A Day of Little Quilts

Chase down your passion like it's the last bus of the night.
  ~Terri Guillemets

I'm ready to start a new week.  We had a very relaxing weekend - something I definitely needed.  We were going to head down south to attend the Road To California quilt show but I didn't even have the energy to do that.  And after reading the paper and seeing the route we would have traveled was closed for several hours because of a multi-car accident, I'm even more glad we didn't go.  I missed seeing all of the amazing quilts and visiting all the vendor booths but I will save that for another time.  I've already located two quilt shows this spring (not counting my guild's) within a two hour drive heading north (a much easier drive) and am looking forward to those.  And there's always the big show in Long Beach, International Quilt Show, in July.  Next year we will plan to attend Road To California.  How was your weekend?

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Squirrel

Saturday, January 21, was Squirrel Appreciation Day.  Sure when you head to the park you'll feed the ducks, but why don't you save a few scraps for the squirrels? Is it because they look like rats with fluffy tails? Or because they get that crazy look in their eye when they notice you unwrapping your sandwich? Give the squirrels of the world a break. They eat all the crumbs you carelessly leave behind on a picnic, they keep your dog entertained, and they've never asked for anything in return.  Here are a few facts about those cute, little furry creatures:

* Squirrels can jump a distance of up to 20 feet. They have long, muscular hind legs and short front legs that work together to aid in leaping

* The word "squirrel" means "shadow tail" in Greek

* The hind legs of squirrels are double-jointed. This helps them run up and down trees quickly.

* The hibernating artic ground squirrel is the only warm-blooded mammal able to withstand body temperatures below freezing.

* A male squirrel can smell a female in heat up to a mile away. Mating season is February through May with a 44-day gestation period. Typically 2-4 young are born per liter.

* Squirrels eyes are positioned in such a way that they can see some things behind them

* Squirrels in general are found on every continent except Antarctica and Australia

* Squirrels can eat their own body weight (approximately 1.5 pounds) every week.

* Squirrels can fall up to 100 feet without hurting themselves. They'll use their tail both for balance and as a parachute

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TWO LITTLE QUILTS

Last week I turned in two more Loving Hands Quilts at my guild meeting.....

This is the second quilt I've made from the blocks made for me by last year's Bee In Oz group.  So bright and happy and definitely boy.

While I was doing some FMQ meandering I made my first BIG mistake.  I thought I was done until I turned the little quilt over and saw that I had caught the excess backing material while I was quilting.  After an hour of picking out all those stitches, I was able to finish it up fairly quickly.  I'm sure that this won't the last time I do something like this.

I was able to make one more little quilt from the left over fabric of Hoo's In The Forest.  So girly and pink!  I didn't have enough of the matching fabric for the binding so I grabbed an apple green fat quarter I had. 

Along with the regular meandering I threw in some hearts, or leaves, depending on how you look at them.  It was fun to add a little something different.

The guild had a great response to their call for Loving Hands quilts this month.  Apparently in December there were 12 preemies born at one hospital and 14 at another here in town and that pretty much depleted our previous stock of little quilts.  I'll keep making my two a month and hopefully others will too.

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I plan to make a Bee block and two 6" blocks for another swap

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GIVEAWAYS

Favequilts is having a giveaway.  You could win a Aviary Fat Quarter Bundle Designed by Nancy Gere Gifted by Windham Fabrics.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, February 1. (you can enter this one daily) 

Tales Of Wayne Manor is having a giveaway.  You could win 3 half yard cuts of DS Quilts Fabric.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, February 25.

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is having a giveaway.  You could win any one of a large assortment of wonderful things.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, February 14.

Samelia's Mum is having another giveaway.  You could win a layer cake of Sassy by Sandy Gervais.  This giveaway ends Thursday, January 26, at 7:00 pm AEST.

Qubee Quilts is having a giveaway.  You could win 12 fat quarters.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, January 25.

Sew We Quilt is having a giveaway.  You could win a collection of Pellon.  The winner will be announced Tuesday, January 24.

Cat Patches is having her FFFF giveaway.  You could win a fat quarter.  This giveaway ends Friday, January 27.

SewCalGal is having a giveaway.  You could win a Sushi Roll bundle from Hoffman Fabrics.  This giveaway ends Friday, January 27.

Would you like to win 2 charm packs of Good Fortune by Kate Spain?  You must go HERE to enter.

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FINAL THOUGHT