Thursday, June 23, 2011

A Little Stitchin'


Heat, ma'am! it was so dreadful here, that I found there was nothing left for it but to take off my flesh and sit in my bones. 
~Sydney Smith

The heat just dulls the brain - that's the only thing I can figure.  It zaps your strength and melts your creativity.  You walk out the door and it's like being hit with a blast furnace.  Yesterday it was a scorching 110 (F) degrees here.  I'm sure that all of the water parks and public pools were full to overflowing.  I can't imagine how people who work outside all day can survive.  All the plants are in wilt mode even though they get watered twice a day.  The poor birds stand around with their little beaks open trying to cool themselves.  Both dogs lay around belly up trying to keep cool.  And yet it is only June.  We have a minimum of 3 more months of this lovely stuff.  The A/C is working overtime and the ceiling fans are whirling away.  I try to do all of my sewing that requires ironing in the morning and save stitchery for the afternoons.  What do you do creatively when it's hot outside?

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PHOTO FINISH OF THE DAY

Typewriter

Today is Typewriter Day.  There are probably some of you that have never even used a typewriter.  I used to own one similar to the one in the picture except mine was baby blue.  For those of you that do remember using a typewriter - do you remember how hard it was to make corrections?  You couldn't simply hit the back key or delete key.  The sounds of its signature clackity clacking rang through offices and homes, and as the typist hammered away all that racket gave a certain importance to the document being typed.  Things sure have changed.
The idea behind the typewriter was to apply the concept of movable type developed by Johann Gutenberg in the invention of the printing press century to a machine for individual use. Descriptions of such mechanical writing machines date to the early eighteenth century. In 1714, a patent something like a typewriter was granted to a man named Henry Mill in England, but no example of Mills’ invention survives.  But the first typewriter proven to have worked was built by the Italian Pellegrino Turri in 1808 for his blind friend Countess Carolina Fantoni da Fivizzono.
In 1867, a Milwaukee, Wisconsin printer-publisher-politician named Christopher Latham Sholes, with assistance from Carlos Glidden and Samuel Soule, patented what was to be the first useful typewriter. He licensed his patent to Remington & Sons of Ilion, New York, a noted American gun maker. In 1874, the Remington Model 1, the first commercial typewriter, was placed on the market.
The electronic typewriter, a typewriter with an electronic "memory" capable of storing text, first appeared in 1978. It was developed independently by the Olivetti Company in Italy and the Casio Company in Japan.
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BEE BLOCK

I finally finished my Bee Block......

Melissa was one of our June hostesses in Let's Bee Together.  She said we could create any block we wanted with the great chili fabrics she sent us as long as we included a white signature square somewhere in the block.

I hand stitched my name, city, and state in red on the little 2 1/2" square.  Sure hope Melissa likes the block I made for her.

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STITCHERY

I was also able to finish this month's Birdie Stitches.....

For some reason the colors didn't show up as bright in the picture but I think you can get the idea.  My goal was to stitch the words in the same color order as the border, starting with the blue square.  And now I only have to wait a few short days for the July release.  If you would like to join in this stitchery being hosted and created by Little Miss Shabby, just visit her website for all of the past designs.  It's never too late to get started :)

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A NEW SWAP

Are you ready to think about Christmas in July?  How about making a Christmas themed mug rug?  If you think you would like to join in the fun, Crafty Pug is hosting the Christmas In July Mug Rug Swap.  This is being held through the Christmas Quilting Block Swap Australia but you Do Not have to be a member to join in the mug rug swap.  Just click on the link above if you are interested.  I'm joining - like I need another project - but it sounded fun!!!

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I would like to make the mug rug for Leona's 2nd mug rug swap....after all, it has to be in the mail by the 30th.

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GIVEAWAYS

Inch Worm Fabrics is having a giveaway.  You could win your choice of book from her store.  This giveaway ends ?

Bitty Bits & Pieces is having a book giveaway.  You could win a copy of Fresh Fabric Treat Book signed by a few of the designers.  This giveaway ends Saturday, June 25, at midnight.

Fort Worth Fabric Studio is having a giveaway.  You could win a sample set of Benartex CHLOE fabrics or a copy of Two From One JELLY ROLL QUILTS.  This giveaway ends Sunday, June 26, at midnight CST.

Just Sew Y'all Know is having a giveaway.  You could be one of two winners of a set of patriotic fat quarters.  This giveaway ends Sunday, June 26, at 8:00 pm EST.

Sew, Mama, Sew is having Summer Sewing Giveaway - week #4.  You could win a complete fat quarter pack of Spring Street by Carolyn Gavin or a copy of Crafting a Meaningful Home: 27 DIY Projects to Tell Stories, Hold Memories, and Celebrate Family Heritage by Meg Mateo Ilasco or a $25 Gift Certificate to Sew,Mama,Sew!  This giveaway ends Sunday, June 27.

Fresh Lemons is having a sponsored giveaway.  You could win a fat quarter set of Lemons and Limes, Metro Market, Monaluna from Robert Kaufman Fabrics.  Hurry - this giveaway ends this evening, Thursday, June 23.

