Friday, September 16, 2011

Two Kinds of Stitching


A bargain ain't a bargain unless it's something you need. 
~Sidney Carroll

We went on our bi-weekly grocery shopping excursion Wednesday night.  Normally the store is well stocked on that day of the week.  Not this week.  There were quite a few barren areas on the shelves - especially in the bread area.  Luckily we were able to find almost everything we needed (and some things we didn't).  Our list wasn't very long which only goes to figure as we had an coupons for 15% off our entire shopping purchase.  After all was said and done, using the per cent off coupons and the few other manufacturer's coupon I had, we ended up saving $22!  Woohoo!  Now that's what I can a great grocery shopping trip!

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY
Play-Doh

Today, September 16, is National Play-Doh Day.  Get out your Play Doh and let's get creative! Look, I rolled this into a snake. And here's a worm. And look, an eel. Just remember, if you're coming to the Play Doh party please try not to mix the colors or you know what'll happen. That's right, a purpley grey mess. 
Play-Do was invented by Noah and Joseph McVicker in 1955. The brothers plan was to make a wallpaper cleaner. Joseph's sister was a kindergarten teacher and started bringing it into class for the kids to do art projects. She liked it better than clay since it was softer and less messy. The brothers sent their modeling clay to a few school in Cincinnati and it became a huge hit. At first the clay only came in off white and in a cardboard can containing 1 and a half pounds of Play-Doh. In 1956 The McVicker's founded Rainbow Crafts in order to sell their invention.  In 1957 the brothers modified the formula a little bit to make it even softer and they added the colors red green and blue.  In 1963 it started being sold in smaller cans and in 1986 it started being sold in plastic containers which helped it last longer and was easier for kids to open.  And, finally, if all the Play-Doh Compound made since 1956 was extruded through the Pay-Doh Fun Factory, it would make a "snake" that would wrap around the world nearly 300 times.

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FINALLY MADE THAT LABEL

Yesterday I finally made the label for my Colors Thru The Window quilt.  It's about time since it goes to the County Fair tomorrow......

Today I plan on sewing it onto the back.  I don't think they would like me at the fair if I just left it pinned on this way.

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THE CENTER STITCHERY

A week or so ago, I finished the center stitchery for A Gardener's Journal.....

This piece is called No Place Like Home and will end up measuring 8 1/2" X 9 1/2".  It is the biggest stitchery block in the quilt.  Luckily, I still have 3 1/2 months left to finish the quilt.
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FMQ PRACTICE
 
I've officially moved onto the Beginner/Intermediate page of Leah Day's Free Motion Quilting Project. 

Gentle Flames was an easy practice.  It was mostly a concentration of spacing the stitching lines evenly apart.

I probably should have added more spirals to each spiral but I was still pleased with the way this one turned out - with a few tiny exceptions.  This one is called Basic Spirals.

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I have to sew on labels to two quilt backs.

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GIVEAWAYS

Want It, Need It, Quilt! is having a giveaway.  You could win a beginners a Hexaculture pack.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, September 21 AEST.

Fairy Face Designs is having a giveaway.  You could win 5 half metres of Kona Solids.  This giveaway ends Monday, September 19, at 9:00 pm Irish time.

1 Choice 4 Quilting is having a giveaway.  You could win either a jelly roll or layer cake of Sophie, or King of the Ranch, or Winter Wonderland.  This giveaway ends Monday, September 19, at 10:00 pm EST.

Never Enough Stash is having a giveaway.  You could win one of Lizzie Kate's new designs.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, September 20.

Never Enough Stash is hold a second giveaway.  At this one you could win 100 hexies in the size that you choose.  This giveaway ends Monday, September 19.

Crazy'boutquilts is having her first sponsored giveaway.  You could win 'half price quilting from Joanne of Splitting Stitches.  This giveaway ends Monday, September 19.

From The Blue Chair is having a giveaway.  You could win a sample pack of Auriful thread.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, September 20.

Quiltstory is having a giveaway.  You could win 1 yard of In Transit from Michael Miller.  This giveaway ends Monday, September 19, at midnight.

Samelia's Mum is having a giveaway.  You would win a charm pack of Buttercup by Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree & Co for Moda fabrics.  This giveaway ends Monday, September 26, midday AEST.

Fresh Figs is having a giveaway.  You could win 1 fabric bundle, or 1 bag of MODA goodies or one of  2 boxes filled to the brim with Butterscotch & Rose scraps from some MODA market projects.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, September 20.

Jolly Jabber is having their weekly giveaway.  You could win one of Sherri McConnell Blogger’s Choice Fat Quarter Bundles.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, September 21.

Little Island Quilting is having a giveaway.  You could win a complete fat quarter set of the new Verandah collection by Amanda Murphy for Robert Kaufman Fabrics.  This giveaway ends Thursday, September 22, at 7:00 pm Little Island time.

Quilty Habit is celebrating her one year blogoversary with a giveaway.  You could win a beautiful sunflower lanyard made by Jess.  This giveaway ends Friday, September 23, at noon EST.

One More Quilt is having a giveaway.  You could win some great Christmas fabric.  This giveaway ends Saturday, September 17.

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FINAL THOUGHT

I'm thinking I'm going to have to give up on this part of the blog :(  Two times in a row I have no parting words of wisdom or thoughts to share.  I'm not in a funk or anything.  I just don't have anything to close with.  So instead of boring you - I will wish you a fantastic Friday and a wonderful weekend!!

