Flowers From Here and There

I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world.  This makes it hard to plan the day.  
~Elwyn Brooks White

It's leap year!  That gives us one extra day this year.  An extra day of sewing and crafting.  This is exactly what I've been looking for!  But it just feels like any other day.  Will I notice that we had an extra day once the end of the year rolls around?  Probably not.  Will you be using this day in any special way?  I guess we will be celebrating it by going grocery shopping this evening.  Oh boy!  I can hardly wait - lol!

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Leap Year

2012 is a leap year, with 366 days instead of the usual 365 days.

Why?

It was the ancient Egyptians who first figured out that the solar year and the man-made calendar year didn't always match up.

That's because it actually takes the Earth a little longer than a year to travel around the Sun — 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds, to be exact.

Therefore, as the hours accumulated over the centuries, an extra day was occasionally added to the calendar, and over time the practice became more or less official.

Leap Day traditions - no man is safe!

As the story goes, the tradition of women romantically pursuing men in leap years began in 5th century Ireland, when St. Bridget complained to St. Patrick about the fair sex having to wait for men to propose. Patrick finally relented and set February 29 aside as the day set aside allowing women the right to ask for a man's hand in marriage.While leap day helped official timekeepers, it also resulted in social customs turned upside down when February 29 became a "no man's land" without legal jurisdiction.

The tradition continued in Scotland, when Queen Margaret declared in 1288 that on February 29 a woman had the right to pop the question to any man she fancied. Menfolk who refused were faced with a fine in the form of a kiss, a silk dress, or a pair of gloves given to the rejected lady fair.

A similar modern American tradition, Sadie Hawkins Day, honors "the homeliest gal in the hills" created by Al Capp in the cartoon strip Li'l Abner. In the famous story line, Sadie and every other woman in town were allowed on that day to pursue and catch the most eligible bachelors in Dogpatch. Although the comic strip placed Sadie Hawkins Day in November, today it has become almost synonymous with February 29.

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FUN FLOWERS

Today is One Flower Wednesday and I made exactly one flower this week.

I am calling this flower "The Day In The Life Of A Sunflower".  Pretty long name for one small flower but that's exactly what I thought of while stitching this flower.  It goes from happiness, to despair, to being, to embarrassment, to being, to making a statement, and back to happiness.  That pretty much covers a days worth of emotions.  

For more hexie flowers out there in blogland, the lovely Karen has provided a linky to make it easy to do some blog hopping.  You can go HERE to check out more flowers.

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FUN SWAP FLOWERS

Earlier this week I received two fun flowers from my February swap partner in the Inchy Hexagon Flower Swap.

Lara made these wonderful hexie flowers for me and they traveled all the way from Perth, Australia.  Lara said "It's the first time I've done fussy cut" - can you believe it?  They are perfect!  She also included a precious crocheted heart.  Thank you so very much, Lara!

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TODAY'S GOAL

I hope to finish quilting the quilt I've been working on.

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GIVEAWAYS

Favequilts is having a giveaway.  You could win a Pat Sloan Starter Kit of Aurifil Thread.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, March 6.


Quiltville's Quips and Snips is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of On Track!  This giveaway ends Friday, March 2.


McCall's is having a giveaway.  You could win thirty-eight 7" x 18" cuts of fabric of Moda Swirl.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, March 6.


Kool Benz is having a giveaway.  You could win a fat quarter bundle of Fresh Cut by Heather Bailey.  This giveaway ends Saturday, March 3, at midnight EST.


Annie's Ruby Slipperz is having her weekly Mystery Monday giveaway.  You could win 5 fat quarters.  This giveaway ends Saturday, March 3, at midnight MT.


Marcia's Crafty and Sewing Blog is having a short giveaway.  You could win a set of Photo Note Cards.  This giveaway ends tonight, February 29, at midnight.


Vrooman's Quilts is having a giveaway.  You could win one charm pack of Sassy and one charm pack of
Bella Solid.  This giveaway ends Friday, March 2, at midnight.


