Thursday, June 30, 2011

Paternal Blocks


Give thanks for what you are now, and keep fighting for what you want to be tomorrow.
~Fernanda Miramontes-Landeros


We had a wonderful break from the heat yesterday.  Our high was only 82 degree F.  I was able to keep the windows open until around 2:00 before having to shut them to keep the heat out.  We were even able to sleep with the windows open last night.  And even more amazing, I started out yesterday morning with my zip hoodie on!!  It is a short lived reprieve however, as our temps are to climb to 107 by Sunday.  Last night we made our Walmart run.  The store was still in turmoil and we felt like we were on a scavenger hunt.  Luckily there were not many people there so it wasn't too difficult to get around.  We normally do this on Saturday morning but with the long holiday weekend we were afraid it would be a mad house if we waited.  I sure wish Walmart didn't have such good deals so I could quit going to that store!

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

National Meteor Day

At the risk of ruining the magic of falling stars, we must tell you that what you're actually seeing is a space rock hurling towards the planet, but burning up as it hits Earth's atmosphere. It might be a scary thought, but meteors are pretty common and nothing to fear!  Here are some facts about meteors:
* You can throw an Meteoroid off course (keeping it from hitting the Earth, for instance) by exploding a nuclear device near it.
* Meteoroids are moving fast! Some enter the Earth's atmosphere at as much as 130,000 miles per hour.
* Meteorites contain the oldest known rocks in our solar system.
* A 1985 study conducted by the science journal 'Nature' calculated the rate of meteorites hitting humans as .0055 per year, or once time every 180 years.
* Up to 4 billion meteoroids fall to Earth every day. But most of them are too tiny to do any noticeable harm.
* After it impacts the Earth, a meteoroid is suddenly referred to as a meteorite
* More than 24,000 meteorites are known to have landed on Earth, but only 34 are believed to have originated on Mars.
* A meteor (from the Greek word 'meteoron', which means 'phenomenon in the sky') is actually the streak of light we see trailing a meteoroid. A meteoroid is any interplanetary object bigger than a speck of dust and smaller than an asteroid.

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SWAP BLOCK

Yesterday I finished a block for my July swap partner in Block Swap Adventure.....

Melissa D. requested any block using blues, whites, purples or lavenders.  As you can see, I went back to the pinwheel block I've used before and found a print that had both purple and lavender.  This is heading out to Melissa this morning :)

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A FAVORITE TOOL

I have been using a tool that I received from DD#2 for Christmas to help me with my bindings. 

This is the CutRite Bind Up tool.  I used to have all sorts of trouble and would practically get headaches when I had to make a bias cut and match the ends up on my bindings.  Then I read a couple of reviews about the CutRite Bind Up tool.  It has made my binding headache disappear.  I don't know how I ever got by without it.  I used to have to read the instructions but now I don't even have to do that any more.  Instead of my trying to show you through pictures just click on the link HERE to see the instructions kindly posted by Quilters Paradise.  They even have a video that you can watch HERE.  So if you have trouble matching up the ends of your binding like I did, I highly recommend investing the $10 in this tool.  You, too, will wonder how you come you waited to long to get it.  (This was not an advertisement, just my own review).

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SAME BLOCK, DIFFERENT SWAP

Yesterday I also completed my July swap block for my partner in the Quilting Block Swaps Australia....

Alethea requested any block in dark blue.  As you can see I used the same pattern, just used different fabric.  I'm sure you all are getting tired of seeing me make the same block but I just didn't have the desire to look up another block yesterday.  Sorry!  It was nice to be able to take both block pictures out in the sun today.  The true colors really came through.  I only had to catch the block from blowing away twice - lol!

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I will try to finish making the monthly mini quilt for July

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GIVEAWAYS

SewCalGal is having a giveaway.  You could be the lucky winner of a Beam n Read.  A winner will be randomly selected on Saturday, July 2.

Sew WE Quilt is having a giveaway.  You could win a cute magnetic button ring made by Kim Walus from Bitty Bits & Pieces.  This giveaway ends Saturday, July 2, at midnight.

Quilting Along The Gorge is having a giveaway.  You could win an AccuQuilt GO! Baby cutter and 3 dies of your choice.  This giveaway ends Saturday, July 9, at midnight.

Jane's Fabrics and Quilts is having a giveaway.  You could win a Beam n Read.  A winner will be announced Friday, July 1.

Tilda's Twisted Life is celebrating her 100th post with a giveaway.  Melinda is giving away a charm pack of Hideaway.  This giveaway ends Friday, July 1, at 6:00 pm EST.

Don't forget to enter MY VACATION GIVEAWAY!