See everything; overlook a great deal; correct a little. 
~Pope John XXIII



27 comments:

nono said...

I always love Play Doh....may have to buy some for my sons birthday (today)26 isn't too old right?

Debbie said...

Yes, a quilter who labels her quilts! I'm on a mission to get quilters to label their work. Good job.

krisgray said...

Love that opening quote - as you know, I've used it a few times myself! Had no idea that my mom did not play with playdough, too. Now that my son is 4, I noticed there are lot more colors available than when I was a kid. I've even "made" playdough a couple times - not quite the same, though.

Good for you on labeling your quilts - must admit that I rarely do it. LOVE your center stitchery block - so cute! Wishing us all a happy weekend is a fine conclusion - you do the same!!

Linda said...

Play-Doh was a lifesaver to us schoolteachers! When I taught kindergarten, each child had their own can.(They don't have to mix the colors together to end up with a gray mess! It also happens after they've put dirty little hands all over it!)To this day I shudder to think about all the "nasty stuff" that ended up in each lump of Play-Doh!
I love the stitchery!
You're really going to town with the FMQ prayctice! I really like the Gentle Flames. I'll have to use that one too!

Jessica said...

Cute label! I agree with Debbie - I'm so adamant about labeling quilts. Oh and I've tried the basic spiral fmq and it's harder than it looks, correct? I can imagine why you didn't put in extra spirals - but I looks great anyway! Oh, and Linda, you are too sweet for listing my giveaway. I appreciate it.

sunny said...

I wish my hubby could understand that opening quote!!! I could actually smell play doh while I was reading your post. I found a new-to-me blog that I really like, and signed up for a couple of giveaways. And I haven't even had breakfast yet. Have a wonderful day!!!!

Barb said...

Sunny is right, I could smell the play dough as well...love it...

You did save good at the store...

Sheila said...

My Dad has quoted the opening quote to my Mom on more than one occasion :-) Your FMQ is coming along well and I love your little stitchery great job. Oh my granddaughters love play doh and we usually buy them some for birthdays etc. Enjoy your day.

Jocelyn said...

Love your stitchery and your machine quilting is coming right along :-)

Annmarie said...

Linda - do you ever go back to look at your first attempts at FMQ? You are really getting GOOD! You are such an inspiration-one of these days I'm going to start a daily practice too - one of these days!

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Great to see a label - good luck at the fair! Just love the Gardner's Journal block - such a wonderful set of stitcheries. Your FMQ is really going wonderfully - Hmmm, maybe I should play along just to get back in sync. Enjoy your weekend.

Vesuviusmama said...

Your quilting looks great, INCLUDING the cursive writing stitches for each practice piece.

Maria said...

LOL Great opening quote.

Love your labels . I am not good at labeling my quilts.

Lana said...

I used to make a similiar version at home when the kids were little - we were poor...VERY poor...LOL! When actually were able to buy Playdough at Wal-Mart, the kids and I felt VERY VERY RICH!!! Man, How did we survive?

LOL! Have a great weekend!

Raewyn said...

Your posts always make me smile. The stitchery block is lovely and the fmq is looking SO GOOD... you really are testimony to the fact that practise really does help achieve great fmg-ing!

Barbara said...

Great label, where do your talents end? ;) Fabulous FMQ as always, now a label, and your stitchery is beautiful!

Quiet Quilter said...

Coupons are lovely when they can be used!!!!

Kathryn D. Duke said...

Linda, you are so right about labels and I am so bad with them...wonder why??????

Miss Hillbilly said...

Does that beginning quote apply to fabric? I really don't think that it does. Nope. No way!

quiltzyx said...

I think I have a mini-container of PlayDoh in my desk at work!

The label is wonderful. :D I often end up just using a Pigma pen & writing directly onto the quilt....

If you don't have any words left for your 'final words', oh well! Somehow I think you will have enough once in a while! :D

Pokey said...

Hi Linda, I opened this window before I went to school this morning, wanting to comment, and didn't get around to it until 10 pm. Best laid plans...
When I saw the can of Play-Doh, I knew the first thing that came to my mind was-the fragrance! I love the smell of Play-Doh brand playdough. great stuff, happy memories....
The last pattern I learned to quilt with was your spirals, aren't they fun? You are doing so well on your practice squares ~
:-}pokey

Bev C said...

Hello Linda,

Love both your quotes today. Have a great weekend.
happy days.
Bev.xoxo

Quiltingranny said...

Congrats on the savings, every little bit helps! Just to let you know, my dad delivered bread for a living...they do not work on Weds. or Sundays so that is why the shelves appear a bit bare.

Debbie said...

I love saving money at the store but not enough to become a couponer


do you take requests for your Fact of the Day?

Sept 19 is Talk Like a Pirate Day... just letting you know :)

Debra Hawkins said...

I can't lie. I love Play-doh when I am playing with it and HATE it when my daughter is. Seriously that kid can make a mess! We have a whole box of Play-doh and it is hiding and the in top of her closet waiting for me to be in a messy accepting mood.

I am not great at free motion quilting, I have done one back and it was pretty bad, oh well! Great job on saving so much!

rubyslipperz1052 said...

I have always LUVED playdoh! I would just sit down and play with my kids and make fun stuff.

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed...best of luck at the fair!

hugZ,
annie
rubyslipperz106.blogspot

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

Don't give it up, just visit the last comments less often. BTW, your FM quilting is really improving.

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