Lavender Dreams is having a giveaway.  You could win a Mystic Knot bracelet.  This giveaway ends Friday, March 2.


PickleDish is having a giveaway.  You could win American Summer: Seaside-Inspired Rugs & Quilts by Polly Minick.  This giveaway ends "sometime later this week".


Cosmo Cricket Blog is having a giveaway.  You could win a Salt Air layer cake from Fat Quarter Shop.  This giveaway ends ?

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FINAL THOUGHT

A LITTLE FINISH

We have to learn to be our own best friends because we fall too easily into the trap of being our own worst enemies. 
 ~Roderick Thorp, Rainbow Drive

The weekend certainly flew by quickly.  We ran errands most of Saturday and I couldn't seem to find what I was looking for.  Nascar made its big start on Sunday, well at least it was supposed to start.  There were several hours of the hosts trying to fill time with worthless bits of information and driver interviews.  I did get in some stitching between loads of wash and giving Weasley a bath.  We've had a roller coaster of weather over the last 3 days.  Friday we broke a record when our temps climbed to 81 degrees and then we plummet to a high of 59* today.  Almost summer one day and then back to practically winter temps 3 days later.  It's hard to know how to dress this time of year.  I hope your weekend was a good and that you have great plans for the week ahead.


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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are not high up on my 'favorites' list.  The one and only way I will eat them if they are in a well seasoned sauce, and that includes pizza.  However, I thought I would do a bit of research on the tomato and this is what I found:
* Tomatoes are thought to originate in Peru. The name comes from the Aztec “xitomatl,” which means “plump thing with a navel”.
* The U.S. Department of Agriculture says there are 25,000 tomato varieties. Other sources cap the number of types of tomatoes at 10,000. (Either way, that’s a lot.)
* When the tomato was introduced to Europe in the 1500s, The French called it “the apple of love.” The Germans called it “the apple of paradise.”
* Tomato is a cousin of the eggplant, red pepper, ground cherry, potato, and the highly toxic belladonna
* The scientific term for the common tomato is lycopersicon lycopersicum, which mean “wolf peach.”
* According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Americans eat between 22- 24 pounds of tomatoes per person, per year. (More than half of those munchies are ketchup and tomato sauce.)
* While tomatoes are perfectly safe and healthy to eat, their leaves are actually toxic!


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FLOWER GARDEN FINISH


A couple of weeks ago I tried something new.  I gave raw edge applique with straight stitching a try.....

This flower is part of it.  I probably should have stitched a bit closer to the edge.  I added a little detail with the swirl in the middle of the flower and the petal detail.  I also added veins to the leaves.  Oh, the stems are stitched with a button hole stitch.

This little bird is the focal point of the wall hanging.  It was fun making his curly tail.  His eye is a little button.  Here you can see the quilting I did.  It's sort of a curly vine sort of thing.  Don't look too closely as there are places where I didn't back track too well.

And here is the entire little wall hanging.  It is called Flower Garden.  I found the pattern at Don't Look Now. It's a freebie and their pattern makes it into a pillow.  I'm really happy with the results and have it hanging in my bathroom.  Yes, in my bathroom.  The bathroom needed a little color and this was the perfect addition.  

Wall Hanging:  Flower Garden

Pattern Design:  Don't Look Now

Dimensions:  18" X 18"

Completed:  February 15, 2012

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BLOCK RECEIVED

Late last week I received another swap block in the mail.  This one came to me from Arizona.

Linda B said she didn't think this block was very bright but I do and it certainly is child happy.  I just love the swimming frog in the middle square.  Linda was my February swap partner for Block Swap Adventure.  Thank you so very much, Linda B!

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I plan to get some quilting done and hopefully a little stitching in the afternoon.

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GIVEAWAYS

Jolly Jabber is having a giveaway.  You could win a Parson Gray’s Designer Select Fat Quarter Bundle.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, February 29.


