A Little Stitchin'

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

The heat just dulls the brain - that's the only thing I can figure.  It zaps your strength and melts your creativity.  You walk out the door and it's like being hit with a blast furnace.  Yesterday it was a scorching 110 (F) degrees here.  I'm sure that all of the water parks and public pools were full to overflowing.  I can't imagine how people who work outside all day can survive.  All the plants are in wilt mode even though they get watered twice a day.  The poor birds stand around with their little beaks open trying to cool themselves.  Both dogs lay around belly up trying to keep cool.  And yet it is only June.  We have a minimum of 3 more months of this lovely stuff.  The A/C is working overtime and the ceiling fans are whirling away.  I try to do all of my sewing that requires ironing in the morning and save stitchery for the afternoons.  What do you do creatively when it's hot outside?

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PHOTO FINISH OF THE DAY

Typewriter

Today is Typewriter Day.  There are probably some of you that have never even used a typewriter.  I used to own one similar to the one in the picture except mine was baby blue.  For those of you that do remember using a typewriter - do you remember how hard it was to make corrections?  You couldn't simply hit the back key or delete key.  The sounds of its signature clackity clacking rang through offices and homes, and as the typist hammered away all that racket gave a certain importance to the document being typed.  Things sure have changed.

The idea behind the typewriter was to apply the concept of movable type developed by Johann Gutenberg in the invention of the printing press century to a machine for individual use. Descriptions of such mechanical writing machines date to the early eighteenth century. In 1714, a patent something like a typewriter was granted to a man named Henry Mill in England, but no example of Mills’ invention survives.  But the first typewriter proven to have worked was built by the Italian Pellegrino Turri in 1808 for his blind friend Countess Carolina Fantoni da Fivizzono.

In 1867, a Milwaukee, Wisconsin printer-publisher-politician named Christopher Latham Sholes, with assistance from Carlos Glidden and Samuel Soule, patented what was to be the first useful typewriter. He licensed his patent to Remington & Sons of Ilion, New York, a noted American gun maker. In 1874, the Remington Model 1, the first commercial typewriter, was placed on the market.

The electronic typewriter, a typewriter with an electronic "memory" capable of storing text, first appeared in 1978. It was developed independently by the Olivetti Company in Italy and the Casio Company in Japan.
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BEE BLOCK

I finally finished my Bee Block......

Melissa was one of our June hostesses in Let's Bee Together.  She said we could create any block we wanted with the great chili fabrics she sent us as long as we included a white signature square somewhere in the block.

I hand stitched my name, city, and state in red on the little 2 1/2" square.  Sure hope Melissa likes the block I made for her.

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STITCHERY

I was also able to finish this month's Birdie Stitches.....

For some reason the colors didn't show up as bright in the picture but I think you can get the idea.  My goal was to stitch the words in the same color order as the border, starting with the blue square.  And now I only have to wait a few short days for the July release.  If you would like to join in this stitchery being hosted and created by Little Miss Shabby, just visit her website for all of the past designs.  It's never too late to get started :)

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A NEW SWAP

Are you ready to think about Christmas in July?  How about making a Christmas themed mug rug?  If you think you would like to join in the fun, Crafty Pug is hosting the Christmas In July Mug Rug Swap.  This is being held through the Christmas Quilting Block Swap Australia but you Do Not have to be a member to join in the mug rug swap.  Just click on the link above if you are interested.  I'm joining - like I need another project - but it sounded fun!!!

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I would like to make the mug rug for Leona's 2nd mug rug swap....after all, it has to be in the mail by the 30th.

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GIVEAWAYS

Inch Worm Fabrics is having a giveaway.  You could win your choice of book from her store.  This giveaway ends ?

Bitty Bits & Pieces is having a book giveaway.  You could win a copy of Fresh Fabric Treat Book signed by a few of the designers.  This giveaway ends Saturday, June 25, at midnight.

Fort Worth Fabric Studio is having a giveaway.  You could win a sample set of Benartex CHLOE fabrics or a copy of Two From One JELLY ROLL QUILTS.  This giveaway ends Sunday, June 26, at midnight CST.

