I stop to write about it I just see a great big O - an empty hole, a void, a blank page.  Think, think, think......   Well, maybe that will be my opening for tomorrow.  Or, maybe you could just crawl around inside my head and find out what crevice the idea is hiding in.  If you find it, let me know - lol!

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

G'day mate! Happy Hug An Australian Day to you! Today we pay tribute to the Aussies in our lives that we know and love (If you don't have any Australian friends, you can substitute Crocodile Dundee or Elle McPherson as an universal Aussie representative).

Hugging an Australian will certainly make both the hug giver and receiver feel better, but it may even go as far as to improve international relations! That's definitely a plus in my book. So what are you waiting for, you silly blokes? Get out there, give some hugs, and relieve some stress on this amorous day of bear hugs and Aussie embraces. The Australians aren't going to hug themselves!

We hear that Australians are friendly, fun-loving, and have adorable accents. Those seem like good enough reasons to hug one today. But beware of the boomerang effect. You hug them once and they turn around an come back for more!

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STUFFED MAILBOX

The last couple of days my mailbox has been stuffed with winnings I have received.  Last week I received a squishy from Cyndi of Bluebird's Wing.  I was one of the winners of her Quilt Festival giveaway and had won a Snap Sack (a small quilt kit).  Woohoo!!  It arrived last Thursday....

I was very surprised when I opened the envelope to find not only the wonderful little quilt kit, but a solid milk chocolate bunny (yummy - and I haven't eaten even a single nibble yet), a magnetic notepad (great for sticking to the refrigerator for shopping lists), two magnetic bookmarks (my favorite kind) and some darling note cards.  Thank you so very much for your generosity, Cyndi!!

Yesterday the mailman stuffed my mailbox once again.  This time there was a squishy envelope from Amy of Harriet Homemaker Strikes Again.  I had won her fantastic birthday giveaway by guessing the number of Hershey eggs in a jar.  My lucky guess was 73 - and it was pure luck - lol!

First there was a wonderful little screw driver that I think will be easier to use than the one that came with my sewing machine.  Then there was a Layer Cake Recipe Book that looks full of good pattern ideas.  Also included was a little 'candy bar' of Luna Notte by 3 sisters for moda, and some wonderful pink scissors - Cutter Bee.  Amy also included a little roll of scrap materials in all spring colors (I see hexagons being made from those).  Happy birthday once again and thank you so very much, Amy!

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BARN DOOR SWAP

Yesterday I also received swap blocks from Tiffany for the 12" Barn Door Block Swap for April.

I just love the centers of these blocks with their modern fabrics.  The white fabric is a white on white stripe that is very effective and the blue fabric is so rich looking.  Thank you, Tiffany!!

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TWO SWAP BLOCKS MADE

Even with all of the fun of opening squishy envelopes, I managed to get two block swaps made.  The first one was for my May swap partner in the Quilting Block Swaps Australia.

Debbie requested any block in brown and pink.  I decided to go with block called Salt Lake City.  I used a modern fat quarter I had received in a giveaway for the pink and then accented it with brown and a little tone on tone beige.  This block was fun to make.  I hope Debbie likes the results.

The second block I made was for my May swap partner in the Block Swap Adventure.

Mary had requested the Starflower block but didn't have a preference in colors.  This block was fun to make and I really like the final product.  I hope Mary will like it as much as I do.

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I will make my May Barn Door swap blocks. I also need to make a hexagon flower for One Flower Wednesday.

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GIVEAWAY

Auntie Nicole's Corner is celebrating her one year blog anniversary with a giveaway.  You could win  Essential Dots by Moda fat quarter pack or Tic-Tac Oh! pattern and enough 2" pre-cut strips in Basic Grey to make this pattern.  The giveaway ends Saturday, April 30, at noon PST.

The Confused Quilter is celebrating her blogaversary with a giveaway!  Staci is giving away a $25 gift certificate to Fat Quarter Shop.  This giveaway ends Friday, April 29.

Feeling Stitchy is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of Sewn by Hand by Susan Wasinger and also the fun haberdashery that's pictured on the cover.  This giveaway closes on Thursday, April 28.

Sew Cal Gal is having a sponsored giveaway.  You could win one of five Sherrod Studios patterns.  This giveaway ends Saturday, April 30, at noon PST.

The Adventures of the Empress of the Universe is celebrating 5000 page views and 50 followers with a giveaway.  You could win a beautiful wonky star mug rug/candle mat that Freda made.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, April 27.

Kool Benz is having a sponsored giveaway.  Skye Reve Fabrics is giving away a 7 piece 1/2 yd bundle set of "DayDream" fabric by Cindy Walker for Riley Blake.  This giveaway ends Friday, April 29 at midnight.

Jaybird Quilts is having a sponsored giveaway.  Green Fairy Quilts is giving away a fat eighth bundle of Grace by 3 sisters.  The giveaway will end Wednesday, April 27, at 12 pm EST.

Stray Stitches (ME!) is having a giveaway.  Help me celebrate my finishing a quilt for my daughter.  I am giving away 10 fat quarters of beautiful spring fabric.  This giveaway ends Sunday, May 1, at 8:00 pm PST.

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FINAL THOUGHT

Yesterday I was supposed to have a clean house. It was Monday and my house cleaner was due to arrive at 9:00.  At 8:30 the telephone rings and I it's my house cleaner, begging off for the day.  This has happened about once a month. She only comes every other week. Mondays are bad because of holidays. I think it's time to either switch days for cleaning or go back to cleaning my house myself. If I have to let her go, this will be the second gal that has cleaned well for a year and then slowly slacked off. I'm not picky - I rarely complain about the job they do. I pay promptly. I give gifts at Christmas and converse with her about her family and life. I don't know what else to do. It is just so very frustrating.


You don't get anything clean without getting something else dirty.
 ~Cecil Baxter