Friday, July 29, 2011

See The Bees

As ye sew, so shall ye rip. 
~Author Unknown

Eight blocks down and 2 more to go.  Over the last couple of days I have done nothing but work on swap and Bee blocks.  I bet you will be as glad as I am when I'm finally finished with all of them.  I thought they would be going out in the mail today but it looks more like Monday.  I didn't want to take time away from sewing to prepare the packages.  Some of them will be winging their way across the ocean and others will travel just a few states away.  Yesterday I should have stopped sewing after the first seam.  The first seam had to be ripped out.  And it went down hill from there.  One block I'm working on has lots of color changes and turns - Mr. Ripper and I have become BFFs once again.  Two seams in - one seam out.  One portion of the block together, whew....uh oh - rip and replace a center section.  I knew I was tired when I started.  You would think I would learn - STAY AWAY FROM THE SEWING MACHINE WHEN YOU ARE TIRED!!!!  But no, I had to continue sewing and ripping, ripping and sewing.  Hopefully today will be a better sewing day! 

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY


Rain Day

Here's a weird little holiday, courtesy of Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. It all started back on July 28th, 1874, when a farmer told Byron Daly, the owner of a drug store, that tomorrow he should expect rain. The farmer made this guess because it always rained on his birthday, July 29th. When the farmer's prediction proved true, Mr. Daly made an annual game of it, betting store patrons and townspeople that they could expect rain on July 29th. The typical wager for this bet: a hat. Every year it rained, and every year Mr. Daly won himself a new hat. Over the years Daly and his son amassed a huge collection of hats, which were donated to raise money for charity. So next time it rains on Rain Day, just think, somebody out there is winning a hat. And somebody's bare head is getting soaking wet.

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SQUISHY RECEIVED

Earlier this week I received a squishy from New Zealand.....

Alethea made these two beautiful blocks for me.  I love all of the wonderful greens she used.  Alethea was my July swap partner for Quilting Block Swaps Australia.  Thank you, Alethea! 

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SOME BEE BLOCKS

Today I will share 3 blocks I have made for Let's Bee Together...

This block was made for Colleen.  She is the August Hostess for Let's Bee Together Group A.  Colleen sent out some wonderful fabric from DS Quilts Picnic and Fairgrounds line to work with.  I'm sorry that the colors didn't turn out exactly right in the photo because the red is a true red and the yellow is a bit more golden.  She also selected the dreaded Wonky Star which you all know is my "favorite" star to make. LOL!

Jadie was our July hostess for Let's Bee Together Group B.  She wanted to stay with the patriotic theme of July 4th and sent out these bold, solid colors to work with.  Jadie said that we could make any star block we liked so I went with the Amish Star Block.  I really like how this one looks :D

Oh look!  Another one of my "favorite" Wonky Star blocks!  Erin is the August hostess for Let's Bee Together Group B.  She sent out the center little block with the saying (isn't it cute?!?) along with a little bit of red and some black and white fabrics.  Erin said we could make any block we wanted and with the pieces that she sent, I thought wonky was the best way to go.
I think that's it for that Bee group.  I will show you Bee In Oz blocks on another day. 

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FMQ - DAYS 12 and 13

Wednesday's fmq practice was a great thread burner.  I went through half of a bobbin on Cat Hairball Filler.  What a name - lol!  I would do okay for awhile and then my mind would sort of go numb and I would almost forget what I was doing.  I finally quit about two-thirds of the way up the block.

Thursday's practice from Leah was a better pattern.  However, I forgot to increase the speed on my machine so some of my stitches ended up a bit long.  Another case of being tired when starting out the sewing day.  This pattern is called Trailing Tears.   I did concentrate more when traveling back on top of previous stitching.  Some of it turned out pretty good.

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I hope to finish up with the swap and Bee blocks - I hope, I hope, I hope.....

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GIVEAWAYS
Olive and Ollie is having a giveaway.  Heather is giving away a copy of QuiltAlbum.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, August 3, at midnight EST.
Design Editor is having a giveaway.  You could win more than $375 worth of items from nine generous designers and shops (too much stuff to list!).  This giveaway ends Saturday, July 30, at midnight EST.
Possom Blossom Patchwork is having her first giveaway.  You could win any two packs of die-cut or e-cut paper pieces or card pieces from her store (100 pieces per pack, you choose the shape/size).  This giveaway ends Saturday, August 6 (Aussie time).

Cut To Pieces is celebrating her anniversary with a giveaway.  You could win jelly roll of Little Apples.  This giveaway ends ?

Diary of a Quilt Maven is having a giveaway for followers only.  You could win the pattern Fat Quarter Quilting: Reproduction Fabrics Two and six Civil War to get you started.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, August 3.

Jane's Fabrics and Quilts is having a giveaway.  You could win an I-rock by imaginisceThe winner will be announced Sunday, July 31.

Ruby Blue Quilting Studio is having a birthday giveaway.  You could win a Charm Pack, your choice of Charmed Living Series pattern, your choice of 2 other Ruby Blue Patterns and your favorite candy bar.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, August 2.