Just Sew Y'all Know is having a giveaway.  You could be one of two winners of a set of patriotic fat quarters.  This giveaway ends Sunday, June 26, at 8:00 pm EST.

Sew, Mama, Sew is having Summer Sewing Giveaway - week #4.  You could win a complete fat quarter pack of Spring Street by Carolyn Gavin or a copy of Crafting a Meaningful Home: 27 DIY Projects to Tell Stories, Hold Memories, and Celebrate Family Heritage by Meg Mateo Ilasco or a $25 Gift Certificate to Sew,Mama,Sew!  This giveaway ends Sunday, June 27.

Fresh Lemons is having a sponsored giveaway.  You could win a fat quarter set of Lemons and Limes, Metro Market, Monaluna from Robert Kaufman Fabrics.  Hurry - this giveaway ends this evening, Thursday, June 23.

Would you like to win a kit for a table runner plus a darling pair of embroidery scissors?  Then go here - My VACATION GIVEAWAY - to enter.

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FINAL THOUGHT

As I was sewing yesterday and trying to match up seams, I realized how many of my pins are bent.  Very few of them are straight any more.  A curve to the right - a curve to the left - either way they are definitely bent.  It's hard to match seams when even the pins can't line up straight.  I could try to blame the bent pins on my magnetic pin holder - you know, too much force causing the pins to bend over each other.  But that's probably not the case.  Running the pressure foot over some has been the cause of some of the bends.  Trying to force the pins through too many layers of fabric when they are getting dull is probably another factor.  Not to mention the ones that end up on the floor and get stepped on - lol!  Poor pins.  Time to say good-bye and time to buy replacements.  My favorite are the flat head flower pins.  What are your favorite pins to use?

Pins and needles, needles and pins. It's a happy man that grins.
~Ralph Kramden

Little Quilts and Stitches

I went to a general store but they wouldn't let me buy anything specific.
~Steven Wright

What a weekend!  Saturday turned into one of those go, go days.  Our venture into Walmart was even worse than expected.  I think everybody decided to go shopping at the same time as us.  The parking lot was packed and finding a handicap parking spot was almost impossible.  The store is going through a renovation - they are turning it into a small Super Walmart.  Almost everything had been moved around.  A third of the store was totally blocked off.  The already narrow aisles were even narrower.  We did manage to find almost everything we had gone in looking for but what a nightmare.  Thank goodness we don't have to go back for another four weeks.  Hopefully by then they will be done with the changes.  If not, we will go to a different Walmart.  The rest of the day was spent running to a bunch of different stores.  My DH told our daughters we logged 300 miles on Saturday, 200 of those on foot.  Of course, he really exaggerated stretched the story a little.  But we were pooped at the end of the day.  I'm ready to start a new week!

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

National Yo-Yo Day falls on what is believed to have been Donald Duncan Sr.'s birthday (even the Duncan Company isn't quite sure if June 6 is the right date). Donald Duncan Sr. was an entrepreneur who in 1930 got into the yo-yo business.  Yo-yos have been popular toys for over 2,000 years. Early forms of the toy were called different names, such as quizzes, bandalores or Jou-Jous. The earliest recorded account of the word yo-yo is from an 1860 Filipino dictionary.  In 1923, Pedro Flores, a man of Filipino descent, began building yo-yos in America. He built the yo-yos by hand, and discovered that America's youth were fascinated with them. In 1928, Flores built the first yo-yo factory, mass producing the toys in California. He also began to hold yo-yo competitions to promote the toys, which started the first round of yo-yo mania in the United States. Donald F. Duncan Sr. first saw yo-yos in action around the time Flores began to hold competitions. In 1930, Duncan bought out Flores, who was then hired to run Duncan's promotional campaigns. More competitions and exhibitions followed, and the company did well in its first few years. For the next 25 years, all of Duncan's yo-yos were made of wood. In 1955, Duncan partnered with a company called Flambeau to produce plastic yo-yos. In 1968, Flambeau purchased the Duncan name and continued to produce plastic yo-yos. The famous Duncan wooden yo-yos were discontinued and remained out of production for more than two decades.  In 1996, the craze spread worldwide. It was fueled by exciting commercials, partnerships between the Duncan company, science programs in schools, and a wave of nostalgia as Duncan reintroduced the 1955 wooden yo-yo model.