Would you like to win a kit for a table runner plus a darling pair of embroidery scissors?  Then go here - My VACATION GIVEAWAY - to enter.

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FINAL THOUGHT

As I was sewing yesterday and trying to match up seams, I realized how many of my pins are bent.  Very few of them are straight any more.  A curve to the right - a curve to the left - either way they are definitely bent.  It's hard to match seams when even the pins can't line up straight.  I could try to blame the bent pins on my magnetic pin holder - you know, too much force causing the pins to bend over each other.  But that's probably not the case.  Running the pressure foot over some has been the cause of some of the bends.  Trying to force the pins through too many layers of fabric when they are getting dull is probably another factor.  Not to mention the ones that end up on the floor and get stepped on - lol!  Poor pins.  Time to say good-bye and time to buy replacements.  My favorite are the flat head flower pins.  What are your favorite pins to use?

Pins and needles, needles and pins. It's a happy man that grins.
~Ralph Kramden

32 comments:

Staci said...

Good morning, Linda! I love the flower head pins, and many, many of mine are in the same shape as yours for the same reasons! I need to buy replacements, too.
When I was a little girl we had a blue Olivetti manual typewriter that my mother had years before she married my father. I used to hunt and peck out my spelling words on it. It was a great way to learn them, and I rarely missed a word on my tests. When I was in high school, my mom and I saved up for many months for an electric typewriter. Thought we had 'arrived'! LOL!

Vroomans' Quilts said...

We might get 1 day of heat and then a week of rain and cool nights - I don't do heat! Oh, you stinker - yes, I joined the swap, but I have to admit, I already have a holiday mug rug ready - just will bag it and clip to bulliten board.

Pins - hahahaha - sounds like mine, but I have several different types of pins for type of work - and they all have their share of 'bendies'. Hmmm - Santa list.

krisgray said...

Good morning! Boy, do I remember the typewriter! I've been on the cusp of change. Wrote my high school senior paper on a memory typewriter w the white- out bottle. Wrote my college seminar paper on a computer in my dorm room.

My fave pins are the new Bohins pins that are marketed that they do not bend. They don't unless you hit them right on w your needle. Of course, they're the most expensive pins I've seen: 100 for $14.00.

krisgray said...

Oh the heat'! On the record setting days we are prone to power outages so I try to do laundry and run the dishwasher in the early morning or late evening to avoid the peak usage time.

Sunnybec said...

Wow that brought back memories. I started my working life as a typist, then progressed to Secretary, then went to work for the Civil service as a Typing Manager. I started on a manual - remember changing the ribbons and your fingers got covered in ink. Having to use a rubber to correct any mistakes until "Tippex" arrived. How on earth did we manage!!! When we went on to electric typewriters with the corrector ribbon boy did we think we were posh. Do you remember the "golf ball" typewriters?...it's amazing how far we have come in such a short space of time.

Quiet Quilter said...

I remember the "erasable paper" that we used when typing our term papers, or business letters. Erasing was so easy.

Heat,,,,I stay inside....

Osage Bluff Quilter said...

National typewriter day? too funny, Last night on America's Got Talent, a group of people created what they called music using old manuel typewriters. You really had to listen . . . LOL
Keep cool!
Patti in Mizzouree

Rachel D @ Just Sew Y'all Know said...

Thanks for mentioning my giveaway at Just Sew Y'all Know! Good luck :)

Marcia - Crafty Sewing and Quilting said...

Wow it is really hot there! We are back to a cool Wisconsin with temps in the 70's up to 80 at the most, with lots of rain - way more than we need! I typed on type writer in high school and college. Not fun as I made lots of mistakes and the paper correcter stuff and white out didn't really help!

Love to see all your projects!

rubyslipperz1052 said...

Syrup!! or....THICK ketchup...you know the kind where you have to stab a knife into the bottle top to get it to move? Thaz what happenz to meee blood when it hits even 80 degrees. Yep, the heat zaps what leeetle brain waves flo in mee ol brain!

Pins...I DO luv those flat flower ones.

hugZ,
annie
rubyslipperz106.blogspot.com

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

Hi Linda, our weather is cool today...very unusual. I remember typewriters and the work of trying to type something with no typos...no backspace and it just disappears. I had a black one and remember when word processors came out, thought it was the neatest thing.

Love both of your blocks and thanks for the great links to giveaways.

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

Typewriters and rotary dial phones. I love the sounds they make. No wonder you are hot. Look at all those hot peppers in that block. Whew! I'm sweating already ; ) I love my flower pins. I wish I knew where they are. I cleaned up and now I can't find them : (

Cheryl said...

Sounds like everything is Baking in the Central Valley!

I like clover ultra fine .3mm or .5mm (can't remember the exact size) pins. Never used many pins until I discovered them.

Apple Avenue Quilts said...

It supposed to be hot here today but that's OK because we haven't had much summer yet. Not hot like you, only 91, then another cool down. This has been very weird weather this year. Usually we are running the AC by May, but we haven't turned it on yet this year.
I like pins with small round heads, about 1 1/2" long, fine but not extra fine. Yes, I'm picky about pins.

WoolenSails said...

