Friday, March 23, 2012

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





29 comments:

beaquilter said...

I'd love to get a STASH box and look and pass it on

Sarah Craig said...

Oooh - I'd love to get a look inside that box!! And I solemnly promise to pass it on!!

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Good morning. I love the progress on your stitchery. I like pieces that have lots of individual design because you don't get bored - and you seem to get more done by just wanting to get 'that section' done. I would love to have this box visit me again as I am sure it has been completely re-cycled now.

Gene Black said...

I have another armadillo fact for you. Did you know that they are among the few known non-human animal species that can get leprosy systemically? So they were used in scientific studies to find treatment for the disease.
Also the four offspring are from two genetically identical eggs that divide into four eggs. Making them great for controlled scientific studies.

So they really are a useful creature.

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

I'd love a chance to win the stash. Armadillo's are fun! I'm from Texas, and we just called them 'speed bumps' since they were always getting in the road. They waddle, but, they can run pretty fast when they want to. Headed out to the Sewing and Quilting Expo to work the Quilts of Valor booth for the next two days. Busy weekend, but, no sewing for me.

Coloradolady said...

I'd love to win a chance at this traveling stash box! How fun!! The armadillo might as well be the state animal here...not too fond of them!!

Terry said...

I'd love to win the travelling stash! Thanks for the chance! :0)

Denise :) said...

I'd love to have a chance to play with the stash box! Yay! Love the last photo and caption. Fun! :)

Denise :) said...

I'd love to have a chance to play with the stash box! Yay! Love the last photo and caption. Fun! :)

Debbie said...

I would love to have the stash come visit me again. Its great that it has split so many times its all new again!

PolkaDotClassic said...

Thank you for the chance to win the famous box!
Just yesterday my son did a drawing of a armadillo and now I will show him all the facts about such interesting creature
Have a nice day! Linda

Jen said...

Oh please oh please oh please let the traveling stash visit me!!! I'd love to have a chance to play in it! Thanks so much!
xoxo
jen

Tiffany said...

I'd love the traveling stash to make it to my door! :D

Josie McRazie said...

OH, I just recently learned of these traveling stash boxes!! Toss my name in (and then of course you have to pick me! LOL)

Linda said...

Good to know the armadillo information since we have them around here and they dig holes in our yard. I've never seen one alive....only dead in the road!
Your stitching is gorgeous!!!!

Shannon said...

Another chance at one of the boxes, you bet. I would love for it to stop by my place. Your stitchery is great.

Linda in Calif. said...

I hope to do some sewing on an UFO and to help my hubby work on his flying geese quilt. It's finally starting to be fun working with him. I think it's because he can now thread the needle himself. LOL!!

Richard Healey said...

Would love my name tossed into the chance for this box to visit my blog.

http//richardquilts.blogspot.com
http://trackmyshows.com

Anonymous said...

When I was a teen living in Florida, one evening I was sitting on my driveway waiting for my friends to pick me up and an armadillo walked right in front of me about 2 feet away. I froze and it did not seem to care or notice me. It was creepy looking. Love the facts and would love the chance at the traveling stash.

Dirt Road Quilter said...

So fun to see your stitiching progress! My project is not that exciting. A bear cub in a tree is not that colorful, but I'm making a dent in it. I would love to have the traveling box filled with goodies come for a visit!

Dirt Road Quilter said...

So fun to see your stitiching progress! My project is not that exciting. A bear cub in a tree is not that colorful, but I'm making a dent in it. I would love to have the traveling box filled with goodies come for a visit!

Anonymous said...

Such interesting things about armadillos! I loved seeing your progress on the XS piece, and the traveling box is tantalyzing! I would love to have a chance at that box! What you took out is darling, and I will love seeing a boy's quilt (and maybe some hexies?) out of that.

http://desertskyquilts.livejournal.com/
dezertsuz at gmail

Cherise said...

Your stitching is beautiful! Can't wait to see how it develops. :) I would love to be the next stop on the Traveling Stash's adventure! Please pick me! Have a wonderful weekend! :)

Hilachas said...

You're moving right along on that beautiful counted cross-stitch. We have armadillos out at the ranch. They are so cute to watch. If they see you coming, they run to their hole and stick their head into the hold to hide. Kind of like, if they can't see you, then you can't see them.

Kim said...

Every time I see your stitching update, I think that I need to get that pattern! It would be perfect to hang in my guest room!

I would LOVE the chance to receive a stash box!!! I was away from quilting for a couple years. However, I continued collecting fat quarters whenever we found a quilt shop! LOL

Now, my style and the colors I am drawn to have changed. I would love the opportunity to add some new and trade some that are no longer in my color schemes. Thanks for the chance!

Sarah Beth said...

Hi. Either would be fine. Please enter me in your giveaway.

Anonymous said...

I would love to get the traveling stash. I've been stalking all of the boxes for a while now.

Kira said...

I would love to add to the traveling stash.

Sherry said...

I've been waiting for one of the Travelling Stash boxes to come visit me in NJ. . . so I'll jump in here also.

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