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LOVING HANDS

Friday I was able to make a quilt for Loving Hands.

Loving Hands gives blankets to the neonatal unit at one of our local hospitals to put over the isolettes.  The quilts are to measure 32" X 32".  The gal that heads up this division in the guild stated that they are in need of boy quilts and I thought this one could go either way.  I plan on making at least one of these a month.

I don't know if you can see it, but I used a blue and green variegated thread on the top for quilting.

This little dog and cat print has been in my stash for quite awhile.  I thought it made a cute backing for the quilt.

For the back I used a primary variegated thread in the bobbin for quilting.  Now it's time for it to go into the wash and then put in a plastic bag to keep the dog hairs off of it before taking to the guild meeting next week.

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BIRDIE STITCHES

Last Tuesday, on the first, the next block for Birdie Stitches was released by Little Miss Shabby.  On Wednesday, I cut out and added the border blocks and traced the pattern.

Sorry about the shadow - I didn't notice it until I uploaded the picture.  With all of the words on this one, I thought the straight line border worked well.

This is the stitching that I have completed so far.

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I plan on working on at least one swap block.

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GIVEAWAYS

The Intrepid Thread is having a giveaway.  You could win a charm pack of Hoo's In The Forest.  This giveaway will end Friday, June 10.

Hawthorne Threads is having their weekly giveaway.  This week you could win a Lila Tueller Lola's Posies layer cake.   A winner will be selecting Wednesday, June 8.

Cat Patches is having her Fun Fact Friday Freebie.  You could win a specially selected fat quarter.  The winner will be announced next week (Friday I think).

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FINAL THOUGHT

I have tons to do this week.  I have to make some swap blocks and I should start a mug rug for another swap.  I have a little quilt I want to make before the grandsons get here on Saturday.  Already I'm feeling the time crunch.  What to do, what to do?  I'm just going to have to concentrate on keeping focused  - using each day to its fullest.  One thing at a time and they will get done.  I just have to keep reminding myself that everything doesn't have to be done in one day.  And if something doesn't get finished this week, it can always be completed before the end of the month.  Just keep focused.....no distractions......mind on what I'm doing.....I can do this!
Oh, and by the way, I spent very little time on the computer this weekend so I missed reading a lot of my favorite blogs :(  I'm sure I also missed a lot of giveaways so if you would like me to post your giveaway tomorrow, just send me a quick email :)

How am I going to live today in order to create the tomorrow I'm committed to?
~Anthony Robbins

B is for Birdie & Bee

A teacher's purpose is not to create students in his own image, but to develop students who can create their own image.

~Author Unknown

My Aunt and Uncle are in town for a couple of days.  The snowbirds are heading back to Washington.  We spent the evening with them at my mother's and had a wonderful mini reunion.  My Aunt is the reason I ventured into quilting.  She was instrumental in my love of counted cross stitch starting me off with one simple Christmas ornament over 30 years ago.  My Aunt is a natural teacher and a gifted textile artist.  She is a retired elementary school teacher - that would explain her patience with me :)  I wish I had some pictures of her amazing creations but, sadly, I don't.  She is also the one who introduced me to basket making.  And if it weren't for my health I would still be turning pieces of reed into usable shapes.  In the last couple years she has dallied in the art of silver jewelry making - one of the few crafts I have not given a try.  So, as you can see, my Aunt is my muse and my inspiration when it comes to quilting.  I have her to thank for sending me on this love of creating with fabric.  Thank you, Aunt Arliss!!

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

Band Aids

I know you have always wondered about the history of the band aid so I'm going to satisfy your curiosity:  Earle Dickson was employed as a cotton buyer for the Johnson & Johnson when he invented the band-aid in 1921. His wife Josephine Dickson was always cutting her fingers in the kitchen while preparing food.

At that time a bandage consisted of separate gauze and adhesive tape that you would cut to size and apply yourself. Mr. Dickson noticed that gauze and adhesive tape she used would soon fall off her active fingers. He decided to invent something that would stay in place and protect small wounds better.