Fun new pieces. I can't take the heat either and it makes me dense, lol. I do machine sewing and ironing during the day before the sun comes around to that room, so not too bad, but after that I have to get out. Need a small unit to put in that room.

Debbie

Sandie @ crazy'boutquilts said...

When its hot, I stay in. ;-) I have all sorts of pins~ thin ones, flower heads, some with glass heads for pressing over... my problem is I sometimes forget which ones I'm pressing over! :-o lol Love your blocks! Have a happy day!

Linda said...

It's hot here almost all the time, it seems, so I just keep plugging away!
My favorite pins are the very fine pins with glass heads. I love them! I use those cheap yellow head pins that are not as fine for blocking my quilts. (I had my mother compare the two and how much force was needed to push a pin through several layers of fabric. She went out and bought some of those very fine glass headed pins after that.)

Impera Magna said...

One of my HS graduation gifts was a blue manual typewriter... my, how things have changed!

I have a plethora of regular sewing pins with bright pretty jewel tone colors... even have an unopened box in the sewing box. I do need to ditch the bent pins... and maybe I'll put "flower head pins" on my Christmas wish list!

quiltzyx said...

110? Ugh! It's only been in the mid-90s here. Lucky us...!

Your Bee block it terrific. Your embroidery is wonderful.

I'm with you - flat flower head pins are my favorites too.

Whenever it's really hot outside, I always think of the line from the movie Biloxi Blues: "Man it's hot. It's like Africa hot. Tarzan couldn't take this kind of hot."

Barb said...

Your stitchery is just adorable...I like it so much more than mine.

Yes, it is hot here in Texas. We left Virginia and it was wonderful weather....but soon to be hot there too.

Char said...

I like those real fine glass head pins.

Sparky said...

ok, 110 degrees...I don't even think I could type even on that amazing typewriter...my grandkids would not even know what that is...isnn/t that scary..we are old...lol...Ok, I am lol

Needled Mom said...

That is mighty warm, my friend. We were up in SLO today and the temps were in the 80s which felt pretty good. We still have that morning fog here which doesn't burn off until mid morning.

The chili pepper block is perfect for some summer heat. Even the colors look hot.

Love your cute stitchery. Mine is quite different from yours. I'll have to get mine posted soon as July is right around the corner, isn't it?

Ah yes....the typewriter. We had to take typing classes in school and I can still here the click-clack. Oh...and the white out and the little tape that took the errors away. I like the way we do it not so much better. How about you?

Joanna said...

I think I've worked on every typewriter except a pink one. Selectrics were my favorite. I don't have much of a plan for sewing when it's too hot except to complain alot:)

Christine M said...

Hi Linda. Your birdie block looks lovely. I finally bought myself some flowerhead pins and they are just so sharp. I can't believe I put up with the other ones so long!

Patchwork Sisters said...

Love your Birdie Block. Hope mine turns out that good. I am behind this month! I use the flower pins and the glass head pins. Stay cool.

Valspierssews said...

I have only ever used the tiny head pins as a girl then round pearl head pins. I have just won some heart topped pins in a give away so I will be trying them out soon. It is surprising how easily they bend. If a pin bends I usually chuck it straight away. I like my pins to be straight :)
I just had to check on a recipe from my 35 year old recipe exercise book and was reminiscing with my husband about the coloured plastic typewriter I had that typed fancy italic letters (that's what the recipes were done with). We couldn't agree on what colour it was. He said red I said purple. But it was fun to remember how complicated typing was.
Your chile block and the stitchery look great. I am way too selfish to do the mugrug swap. I just have to finish my coat!

Nancy said...

Ah, the typewriter. Students today just don't know the thrill of actually finishing a paper after many, many tear it out and start all over again moments! Just think what they are missing!

Barbara said...

So sorry about the heat. I lived in Phoenix for three years, and so I can sympathize with everything you said. We don't get many one hundred degree days in Portland, but my sewing room is in the basement, so it's always nice and cool down there.

I was a legal secretary before I was a social worker. I remember the first Mag Card typewriters and then the miracle of the Mag Card II, which had an internal memory. What dinosaurs those are now! They were magic in their day, however.

Love your bee block. Very cute. I have some of those flower pins. I like them for certain things, but I usually just stick with the regular glass head pins.

Miss Hillbilly said...

I hated typing class. I had to use an old manual when the rest of the class had electronic and I just knew from then on that I would never be a secretary!

Sandra :) said...

I learned to type in Grade 9 (back in '75, lol) on a manual typewriter :D The next year the school went to electric machines - it was like going from a black and white TV to colour, heehee! I have fond memories of my old IBM Selectric - those things were workhorses!

We're not having much of a problem with heat here - we haven't had the a/c running in 2 weeks or so, as the weather has been either cool, or just bordering on too warm. I'm actually quite enjoying it, as I'm not fond of the sun OR the heat, lol.

Vesuviusmama said...

I need new pins, too. How cheap am I that i resist even that small expense? Ugh! Your stitchery looks lovely. I brought May and June with me to work on while on vacation, but so far I've just spent my sewing time hand quilting my little Ella quilt.

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