Confessions of a Fabric Addict is having a giveaway.  You could win a signed copy of Back To Charm School or one of two table toppers.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, February 28, at midnight.


Sew4Home is having a giveaway.  You could win a Janome Hello Kitty 15822 machine.  This giveaway ends Friday, March 16, at midnight PST.


Hawthorne Threads is having their weekly giveaway.  You could win  a Star and Stripes fat quarter bundle.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, February 29.


SewCalGal is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of Sonoma Rose by Jennifer Chiaverini.  This giveaway ends Friday, March 2.


The Intrepid Thread is having a giveaway.  You could win a Fat Quarter Bundle of Basics from Art Gallery.  This giveaway ends Friday, March2, at midnight.


Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is having a giveaway.  You could win a pdf chart of Two Long Eared Rabbits.  This giveaway ends Thursday, March 15.


Hilachas is having a Birthday-Ready for Spring giveaway.  You could win 5 spring fat quarters and a darling little kit you could use as a sewing kit.  This giveaway ends Friday, March 2.

Heirlooms by Ashton House is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of Dawn Heese's latest quilt book,Cozy Comforts: Quilts and Projects for Every Season.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, February 28, at noon.

Needles and Pins is celebrating her 100 post with a giveaway.  You could win some fabric or a sweet set of crocheted dish cloths.  This  giveaway ends Sunday, March 4.

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FINAL THOUGHT

Which owl are you today?

Progress and What Was In My Mail

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

It's Friday!  It's hard to believe another week is almost over.  It's even harder to believe that another month is about to end.  I guess the saying "Time flies when you're having fun" is true as it the saying "Time goes by faster the older you get".  I try to use my time wisely but there are those days where nothing much seems to get done.  Well, sitting here isn't getting my quilting done or my dishes washed.  Guess it's time to head for the sewing room (the dishes can wait).  Do you have plans for the weekend?

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Opossum

Opossums are quite often referred as ‘the living fossil’, as they have been residing on earth since the dinosaur age. They have been known to inhabit the earth since the past 70-80 million years, making them one of the world’s oldest surviving mammals.  Here are so more interesting facts about opossums:

* Opossum is the only living marsupial in North America

* Opossums do not hang by their tails. An opossums tail could not support an adults weight. Juveniles may hang by their tails while learning to climb but cannot sleep while suspended from its tail.

* The name Opossum was first used by Captain John Smith in 1608. It was adapted from the Native American Algonquin name "apasum" meaning white animal.

* Opossum is omnivore and can eat almost anything including bugs, snails, mice, and other small animals as well and dog and cat food.

* Opossums make very little noise, if frightened it may make a quiet hissing noise to hopefully scare of predators. 

* They have a remarkable resistance to poisonous snake bites

* They make a nest by carrying bundles of leaves and stems clasped firmly in their tails
* They are clean and always grooming
* They are exceptionally non-aggressive and non-destructive. They will not harm people or pets.


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A BIT MORE PROGRESS


With the longer weekend and a some stitching during the week I was able to make a bit more progress on my counted cross stitch project.  

This is where I was a week ago.

And here you can see the progress I have made since then.  There's enough detail in this piece to keep it interesting but it does involve a lot of thread changes - just the kind of challenge I enjoy.

Design: Summer Sampler

Designer: Sandy Orton for Kooler Design Studio

Fabric: 18 count cream Aida cloth

Fiber: 2 strands over 1 - DMC floss

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BLOCK SWAP

This week I received a block all the way from Portugal!

Teresa made this wonderful star block for me for the February Quilting Block Swaps Australia.  The block includes so many darling children's prints.  And she also included a wonderful little hexie flower.  Thank you so very much, Teresa!!

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I WAS A WINNER

Recently I won a giveaway and this arrived in the mail this week from Canada......

Lavender Ridge was celebrating her three year blogiversary with a giveaway.  I won the two Schnibble patterns.  Linda also included a wonderful fat quarter and a cool plaid pencil.  I'm looking forward to making up those great little quilts.  Thank you for letting me help you celebrate, Linda!