Earle Dickson took a piece of gauze and attached it to the center of a piece of tape, and then covered the product with crinoline to keep it sterile. His boss, James Johnson, saw Dickson's invention and decided to manufacture band-aids to the public and make Earle Dickson vice-president of Johnson & Johnson.

Sales of Band-Aids were slow until Johnson & Johnson decided to give Boy Scout troops free Band-Aids as a publicity stunt. By 1924, Band-Aids were machine made, sold sterilized in 1939, and made with vinyl tape in 1958. The products long running commercial jingle "I'm Stuck on Band-Aid" was written by singer Barry Manilow.  The adhesive used on the underside of the Band-Aid is epoxy made from the same compounds as glue. The actual bandage is made with nylon fibers embedded into medical cloth. Cotton is used as the absorption pad covered with a thin plastic sheet with holes for ventilation.

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ANOTHER BEE BLOCK

Yesterday I made a block for Kyishia, the May hostess for Bee In Oz......

This photo doesn't really show off the colors well.  The yellow gingham is much more golden butter colored (at least that's what I call it - real butter, not fake).  And the red is so much bolder.  Too bad the sun hid behind the clouds all day and I couldn't get a natural light shot.  Anyway, Kyishia requested Jewelled Square Quilt blocks.  She gave a couple of flickr pages to view for examples.  It was a fun block to make.  We were to also make a siggy block in the jewelled square fashion but I forgot to take a picture of it.

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A FINISHED AFGHAN

Who would want a Cal Trans orange afghan?

Project Linus, that's who! Our chapter leader put out a plea for quilts, afghans, and blankets to send to the Alabama Project Linus.  They are looking for 1000 blankets to hand out to victims of the tornadoes.  I am sending 3 afghans that I have completed over the last couple months to help in this endeavor.  This bright orange afghan is one of the three that will be going.

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BIRDIE STITCHES

Over the weekend I finished the latest Birdie Stitches BOM....

I love this month's pattern from Little Miss Shabby.  I do wish that I had made the yellow flower just a tad bit darker but I'm certainly not changing it now.  I also used the lazy daisy stitch for the flowers on the birdie.  I hadn't made that stitch in years!  Now I can't wait for June 1 for the next block.

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Thank you all for your comments and prayers about my concern of my Mother driving after repeated TIA's.  I talked to her doctor and TIA's are not a reportable illness to the DMV.  Seems wrong to me but then I don't write the rules.  The doctor agreed to make the suggestion of 'no driving' to her but he said that he knows she will argue - and I know she will.  I guess the next step is for me to finally get the guts to confront her - it's not going to be a happy time.  Hopefully she will not injure herself or someone else if she should have a TIA, or worse a full blown stroke, while she is driving. 

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I will make a hexie flower because tomorrow is Wednesday.  And, I received my layered cake quilt back from the long arm quilter and will start putting on the binding!  Woohoo!!

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GIVEAWAYS

Little Miss Shabby is having birthday giveaway #2.  You could win a Rainbow Fat Quarter bundle of vintage sheets.  This giveaway ends Sunday, May 15.

KoolBenz is having a giveaway.  They are giving away a 7 fat quarter bundle of Ty Pennington's Impressions.  A winner will be selected on Saturday, May 14.

Marcia's Crafty Sewing & Quilt Shop is having a giveaway.  You can also enter three more times at Dye Candy.  You could win a set of May For Me note cards, or a copy of Easy to Sew Quilt Pattern, or an item valued at $18.00 from from Dye Candy Shop or a $25.00 discount good towards the purchase in Chris' Dye Candy Shop.  Both of these giveaways end Saturday, May 14, at 5:00 pm.

Butternut Street is having a giveaway.  You could win the pattern of your choice from Sweet Jane's Etsy shop.  Niki will draw on winner on Sunday, May 15.

Butternut Street is having second giveaway.  You could win a Hullabaloo bundle.  This giveaway ends on Friday, May 20, at midnight.

Hatched and Patched is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of Anni Downs' newest book, Some Kind of Wonderful.  This giveaway ends Friday, May 20.

