Two More Swaps Completed

Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.
~Robert Louis Stevenson

Well, I'm back in shorts AGAIN!  Mother Nature is not playing fair and has raised the temperature once again.  I shouldn't complain as the Los Angeles area is even hotter with the addition of Santa Ana winds.  Hopefully all of those people who like to play with fire will stay in their homes and not cause havoc.  The plants and trees aren't sure what to do right now.  The sycamore across the street is a huge tree but looks really ugly right now with all of its brown leaves.  The Gerbera daisies are blooming again and I even had a hydrangea send up a tiny bloom.  Everything is so confused.  The one consolation is it is still cooling down at night so we can have the windows open for some fresh air.  The cooler night weather has sent the local rodents looking for new homes and one of them is trying to set up house keeping in our attic.  DH put out some poison so hopefully we won't become known as the Mouse Motel.  Now if only Oregon would share some of that lovely moisture with us commonly known as rain - I would be a very happy lady!!

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Pumpkins

Have you been out collecting your pumpkins for Halloween?  Are you going to carve yours or just make some yummy desserts?  While you decided what size and what you will be doing with your pumpkin, here are some fun facts:
*  Pumpkins originated in Central America
* The name pumpkin originated from "pepon" – the Greek word for "large melon."
* Pumpkin flowers are edible
* Pumpkins were once recommended for removing freckles and curing snake bites. 
* In early colonial times, pumpkins were used as an ingredient for the crust of pies, not the filling.
* Colonists sliced off pumpkin tips; removed seeds and filled the insides with milk, spices and honey. This was baked in hot ashes and is the origin of pumpkin pie.
* Native Americans flattened strips of pumpkins, dried them and made mats.
* The largest "official" pumpkin ever grown weighed 1,340 pounds. And the largest "unofficial" pumpkin ever grown weighed 1'458 pounds, but was not awarded due to damage.

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A LITTLE HOOT

My swap partner, Melody, for the Quilting Block Swaps Australia this month requested a block with an owl.  Here's is the sneak peek I provided for her.....

Two little eyes and just the hint of a beak.  The block is winging its way to Australia so I thought I would share it with you today...

This little owl came from the pattern Hooterville by Brandywine Design.  I enlarged it to fit better onto a 12" block.  It is a raw edge applique that I used a buttonhole stitch on.  To complete the owl I used two little buttons for his eyes.  I sure hope Melody likes this little guy.

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MUG RUG SWAP

I recently sent off a mug rug to my secret partner in the Mug Rug Swap Adventure 3.  She requested a mug rug for Christmas, Halloween or Easter and dislikes muted colors.  After much deliberation I finally came up with......

This mug rug is anything but muted!  I found this pattern on Artisania under their free pattern tab.  It was a fun foundation paper piecing pattern.  The colors don't show up quite true because when I went out to take the picture, there was no sun left in the yard.  I just couldn't pass up using the spooky eye fabric for the background.  I did a simple echo quilting on this mug rug.  This, too, is on its way across the ocean.

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A FEW MORE PUMPKINS

While looking through Leah Day's designs I found the perfect practice square......

Isn't this the perfect design for October?  If I had found it sooner, I could have used it on the mug rug above.  Oh well.  Next time.  I really like the spacing in the top left corner but for some reason most of the pumkpins and vines ended up spaced further apart.  Maybe I was in a hurry.  Oh, this one is called Pumpkin Patch in case you hadn't noticed.

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TODAY'S GOAL

I'm still working on the Loving Hands quilt.  Today I plan to finish with the applique work and hopefully make the sandwich.

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GIVEAWAYS

Lily's Quilts is having a sponsored giveaway.  You could win a Designer Collection, or an Ultra Collection, or a box of six spools of 50wt thread from Aurifil.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, October 19.

It's So Kiki is having a giveaway.  You could win a Sampler Stack from Connecting Threads.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, October 18.

Quilting By The River is having a giveaway.  You could win an AccuQuilt GO! Baby Cutter and your choice of 3 dies.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, October 18, at 11:59 pm CST.

Alderwood Quilts is having a giveaway.  You could win a Boondoggle Ruler and pattern set by Bella Nonna Quilts.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, November 1.

The Raspberry Rabbits is having a giveaway.  You could win a pair of Rabbit Embroidery Scissors.  This giveaway ends Monday, October 17.

Stitches From The Bush is having a giveaway.  You could win  'I'm Charmed, I'm Sure' Table Runner pattern, Rouenneries Deux Charm Pack (new FG range due out in January next year), 70cm of Oyster FG fabric (for stitching on), 30cm of Rouge FG fabric (for binding), and 1 reel of Cosmo Multi Work Thread.  This giveaway ends Monday, October 24, Australian time.

Vrooman's Quilts is celebrating her blog-aversery with a giveaway.  You could win a 'StoneHenge' roll pack.  This giveaway ends Friday, October 21.

My Patchwork Life is having a giveaway.  You could win some floss.  This giveaway ends Sunday, October 16, before Erin's bedtime.

Fabricworm is having their weekly giveaway.  You could win 7 fun Fat Quarters of Doohickey Designs Fox Trails in Green.  This giveaway ends Monday, October 17, at 8:30 am PST.

Renegade Quilter is having a giveaway.  You could win 'countdown to christmas' charm packs.  This giveaway ends Monday, October 17, at 5:00 pm.

Hockey Mom Stitchin' Hobby is having a giveaway.  You could win a mystery bag of stitching stuff and maybe even a gift certificate to 123Stitch.  This giveaway ends November 27, at 11:59 pm PST.

Still a few days left to enter my giveaway for a fat quarter bundle of Family Forever from Fat Quarter Shop.  To enter go HERE.

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FINAL THOUGHT

My mind has been on nothing but a little quilt the last couple of days.  I didn't even start my day with a FMQ yesterday.  It's amazing that something so small can be so all time consuming.  But I'm determined to get it done.  I hope to be stitching on the binding this weekend.  I'm starting to feel the time crunch on so many things.  Once again I've over loaded myself with swaps and the time is drawing near that they are all due - by the end of the month!  Why can't I say 'No'?  It took me years to convince my DH that he could say no to Community groups that were eating away at his time.  And now it's me.  I've got to know when to put the brakes on and learn that two letter word.  Why is it so much easier to yes?  Oh well, I know I will make it but in the mean time I'm feeling just a tiny bit of stress.

Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.
~Etty Hillesum