Big Pink Rollers?

The trouble with simple living is that, though it can be joyful, rich, and creative, it isn't simple.
~Doris Janzen Longacre

Recently I have been debating about cutting back on blogging.  Maybe taking it from 5 days a week down to 4.  Maybe taking out Wednesdays.  But then I thought "What about One Flower Wednesday?"  If I dropped that then I know I would never ever get my Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilt completed.  Besides, how could I share my flowers with others who are equally addicted to those wonderful little hexagon creations.  What about eliminating another day of the week?  Nope, just can't do it.  So what I have decided to do is on Wednesdays I will only post my hexagon flowers and/or any growth on my GFG.  Plus I will include the previous days fmq sample.  Well, I also won't forget Giveaways and Photo Fact of the Day but I won't be including anything else I'm working on.  I'm hoping this will cut down on the amount of time I spend on my blog for at least one day a week.  I hope you'll stick around but I will understand if you don't visit on Wednesdays.  I'm just trying to figure out how to get a little more sewing time in each week.

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

French Fries

Today is National French Fries Day.  Just looking at that picture makes my mouth water for those salty creations.  Yummmmm.   Did you know.....

* The original name for french fries was "potatoes, fried in the French manner" that is how Thomas Jefferson first described the dish. Jefferson introduced french fries to the colonies in the late 1700s.

* In America, French Fries are usually eaten with the fingers; in Europe, they are usually eaten with a miniature, two-tine fork usually made of wood

* A small order of French Fries at McDonald's weighs less than four ounces
* People in North American eat something like 29 pounds of french fries per year
* In 2004, 29% of the United States' potato crop were used to make frozen fries
* Frozen French Fries which you buy in a store have already been partially cooked

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ONE FLOWER

Today is One Flower Wednesday and I created just one flower this week.

The petals on this flower remind me of the big, pink rollers we used to put in our hair back in the late 60's and early 70's.  Don't ask me where that memory came from, it just popped into my head.  This isn't an I Spy type flower but I did like the fussy cut petals.  For more wonderful hexagon flowers out there, Karen has provided a linky where you can check them all out.  Thank you, Karen.

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FMQ

Yesterday I made my first venture into the world of free motion quilting......

Okay.  Aw,come on!  It's not that bad - well maybe it is :D  Pick yourselves up off the floor and try to quit laughing.  What an experience.  Luckily I didn't have to do any adjusting of the tension on my machine.  I did somewhat okay working from top to bottom.  But working from bottom to top was an entirely different story.  I couldn't make a smooth line to save my life!  Whenever I had to move my hands (in either direction) I would end up with a little swerve in my line.  I tried increasing the speed but then I had stitches that were way too tiny.  Did I learn anything?  Yes - practice, practice, practice.  Also - relax and breathe, relax and breathe.  On to another block today!  You can start laughing again :P

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I will continue working on my Dora variation quilt. 

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GIVEAWAYS

The Raspberry Rabbit is having a giveaway.  You could win Shell's darling Within the Heart Pillow.  A winner will be selected on Monday, July 18.

Hawthorne Threads is having their weekly giveaway.  You could win a 1/2 yard bundle of Daiwabo Tip Top Hippos.  A winner will be selected on Wednesday, July 20.

Fabric Worm is having their weekly giveaway, too.  This week you could win a new custom bundle: Retro Living Room in 12 Fat Quarters.  This giveaway ends Monday, July 18, at 8:30 am PST.

Quilt Times is celebrating the release of her book Pick Four in the USA with a giveaway.  You could win a $50 gift certificate to 1 Choice 4 Quilting.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, July 19, at midnight BST.

Poppyprint is celebrating her birthday month with a giveaway.  You could win a $20 gift certificate to Marmalade Fabrics.  This giveaway ends Thurday, July 14, at 6:00 pm PST.

Bloom, Bake, and Create is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of Thimbleberries Small Wonders by Lynette Jensen.  This giveaway ends Friday, July 15, at 8:00 am CST.

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FINAL THOUGHT

I would like to get back to hand applique but right now I'm concentrating on my Gardener's Journal stitchery.  Plus working on the Dora quilt and making extra blocks and flowers along the way just doesn't allow time for applique.  Why aren't there more hours in the day?  Better yet.....why do I have to sleep?  I could so use those sleeping hours to be sewing or stitching.  I've tried sleeping less than 6 hours and my body just doesn't work after a few days.  I would love to be one of the people who only need 4 hours of sleep a night - that would give me two more hours to create.  And I also have to take out time to eat and shower.  What fun are those activities?  You would think after all of these years that I would have built up a reserve of sleep hours.  I really don't think it's fair.  Oh well.  As they say.....Eat, Sleep, and Be Merry!

Without enough sleep, we all become tall two-year-olds. 
 ~JoJo Jensen