First CCS Completion for 2012

We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.

~Epictetus

It's too early in the year to be fighting allergies.  Isn't that supposed to start around March or April?  Not this year.  With the lack of rain and warmer temps, there is dust and dried plants and grasses.  And I'm starting the spring allergy fight.  I didn't even realize that my sinuses were stuffed until I bent over and suddenly felt dizzy yesterday morning.  Allergy meds are helping a bit and it's better than having the feeling of having a spacey head.  Between sneezing and moving a bit slower, it's hard to be motivated to sew.  But that's what I'm going to do anyway.  Looks like it's going to be a terrible allergy spring.

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Mosquito

 

 

Does the picture above give you the creeps?  For some reason this buzzing, blood sucking insect came to mind for the Fact Of The Day.  With summer fast approaching it's time to learn a little about these flying pests.

* Only female mosquitoes bite; using proteins from a blood meal to produce eggs. Most species can produce several batches of eggs during their lifetime

* The mosquito's visual picture, produced by various parts of its body, is an infrared view produced by its prey's body temperature

* The average life span of the female mosquito is 3 to 100 days; the male's is 10 to 20 days

* Most mosquitoes remain within 1 mile of their breeding site. A few species may range up to 20 miles or more

* Depending on temperature, mosquitoes can develop from egg to adult in as little as 4-7 days

* An adult female mosquito consumes about 5-millionths of a liter in a single blood meal.

* In the interest of science, Artic researchers uncovered their chests, arms, and legs and reported at many as 9000 mosquito bites per person, per minute.  At this rate, an unprotected human would half of his blood supply in approximately 2 hours.

 

 

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A CROSS STITCH FINISH

I finished my first cross stitch project for 2012 on Wednesday......

Design:  Cirque des Carreaux

Designer: Tracy Horner - Ink Circles

Fabric:  18 count cream Aida cloth

Fibers: 2 strands over 1 DMS #4240

Started:  November 2011

Completed: February 1, 2012

This is the first piece I've made using just one floss color, however it was variegated so it added a little bit of change throughout.  My favorite part about this piece is that no two designs are exactly alike - well, except for the three littlest designs.  It is sort of like a BOM in quilting.  Now I need to find a frame for it and get it hung on the wall.

I've gotten through about 2/3 of the floss colors, getting them organized and put away.  This is how I do that......

I created a sort of quilted floss binder.  I grabbed some fabric from my stash and quilted it.  Why did I quilt it with white thread?  Because that's what was on the machine.  I even tried my  hand at a binding that was totally machine stitched.  Not my favorite way to do a biding but since this is a strictly utility piece I went with it.

There is an internal flap for added protection for the floss.  This keeps it from flopping out the sides.

And here it is all opened.  I have added a lot more floss since I took this picture.  All floss is cut to approximately 20" lengths.  I know that all instructions say never to work with anything longer than 18" but I like the little bit of added length and have never had any troubles with it.  When I go to start a project I can select as few or as many strands as I wish of any color.  It is also easy to return any unused floss when I'm through.  I secured the top flaps with a Velcro square.  And, yes, you probably noticed that it's not black like it should have been but I had tan available.  Anyway, that's how I store my floss.

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TODAY'S GOAL

I'm going to finish up a Loving Hands quilt today.

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GIVEAWAYS

The Empty Nest is having a giveaway.  You could win a $30 gift certificate to Fashionable Fabrics.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, February 8, at midnight.

Samplings From a Blue Ribbon Gal is having a giveaway.  You could win a trio of Blue Ribbon Designs needlework charts.  This giveaway ends Saturday, February 4, at 11:59 pm.

Annie's Ruby Slipperz is having a giveaway.  She is ready to send one of the other Traveling Stash boxes on its way.  This giveaway ends Sunday, February 5, at midnight MT.

A Legacy of Stitches is having a giveaway.  You could win 40 charm squares.....all different and also a bit of fabric and a pre-cut wool snowman.  This giveaway ends Saturday, February 4.

Quilary is having a giveaway.  You could win a sewing kit made to your colour choice and a rainbow charm pack.  This giveaway ends Monday, February 20, at midnight AEST.

World of Charity Stitching is having a giveaway.  You could win a sampler pack of Aurifil threads.  This giveaway ends Friday, February 10.

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is having a giveaway.  You could win a pdf. cross stitch pattern.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, February 14.

13 Woodhouse Road is having a giveaway.  You could win a $25 gift certificate to Fashionable Fabrics.  This giveaway ends Monday, February 6, at 8:00 am IST.

Happy Quilting is having a giveaway.  You could win a $200 gift certificate to Fat Quarter Shop.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, February 14.

Notions is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of Eleanor Burns' new book, Tales of First Ladies.  This giveaway ends Sunday, February 5, at 11:59 pm.

The House On The Side Of The Hill is celebrating her birthday with a giveaway. You could win a $25 gift certificate to Want It, Need It, Quilt.  This giveaway ends ?

Quilting Dreams is having a giveaway.  She is ready to send the Pass It On Box on its way.  This giveaway ends Sunday, February 5.

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FINAL THOUGHT

Doesn't it seem like this at times?