My Mini Is Ready

Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong.
~Peter T. Mcintyre

I read lots and lots of blogs daily.  I love seeing what is going on out there in blogland.  I like to see what others are making, creating, and designing.  I enjoy reading about what's happening in others lives (no, I'm not a stalker).  There are times I wish I could give a hug in times of sorrow and give high fives in times of triumph.  I do my best to leave a comment.  Some of those comments may be just one or two words - beautiful!.....wonderful!  I don't even expect a response to my comments.  There is one thing I don't usually do......I don't generally read the comments left by others.  I like to leave my own thoughts without influence by others.  There are times I have gone back through and read the comments left but not very often.  I was wondering if this is strange.  Should I be reading all of the comments left before mine?  I sometimes will read just the one or two before mine - but always after I have written and posted my comment.  What do you do?  Do you read every comment left for the blogger?  Just curious.

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

Tatting

Today is International Tatting Day.  No fooling - it really is!  Tatting is the skill of making delicate, elegant tatted lace. It is enjoyed by thousands of people. On this day, "tatters" around the world have different activities, mostly educational, to celebrate their hobby, and introduce it to others. Often, they celebrate by eating chocolates and making tatted lace. Some believe that tatting may have developed from netting and decorative ropework as sailors and fishers would put together motifs for girlfriends and wives at home. Decorative ropework employed on ships includes techniques (esp. coxcombing) that show striking similarity with tatting.  Some believe tatting originated over 200 years ago, often citing shuttles seen in eighteenth century paintings of women such as Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Madame Adelaide (daughter of Louis XV of France), and Anne, Countess of Albemarle. A close inspection of those paintings shows that the shuttles in question are too large to be tatting shuttles, and that they are actually knotting shuttles. There is no documentation, nor any examples of tatted lace, that date prior to 1800. All of the available evidence shows that tatting originated in the early 19th century."

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ANOTHER SWAP BLOCK

Yesterday I made another block for my second swap partner in Block Swap Adventure.  As there were an odd number of members this month, and since I am the hostess of this group, I decided that I would be the one to have two swap partners this month.

Heidi requested a log cabin. And as many of you know, this is not my favorite block to make. I should have stopped before I had even begun.........

After putting in just my fourth seam I discovered I had made a mistake.  Why is such a simple block such a nightmare for me?  The ripper did it's magic work, I sewed the piece on the correct side and continued on to make.......

this block.  Heidi had no color preferences other than she does not care for earth tones.  To me this looks like the sky and green hills that are in abundance right now around here.  Can you tell we had sunshine yesterday?  I finally was able to take a picture in natural light.  This block will be going out to Heidi today!

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APRIL MINI QUILT

Yesterday I finished up my mini quilt for April.  Just in time, don't you think.

This pattern is from Count On It by Art To Heart.  The original pattern shows a much larger ric rack where the yellow is but this was the biggest I could find in the store where I shopped.  I certainly didn't do a good job of curving it - oh well.  Another picture in the sunshine on the green grass this time!

And here it is on its wire holder in my entryway.  I think its quite cheery and it made me smile when I completed it.

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today the new Birdie Stitches BOM is to be released.  I plan to make the block and trace the picture.  Maybe even start stitching it.  But if not, then I can work on it over the weekend.

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GIVEAWAYS

Fat Quarterly is have a sponsored giveaway.  They are giving away a $50 gift certificate to Fashionable Fabrics.  The winner will be selected Thursday, April 7.

Hawthorne Threads is having their weekly giveaway.  This week you could win a complete Denyse Schmidt Hope Valley fat quarter bundle.  A winner will be selected on Wednesday, April 6.

Little Lady Patchwork is having a giveaway.  You could win 8 fat quarters from Iz Scott's line of Sugar Pop!  This giveaway ends Monday, April 4 at midnight.

Geta's Quilting Studio is participating in the Quilt Album Blog Hop and Giveaway.  You could be the lucky winner of your very own copy of Quilt Album.  The winner will be drawn Wednesday, April 6.

U Create is having a giveaway.  You could win 5 Amy Butler patterns.  The winner will be announced Tuesday evening, April 5.

Quilt With Us is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of Julie Herman's new pattern, Raspberry Dessert.  This giveaway ends Sunday, April 3 at midnight.

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FINAL THOUGHT

April 1st.  April Fool's Day.  I haven't played a trick on anybody in quite some time.  My DH usually doesn't fall for 'em and it's way too easy to trick the dogs.  When the DDs were growing up we did the normal kid stuff - "Your hair is turning pink" or "There's no school today" and maybe even "Look! It's snowing!".  I can't think of any foolery that was played when I was still working.  Real estate agents aren't always the most jovial bunch.  I will be cautious of what I read and hear today because you can never tell who might be trying to pull the practical joke.  It's a day to take things lightly and accept the practical jokes with a chuckle.  So be wary out there.  You just never know......

April 1.  This is the day upon which we are reminded of what we are on the other three hundred and sixty-four. 
~Mark Twain

Start April with a smile :)