Little Quilts

Sometimes I feel that life is passing me by, not slowly either, but with ropes of steam and spark-spattered wheels and a hoarse roar of power or terror. It's passing, yet I'm the one who's doing all the moving. 

~Martin Amis, Money

Gosh!  I can't believe it's Friday already.  Where did the week go?  Did I miss some days?  Travel through them in a fog?  It just amazes me how quickly the days pass at times.  One day it's Monday and you are just starting the week, and POOF!  Five days have disappeared and it's almost time to start the weekend.  I know I accomplished some things this week.  All I have to do is look back at the previous posts and there's proof.  But for the life of me I couldn't tell you what happened each day this week.  I guess that's what happens when I'm so busy trying to reach my different goals.  Hopefully I will get at least some hand sewing or stitchery in over the weekend.  Do you have any plans for the weekend?

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Fall or Autumn

The season we call fall was once referred to simply as “harvest” to reflect the time when farmers gathered their crops for winter storage, roughly between August and November. Astronomically, the season lasts from the end of the September until December, between the autumnal equinox and the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. The word harvest comes from the Old Norse word haust meaning “to gather or pluck.” In the early 1600s as more people started moving into cities, the word harvest fell out of use. Instead, city dwellers began to use the phrase “fall of the leaf” to refer to the third season of the year when trees lose their leaves. The word “fall” comes from the Old English word feallan which means “to fall or to die.” Over time, the phrase was shortened to fall.

Surprisingly, it's not really known where the word “autumn” comes from. It was used as far back at the 1300s (by Chaucer), and Shakespeare often used the word, as in Midsummer Night’s Dream when one character describes the cycle of the year, “The spring, the summer, the childing autumn, angry winter.” However, etymologists have not determined its precise origin.

As English spread to the New World, the common season names split as well. The use of the word “fall” fell out of favor in England. Today, American English uses the word “fall” while British English uses “autumn” almost exclusively. Fall provides a nice foil to its opposite season, spring, and gives us the helpful reminder, “Spring ahead, fall back,” when we get confused about our clocks on daylight savings.

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LOVING HANDS

Last night I turned in two little quilts to my guild's (Cotton Patch Quilters) Loving Hands coordinator......

First was this one made from squares I received in an I Spy square swap.  I selected fabrics that were more toward a girl.

And I used the fabric I won in a giveaway for the backing.  Sort of looks like a quilt all on its own with no work from me.

This is the challenge quilt I made.  The challenge fabric was used on the corner presents as the wrapping paper.  I was able to use leftover scraps from the Designer Mystery BOM from Fat Quarter Shop (2010-2011) to make the ribbons, bows and the green wrapping paper.  The block designs were from the newest Quiltmaker magazine.

The backing was mitten print that I have had around for years. 
And guess what?  After the vote was taken at the meeting last night.....I won first place!  And I didn't even vote for my own quilt.  I forgot my camera so I can't show you the competition - sorry.

I hope these two little quilts will brighten the life of a little preemie and their families.

 

 

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FMQ FLOWERS

The last two day's free motion quilting practice was centered around flowers. 

 

 

I like the way this one started out but I think I should have added some extra petals in as the flower grew.  This one is called Flower Ball. 

 

 

Super Daisy was fun, after I started it for a second time.  The first time only had five petals and looked odd after just the second row of petals.  I added extra stitching to the flower center just because I could.

I can see both of these patterns being used in a girls quilt and I just might be using them in a baby quilt I am going to make.  Oh, and just to clarify, there are those of you out there that thought I make up these sample blocks on a long arm machine.  Not so!  I sew these all on my domestic machine - and so can you!

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I plan to make two 6" blocks for my swap partner.

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GIVEAWAYS

Sew Take a Hike is having a giveaway.  You could win a $25 gift certificate to Fat Quarter Shop.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, October 26.

Jaybird Quilts is having a giveaway.  You could win a Melly quilt pattern by RGD & a 10 square of Veranda by Amanda Murphy for Robert Kaufman.  This giveaway ends Saturday, October 22, at 10 pm PST.

From The Blue Chair is having a giveaway.  You could win a $25 gift certificate to Fat Quarter Shop.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, October 26.

Nomes's Brag-A-Long is having a giveaway.  You could win a baggie of selvages.  This giveaway ends Friday, October 28.

Fabricworm is having their weekly giveaway.  You could win 6 lovely Fat Quarters of So Sophie by My Mind's Eye for Riley Blake in Brown/Gold.  This giveaway ends Monday, October 24, at 8:30 am PST.

World Of Charity Stitching is having a giveaway.  You could win a $25 gift certificate to Crazy Annie's Stitchin n Stuff.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, November 1.

Silly Mama Quilts is having a giveaway.  You could win a bottlecap pincushion make-it-take-it kit and a charm pack of Delighted.  This giveaway ends Monday, October 24.

The Intrepid Thread is having a giveaway.  You could win a bottle cap pin cushion kit or a fat quarter pack of one of the colorways of Delighted of the winner's choosing.  This giveaway ends Monday, October 24.

Little PenPen is having a giveaway.  You could win 21 quilt blocks.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, October 26.

To Everything There Is A Season is having a Fall Blessing giveaway.  You could win a lil-basket of pretty fall colors & a sweet cookie jar mix and spoon ,  a fall tea towel and 100% cotton dish cloth, and a  fall journal & sweet treats! This giveaway ends Saturday, October 22.

Birch Fabrics is having a giveaway.  You could win a darling market bag.  This giveaway ends Sunday, October 23, at midnight.

The Pickledish Patch is having a giveaway.  You could win an EQ7 full program.  This giveaway ends Thursday, October 27.

Hawthorne Threads is having their weekly giveaway.  You could win a Free Spirit Color Card.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, October 26.

Momloves2quilt is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of String Quilts.  This giveaway ends Sunday, October 23.

Notions (Connecting Threads blog) is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of Modern Mix or 2 yards of solid fabric.  This giveaway ends Monday, October 24.

Jaybird Quilts is having another giveaway.  This time you could win Silent Film pre-cuts.  This giveaway ends Sunday, October 23, at 10:00 pm PST.


Freshly Pieced is having a giveaway.  You could win a $25 gift certificate to Fat Quarter Shop.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, October 26.


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FINAL THOUGHT

October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came -
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band.
~George Cooper, "October's Party"