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FINAL THOUGHT

Sometimes I wish I lived on an island.  An island protected from everything bad and no sadness was allowed.  A place where everybody lived forever, never suffered any ailments and never aged.  A place where we all could live a happy, carefree life with no stress.  I don't think that this would be a boring place.  Just think of what you could do if you never had any health problems!  I picture a place of sunshine, mild temperatures, and flowers galore and a sewing room the size of half a football field.  A place where I could lay my head down at night and not worry what the future will hold and just dream happy dreams on a bed of downy softness.  I guess I'm describing utopia.  Until then, I will muddle along, doing the best I can to help those who need it and support the ones I love.  A vision to seek....if only in my dreams.

In dreams, we enter a world that's entirely our own. 
~Steven Kloves, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Today is Tuesday - make yours terrific!!

And How Did Your Morning Start?

If people were meant to pop out of bed, we'd all sleep in toasters.

~Author unknown, attributed to Jim Davis

Time to wake up - awake as usual before the alarm goes off.  Plod into the bathroom.  Remembered to take my pill.  Turned on the shower and decided I was thirsty.  Really thirsty!  Grabbed the water bottle I keep in there (our tap water has a lot of chlorine in it), opened the flip top and took a swig.  Ewwwww!  What came out of the bottle into my mouth.  Lean over the sink and spit it out.  What the H***?  I just spit out an earwig!!!!!!!!  Gross!!  Gag!!!!  Shiver....rub arms.  Grab a cup and rinse out my mouth.  Stomp my feet and shiver again.  Drink some tap water - hurry - but look for bugs first!  I can't believe that just happened!  And that's how my morning started....I'm awake now!!  How did your morning start?

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

Oysters

 

Today is Cinco De Mayo and here in California it is a well celebrated holiday.  One holiday I don't usually pay too much attention to.  So, instead, I would rather celebrate Oyster Day.  Did you know....

* oysters breathe much like fish, using both gills and mantle. The mantle is lined with many small, thin-walled blood vessels which extract oxygen from the water and expel carbon dioxide. 

* There is no way of telling male oysters from females by examining their shells. While oysters have separate sexes, they may change sex one or more times during their life span. * There is a species of crab (Pinnotheres ostreum) that has evolved to live harmoniously inside an oyster's shell. These dime-sized crabs, much sought after by gourmands, are not abundant.
* Oysters are not only delicious, but they're also one of the most nutritionally well balanced of foods, containing protein, carbohydrates and lipids.
*  An oyster produces a pearl when foreign material becomes trapped inside the shell. The oyster responds to the irritation by producing nacre, a combination of calcium and protein. The nacre coats the foreign material and over time produces a pearl.

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TABLE MAT

Today I finished up the table mat I am going to give my mother for Mother's Day...

I made this from the Snap Sack (small quilt kit) that I won last month from Bluebird's Wing (thank you again, Cyndi!).  The quilt is called April Flowers and measures 18" X 22".  I used Isul-Bright so Mom can put hot dishes on it and still protect her wood dining table.  I love the colors and hope she does too.  You can never be too sure about Mom's choices of colors sometimes - lol!

Here is the back.  I just did a very simple stitch-in-the-ditch quilting on this as I didn't want a lot of stitching to lessen the insulation quality.  I'll let you know if Mom liked on Monday.

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STITCHING

Yesterday I also started stitching the Birdie Stitches BOM for May.....

This month, Little Miss Shabby has given us a block full of flowers.  I'm only about a third of the way through and I'm lovin' it already.  I think this may be my favorite block so far.

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I have another Bee block to make and I will continue stitching on my Birdie block.

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GIVEAWAYS

A Girl In Paradise is having a giveaway.  You could win a charm pack of Hushabye designed by Tula Pink for moda.  A winner will be selected on Tuesday, May 10.

Adventures In Oz is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of  Wrapped In Memories by Nan Slaughter.  This giveaway ends Friday, May 6.

The Average Quilter is having a giveaway.  You could win a great denim men's wallet made by Margaret.  This giveaway ends Monday, May 9.

Marcia's Crafty Sewing and Quilting Blog is having a giveaway.  Marcia is giving away 3 gorgeous Orange Flowers Note Cards that she made.  The winner will be drawn on Sunday, May 8.

Quiltville's Quips and Snips is having a giveaway.  You could win one of two Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Volume 3.  Winners will be drawn on the morning of Saturday, May 7.