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FINAL THOUGHT

Yesterday I was easily distracted by the clouds floating by.  It was so peaceful watching the clouds skittering by high above in the blue sky.  They prevented the sun from glaring down on us.  They provided some dimension to our usually boring view upward.  Their shapes were constantly changing as they flew from west to east.  Unfortunately not a one of them contained any rain for us - I think it all the moisture was dumped on San Francisco the day before when they received a new record rainfall for the day of an inch.  Big and puffy in shades of white and gray.  Hopefully the clouds will gather moisture as they head east and dump buckets of rain on the fires in both Arizona and New Mexico where it is sorely needed.  Can you tell I was easily entertained yesterday?

A cloudless plain blue sky is like a flowerless garden.
~Terri Guillemets



20 comments:

Cheryl said...

The poor southwest is being consumed by wildfires, so thanks for the rain wishes. My husband is quarter breed Indian, so I should get him dancing!
Have a happy and safe 4th of July.

Kelly O. said...

love that pinwheel block--just received one in a swap and now I'm wanting to make one for sure after seeing yours!

Sheila said...

The pinwheel blocks are great ,lucky recipients! 107 I can not imagine , wow I would fry ! I am going to keep my eye open for that tool , looks like it would be a great help for those bindings.Thanks for the info.

Barb said...

Sounds like you had a very good day yesterday....and managed to do a block in the process....

Vroomans' Quilts said...

I love that go-to pinnie block - works so well with most fabrics and colors. We are having FALL - waited forever for Winter to end, maybe 2 days of Spring??? But I will take the cooler weather!

Vesuviusmama said...

I guess since it is so long in between finishes for me, I always have to look up binding instructions, and lately I've been lazy and have just done a square jooining, rather than a diagonal one. I will definitely add this tool to me wish list!

Bev C said...

Love the quote of the day today. Thank you.
Happy days.
Bev.xoxo

Nancy said...

Linda,
I hope you get more of those pretty and cooler days. This is the second day of windows open and I think that is a little bit of heaven on earth. My very favorite thing about summer.
Have a wonderful sewing day!

rubyslipperz1052 said...

heat...we had a bit of a break here yesterday high 80s and today low 80s. We are headed to St George this weekend...about the same temps as your location.

Mitered corners - yeah, me and the "Miter" haven't gotten along for nearly 30 years! I actually resigned to making soft rounded corners...and the sit nicely on a bed. But, I've wanted to try this mitered corner tool...with your reviews...I think I NEEED one!

cloudless skys! I need to remember this! thank you for reminding me!

hugZ,
annie
rubyslipperz106.blogspot.com

Needled Mom said...

Glad that you have been enjoying the cooler temps out there.

Is that miter tool used for the 2 1/2 inch strips? I like to cut mine at 2 1/4 so haven't had much luck with the tools in the past.

Your pinwheel blocks look great.

Megan Harmeyer said...

Cool temps right now would be so nice! 95* and up for us the next week or so. Hopefully the monsoon season will start us sooner rather than later. At least it's cool at work. :) Your blocks are pretty. I like the purple.

Seams to Sew and Quilt said...

Linda, don't you wish every day of summer could be like yesterday? It really was beautiful out. I told hubby's it seemed like an early fall day.

Barbara said...

If all it takes is clouds, I'm also easily entertained! I much prefer a day with them in the sky than a blue-sky day.

Lana said...

Oh wow...that was a nice way to spend a summer day.
You know...maybe those clouds will come to us in Texas. We need the drought and fire relief!!!

Linda said...

Oh, I need a Cut Rite Bind Up!!! I have to think it through EVERY time I do my bindings and even then I always baste first and check before cutting or sewing "for real". This would be a real help! Thanks for showing us!

em's scrapbag said...

Beautiful blocks. Thanks for sharing the tool.

Quiet Quilter said...

Nothing is wasted when watching clouds...Just imagine them as blocks on a big quilt....

Barbara said...

I love the cut-rite bind up tool. I've been telling everyone what a great tool it is. I got nowhere watching tutorials, and this tool solved all my problems. Love it! I'm considering buying a second one just in case I break the one I have. I'd have to quit quilting!

Miss Hillbilly said...

Ok, I am very very sure that I need that tool. I have tried that measure 2 1/2" thing, tucking, everything. Mine are never perfect.

Shannon said...

I like that tool. Are bias cut bindings better on a quilt? I have only ever done straight cut and then I join them with a straight cut connection. I have spent some time this morning checking out a blog on your side bar, Kitschy Suburbia, is she DD#1? She does great work with her nails! I love the pinwheel block. Do you have a pattern for it? I am thinking of using it for my month in Let's Bee Together.

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