Friday, August 24, 2012

Halloween or Spring

Heat, ma'am! it was so dreadful here, that I found there was nothing left for it but to take off my flesh and sit in my bones.  
~Sydney Smith, Lady Holland's Memoir

My week of relaxation was interrupted by an intestinal bug.  Not fun!  The only plus side to being sick was feeling chilled most of the day.  I didn't even have to have the ceiling fan on to stay cool.  I definitely stayed away from the sewing machine since I knew any attempt at sewing would not go well.  Sleep and a bit of stitching and I seem to be coming out on the good side.  We only have a few errands to run over the weekend and the temps are supposed to be in the mid nineties so everything looks promising.  Hopefully there will be time for some stitching.  What are your plans for the weekend?

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Crayons

Does this take you back to your childhood?  Are you creating quilts using crayons?  So many colors are available today.  I remember receiving a box of 72 Crayola crayons for Christmas as a child and thinking there wasn't anything more beautiful.  Here are some fun facts:
The first box of Crayola crayons was sold in 1903 for a nickel and included the same colors available in the eight-count box today: red, blue, yellow, green, violet, orange, black and brown.
In the last 98 years, more than 100 billion Crayola crayons have been made.
The name Crayola was coined by Alice Binney, wife of company founder Edwin, and a former school teacher. She combined the words craie, which is French for chalk, and ola, for oleaginous, because crayons are made from petroleum based paraffin.
Crayola crayons currently come in 120 colors including 23 reds, 20 greens, 19 blues, 16 purples, 14 oranges, 11 browns, 8 yellows, 2 grays, 2 coppers, 2 blacks, 1 white, 1 gold and 1 silver. 
The average child in the United States will wear down 730 crayons by his 10th birthday (or 11.4 boxes of 64s). Kids, ages 2-8, spend an average of 28 minutes each day coloring.
Crayola crayon color names rarely change. However, there are exceptions. In 1958, Prussian blue was changed to midnight blue in response to teacher recommendations that children could no longer relate to Prussian history. In 1962, the color flesh was changed to peach recognizing that not every one's flesh is the same shade.
* 25,000 crayon users voted on their favorite colors and the number one favorite color is blue.
* According to a study completed by Yale University, the scent of crayon is in the 20 most recognizable to American adults. Coffee and peanut butter are in spots number 1 and 2. Crayola® crayons are number 18 on the list.

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YES I KNOW......

The last thing I needed to do was join another swap group.  I was asked to join a yahoo group (Rugs With Friends) that is made up of only 10 members and we only swap every other month.  It's being hosted by Ida.   My first swap partner was Maria from Australia.  We had the option of making a holiday mug rug - Halloween this time, or seasonal.  I went with seasonal since not all of Australia celebrates Halloween.

Doesn't this mug rug scream spring?  It is raw edge applique and I just did a simple along the edge stitching.  The colors are much more vibrant than what appears to show up here (hmmm....maybe my camera needs new batteries).  It measures 8" X 10", a little larger than I normally make but that size fit the bird and flowers best.  

Here is the darling rug that Maria made for me!  I don't know if you can see it, but just above the ghost on the left is a button spider hanging from his web.  Isn't it the best Halloween mug rug?  Too cute to get coffee stains on but it will look good with my other Halloween decorations when I put it out in October.  Thank you, Maria!!

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FINAL THOUGHT



20 comments:

Christine M said...

I just love the rug mug you made for Maria. It does scream Spring! The mug rug Maria made for you is gorgeous too.

Lynda said...

Love both mug rugs. I think your Spring one made bigger would make a darling baby quilt too. Love Friday!

Linda said...

Crayons really take me back!!! I love the colors, the smell, the feel and everything else associated with them. I even decorated my third son's nursery in a crayola theme.
I love the little birdie project you made. She will love it!

Gene Black said...

the spring mug rug is adorable. Did you use die cuts or freehand cut the shapes?
I haven't done any of the coloring quilts, but I do have a box of crayons sitting in my line of vision right now. LOL

✾Jamie Lee Cooley✾ said...

Wow, both those mug rugs are spectacular!

Needled Mom said...

I'm sorry that you have felt under the weather this week. Those bugs are no fun - even if you do have chills.

Loved the story of the crayons. You always have the most interesting facts. I wonder how many of them I have gone through in all my years.

Your mug rugs are both adorable. You both did a fabulous job on them.

Take care of yourself.

Anonymous said...

Linda what a wonderful swap sent and received,well done ladies they are both awesome.xx

Wendy said...

Dear Linda! I enjoy a new box of crayons more than my girls do ... maybe when they are my age, they too will wish to "remember when" the smell of crayons brings them. Thank you for the Friday smile and your spring birdie is beautiful ... I love it! Warmest wishes, Wendy

Sheila said...

I still love crayons , and yes they bring back lots of memories too . I love the mug rug you sent to Maria and the pumpkin mug rug she sent to you is equally as cute !! Smile :-)

Maria said...

Hope you are felling much better Linda.
Love the facts about the crayons....
Oh I can't wait to receive the beautiful Spring Mug Rug and see it properly.. Love it. thank you Linda.
Pleased your Halloween one has arrived. I really enjoyed making it.

My Sister Made Me Do It.... said...

Ah yes......the smell of "Crayolas".....definitely nostalgic...and did you know they are wonderful for marking tiles for cutting? Since the saw uses water, the waxy line stays there (unlike other markers).......I love both of your mug rugs and I am so glad you joined the swap!

Impera Magna said...

Hope you're feeling better now, Linda! Tummy bugs are The Pits!

I love new crayons... and coloring them... always lifts my spirits.

Raewyn said...

Hope your bugs are well and truely gone, Linda. I love the swap mug-rugs - you both made gorgeous gifts.

sunny said...

Now I want some new crayons. Love both of the mug rugs!

Valspierssews said...

The mug rugs look great. It does seem a shame to use them sometimes but i enjoy looking at them as I sip my tea or coffee. Sorry to hear you have been under the weather. Sensible to take it easy for a while.

Angie in SoCal said...

Such a cute mug rug, Linda! And the one from Maria is so cute, too! Hope you feel better soon.

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

It may have been Friday, but I'm so far behind on my blogs now it's Sunday.

Hope you had a good weekend...:)

Vesuviusmama said...

Mug rugs are so fun! I don't know why, but I've only ever made one (and I am using it at I type to hold my coffee cup!), but I love all the variety I see out there.

Anonymous said...

The first rug swap is a total success!

Lisa C said...

Your mug rug is adorable. So cute!

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