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TODAY'S GOAL

I've been working on piecing a quilt and I hope to begin quilting it today.

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GIVEAWAYS

Jolly Jabber is having a giveaway.  You could win a Sandy Gervais' Designer Select Fat Quarter Bundle.  This giveaway ends Monday, February 27.


Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is having a giveaway.  You could win a counted cross stitch design.  This giveaway ends Saturday, March 10.


Nataly's Needle Creations is having a giveaway.  You could win an initial scissors fob or a set of 5 counting pins.  This giveaway ends Thursday, March 1.


FabricWorm is having a giveaway.  You could win 10 Fat Quarters of the complete collection Commute.  This giveaway ends Monday, February 27, at 8:30 am PST.


Quilting Gallery is having a giveaway.  You could win one of Pat Sloan's Girls In The Garden pattern.  This giveaway ends Sunday, February 26.


Olive and Ollie are having a giveaway.  You could win one of Pat Sloan's Girls In The Garden patterns here too.  This giveaway ends Sunday, February 26, at midnight EST.


Stitchin With My Furbabies is celebrating her 1 year blogiversary with a giveaway.  You could win a crocheted lapghan.  This giveaway ends Saturday, February 25.


ThankFullga447 is having a giveaway.  You could win 2 polka dot fat quarters and a darling little sewing kit.  This giveaway ends Saturday, February 25, at midnight.


Jaybird Quilts is having a giveaway.  You could win a fat quarter bundle by Dear Stella fabrics.  This giveaway ends Sunday, February 26, at 9:00 pm PST.


Sew She Can is having a giveaway. You could win 10 fat quarters by Pat Bravo from Fat Quarter Shop.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, February 28, at 11:00 pm EST.


Pickle Dish is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of A Year Of Cozy Comforts.  This giveaway ends ?


Lily Pad Quilting is having a giveaway to celebrate reaching over 600 followers.  You could win a wonderful prize package full of all sorts of goodies.  This giveaway ends Monday, February 27.


My Brown Bag Studio is having a giveaway.  You could win a Farmer's Market Fat Eighth Bundle.  This giveaway ends Sunday, February 26.


Spring Water DesignsPat Sloan's Girls In The Garden patterns.  This giveaway ends Sunday, February 26, at midnight.

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FINAL THOUGHT

Flowers Are Blue

Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end; then stop. 
~Lewis Carrol, Alice in Wonderland

It was a great three day weekend.  Well, for me it was but not so much for my DH.  He ended up having to work on Monday but he did get to come home and share lunch with me.  We did have a fairly relaxing weekend with only one errand to run.  The normal amount of wash was completed and we had out of state friends over for dinner on Sunday.  It was so nice to catch up with them as we hadn't seen them for several months.  I'm ready to continue the week with a bit of sewing and some stitching.  How has your week been so far?

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Onion

Onions - great flavor that makes you cry.  Here are a few facts about that tear producing vegetable:

* Our word "onion” comes from the Latin "unio" meaning one or unity, because an onion grows

as a single bulb

* In ancient Egypt, the onion was a symbol of eternity because it is a circle‐within‐a‐circle. The

Pharaoh Cheops paid workers who built the Great Pyramid in onions, garlic, and parsley and

onions were painted on the walls of the pyramids. Mummies were even buried with onions

*Everybody who has ever had to cut up a lot of strong onions knows what happens. It is literally a job that makes all of us cry. That is because onions contain sulfur, and when you cut the onion sulfur is released into the air. This air‐borne sulfur reacts with the moisture in your eyes and creates a mild form of sulfuric acid! Your eyes tear up to flush this substance from your eyes

* Native Americans ate wild onions and the Pilgrims brought onions with them on the Mayflower. Onions were eaten at the first Thanksgiving dinner

 * The largest onion ever grown weighed 10 pounds 14 ounces. It was grown by V.Thorp of Silsden, England

* Onions originated in Asia in some place around Iran and have been cultivated and eaten since prehistoric times
*If you need only half of an onion, use the top half. The root will stay fresh longer in the refrigerator
* During the American Civil War, General Ulysses S. Grant sent a telegram to the War Department, "I will not move my army without onions." The next day he got them.
*  In Blue Hill, Nebraska, no female wearing a “hat that would scare a timid person” can be seen eating onions in public

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MY FLOWERS ARE BLUE

Over the weekend, in between stitching and visiting with friends, I was able to create two hexie flowers...

