Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Slowly The Snail Escapes....


Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Has anybody else had the dilemma of trying to decide between sewing and blog hopping?  With all of the giveaways currently going on at Sew, Mama, Sew's May Giveaway (see link below under GIVEAWAYS)  it's hard to stay away from the computer.  It would be different if the giveaways lasted a week, but most of them are only open for the next couple of days.  I've only had time to look at a handful of those participating.  Each blog is offering such wonderful prizes!  Maybe tomorrow I can squeeze a few more in.  Maybe next year they could extend the length of the giveaway.  Have you been hopping about?

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

National Escargot Day

May 24 is considered National Escargot Day.  Escargot is a tasty appetizer made from cooked snails that has been consumed by humans for centuries.Escargot can be considered a healthy food because snails are high in protein and very low in fat. The ones that are edible have a lot of magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, Vitamin B1, Vitamin E and many essential amino acids.  However, not all species of snails are edible and the taste of the snails vary among species.
To cook escargot, the snails are removed from their shells, gutted, and cooked with garlic butter. Once cooked, they are then poured back into the shells to be served. Did you know that the French consume 40,000 metric tons of snails annually? If you've never tried escargot, National Escargot Day is a great reason to give them a try! Of NOT!

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GIFTS

Yesterday's mail brought a couple of belated birthday gifts.  I like it when my birthday manages to encompass more than one day :)

My friend, Mary (Needled Mom), sent me this absolutely gorgeous fabric postcard.  I have never attempted thread painting and her flower is just amazing!  Thank you, Mary!

My friend, Annie (Adventures In Oz) sent me five fantastic batik fat quarters, some darling Post It notes, and a oh-so-cute magnetic note pad!  I have the project already picked out for the batiks for later in the year and you can never have enough sticky notes or note pads.  Thank you so very much, Annie!!

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A LITTLE MORE DESIGNER

In between blog hopping I did manage to get some sewing in......

I finished the bottom two rows including all of the sashing of the 2010 Designer Mystery BOM.  Now I just have to make the borders and it will be time to get it to the long arm quilter :)

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LOST POST

I guess I'm never going to get back my post from May 12.....lost in the Blogger malfunction of the year.  And since I use this blog as a sort of scrapbook/journal I need to re-post the picture of my finished quilt once again.....

Just in case you don't know, this is my finished quilt from the Layer Cake QAL hosted by Moose On The Porch.  It was quilted by Joanne Lendaro of Insanely Cheap Quilting and she did a beautiful job.  Sorry, I won't bore you with this one again!

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TODAY'S GOAL

Since tomorrow is One Flower Wednesday, I think I should probably get a hexie flower made :)
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GIVEAWAYS

The Intrepid Thread is having Market Giveaway #5.  This time you could win two fat quarter bundles:  either Prince Charming or Kumari Garden Holiday.  This giveaway ends Sunday, May 28. 

Stitch Your Soul is having a giveaway.  You could win 6 fat quarters of hand dyed cottons all cold water resist dyed by myself, 5 fat quarters of some fab spotty cottons, hand dyed blue cotton with block printed butterflies and hearts in blue and metallic green, some of her stash of vintage buttons, and 9 x 12" butterfly patchwork blocks made by Alice, herself.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, May 31.

KoolBeenz is having giveaway #9.  April is giving away a Dilly Dally charm pack by moda.  This giveaway ends Friday, May 27, at midnight.

Adventures in Oz is having her Mystery Monday giveaway.  You could win 5 fat quarters in your choice of color.  The winner will be announced Monday, May 30.

Mariliz's Musings is having a giveaway.  You could win 5 beautiful fat quarters from Mary's stash.  This giveaway ends Monday, May 30, at 8:00 pm.

Jane's Fabrics and Quilts is having a giveaway.  You could win a yard of Kona Cotton, color your choice and Five Balls of Finca Thread, colors also your choice!  The winner will be announced on Thursday, May 26.

Cottonwood Lane Primitives is having a giveaway.  You could win a Maggie Bononomi design penny rug.  The giveaway will happen when Roberta reaches 100 followers.