Connecting Threads is having a giveaway.  You could win either a copy of  Fanciful Stitches Colorful Quilts from C&T Publishing or 2 Batik stacks.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, May 11, at midnight PST.

We Love Quilting is having a May giveaway.  They are giving away a big box of  fabric and a few surprise items.  You have all month to enter.

Applique Addict is celebrating her 200th post with a giveaway.  You could win one of 2 stacks of goodies - one for appliquers and one for piecers.  Marjorie will draw the winners on Sunday, May 8.

FabricWorm is having their weekly giveaway.  This week you could win a new Megumi Sakakibara 24" Panel.  The giveaway will end Monday, May 9, at 8:30 am PST.

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FINAL THOUGHT

The piles in my sewing room are growing once again.  Why is it that I can't seem to keep things put completely away for more than, oh say, 24 hours?  Unless we have overnight visitors and then the piles may stay put for 48 hours or more.  I have a pile on my sewing table, another pile on my cutting table, and yet another pile on my computer desk.  And, would you believe, I've even started a pile on my printer.  The piles appear be mostly scraps with an occasional pattern thrown in there, too.  I wish I were like the shoemaker in the Grimm Brother's fairy tales.  That way, when I would go to bed at night, special little people would come in and make everything neat and tidy for me to find in the morning.  Wouldn't that be great?  But no such luck.  I really don't like the clutter but I also don't like having to take time away from sewing to deal with the piles.  Maybe that will be on my endless 'to do' list over the weekend.....but then maybe the piles will have grown by Monday.  Only time will tell :D

A clean house is the sign of a boring person.
~Author Unknown

Today is Thursday - enjoy what life gives you!

Birdies and Buttons

Never say, "oops." Always say, "Ah, interesting."
~Author Unknown

Over a week ago my DH asked me where he should hang the hooks.  Me - "What hooks?"  DH - "These hooks.  We have two packages of them right here."  Sure enough, there on the desk were two sets of white hooks.  I told him I didn't know what he was talking about.  He got that puzzled look on his face.  DH - "But we bought them for you to hang something up."  Me - "Hang what up?"  DH - "I don't know.  You said you needed them".  Well, for the life of me I couldn't remember what I wanted to hang up.  We don't even have enough wall space in the sewing room or spare room to hang anything, especially nothing the size that would require two, good sized hooks.  DH - "Well, I guess we will leave them here for now.  Maybe you'll remember what we bought them for."  And there they sit - in the middle of the desk - waiting to be put to good use.  It may be years before I remember what I wanted to hang up on the wall.  Perhaps that would be a good place for my memory - lol!  Ah, interesting!

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

Do you think the English language is easy?  Yes?  Here are a few sentences to make you think otherwise.....

1. The bandage was wound around the wound.

2. The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.

3.  He could lead if he would get the lead out.

4. The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.

5.  Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.

6.  The buck does funny things when the does are present.

Let's face it - English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France . Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat. We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.
OK!  I give up.  I have more but I will save them for a later date.  Just thought I would give you some food for thought.

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ONE FLOWER WEDNESDAY

Today is Wednesday, and in keeping with tradition, it is also One Flower Wednesday. 

This is my Spring flower of flowers.  The fabric almost grabbed my hand as I was sorting through scraps trying to decide what to make yesterday.  The colors are so bright I just couldn't pass it up.  If you would like to see more hexie flowers out there in blogland, skip on over to Journey of a Quilter, where Karen so graciously hosts our gathering every week.

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I WON BUTTONS

Last month I won a giveaway being held by Barb over at Bejeweled Quilts.  And the squishy envelope arrived in today's mail.....

Aren't they the cutest little birdie buttons?  The buttons come from buttonmad, a company that gives employment to women in South Africa.  These buttons are hand made and I just love them.  They are going to make some great embellishments on some blocks I have in mind.  Barb also included a beautiful fat quarter that she says is a "little piece of Samoa".  Makes me feel as though I should be on some exotic island, drifting away........  Thank you so very much, Barb!

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BIRDIE STITCHES

Over the weekend I finished up the fourth Birdie Stitches BOM. 

