Friday, July 1, 2011

A Squishy & A Mini


There are three kinds of death in this world. There's heart death, there's brain death, and there's being off the network.
~Guy Almes

Yesterday morning I was having trouble with our main computer.  I could not find the top of my blog page where you sign in (the blogger navigation bar).  I broke out in a sweat.  How can I read my blogs?  How can I write my blog for the day?  What about my Swap and Bee?  I restarted the computer.  That didn't help.  I reset it back to an earlier day.  And then I remembered the lap top.  Oh, thank goodness!  The sign in bar was there and so my day could begin.  My stomach was turning into knots - I was almost stick to my stomach.  Isn't that strange?  All because I couldn't get into my blog?  I just goes to show how much I enjoy working on my blog and how lost I would feel if I could no longer communicate with all of my blogger friends. I'm so glad you are all still here!!
P.S. Resetting the computer to an earlier day fixed the main computer - whew!

===============================

PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

Fireworks

I am sure many of you will celebrating the 4th of July by attending your local fireworks show.  Or, maybe, you will be putting on your own display.  While you wait for the cover of darkness to enjoy the festive display, perhaps you would like to be able to share a few facts about fireworks with friends and family:
* The first fireworks were probably made in China, around 2,000 years ago. Chinese crackers, as they are known, are still used in China today to celebrate weddings, births and religious festivals - and to scare away evil spirits!
* The first recorded fireworks in England were at the wedding of King Henry VII in 1486.
* The word for firework in Japanese, 'hanabi', means 'fire-flower'.
* The first fireworks recorded in America were set off by an Englishman, Captain John Smith, famous in the story of Pocahontas.
* Three sparklers burning together generate the same heat as a blow-torch.
* The world's largest single firework was set off at a festival in Japan in 1988. The shell weighed over half a tonne and the burst was over a kilometre across.
* Disney World has more than 1,000 fireworks shows every year.
* Workers who make firecrackers have to be sure to wear an ensemble that is entirely cotton, lest static electricity generated by their clothing set off the fireworks.
* At first, the only colours that could be produced by fireworks was orange and white. However some Italian scientists managed to create more colours by adding different types of salt into it.

==============================

SQUISHY FROM ILLINOIS

Yesterday, my mailman brought me a squishy envelope.  In this envelope was......

This wonderful block from Jorie.  I love the bold red with the subtle blue and the clean crisp white.  But wait!  Not only did Jorie make this wonderful block above but she also made.......

This amazing block!  I have not tackled circles yet and I think Jorie did a great job on this block.  I love both the design and the fabrics.  Thank you so very much, Jorie, for two such beautiful blocks for the June Block Swap Adventure!!

=============================

MY NEW MINI

Yesterday I finished up my monthly mini quilt to hang in my entry for the month of July.......

At the top you will find this little dragonfly. 

A little further down is this little butterfly just fluttering around.

And if you look carefully, you might just see this little caterpillar climbing up a flower stock.

And here is the entire mini scene.  This little quilt is called June Bugs and is from The Wooden Bear Quilt Designs.   I know that this isn't their July pattern but who else is going to know that except you and me.  I think it will work just fine for July.  Do you like my straight line quilting?

And for a final look, here it is on it's stand in my entryway.  I think this is my favorite of all the mini monthly quilts I have made :)

================================

TODAY'S GOAL

Today I am going to work on some NICU baby quilts for my quilt guild.

===============================

GIVEAWAYS

Hanging On By A Needle And Thread is having a giveaway.  Here is another chance to win a Beam n Read.  Susan will draw a winner on Saturday, July 2.

Blueberry Patch is having a giveaway.  You could win a half meter each of Strawberry Fields in Robin's Egg and Henna Gardens in leaf both from Sandi Henderson's Meadowsweet 2.  A winner will be drawn on Tuesday, July 5.
Bejeweled Quilts By Barb is having a giveaway.  You could win a Beam n Read.  Barb will draw a winner on Saturday, July 2.

Joy Of Quilting is having a giveaway.  You could win Slice Fabrique Cordless Digital Design Cutter.  This giveaway ends Monday, July 22.

Butternut Street is having a giveaway.  You could win a Penny Lane 1/2 yard bundle; 2 1/2 yards total.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, July 5.

Just a few more days for you to enter MY VACATION GIVEAWAY.  You could win a wonderful table runner kit from Connecting Threads and a darling pair of embroidery scissors.
 
=============================
 
FINAL THOUGHT

We will be staying home for the long 4th of July weekend.  Away from the crowds and the noise and off the busy highways and freeways.  It promises to be blistering hot with a predicted high of 108 F. on Monday.  We will be staying indoors under the A/C and whirling ceiling fans.  We will also be staying home to protect our home from any errant flying fireworks - you know, the kind that are illegal here.  We have already had a least 3 aerial fireworks shot off in the wee hours of the morning (2:00 am and 4:00 am).  As we lay in bed on Monday night listening to a neighborhood that sounds like a war zone, the dogs will be sleeping, oblivious to the noise and flashing lights.  And right beside them will be my DH, snoring away the hours.  Me?  I will be wide awake waiting for that unseen danger that might land on our roof or on one of our neighbors.  Or maybe the dry grass across the street will go up in flames.  Finally about 1 or 2 o'clock I may finally get to sleep.  Can you tell I'm a little paranoid about the fireworks around here?  How will you be celebrating the 4th?
 
Those who won our independence believed liberty to be the secret of happiness and courage to be the secret of liberty.
~Louis D. Brandeis

39 comments:

Donna said...

Great!!! mini quilt. I am in love with the butterfly! Happy quilting!

Sheila said...

I love the mini quilt , the buttons just are so sweet on there ,just love it'!!!

~Carla~ said...

