Finished Colors

For fast-acting relief, try slowing down. 
~Lily Tomlin

Our weekend was rather quiet and relaxed.  A much needed respite after the last couple weekends of running and traveling.  Saturday we visited a relatively new quilt shop in town where I purchased a pattern and and my first bottle of Best Press.  I checked out their fabric selection, which was limited, but they seemed to cover a wide range from civil war to modern.  I wished I had known about a class that was going on that day - a class with Nancy Rink, one of my favorites.  Anyway, got signed up for their emails so I won't miss out on any future classes.  Also made a run to the library where I picked up 5 books on CD that were on hold for me.  Lunch out at our favorite spot and then a run to Kohl's for new work shirts for DH.  And then home!  Sunday was spent doing the weekly wash and plying needle and thread to fabric.  All in all a wonderful weekend.  How was your weekend?

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

National Dollar Day

We've heard the expression "the buck stops here," but where did the buck start in the first place? Well it started on this day in 1786, when Continental Congress established the United States monetary system. Of course back then the dollar could probably buy you a horse and now you're lucky if it gets you a pack or gum.  Here some some facts I discovered about the dollar bill:

* The average life of a dollar bill is just 18 months

* 97% of all paper money contains traces of cocaine (another reason to wash your hands after handling money)

* Martha Washington is the only woman whose portrait has appeared on a U.S. currency note. It appeared on the face of the $1 Silver Certificate of 1886 and 1891, along with the back of the $1 Silver Certificate issued in 1896
* The number 13 (corresponding to the 13 colonies) figures prominently on the $1 bill in honor of the original 13 colonies:

- The dollar has 13 stars above the eagle
- There are 13 steps on the Pyramid
- There are 13 letters in ANNUIT COEPTIS
- E PLURIBUS UNUM contains 13 letters

- There are 13 vertical bars on the shield
- The top of the shield has 13 horizontal stripes
- You can count 13 leaves on the olive branch
- There are 13 berries on the olive branch
- The dollar bill also features 13 arrows and 13 hats

* Money isn't made out of paper, it's actually made out of linen

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FMQ - DAYS 17, 18, and 19

This practice was very similar to Sea Algae.  The only real difference is the little loop added to the end of each curve.  This practice is called Sea Oats.

As you can see, I had quilt a bit of trouble keeping my size uniform with the Basic Chevron.  At least they were consistently uneven so the rows worked well on top of one another - lol!

Radio Static gave me some starts and fits at the beginning.  Looking back at Leah's example, I should have made the big peaks larger and made more of a definition in size between the medium and small peaks.  I also tended to round off the points on several of the peaks and valleys.

Question for you experienced domestic machine quilters......How many stitches per inch do you aim for with FMQ?  My stitches tend to be quite small.

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FINISHED COLORS

On Friday I finished my Colors Thru The Window Quilt.........

I did some FMQ on the side color border and did some meandering on the black border

I didn't have enough of any one piece of black fabric or black print to make the backing so it is a truly scrappy backing.  I even threw in the last three blocks I had...

Ignore all of the dog hairs that you see.  I couldn't both sides brushed with the lint brush.  That's the trouble of living with dogs and working with black - every little dog hair collects on it!

I still have to make a label for this quilt.  On Thursday, when DH saw me working on the binding, I told him I didn't know if I would keep the quilt or give it to Project Linus.  You should have seen the hurt look on his face!  OMG - you would have thought I was giving away his favorite blankie.  So, guess who this quilt is going to be for.  Made with mistakes but made with love for my sweet husband!

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A SWEET GIFT

Last week I received an email from Corina telling me that she had won a bouquet of lavender in a giveaway from Alderwood Quilts.  As she lives in Canada, they were unable to ship the lavender to her - you know, those crossing national borders rules with live things.  Anyway, she said that she would like to gift the lavender bouquet to me!  How sweet is that?

It arrived in the mail on Friday!  Take a big smell.  Oh, you can't smell anything?  Sorry!  You will have to believe me when I say it smells heavenly.  The beautiful aroma has filled my kitchen.  Thank you so very much for your generosity, Corina.  And thank you for being my friend!

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TODAY'S GOAL

I have a table runner I need to start working on for the Quilted Table Fall swap

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GIVEAWAYS

The Jolly Jabber (Fat Quarter Shop's blog) is having a giveaway.  You could win a fat quarter bundle of Simple Pleasures.  This giveaway ends Thursday, August 11.

The Traveling Stash is ready to hit the road again.  Diary of a Quilt Maven is ready to send the box on it's way.  The winner will be drawn on Thursday, August 11.

The Intrepid Thread is having a giveaway.  You could win a Wrenly Charm Pack.  This giveaway ends Friday, August 12, at midnight.

Happy Quilting is having a sponsored giveaway.  You could win an entire Off The Rail Quilt Kit from Fat Quarter Shop.  This giveaway ends Thursday, August 11.

Little Island Quilting is having an 'old fashioned giveaway'.  You could win a copy of Quilting Line + Color, or a copy of Zen and the Art of Quilting, or a copy of Rowan Junior, or a copy of Rowan Knitting and Crocheting.  This giveaway ends Friday, August 12, at noon.

Val Laird is celebrating 400 followers with a giveaway.  You could win "My Sewing Room" wall hanging, a selection of 14 fabrics in 10 inch squares, and a pretty mug bag.  This giveaway ends Saturday, August 13, midday (Eastern Australian time).

All About Applique is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of Quiltin' Happy.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, August 10, at 7:00 pm PST.

Have you entered my Blogiversary Giveaway?  This ends Sunday, August 14, at 8:00 pm PST.

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FINAL THOUGHT

It's Monday once again.  I already have my week planned out as far as sewing goes.  I will be working on a table runner for a swap and then work on the Loving Hands quilts that I need to be made before the third Thursday of the month.  I just might try some FMQ on those LH quilts :)  I'm once again thinking ahead of projects I would like to make.  Why, oh why, can't there be more hours in the day?  I have all of these little piles waiting for me - all organized with pattern and fabrics.  Wouldn't it be fun if we could clone ourselves for just a few hours at a time.  Being two or three of me would let me make so much more.  But it's not to be.  It's just me and there are still only 24 hours in a day.  One project at a time and the other's will happen........someday.

Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can.
~Danny Kaye