The Intrepid Thread is having a final Market giveaway.  You could win a fat eighth pack of Ruby.  This giveaway ends Monday, May 30, at midnight.

Sew, Mama, Sew is having her Giveaway Day May 2011.  There are 3 categories with oodles of blogs participating - each having their own giveaway.

Do you like pin cushions?  I'm giving away a sunflower pincushion in conjunction with the May Day giveaway.  You can find the giveaway at GIVEAWAY DAY IS HERE!  This giveaway ends on Thursday, May 26, at 7:00 am PST.

Do you like fabric?  You could win 8 one half yards cuts of coordinated fabric at My Birthday Giveaway Celebration.   This giveaway ends Monday, May 30, at 7:00 pm PST.

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FINAL THOUGHT

I have been thinking about entering a quilt in the local quilt show this coming January.  I'm just not sure if I meet the grade.  It's a quilt that I haven't even started yet.  Those of you who have entered quilts, what are some helpful hints you can pass on to me - and others thinking of making the same leap?  How do you decide which quilt(s) you might enter in a competition?  I'm really nervous about this.  And this isn't the same kind of nervous as attending the guild meeting.  I've never had my quilt work judged.  I have had counted cross stitch judged and won Best In Show two years running at the local county fair.  But for some reason this just has set my nerves on edge.  Maybe I should make the quilt and then decide.  I'm looking for any advice you experienced quilt show exhibitors care to share!

Learn all you can from the mistakes of others. You won't have time to make them all yourself.
 ~Alfred Sheinwold

23 comments:

Lynette said...

Good morning, Linda. :) Here's my philosophy on local quilt shows: Enter! There is, of course, the element of being judged, and that can make one nervous. But we're not talking about state, regional, national, or international shows here. The real reason quilts are in local shows: Eye Candy for the attendees. :D Really!! I go to a local show to see what folks have been doing, get ideas, and "oo" and "ah". So each contribution to the show is great. Ribbons are frosting on the cake and a nod to that quilter to think about entering in juried and larger shows. :D

Lynette said...

p.s. - hey - would you consider linking this post up to my fledgling BOMs Away post? It would be fun to have one in the lineup at the end stage. :)

http://whatahootquilts.blogspot.com/2011/05/boms-away-monday-2.html

Donna said...

Enter the quilt show. Your work is beautiful. Besides should someone else win I would study their work and learn from them. After all we quilt because we love doing so.

Love your Christmas mystery BOM.

Cheryl said...

My best advice is to just have fun with it. The comments you will get from judges will only help to improve the quality of your quilting. Then focus on the binding...one of the first things they eliminate you on. When it comes time to bind your show quilt, let me know. I have a great tutorial by Carrie Nelson I can send to you. But remember, just have fun! I know your piecing is precise, so you have that one down!

Barb said...

I enjoyed seeing your quilt once again, just lovely.

Glad you did get some sew time inbetween your blog hopping.

I have only visited the sites that are on my google list that have joined this giveaway. I have gone to it before but too much going on to really enjoy it this time.

GerryART said...

Cheryl and I are thinking along the same lines. Binding - - be certain that the binding is full. No areas lacking batt.
Other than that, if there are size constraints be certain to pay attention to your finished size.
That's the extent of my knowledge of this subject :*)
go for it, gal
hugs

Barbara Ann Beamer Jones said...

By all means, enter the show! At the very least, it will be a learning experience and a bit of a thrill to just see your quilt hanging in a show.

I'm taking my very first entry in a big show to NQA this year and am a bit anxious about it myself. But I'm also a candidate in their judge certification program and will be in the judging room - it will be a terrific opportunity to learn how to improve!

Most of all, enjoy the experience! A good judge is positive, objective and encouraging - his/her comments should be a great learning tool for everyone.

Plus you can brag about your work being in a show, particularly if you win an award! ;)

Love what you do and share your joy!

Barbara

Wendy said...

It's always a struggle between how much blogging is too much, you need a balance. The mystery quilt is fantastic, you are going to be ready for Xmas. It's always nice to have birthday gifts over a few days. Happy Belated Bday.

Megan Harmeyer said...