Love, Laugh, Quilt is having a giveaway.  You could win an autographed copy of Out Of The Box.  This giveaway ends "in a couple of days".

Diary of a Quilter is having a giveaway.  You could win a $25 gift certificate from Crafty Girls Workshop.  This giveaway ends Saturday, July 30, at midnight MST.

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FINAL THOUGHT
As we head into the weekend, I am already trying to plan out my strategy for next week.  What will I be working on?  Will I be able to finish anything?  After spending an entire week on blocks for others it almost feels a bit strange to think that I will be sewing for myself again.  Of course, I could always work on the little quilts for Loving Hands and then there's those borders to put on the QOV quilts.  But I think next week will be for me.  It will be the start of a new month.  Another month of summer here in Central California.  A month where kids start talking about the beginning of a new school year.  A month where many families take their summer vacation - a trip to the beach, a trip to the mountains, or even a trip to see relatives.  Are you ready for a new month?  I know I am.

Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability. 
~Sam Keen



19 comments:

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Many wonderful blocks. Odd designs with the FMQ. Yes, you deserve some ME sewing - relax, soak it all in, and breath.

Barb said...

Yourfree motion is coming along ncely.....love the blocks!

Marcia - Crafty Sewing and Quilting said...

Love your free motion blocks. I especially like the hair ball filler! And yes August should be time to take Minutes for you! Every time it rains now I will think of those with and without hats! Cute story!

Cyndi said...

Hi Linda! Even if making "wonky stars" is not one of your favorites, you did a really great job on them. And I LOVE your red, white and blue Amish Star....beautiful! I also think your FMQ looks great, and got a real giggle out of the Cat Hairball Filler....hairballs - with two cats, that's something I know a lot about, just not in the FMQ variety! :o)

Have a GREAT weekend!

XOXO,

Cyndi

Needled Mom said...

You know it is going to be a bad day of sewing when the first seam gets ripped out. I'd hate to count the number of times I SHOULD have walked away from the machine only to be left with lots of un-sewing.

I don't think we will be seeing rain on rain day.

Your blocks look terrific - especially the wonky one. I just love the supermarket saying!

The freemotion blocks are coming along nicely. The toughest part is deciding where to use the different techniques.

Have a wonderful weekend. I'll be looking forward to Monday's post.

Lynette said...

Hey, Trailing Tears looks good.

Vesuviusmama said...

You tackled the dreaded wonky star for me!?! I'm so honored, and it looks great! I certainly do hope that you spend all week quilting for you - you do so much for others! Have a wonderful weekend!

Barbara said...

More great bees and awesome free-motioning!

Melissa said...

I love your Amish Star, I am a huge fan of Amish quilting. There is something so peaceful and simple in the designs although they are usually anything but simple in the construction. I need to get off my bum and start working on my swap blocks!

quiltzyx said...

I SO know what you mean about sewing tired! UGH. I do hope you're more rested today. :^)

The Amish Star block is spectacular! WOW - I couldn't keep my eyes off of it. Great job!

Try to stay cool this weekend....

Megan Harmeyer said...

OMG Cat Hairball Filler? That's hilarious!! It actually made me LOL and made Loretta ask me what was so funny. Anyway...I wondered why that first star's points didn't match up. Now I know. Looks like a pain but it looks neat finished. I like the trailing tears better.

Anne said...

Absolutely love the Amish star you made! Thanks for offering the link to the instructions.

The cat hairball filler is too funny! I love the trailing tears, though. At my house, I could call it the trailing vent condensation. Our ceiling vents drip all day. I keep a piece of plastic on my ironing board to catch the drips, and they run after they land. Hate my vents! I plan to call out a promising new A/C repair company to see why half our house is cool and the other is not! Makes me want to cry -- hmm, I guess trailing tears is the best description.

Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

Wonderful blocks! I don't know about that Cat Hairball filler - I give my cats a special food so they don't get hairballs! Now the trailing tears is beautiful! I really need to work on some of these. Thanks for some more great giveaway links too!

Sandra :) said...

Cat Hairball Filler --- ROTFLMAO!!! I'm quite familiar with that design - my cat fills my carpets all the time, LOL.

I'm looking forward to finishing a few Christmas gifts and a UFO quilt in August --- it's nice and cool in my basement when the a/c is on so I think I'll be down there a lot, lol.

Linda in Calif. said...

I laughed at the name Cat Hairball Filler. That's just too funny. I enjoyed all your bee blocks, looking forward to seeing the next set, Bee in Oz. As for vacations - my youngest is off to visit her sister for a week tomorrow. So vacation starts for me tomorrow too! Even though I'll still be going to work. :-)

Fiona said...

Great blocks... and well done for keeping up the FMQ practice.... looking good
Hugz

Miss Hillbilly said...

I am still trying to finish that H2H quilt but got tired. I wasn't into ripping tonight. Catching up on blogs sounded better!

corina said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Canadian Kristin said...

I am always amazed at how much sewing and blogging you fit in! You are super woman!!!

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