This is some fabric that seems to always work its way to the top of my 'possible hexie' fabric pile,  so I finally gave in and made a flower.  It's not quite as bright as I like but I do like the design it created.

And now it's time for some fun!  Time to head out to the island and visit the monkeys and palm trees.  Looks like those monkeys have plenty to eat with the banana center.  

To view more hexie flowers, the wonderful Karen has created a linky for us each week.  Hop on over by clicking HERE for one stop hexie viewing.

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A RECENT WIN

Recently I won a giveaway held by  ? .  I'm so ashamed!  I can't remember where I entered the giveaway!  I won this......

adorable panda bear tape measure.  Isn't he cute?  You just pull on his right ear and the tape comes out.  This is definitely the cutest tape measure I've ever had.  Thanks, ? .  Please, please let me know who had this giveaway so I can fill in the blanks properly.  I can't believe I didn't keep the email letting me know I won.  If I did, it certainly was filed under the wrong folder. 

Edited 7:50 am:  Thanks to Irene of Hilachas I now know where I won the Panda tape measure.  I won it over at Quilting Ranny!  Thank you so very much!!!!!!

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I will continue with the quilt I'm making.

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GIVEAWAYS

DMC Threads is having a giveaway.  You could win  a pack of 36 skeins of DMC’s new Color Variations Thread.  This giveaway ends Friday, March 9, at 11:19 am EST.


Gen X Quilters is having a giveaway.  You could win a Kona Color Card.  This giveaway ends Saturday, February 25, at midnight EST.

It's Sew Kiki is having a giveaway.  You could win a set of Connecting Threads newest Essential Thread, or a fat quarter bundle of Tulane, or Peardise, or Sweetgrass Prairie.  This giveaway ends Monday, February 27.

World of Charity Stitching is having a giveaway.  You could win 2 Lapel sticks.  This giveaway ends Monday, February 27.

The Jolly Jabber is having a giveaway.  You could win Pat Sloan's Girls in the Garden Patterns.  This giveaway ends Monday, February 27.


Cat Patches is having here weekly FFFF giveaway.  You could win a fat quarter.  This winner will be announced Friday, February 24.


Contemporary Cloth is having a giveaway.  You could win a remnant pack of Henry Road Fabric.  This giveaway ends Friday, February 24.


Annie's Ruby Slipperz is having her Mystery Monday giveaway.  You could win 5 fat quarters in your choice of colorway.  This giveaway ends Saturday, February 25, at midnight MT.


Ellison Lane Quilts is having a giveaway.  You could win a Daisy Jane charm pack and 1 yard of coordinating Daisy Jane Geo Grand or 2 Jennifer Paganelli charm packs (1 Dance With Me and 1 St. Croix) and 2 yards of Poodle (Mauve Pink).  This giveaway ends Thursday, February 23. 

Quilty Pleasures is having a giveaway.  You could win a quilt top.  This giveaway ends Friday, February 24, at midnight.

American Quilter's Society is having a giveaway.  You could win a grand prize of a Dream Studio valued at over $15,000 or One first prize wins a trip to the show; ten second prize winners will receive a Quilter’s Library of ten AQS books; and fifty third prize winners will each receive a copy of Baskets: New Quilts from an Old Favorite, edited by Linda Baxter Lasco.  This giveaway ends Saturday, March 17, at 5:00 pm CT.

