Play Time

The shortest distance between two points is under construction.
~Noelie Altito


Saturday my DH and I were to attend a play down in Hollywood.  We had purchased the tickets months ago.  We debated whether to even go with all of the news about freeway back-ups because of a stretch of the 405 being closed.  There were reports that there could be 25 mile back-ups and that it would take lots of extra hours to reach your destination.  That morning we decided to go for it.  We left the house around 9:15 in hopes that would leave us plenty of time to reach the Pantages Theater and the opening of the play at 2:00.  We arrived in Hollywood at 10:35!!  Record time and very little traffic on the freeways!  Everybody in the L.A. area must have listened to the request to stay at home.  I actually enjoyed the travel down south this time.  With our early arrival we visited the famous Farmer's Market - did some browsing around and had lunch.  Then it was on to the Pantages Theater where we enjoyed the whimsical Shrek, The Musical.  Back onto the uncrowded freeways for another record travel time home.  Thank you, Los Angeles, for staying off the freeways on Saturday!!  I survived Carmegeddon!!

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

Cow

Today is Cow Appreciation Day.  Don't you just love that face?  Here are a few cow facts:

* Pilgrims first brought cows to America.

* A cow can climb up the stairs, but cannot climb down. This is because her knees cannot bend properly.

* A cow stands up and sits down about 14 times a day

* Cows do not bite grass; rather they curl their tongue around it

* Cows can see color

* Cows have an acute sense of smell and can smell something up to 6 miles away.

* Dairy cows can produce up to 125 lbs of saliva a day.

* A cow produces around 200,000 glasses of milk in her lifetime.

* A cow usually spends 6-7 hours in day eating cud and around 8 hours on chewing it.

* Cows have almost total 360-degree panoramic vision.

* The oldest cow till date was Big Bertha, a Dremon, which died just 3 months shy of her 49th birthday.

* The highest milk yield for a single day is 241 lbs, by a cow named Urbe Blanca.

 

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MY NEW TOY

Friday I finally played with my newest toy, or if you prefer, my newest tool.

Way back in May, I won this GO! Baby Cutter from a giveaway at Leona's Quilting Adventure.   I was also the lucky winner of three dies of my choice.....

I selected the Birds, the 2 1/2" strip die, and the hexagon die. Because of delays from AccuQuilt, the cutter did not arrive until the middle of June.  Anyway, I tried some different things.....

First I put 6 layers of white cotton fabric onto the die covering the hexagon in the size I wanted.

When I pulled off the cutting mat, all of the pieces were stuck there but it was so easy to remove them.

And in no time at all I had 14 colored hexagons and 52 white hexagons cut.  I really love this cutter for the stepping stones (white hexies) and for non-fussy cut petals.  I will still be using a template for my fussy cuts.

I also cut out some 2 1/2" strips.  I was rather disappointed with this part of the cutter.  I could only cut 4 layers at a time.  I tried 6 but it pushed the fabric under the mat and I ended up with some wavy strips.  I really don't think the strip cutter saves you any time.  I still had to cut the fabric to fit the die and make sure it wasn't too long for the cutting area.  I honestly think it is quicker to just rotary cut 2 1/2" strips.

I didn't have time to try out the birds but I can see how the cutter would be a time saving device for applique and pieces that have to be cut with templates.

Thank you so very much, Leona, for having the giveaway.  I know I will find many uses for this little cutter for a long time to come :)

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FMQ - DAY 4

Friday I started the day with some free motion practice.

Leah calls this pattern Tree Roots.  I actually enjoyed working on this one.  Some of roots like the have leaves and I definitely need more practice on retracing my stitching but I do feel as though I relaxed through this one.  I thought half a block of this one was enough and I can use the other half on Monday.

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I SPY BLOCKS

Friday's mail contained I Spy Blocks from the swap I was involved in.

Here is just a sampling of the squares that I received.  Aren't they cute?  There are over 200 four inch squares here and I think I only saw two duplicates.  I'm thinking about separating them into girl and boy groupings and then using them to make some more Loving Hands quilts.  Wouldn't they look cute in the NICU?  So bright and happy in what can be a very stressful and sometimes depressing place.  Thank you, Mrs. Sassy Crafter, for hosting this fun swap!  She is thinking about having another I Spy block swap next month.  I'll let you know when I find out anything just in case you are interested.

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TODAY'S and TUESDAY'S GOAL

Today I plan on working on block #2 of the Designer Mystery BOM.  Tuesday I hope to start piecing together the backing for the Colors Thru The Window quilt.

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GIVEAWAYS

The Intrepid Thread is having a giveaway.  You could win a fat quarter pack of Farm Fresh in the green colorway.  This giveaway ends Friday, July 22, at midnight.

Happy Quilting is celebrating her one year blogiversary with a giveaway.  Melissa is giving away a Summer Breeze quilt kit.  This giveaway ends Thursday, July 21.

Want It, Need It, Quilt is having a giveaway.  You could win a GO! Baby Cutter and your choice of three dies.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, August 16.

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FINAL THOUGHT

I really debated about letting you all know the trouble I had with the GO! Baby Cutter - well, not the cutter but the strip die.  After all, the machine and its dies did not cost me a thing - I won them all.  I hated criticizing something that was free.  You know, 'don't bite the hand that feeds you'.  But I felt honesty was necessary.  I didn't want to sugar coat something that really didn't live up to expectations.  Personally, I would much rather read both positive and negative reviews before making a purchase for something that is not cheap.  I can spend hours looking through reviews before making a high dollar, and even a medium dollar, purchase.  I have abstained from purchasing something that has a lot of negative reviews.  And, on the other hand, I have also ignored negative reviews and still ended up purchasing an item only later wishing that I had followed the advice of others.  So, take my thoughts as you wish just know that they come to you with honesty.

If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything.
 ~Mark Twain