Tuesday, July 5, 2011

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

26 comments:

Linda said...

The little isolette quilts will be so appreciated! (My granson was a preemie and I know this from experience!) Great job!
We didn't have any fireworks because of the extreme drought and possibility of wild fires. Seemed a little odd to have a quiet night on the Fourth!

Sarah Craig said...

I love your isolette quilts - what a great way to use this technique!! Have a great week!!

Sarah Craig said...

I love your isolette quilts - what a great way to use this technique!! Have a great week!!

Lynette said...

The covers sure are cheery - sure to help some families smile.

Impera Magna said...

I've not heard of isolette covers but what a wonderful project! What a great way to adapt the Jelly Roll 1600 technique! I'm sure the quilts will be appreciated very much...

Hope your day is quiet and restful!

krisgray said...

Cute quilts! I bet the next time you use the jelly roll technique that it will go faster. Have a great day!

Cheryl said...

Love the isolettes!! Great project.

Vroomans' Quilts said...

What a great way to use the Jelly Roll Race technique! I couldn't come close to that 35 min mark either and I am a speed sewer! Love the mug rug - hand quilting a plus for me. Enjoy your day.

Quiet Quilter said...

Lovely pictures and creations! I really like the mug rug...may use the layout myself...one of these days... the isolette covers are a great idea...lightweight and colorful..

Jodi-JoJoMia's Place said...

Thanks for the nice posting on the mug rug. It was so much fun to create. My first try but I loved it. I will have to make myself one now but am waiting to see mine from my swap partner first. That was so much fun.

Marcia - Crafty Sewing and Quilting said...

Love you jelly roll quilt! And the graham cracker facts. I am not fond of the fireworks either especially since it makes my dog shake! Gabby is terrified of the fireworks. I just sit by her with air conditioning and fans and TV on to block out the noises - it helps a little. She still seems to hear it!
Have a great day and stay cool!

Teresa said...

Had to check your profile to see where you were from. Only us on the west coast knows what tri tip is. We enjoyed one yesterday also.
Love the little quilts, very nice.
Teresa's Heartfelt Stitches

Seams to Sew and Quilt said...

Linda, the little Isolette quitls are adorable. So nice of you to do so many of them.
It was wild and crazy around our neighbor hood last night too. We saw the big fire truck came by just as someone set off one that was high in the air.. sure they got a big fine...the tri tip sounds good... I agree with Teresa, while in florida one year we asked the market for a tri tip, the guy thought we were crazy, he has never heard of such a cut.
Have a good quiet day. Take care. Vera

Seams to Sew and Quilt said...

Linda, the little Isolette quitls are adorable. So nice of you to do so many of them.
It was wild and crazy around our neighbor hood last night too. We saw the big fire truck came by just as someone set off one that was high in the air.. sure they got a big fine...the tri tip sounds good... I agree with Teresa, while in florida one year we asked the market for a tri tip, the guy thought we were crazy, he has never heard of such a cut.
Have a good quiet day. Take care. Vera

quiltzyx said...

The mini-JRR quilts are great! I made a JRR top this weekend too - I had my sister pick out the fabrics from my "quilt Shoppe" (stash) when she was here last month. Guess what she's getting for Christmas?? LOL
I had read that the 'record' for sewing the JRR was 35 minutes - when I checked it out, that was only for sewing it AFTER all the strips were sewn end-to-end. I felt better when I figured that out, since it took me a lot longer than that to sew mine! I am not a very fast stitcher either, and I watch TV while I sew, & often get distracted!

Have a nice, quiet week!

Megan Harmeyer said...

We had tri-tip, too! I'm so glad I found a butcher in Abq that carries it. The fireworks noise wasn't too bad around our house last night. All I really care is that the house and neighborhood didn't burn down and the boys didn't wake up. LOL Cut mug rug! I like the bright colors. The isolette covers are pretty and the butterfly fabric is perfect for the back of those mini quilts! OK, old lady! Get some rest today. :)

Shannon said...

Oh but if we could close our ears like our eyes wouldn't that be heaven, LOL! You little blankets are so cute. I am thinking about using that technique. It looks very simple. We have had four get togethers over the last four days so I am realy glad today is a lazy day. But of course I need to clean the house. Good luck on your hexie and I hope your day goes much smoother!

Leslie said...

Chocolate covered graham crackers and milk are one of my all-time favorite snacks.

The Vegetarian Hunter said...

Sorry to hear about your lack of sleep! We had fireworks on Friday night for our Canada Day but luckily for me, I am a heavy sleeper and they did not bother me. That is - as long as I can get to sleep before the noise starts. If it starts - for example, my husband snoring, before I can get to sleep - there is no rest for me! I get really cranky pants too!! Congrats on all your finishes.
hugs,
Carolyn

Anne said...

Hope your world is quiet today! My dog hated the fireworks last night. We, too, stayed inside out of the heat.

I love that mug rug Jodi made! So pretty. The jelly roll quilts turned out so nice! A friend of mine from high school has a newborn granddaughter in the NICU at a Memphis hospital. Cherish was born a few weeks ago when her mother was only 5-1/2 months pregnant. The tiny infant is doing very well! I am sure those quilts you made will mean a lot to the families of these precious babies.

Robin (RsIslandCrafts) said...

I love your baby jelly roll quilts! I was looking around the web this morning for some tips on how to make them baby size. Did you use 1/3 of the strips for each quilt or just sew the strips together until you reached 32"? Any help you could give is greatly appreciated.

Raewyn said...

That is pretty good going - making those quilt tops in 3 1/2 hours is a great achievement. (I was amazed at the speed of the sewers in the race video!) I am sure they will be much appreciated. Hope you have a peaceful day sewing some hexie-flowers today.

Sheila said...

The quilts are so sweet , that is a lovely idea .The mug rug is also lovely , neat pattern and fabrics. Hope you catch up on your rest tonight ;-)

Needled Mom said...

I have thought about doing one of those jelly roll quilts too. Yours looks fabulous!

Your mug rug is gorgeous!!!! I hope mine comes soon. I've seen such pretty ones.

We had fireworks going around us until midnight last night too. Just as I was dozing off....BANG!!!

Are you getting the rains today? We are under a flash flood watch here. Very strange.

Char said...

Thanks for the interesting info on Graham Crackers.
I love the new mug rug you got in the swap.

Miss Hillbilly said...

Several thoughts:
*It was cooler for the 4th than it has been. My husband appreciated it as he had to work out in it. (He's a police officer on his side job.)
*I wish I could go buy some graham crackers to celebrate the day. I love graham crackers! Um....the unhealthy kind. We keep no processed foods, flour or sugar in the house but today would be a good day to break it for a smore or something!
*I am a grumpy old lady too. After 4 nights of noise I hope our neighbors just go to bed tonight!!!

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