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FINAL THOUGHT

TGIF

My mind contains many good ideas, but it's not always easy to squeeze one out.
~Ashleigh Brilliant

I'm glad the weekend is only one day away.  For some reason, this week has been tiring and seemed longer than normal.  I'm ready for some quiet time and the three day weekend.  Speaking of which, I will not be posting on Monday but will be enjoying the President's holiday with my hubby.  No big plans.  We will just be enjoying the extra day together.  Do you have big plans for the 3 day weekend?

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Strawberry

Here's a list of fun and interesting strawberry facts and trivia:

* Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside. It is argued that for this reason, it cannot be considered a real berry, since berries carry seeds on the inside

* A strawberry has, on average, 200 seeds

* A French noblewoman at the time of Napoleon, Madame Tallien, used to bathe regularly in strawberry juice, using 22 pounds per basin. She didn't bathe daily though

* There is a legend that strawberries were named in the nineteenth-century by English children who picked the fruit, strung them on grass straws and sold them as "Straws of berries".  Another theory is the name was derived from the nineteenth-century practice (and still today, although most farms use raised beds, enclosed in plastic) of placing straw around the growing berry plants to protect the ripening fruit. But the most widely held view is that the name Strawberry was derived from the berries that are "strewn" about on the plants, and the name "strewn berry" eventually morphed into "Strawberry".

* Strawberries for headaches??? They contain natural salicylates, an ingredient that's found in aspirin

* In some parts of Europe, people once believed elves could control how much milk cows produced and that the elves loved strawberries. Farmers tied baskets of strawberries to their cows' horns as an offering to them.

* Strawberries were a symbol of perfection and love: for instance, folklore says that if you split a double strawberry in half and share it with a member of the opposite sex, you'll soon fall in love. Medieval stonemasons carved strawberry designs on altars and around the tops of pillars in sacred places such as churches, as a symbol of perfection

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PROGRESS

During the past week, I managed to put in a few hours of stitching.  I progressed from this point last Friday....

To this........

I added the center circular area.  As you can see, I have more work to do on this part but aren't the children cute playing in the sand?  I hope to get some stitching hours in over the weekend. 

Design: Summer Sampler

Designer: Sandy Orton for Kooler Design Studio

Fabric: 18 count cream Aida cloth

Fiber: 2 strands over 1 - DMC floss

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2 MORE BLOCKS

Earlier this month I made a Bee block and a swap block......

This was the first string block of any kind I've made.  Carolyn said this was called Spider Web.  She was our hostess for January for Let's Bee Together.  Carolyn had all the strips cut to the correct width so it was just a matter of putting everything together.  She is going to have an amazing quilt.

Teresa was my swap partner for Quilting Block Swaps Australia.   She requested the Autograph Star in blues and creams.  Even though the photo made the background fabric look white, it really is cream.  Teresa didn't specify that we should sign the block so I included a card with my signature including my city and state that she could trace over if she wanted.  And that's exactly what she did. 

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I plan to get a block sewn for a swap and then spend the rest of the stitching.

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GIVEAWAYS

The Rusty Thimble is having a giveaway.  You could win an American Apron Pocket.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, February 29.

Primitive and Folk Artists is having a giveaway.  You could win one of 33 different items.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, February 29.

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is having a giveaway.  You could win one of 9 different items.  This giveaway ends Thursday, March 15.

Lindsey at Quilting Daily is having a giveaway.  You could win a bundle of Cabbage and Roses fabric from Moda.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, February 22.

Favequilts is having a giveaway.  You could win Sweetheart Houses Quilt Pattern Designed by Jennifer Bosworth from Shabby Fabrics Gifted by Shabby Fabrics.  This giveaway ends Monday, February 21.

Pat Sloan is having a giveaway.  You could win a FQ Bundle of Amy Butler "Lark", plus  Aurifil Thread and the EXCLUSIVE APQ Radio show Earbuds.  This giveaway ends Saturday, February 18.

Jolly Jabber is having a giveaway.  You could win Kim Kight's Bloggers Choice fat quarter bundle.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, February 22.