I think you should definitely enter the quilt show - and I think you're definitely up to the level of others! It's always fun to get belated birthday gifts! Neil always manages to stretch his bday to at least a week.

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Good morning. I have just browsed the lists and only participated in known sites and those on my google list (once burned) - I have too many projects to keep me busy.

Snails- very curious post title and YUCK!! no thank you. Love all the BD gifts - I too was surprised. Just love the Designer Mystery Quilt - how fun. And I enjoyed seeing the Layer Cake quilt, great fabrics and color and wonderfully quilted.

Shows - this is a local show - use it as a learning tool. Don't compare your work with others, but that this is YOUR work and you certainly do beautiful work. Make sure you read the show rules - usually basics - if there is a theme (or open catagories) - if within a catagory make sure you put in the right one and size. If you need a hanging sleeve and what size.
Judging on construction: even seams, points aren't cut off, matched seams,borders are even and lay flat, any mitered borders are flat and on correct angle, binding should be hand sewn to back with even hidden stitches and a mitered corner, binding should be evenly filled, whether machine or hand quilted - stitches should be even, when quilt lays or hangs it is smooth.
And you do all these things already - so why stress.

Maria said...

Yes i also like to blog hop but found that I could not comment on blogs today. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!
Love Mary's fabric card.
Your Christmas Quilt is gorgeous.

Joanna said...

Love the Christmas Quilt design; it' s so cute. And I think the fabric card is also beautiful. No blog hopping for me lately, although I'm sure I missed some neat blogs.

Impera Magna said...

Local quilt shows are about showing others what you're doing and seeing what they've been making. The "judging" is just for suggestions about how you could improve your quilt making. And you don't even have to agree with what the judges say... if you like what you did, who cares what anyone else thinks?

BTW - You can have my share of today's snails!!!

Erica said...

Enter into your local quilt show! You'll be glad you did. Plus your work is gorgeous! I'm entering mine this weekend into our local show. I don't expect to win anything, but I like showing off my quilts to the public. I think they are pretty and that's all that counts.

Becky said...

Your Designer BOM quilt looks GREAT! Good job getting that one almost finished. Thanks again for keeping us posted with giveaways!

Eileen said...

Enter the quilt into the show.! You do wonderful work!
Boy their are a lot of give aways, I rarely enter because 1) I have little time and 2) I rarely if ever win for the amount of time it takes to enter give aways.
have a wonderful week and please enter your beautiful quilt.

quiltzyx said...

The Designer Mystery is looking fabulous Linda!

As to entering your quilt in a show...you don't need to stress, just go for it!!
I've entered at the LA County Fair, and have put at least one quilt in my guild's shows every show. But our shows are really "member showcases" - no tough judging, just viewer's choice & fun categories. I have to say, that made it easier for me to enter at the Fair! I just enter so other people can see them, and don't worry about any judging. LOL

Anonymous said...

Enter in the local quilt show! Your quilts are always pieced so beautifully!! The BOM you finished is very pretty!! Quilt shows are always so much fun to attend and entering isn't always about winning...it's about the journey..The fabric post card from Mary is very cool!!

Jackie said...

Enter. You will learn, have fun, help out your guild and be proud for overcoming this hurdle. And it will be fantastic!

Sandra :) said...

Your QAL quilt is gorgeous, as is your Christmas quilt - gosh you do lovely work - you'd be FINE in a quilt show! I'm not the quilt show entering type - I would go grey from the stress and worry, lol.

Gene Black said...

I think I am in a minority, but I have eaten Escargot and actually liked it.

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

Your BOM is sew cute! I ate escargot in France, many years ago. It tasted like garlic buttered mushrooms. Yum! I tried it in the states when I got back, it tasted like rubber. Oh well. I've only entered quilts in non-juried shows.

Shannon said...

I have been going through one of the lists, the one for sewing/knitting supplies. I have enteried about 100. I know chances of winning is slim but it doesn't hurt to try. Wow your quilt top looks so good. I love all of the red. It was suggested by a friend to brake up mine into table runners and I think I will do that. It will leave one for me and then three others for gifts. We will see. I to am interested in entering into a quilt show. I will be ready those that post to you as I also have no ideas of how to go about doing it. Have a good day!

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