Friday, April 1, 2011

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.

====================================

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."

===================================

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!

=======================================

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.

====================================

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.
====================================

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.

===============================

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 :)

26 comments:

And this would be . . . . said...

I will generally read a couple of comments before leaving mine. But I try not to let them influence what I might say.

Seriously, tatting day? Oh my. And I feel the same about log cabin blocks. I love the look of them but I am scared to make them.

Sarah Craig said...

Good morning, Linda! Love your post today - and in answer to your question, I usually only read the other comments when there's something controversial, and I want to see what others are thinking too.

I have trouble with log cabin blocks too - if I try to talk while assembling one, I always end up with the sides switched around! Not my favorite block to make either!

My favorite April Fools trick? I took the cord connecting the phone handset to the phone off a co-worker's phone one year, then called her....

Vroomans' Quilts said...

I have to start with your ending - I scared the cat I laughed so loud - the dogs are to easy to to pull a joke on - oh my!

I don't like to read other's comments either, but respond with my own. The only one I may read is Stash as sometimes there are great commentor tips to a subject - depends on the subject for the day.

Oh the dreaded log cabin - I am right there with you shaking. I had a terrible day with paperpiecing, which is something I love to do - just the day.

Love your mini - I need to make a little something to send off to the grands - a good day for it as we are having a snow storm.

Impera Magna said...

I don't generally read comments others have made unless there is a discussion about something...

Love the log cabin block and I'm sure Heidi will too...

Mary Lou Casada said...

I usually DO read the comments -- because I don't wanna say the same thing the same way as everybody else! :-D And it always amazes me what people pick out to respond to...was it the little quilt or the quote or the give-aways? Do I agree or disagree!? Food for thought in the comments, always! :-D
Blessings,
Mary Lou

Wendy said...

I occasionally read a few comments but not usually.

Your April mini turned out great. I just knew it would. Spring colors are so cheerful.

Have a great weekend.

Scrappy quilter said...

Your mini quilt is so cute. I will sometimes read the comments, depending on the blog. However I just don't have the time to read every comment on every blog I read. My mother used to do tatting...I wish I had learned the art from her. Just wasn't interested at the time. Hugs

Linda said...

I tend to scan through all the comments but not carefully read them. Like Mary Lou, I don't want to say exactly the same thing they have already said!
The little Easter mini-quilt is so cheerful. I love the stand it's on!

Char said...

The mini quilt is too cute.
Tatting is something I've always wanted to learn. I keep thinking I can crochet lace, how hard can tatting be?

Canadian Kristin said...

Happy tatting memory:
When I was in highschool I was a Candy Striper (hospital volunteer) and I can still remember chatting with a sweet little great-grandma patient one day while changing her water and tidying her side table. She was creating the most beautiful and delicate piece of art and we chatted and she showed me how fast that little shuttle could fly! Imagine my delight when I returned on the next week's shift to find she had left the little tatted doily for me when she was released from hospital! I still have that piece tucked in my hope chest!

Thank you for the memory!

Heidi M Ross said...

I saw my block :) and I love it. I can't wait till It arrives. I don't have yours done yet but I will be working on it this weekend. Also I wanted to let you know that I enjoy reading your posts.

Heidi

Jen said...

I read comments when there is a discussion: traditional vs modern; best ruler; need help deciding, etc. Sometimes, I'll want to leave a short comment like: congrats, I'm thinking of you, I'm so sorry about that...but I won't because 30 people have already commented that.

Love the log cabin. You did a great job on that! That little April quilt is such a day-brightener! I bet it looks great in your house.

Anonymous said...

First, a nod to your post yesterday: YAY!! SO glad you got good news on your overall health (know you have issues you continue to deal with, but that was a good report). Now, for today....I'm a terrible joke person, so I usually don't try! Love your quip about fooling the dogs! LOL Your mini quilt was so very pretty; I really like it. I sometimes look at other comments, but I find that if I do too much of that, I forget what I really wanted to say. Alzheimer's moment, I guess! :)
Jacque in SC
quiltnsrep(at)yahoo(dot)com

quiltzyx said...

I don't always read all the comments - especially if it's for a giveaway & there are zillions! lol
But, when there is a question asked in the blog, I do read at least most of them - just to see how everyone answered. (Like now!)
Whether you *should* read them - nah! Do what you're comfortable with. :D

Love the April mini! I think you should try not to be so tough on yourself!!! I don't see anything wrong with the ric-rac curve. ;^)

Eleanor Burns' Quilt-in-a-Day Log Cabin was the first big quilt I ever made! And then I made another one. One day I may even layer & quilt that 2nd one....

Have a Wonderful Weekend!

WoolenSails said...

Love the egg piece. I have done nothing today, trying to motivate myself by blog hopping, lol.

Debbie

Megan Harmeyer said...

I generally don't read all the comments before I comment. I like the April mini quilt! Nate doesn't get the whole April Fool's thing but I'm sure that'll change soon enough!

Gene Black said...

I generally skim over the comments if there are many of them. Sometimes I read them all. It really depends on the blog post.

I always pull a few little tricks for April Fool's day. Today I got four people with "OH! What on earth have you being sitting on (or against) you have something on your (seat or back)"
It worked every time. I also did a couple of others. The big one I planned with a co-worker for our supervisor failed - not my fault the co-worker couldn't keep a straight face. I managed to even tear up a little.

Kathy H said...

I love the April mini. I read the other comments on bloggers posts if it is an answer to a question that I have also or if it is a story that other people are telling. But usually I don't in case it is the same comment that I am leaving. Then the blogger would get fewer comments.

Michelle said...

Your April banner came out very cute! I'm making those each month too...fun!!

elizabeth said...

I read other comments occasionally. But the more blogs I enjoy, the less time I have to sew, SO, I try not to get too bogged down in reading stuff that isn't necessary.(does that make sense : )

elizabeth said...

Oh, and your mini quilt is darling!

Joanna said...

I don't always read comments, especially not for giveaways. Like you, I want to create my own comment. But if the blogger has asked an interesting question, I may want to see what other people think.
The log cabin is one of my favorite blocks, and I just read today that it is one of the quilting blocks that has never been out of popularity in the quilting world since first appearing in the 1800's. It is the quintessential American block. Yours looks great.

Shannon said...

I will leave a comment when something personally touches me. Which means most of the time, LOL! I may read one or two coments. I will read all the comments of the person asks a question. You did great on the log cabin block. I love your little quilt, it is so cute!

Michele said...

I try not to read comments until after I've left mine so I'm not influenced by what someone has said. I love the Easter project.....you do lovely work. Thanks for the giveaway information. So kind of you :-)

Anne said...

I don't usually read comments before posting mine, but I'll glance over messages others leave afterward. On another note, I love tatted lace and wish I could tat. I suppose that most young people today would think of a tattoo if someone mentioned "tat" to them. Also, I adore the "April" mini quilt. So cute.

Kathryn said...

No, I'm not a previous post reader. There just isn't the time. Your tatting post reminds me of the doilies my grandmother used to make. Your April banner looks great.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...