Hawthorne Threads is having their weekly giveaway.  You could win a Washi fat quarter bundle.  This giveaway Wednesday, February 22.


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FINAL THOUGHT

Wednesday = Flowers

The finest clothing made is a person's skin, but, of course, society demands something more than this.
~Mark Twain

I read on Monday that the Wall Street Journal predicts our cotton fabric prices will be rising once again.  Why?  Because of the drought in Texas.  I don't know if I can keep quilting with the prices continuing to rise on fabric.  The price of cotton has risen dramatically over the past year.  I won't be able to afford $15 a yard.  This may cause the popularity of quilting to decline once again.  This increase will also cause raised prices for clothing.  Pretty soon I'm going to have to run around naked just so I can continue quilting and that's something nobody wants to happen.  What's the highest price you are willing to pay for a yard of fabric?

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Cotton

As you slip your favorite pair of comfortable jeans on, you probably, like most of us, take them for granted. Have you ever thought about the cotton that it takes to make those favorite jeans?  Here are a few facts about cotton:

*   The word "cotton" is an English version of the Arabic "qutun" or "kutun," a generic term meaning fancy fabric. But one of cotton's original popular names was "vegetable wool."  

* Cotton was originally grown in several different colors, including brown, rust, and even light purple. However, most of the cotton grown today is white. When mechanical processing methods were introduced it was easier to maintain a consistent color by using only white-fibered plants. Colored cotton is still grown, but on a very small scale. 
* It is know that man has made cotton into fabric since at least 3000 BC
* The cotton fiber is slightly over one inch long.  It is a single cell, and is the largest cell in the plant kingdom.  No other plant anywhere in the world has a cell even close to an inch long.
* Cotton seeds are tough enough to survive travel across oceans on the wind. This could explain how botanists are not sure where the first plants came from, and probably why similar varieties grow sometimes thousands of miles apart.


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TWO MORE FLOWERS

I was able to produce two more flowers this week.......

and

Both of these flowers came from the same fabric.  I found this fun fabric at Joann's with the original intent to use some hearts on it, but as you can tell, I went in a totally different direction.  I love finding fabric that has lots of possibilities for flowers.  And there are even a few more flowers that I can create from this same piece.  If you would like to see more hexie flowers, Karen has graciously provided a linky to make your viewing a one stop location.  You can check that out HERE.  

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I will make two 6" blocks for a swap

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GIVEAWAYS

Craftsy is having a giveaway.  You could win a Mystery Box worth $100.  This giveaway ends Monday, February 27.

Victorian Motto Sampler is having a giveaway.  You could win some Plum floss.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, February 28.

Leona's Quilting Adventure is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of Sonoma Rose, One Vicksburg Civil War charm pack, and one spool of King Tut #50 weight thread from Superior Threads in variegated olive green.  This giveaway ends Friday, February 24, at midnight EST.

Little Miss Shabby is having a giveaway.  You could win a $25 from Intrepid Threads.  This giveaway ends Monday, February 20.

Diary Of A Quilter is having a giveaway.  You could win a $25 gift certificate to The Little Fabric Shop.  This giveaway ends Friday, February 17, at midnight MST.

Annie's Ruby Slipperz is having her Mystery Monday giveaway.  You could win 5 fat quarters in your choice of colorway.  This giveaway ends Saturday, February 18, at midnight MT.

With Thread In Hand is having a giveaway.  You could win a Key to Wonderland from Shabby Apple.  This giveaway ends Friday, February 17, around noon.

Silly Stitching is having a giveaway to celebrate her 300th post.  You could win 2 charm packs, or two sweet rolls, or a 26 strip jelly roll.  This giveaway ends Saturday, February 18, at 9:00 pm EST.

Nutmegger Stitcher's Works is having a giveaway to celebrate 200+ followers.  You could win a $20 gift certificate to 123stitch.com.  This giveaway ends Friday, March 2.

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FINAL THOUGHT OF THE DAY