On the first of the month, Little Miss Shabby released this block for us to make.  I think it is so cute with the eggs hanging in the tree and from the birdie's tail.  I continued with the Dream On line but this time chose only pieces that had a lattice work in the print.  I think it makes the block look very springy a lot like spring.  Now I can hardly wait until next month to see what LMS will design for us.

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BALTIMORE

Yesterday I cut out the pieces for the third Baltimore Basics block.

The first pieces are pinned and ready for me to start stitching.  Looking at the picture I am befuddled by the circle and cross on the background fabric.  It's not something on the fabric so it must have been something I set the square on.  Weird!

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TODAY'S GOAL

I knew yesterday was Tuesday, but I was sure we had another week before the last Layer Cake QAL block was to be released.  But, surprise, it's out!  So I will be making that my main priority for the day.

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GIVEAWAYS

Sew Fabulous Quilt Shop is having an April giveaway.  You could win a Montego Batiks fat quarter bundle.  This giveaway ends Saturday, April 30.

The Noble Wife is having a I Love Applique giveaway.  You could win 3 free patterns from her website and a pile of other goodies (retail value $45.00).  You must comment by midnight on Sunday, April 10.

The Quilting Pirate is having a Manic Monday giveaway.  Toni is giving away The Hobo Bag  pattern by Indigo Junction and ~20 5" novelty charm squares.  This giveaway ends Monday, April 11.

Margaret's Hope Chest is having 1000th Quilt, 4 Year Anniversary Giveaway.  You could be one of four winners of four fat quarters, Twin Size Hobbs Heirloom Cotton Batting, Thread-the Essential Thread Set in Neutrals or Colors from Connecting Threads, pins, One roll of Heat Press, and a copy of 'In a Twinkle' book by Kay Mackenzie.  The winners will be announced on April 29th.

Quilt n Queen is having a sponsored giveaway.  You could win 2 Sherbet Pips charm packs.  This giveaway ends Monday, April 11.

Have you entered to win the $25.00 gift certificate from Fat Quarter Shop?  If not, then you need to enter my 200th Post Celebration Giveaway!

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FINAL THOUGHT

Sirens.  More sirens.  That's the trouble with living near major thoroughfares.  We are three blocks off of one main street and about 5 from another.  Most of the time I don't even hear them any more.  That is unless Jack, the black lab next door, decides to sing along with them.  He has such a pitiful howl.  He sounds like the perpetual teenager that is in the voice transition phase of his life.  So funny to hear.  I do wish at times I lived where there was silence.  No car noises, no voices of people walking down the street, no car alarms accidentally going off - nothing but the sweet sound of birds singing and my two pups snoring (well, really only Weasley).  Noise overload is something I can do without.  If ever someone wanted to torture me, obnoxious noise would be the way to do it.  Ah, for some piece and quiet and just the hum of my sewing machine.  One can dream!

Silence is more musical than any song.
~Christina Rossetti

Make your Wednesday wonderful!

200th Post Celebration Giveaway

A blog is a message in a bottle, both in purpose and likely readership.

 ~Robert Brault

Today is my 200th post!  I never would have thought I would make it this far.  Thanks to my DD#1, I started blogging back in August.  At the time I thought "I'll give this a try and maybe post something once a week or so".  But then I found out that this blogging thing is really lots of  fun, which really surprised me.  My DD#2 had given me beautiful leather journals to record my thoughts and I was terrible at that.  Blogging is something different.  It's some place to connect with others of like minds; to share thoughts and ideas; to learn and discover.  But I think the best thing about blogging is friendship.  I have made so many wonderful friends since my venture into blogging that I would never have had a chance to meet.  New friends from my own state of California, many from all over the USA, and even several from all around the world!  Your friendships are precious to me.  Thank you for letting me share a little of my world with you and for sharing your life and creations with me!!! 

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

The first telephone

The first commercial telephone used by Alexander Graham Bell was based on his patent of January 1877. The telephone consisted of a single transmitter/receiver placed within a rectangular wooden box. One would speak into the opening in the box and then listen through the same opening. This telephone had essentially the same design as the patent drawing except for the shape. The the patent drawing had a round shape rather than squared.  Two or more of these box phones were connected in series on a line with a ground return.

