Three Little Finishes

Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day.
~Author Unknown

Did you all have a wonderful 4th of July?  Ours was spent in the house, under the A/C and ceiling fans.  There was no way we were going out in the scorching heat (105 degrees F.) and higher than normal humidity.  DH did barbecue a fantastic tri-tip but other than that there were no celebrations at our house.  It was a quiet time - until the fireworks in the neighborhood started.  I should have known what we were in for when the whole area was eerily quiet on Sunday night - LOL!  I think WWIII broke out about 9:00 pm.  Luckily the war only lasted a couple of hours and now things are back to normal.  I hope you all survived the 4th!

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

National Graham Cracker Day

Today, July 5, is known as National Graham Cracker Day.  The graham cracker was developed in 1829 in Bound Brook, New Jersey, by Presbyterian minister Rev. Sylvester Graham.  The true graham cracker is made with graham flour, a combination of fine-ground white flour and coarse-ground wheat bran and germ. Graham crackers are often used for making s'mores and pie crusts.

The Graham cracker was originally marketed as "Dr. Graham's Honey Biskets" and was conceived of as a health food as part of the Graham Diet, a regimen to suppress what he considered unhealthy carnal urges, the source of many maladies according to Graham. Reverend Graham would often lecture about the adverse effects of masturbation or "self-abuse" as it was commonly called at the time. One of his many theories was that one could curb one's sexual appetite by eating bland foods. Another man who held this belief was Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, the inventor of the Corn Flakes cereal.
Many modern "graham crackers" are made of the refined, bleached white flour to which the Rev. Graham was implacably opposed. Some modern commercial graham crackers are no longer considered health food, but have remained popular as a snack food and breakfast cereal with greater amounts of sugar and other sweeteners than in the original recipe, and far less graham flour, often with no whole-wheat flour whatsoever.

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MUG RUG SWAP

Friday's mail came with a wonderful squishy package.  In this package was......

This wonderful mug rug from Jodi!  I just love the colors and the layout of this mug rug.  Jodi was my secret swap partner in Leona's Mug Rug Swap Adventure 2.  She did some wonderful hand quilting in different colored threads and the backing is scrappy stripping that includes some selvages (sorry, forgot to take a picture).

Jodi also included some special surprises:  two bags of chamomile herbal tea, a wonderful dish towel, and an assortment of great hexagons! 

Thank you, Jodi, for the beautiful mug rug and the added tuck ins!!!!

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3 FINISHES

On Friday and over the long weekend I worked on Isolette covers....

I made three of these little quilts that will be donated through our guild's project, Loving Hands, to the local NICU at one of our hospitals.  These little quilts measure 32" X 32".
I used the Jelly Roll Race Quilt method to make these quilts.  I had a jelly roll of Spirit by moda laying around and used it.  Now, I know some people in the race have made their quilt tops in something like 36 minutes but I certainly don't know how.  They must not have ironed as they went and their machine must sew much quicker than mine - lol!  It took me around 3 1/2 hours to make these tops.  And if I had continued on with a couple more seams to make the full sized quilt top as they did in the race, it would have taken me even longer. 

I have had the butterfly backing material for a few years and thought it would be perfect for babies.  The jelly roll worked perfectly to make these three quilts - I only ended up not using two of the strips - and only because they had fallen on the floor and I missed them.  I had absolutely no excess so nothing was wasted :D

Here are the three completed quilts.  As I was taking the picture, Weasley decided to insert himself into the frame.  I think he was really just looking for a cooler spot on the sofa.

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I hope to make more than one hexie flower!

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GIVEAWAYS

Cat Patches is having her weekly Fun Fact Friday Freebie.  You could win a fat quarter for just answering her question of the week.  The winner will announced Friday, July 8.

Patsy Thompson Designs is having a giveaway.  You could win a Beam n Read.  This giveaway ends Friday, July 8, at 12:01 am EST.

We Love Quilting is having a July giveaway.  The giveaway will be a surprise but she promises "My give a ways are PACKED TO THE BRIM with goodies".  The winner will be announced on the last day of the month.

Stitchin' Heaven Howdy is having their monthly giveaway.  You could win a $25 Stitchin’ Heaven gift card.  The winner will be announced on the first of August.

The Intrepid Thread is having a giveaway.  You could win a Fat Eighth Pack of Little Apples.  This giveaway ends Friday, July 8.

Hawthorne Threads is having their weekly giveaway.  You could win  1/2 yard bundle of Amy Butler's Soul Blossoms Corduroy.  A winner will be selected at random Thursday, June 7th.

Mrs Sassy Crafter is celebrating 300+ followers with a giveaway.  You could win a box full of surprises.  This giveaway ends Friday, July 8.

Katie's Korner is having a giveaway.  You could win a GO! Baby Cutter and your choice of three dies.  This giveaway ends Friday, July 8, at 11:59 pm.

The Average Quilter is having a giveaway.  You could win a wonderful fat quarter bundle.  This giveaway ends Saturday, July 9.

Love Affair With My Brother is celebrating her birthday with a giveaway.  You could win A Heather Bailey pattern for the Happy Stacker Ring Toy, Small Stash Sewing: 24 Projects Using Designer Fat Quarters (forward by Amy Butler), and one "Little Wallet".  This giveaway ends Thursday, July 7.

Inch Worm Fabrics is having a giveaway.  Jeanette is giveaway away a mystery box that she says "will put in there items that will be well worth you time to get, some will be things from the store and some will be items that I have left from my booth in June".  Not sure when this giveaway ends.

KoolBenz is having her weekly giveaway.  You could win a 16 pc Fat Quarter bundle set in Ann Kelle's Urban Zoologie Part 2.  This giveaway ends Friday, July 8, at midnight EST.

1 Choice 4 Quilting is having a giveaway.  You could win a fat quarter bundle of Anthology Bryant Park Fat Quarter Bundle.  This giveaway ends Sunday, July 17.
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FINAL THOUGHT

My brain is tired after a late night of bangs, booms, and hisses.  Today should be quieter.  I really enjoy that we celebrate our country's independence but I wish it didn't have to be quite so noisy, full of fire, and so late at night.  Barbecues, games, and family get together are a great way to show our happiness.  Aren't I sounding like a grumpy, old lady?  YES I AM.  Not getting enough sleep will do that to you.  My brain is as foggy as the air was smokey last night.  So, instead of boring your further, I wish you a great rest of the week - be it quiet or loud, busy or restful.  Now, onto some sewing!!
I have often lamented that we cannot close our ears with as much ease as we can our eyes.
~Richard Steele