I absolutely LOVE your mini quilt this month!!!! You are so very talented!! :)

Linda said...

I love the little quilt scene! You know I love buttons, so the little critters are wonderful!

Terry said...

Great squishy! And I love your mini too! You could use that one all summer long! We don't go anywhere for the Fourth of July either. Staying home is a good thing! :0)

Needled Mom said...

Aren't computer problems utterly frustrating???

I love your little mini (and the straight line quilting). Those insects are adorable.

Those are some wonderful blocks. The circle work is so nice.

We have a big 4th of July party here so we will be busy over the weekend. I hope you can get some rest with all of the pops and bangs.

Annie said...

Oh my goodness, "June Bugs" is so darn cute!

Ghad, how do you live in such heat, here in Maine we have very few hot days, I dislike heat very much. I can't even imagine 108 degrees. Stay cool.

Annie

nono said...

I love the mini quilt, that is so cute!! Have a great 4th of July!

Pokey said...

Oh, that june bug mini is so cute, buttons, straight quilting and all. Happy 4th, Linda~
:-}pokey

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

Our church is having a block party for fireworks in that town on Sunday nite. On Monday nite, I'll watch from the town next to me. My dog goes ballistic when fireworks go off in our area. I accidentally started a fire on my grandfather's farm with fireworks as a kid. I've also had fireworks land in my lap. Needless to say, I'm very wary of fireworks outside of city displays. They are illegal here, too, but, that doesn't seem to matter. People just drive across to Indiana and buy them.

Cheryl said...

Love the new mini! Have a safe weekend...I, too, will be keeping my eyes open for people with no common sense!!

Donna said...

OMG, the mini is just so cute! Love the use of the buttons.

Christine said...

I love the mini and those buttons are so cute. Please have a safe 4th. And I would miss your blog greatly so I am happy you were able to figure out the computer. :)

Sallie said...

So glad you got the computer to work! I LOVE your mini quilt! It is adorable. I'll be up with you watching for fires on the 4th of July. It is SOOOOOO dry here. We are praying for rain! The firework stands haven't been able to open yet, and I heard there's a $1000 fine for "even lighting a sparkler this year."

Vroomans' Quilts said...

This is my favorite mini yet! I think it is the buttons. A lot of places are not holding fireworks due to the dry spell. We are just having a family picnic - we'll end with roasting smores over the small enclosed firepit.

Tania said...

Love your mini quilt for July.

Alina said...

Love your mini quilt! It is so cute and adorable. No wonder that you consider it as one of your favorites. Have a happy July 4th!

Barb said...

Your little mini is soooo adorable!!! Glad you got your computer fixed.

Anne said...

Adore that mini quilt! I think it's perfect to represent July. Dragonflies, which my grandmother taught me to call snake doctors, seem to appear everywhere in Arkansas during July and August. I like the way they perch gracefully on my fishing pole. Love the little creeping caterpillar fashioned from buttons, too.

Impera Magna said...

Like you, I'll be staying home in the a/c, under the ceiling fans and being thankful to have been born in the USA!

Catskill Quilter said...

I LOVE your July mini! Very, very cute!

quiltzyx said...

Seeing the squishies you keep getting is almost enough to get me to join a Bee....almost!

Your July mini is "SA-Weeeet"! The colors make it perfect fot HOT July!

As far as I know, I'll be staying home on Monday too. If the city of Diamond Bar has fireworks this year, I'll watch those...I can see them from my couch! LOL If not, I'll watch some on TV and listen to the fireworks from over the hill at the LA County Fairgrounds. :D

Stay cool over this hot holiday weekend!

Lana said...

Happy Fourth of July Weekend Linda! I hope you have a wonderful time!
xoxox

Lynette said...

Very, very cute quilt for July! I love the caterpillar. :)

Joanna said...

The little creatures on you July mini are the cutest. I love that mini design very much. Happy 4th!

Raewyn said...

Gorgeous!! Love the buttons on your July quilt and yes, your straight line quilting sets it off nicely. Have a happy July 4th - hope those fireworks behave themselves.

Seams to Sew and Quilt said...

Linda, that has to be the cutest mini quilt I have ever seen.
Glad you got the computer working.

CathyC said...

your mini quilt is sooo cute ;-)
I'm with you on that state of 'panic' when you realise you can't log into your blog - I had issues too, but I knew it was not my computer, as I had been to a few other sites first, and it was only blogger that I could not get into. There was several hours of 'minor panic' until it came back ;-) and then I breathed a sigh of relief LOL

Miss Hillbilly said...

I love your mini quilt!! Perfect for July!

Nancy said...

I would feel the exact same panic if I couldn't get on. Isn't it crazy how important it all becomes to us.
The mini quilt looks great. I LOVE the way you used the buttons on there.

Have a wonderful 4th and I hope the fireworks stay away from you.

Fiona said...

I had trouble with blogger on Thursday and felt the smae.... oooh dear!!! Love the mini quilt... really darling..
Hugz

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

I adore your mini!!!

Billie

Barbara said...

I love your mini. The buttons are adorable!

Talin's Corner said...

Oh, Linda, your mini quilt is just gorgeous. I love the whimsy and the beauty of it.

Sandra said...

Ooh! That little June Bug mini is too cute! Beautiful workmanship:)

Linda Crosby said...

Just love your mini quilt..the bugs look so real..great job

Myra said...

I absolutely love your monthly mini quilt for your hallway!!! Too darn cute! 8-)

Wendy said...

Hey Linda...I know that sick feeling being "off the grid" brings all too well. Having to rest my wrists has limited my blogging time so much, it's almost depressing. Anyway, I have really missed reading your blog! I absolutely love your mini this month...I think it's my favorite so far!

Anonymous said...

I love your mini-quilt. The button babies are fabulous and the quilting is perfect for the design.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...