I'm Ready For October!

For man, autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together. For nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad. 
~Edwin Way Teale

It's the last day of September!  Are you ready for October?  I would be if the weather would ever cool down.  I'm hoping that Mother Nature will take another look at the calender and send a cooling trend our way.  I'm tired of it being in the 90's every day.  Not a single leaf is changing color and I believe the birds are all staying around waiting for it to cool before heading south.  It's time for sweatshirts and hands in pockets to stay warm.  It's wrong to be going to football games in shorts and light weight t-shirts.  I want cool weather - darn it!  Have the temps dropped in your area to welcome it the fall?

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Sticks of chewing gum

Today, September 30, is Chewing Gum Day.  I haven't chewed gum in years - it messes with my dental work.  But I thought it would be fun to share some facts about that little wad of gooey goodness.

* During WWII, U.S. military personnel spread the popularity of chewing gum by trading it and giving it as gifts to people in Europe, Africa, Asia and around the world.

* Chewing on gum while cutting onions can help a person from producing tears

* The largest bubble ever blown was 23 inches in diameter. The record was set July 19, 1994 by Susan Montgomery Williams of Fresno, CA

* Singapore has tried to completely forbid gum, with heavy fines of over $6,000 for possession or use without a prescription.

* Chewing gum burns around 11 calories per hour.

* In the U.S. alone, the total amount of chewing gum sold in one year would make a stick 3.5 million miles (5.6 million km) long. That’s long enough to reach the moon and back seven times or to circle the earth’s equator 150 times

* The largest piece of bubble gum ever was the size and weight of 10,000 regular pieces and was presented to baseball player Willie Mays by the Topps Chewing Gum Company in June 1974.

* Back in the 1920’s, prohibition increased gum sales because people needed to mask the alcohol on their breath. When prohibition was enacted, Adam’s Clove gum hit the market with the slogan: “It takes your breath away!”

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OCTOBER TABLE RUNNER

For just over a week I worked on the wool table runner for my side board.....

First I worked on the ends creating the scene for fall....

And, of course, I had to add a little owl sitting in the tree.....

Here's one end of the runner.  I just love the falling leaves....

(oh my, I just realized I put Stitched on the photo instead of Stitches - stupid me!)

And here is the entire runner.  It was actually supposed to be two inches longer (36 inches) making more space in the center but when I washed the wool it shrank much more than expected.  It actually fits my sideboard a little better with the 2 inches missing.  The table runner pattern is by Nutmeg Hare and is called #48 An Autumn Mood.  One fall project completed!

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OCTOBER MINI QUILT

Earlier this week I finished the little mini quilt for October.....

I had bought this pattern back at the Long Beach Quilt Show in July.  When I saw it I knew I had to have it.  It is already hanging on its stand in the entryway ready to greet all who enter.

Here is a close-up of the tiny meandering I did.  There's only a couple of pointy spots and one or two places where I stitched over previous stitching.  Luckily it's small enough that most people won't notice the mistakes.  This little pattern is by The Wooden Bear Quilt Designs and is called October Scare.

Woohoo!  I'm all ready for October with one day to spare!!

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FREE MOTION PRACTICE

Since I forgot to share any of my FMQ with you on Wednesday, you now have to suffer through 3.....

Peppermint Candy showed me that I need to practice my circles.  Can you tell where I sneezed twice during this practice?  Second and fourth row right in the center.  LOL!  Allergies are a real pain when you are concentrating and then sneeze without warning.  It also made me want some peppermint candy :)

I really enjoyed this practice.  Flame Flower didn't require as much precision and  you could make the petals fit as you went.  I can see using this in a quilt somewhere.

Thursday's practice looks much better at a distance.  I liked the effect of Pointy Paisley but I'm not sure where I would use it on a quilt.  Some of lines could have been straighter and the corner points a bit pointier.

Now that I will be taking a week off from sewing, I hope my fmq skills don't get too rusty.

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I'm going to enjoy my DD#1 and GS#2!!!!!!  I think I can achieve today's goal without  any difficulty.

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GIVEAWAYS

Sunshower Quilts is having a giveaway.  You could win all the fabric you'll need for your own fall table-runner.  This giveaway ends Sunday, October 2.

Make Life Sweet is having a giveaway.  You could win some pre-cuts of Hometown.  This giveaway ends Monday, October 3.

World of Charity Stitching is having a giveaway.  You could win a $25 gift certificates from Vee at VeeandCo Cross Stitch Designs.  This giveaway ends Friday, October 7.

Craizee Corners is having a giveaway.  You could win 4 fat quarters of breast cancer awareness fabric and 4 appliqued ribbons cut with the Accuquilt die.  This giveaway ends Saturday, October 1.


Quilting by the River is having a giveaway.  You could win Maple Leaf Centerpiece kit created by Connie.  This giveaway ends Sunday, October 2.

Hawthorne Threads is having their weekly giveaway.  You could win a Lizzy House Outfoxed charm pack.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, October 5.

Lavender Ridge is having a giveaway.  You could win the very first edition of Primitive Quilts and Projects, summer 2011, and maybe some extra fat quarters.  This giveaway ends Monday, October 10.

Cotton Cocktails is having a giveaway.  You could win a Moda Summer House charm pack.  This giveaway ends Thursday, October 6.

Happy Cottage Quilter is having a giveaway.  You could win forty 5" charm squares, a Granny's Flower Patch Charm Template, a Pyramid Charm Template, thread, 3/4 yard of fabric, and quilters pins with a cute little tin to keep them in.  This giveaway ends Sunday, October 2.


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FINAL THOUGHT

As you head into October you will be doing it without me.  I will be taking a brief break from blogging to enjoy the time with my DD#1 and GS#2.  I will return on Monday, October 10.  I will miss sharing my life with you but I'm sure you understand if I plan on very little computer time.  Enjoy the first third of the month and I will be back with you soon.

Laughter is an instant vacation. 
~Milton Berle