The Traveling Stash Is Ready To Travel

Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!"  
~Robin Williams 

Spring is definitely here in the central valley of California.  The trees are turning green and so many of my plants are blooming.  It's very pleasant to be outside as long as you are in the sun - the shade is still a bit too cool for me to enjoy.  I love having the windows open and listening to the birds chirping and knowing that they are preparing nests.  We have a rather busy weekend but an enjoyable one planned.  Do you have big plans for the weekend?

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Armadillo

The armadillo is a strange creature to me.  They look like a cross between a possum and some sort of extinct dinosaur.  I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder as I'm sure there is someone out there that loves these usual animals too.  Here are a few facts on armadillos:

* The name "Armadillo" comes from the Spanish explorers word meaning "Little Armored Thing"

* There are over 50 million armadillos in the US

* Armadillos are one of the few animals who consume fire ants as part of their diet. Such an ability can make armadillos very beneficial to humans.

* Armadillos have four babies at a time, always all the same sex. They are perfect quadruplets, the fertilized cell split into quarters, resulting in four identical armadillos.

* Armadillos get an average of 18.5 hours of sleep per day

* When an armadillo is frightened it jumps straight into the air

* Armadillos have a very low need of oxygen. Even when burrowing they can stop breathing for 6 minutes by storing air in the trachea and wide bronchus

* The three-banded armadillo hardly digs a burrow; it protects itself by rolling up like a hedgehog. The only opening is covered by the shields of the head and the tail, so that even a dog can't open this ball.

* If they can’t dig under it, armadillos will climb over it and are quite capable of scaling fences and trees.

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STITCHERY UPDATE

This was a pretty good week for stitching......

This is where I was last week so you can compare.

And here you can see what I've added this week.  The sunflower was a fun part of the chart.  I finished up the watermelons and am now working on a section that has pigs.  Never time to get bored with this one.

I managed to get quite a bit finished.  However, the coming week doesn't look like it will provide much stitching time :(

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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TRAVELING STASH 2 GIVEAWAY 

Recently I won the Traveling Stash from Samantha over at Sami's Quilts and Crafts.  This box is filled with all sorts of great fabric and patterns.  Here is what I removed:

Aren't this fun fabrics for a little boys quilt?  I will be using these in a Loving Hands quilt some time soon.

Here is a picture of the box before I added some more fabric to it.  

It's now time to send the Traveling Stash on its way.  Would you like the opportunity to sort the box, pick out some of the fabric and/or patterns?  Well then, here are the rules as set forth by Nan (the originator of this box):

1.  You must have an active blog and will post receiving and when you are ready to pass it on

2.  You will swap out equal quilt quality fabrics and products

3.  You must pass on the Traveling Stash

Does this sound like something you would like to do?  Then just leave me a comment telling me that you would like to have the Traveling Stash come to your house for a visit.

Because of the weight of the box and the cost of shipping, this giveaway is only open to those who live in the USA.  Sorry!

This giveaway will end Tuesday, March 27, at 4:00 pm PDT.  I will post the winner in my regular post on Wednesday, March 28.

You must leave me a way to contact you.  If you are a no-reply blogger, your name will not be entered unless you include your email in your comment.

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I will be quilting a Loving Hands quilt.

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GIVEAWAYS

Sew What's Cooking is having a giveaway.  You could win 5 fat quarters of A Breath of Avignon by American Jane Patterns, Sandy Klop for Moda.  This giveaway ends Friday, April 6.

Fabric Worm is having a giveaway.  You could win 12 fat quarters of Michael Miller Ta Dot.  This giveaway ends Monday, March 26, at 8:30 am PDT.

Diary Of A Quilter is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of Make It Sew Modern.  This giveaway ends Saturday, March 24, at midnight MST.

A Quilting Life is having a giveaway.  You could win 9 fat quarters of Kaffe Fassett's Paperweight collection by Westminster Fabrics from Canton Village Quilt Works.  This giveaway ends Sunday, March 25.

The Jolly Jabber is having a giveaway.  You could win Venessa Christenson's Blogger Choice Fat Quarter Bundle.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, March 28.

Hawthorne Threads is having a giveaway.  You could win an Amy Butler Lark fat quarter bundle.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, March 28.

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FINAL THOUGHT