On April 4, 1878 the first telephone was installed in Madison by Richard Johnson. It connected his home, the Johnson Starch Factory and the J. M. & I Railroad depot. It was a convenience for him and, by all accounts, a source of amusement for his family, especially his young daughter who took every opportunity to sing to people on the other end of the line. In 1881 citizens of the town considered the merits of contracting for the formation of a telephone exchange in Madison with the Central Telephone Company. The company required the assurance of thirty subscribers which were quickly signed up. In early March of that year a shipment of poles, wire, cross-arms and insulators arrived by rail. A foreman and a gang of five men completed the installation in seven short weeks.

Isn't amazing how the phone has evolved in just over a little over 137 years?

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!!!GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

Would you like to help me celebrate my 200th post?  Do you think I should have a giveaway?  I DO!

How would you like to win........

A $25.00 gift certificate to Fat Quarter Shop!!!!!!!

I'm not going to make you jump through hoops to enter.  You don't have to be a follower but if you like what you see, maybe you would like to be one.  I'm going to give you two ways to enter:

1.  Leave me a comment telling me what State you live in.  If you don't live in the USA then tell me what country you live in.

2.  Blog about this giveaway and provide a link back to your blog where you have posted about it. (I will check)

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

 

This giveaway is open to everyone, no matter where you live (even if you live on a planet far, far away).  Please make sure that I have some way to reach  you.  If you have a no-reply blogger, make sure to include your email in your comment.  IF I CAN'T CONTACT YOU - YOU CAN'T WIN!!  I will do my best to respond to each comment left, but if it becomes too overwhelming, don't worry that you haven't heard from me.

This giveaway will end Monday, April 11, at 8:00 pm PST.  I will announce the winner on Tuesday, April 12.

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BIRDIE BOM

Friday I was happy to see that the Birdie Stitches BOM provided and designed by Little Miss Shabby was posted.  This month's design is adorable.  I immediately traced it onto my fabric.....

I used a new pen to do the tracing.  I recently had read a couple of reviews about this pen that disappears with heat so I just had to give it a try....

The picture isn't very good but the pen is called Frixion and is put out by Pilot.  It is available in 6 colors.  Besides disappearing with heat, it also can be removed with friction.  I then continued onto the next step of attaching the border of 2 1/2" squares and pressing the seams to one side.  Not even thinking about the pen...

Guess what?  It does disappear with heat. LOL!  It didn't even occur to me (obviously) when I had to press the seam allowances that I might just make contact with the ink.  It was one of the AHA moments, or possibly a DUH moment.  No problem, I just put the block back on the light box with the design underneath and traced over the parts that had disappeared.  I understand that the ink will reappear in cold temperatures ( below 10 C or 14 F) but I don't think I will have worry about that here.  I have also read that it will not reappear if it has been removed with the heat of an iron.  You can also remove the ink with a blow drier if you do not want to put an iron to your fabric.  Now onto stitching!

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BLOCK FROM AUSTRALIA

Friday I received my swap block from Leanne in Australia.  She was my swap partner in the Quilting Block Swaps Australia for March....

I just love the bright green fabric Leanne used to make this star block!  She included a nice note in the wonderful quilt related note card.  Leanne did a lovely job with the sewing too!  Thank you so very much, Leanne!

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I will make another Bee block.  This time one for Let's Bee Together that I received the fabric for on Friday.

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GIVEAWAYS
(and it's a long list!)

Write Here is having a giveaway to continue with the Traveling Stash.  This giveaway was originally started by Kelly at Cotton Charm Quilts.  Now Anne has removed what she wanted to keep and has added items from her own stash like some 1/2 yard cuts of fabric, some fat quarters, a darling pin cushion she made, and several other items.  This giveaway ends Friday, April 8 at noon CST.

Handcrafted by Mary Ann Miller is having a giveaway.  You could win a $50 gift certificate to her store.  This giveaway ends Friday, April 8, at 10:00 pm EST.

Hoodies and Flip Flops is having her first giveaway.  Jennifer is giving away two charm packs of Fresh Flowers by Deb Strain for Moda.  This giveaway ends on her birthday, Thursday, March 7.

The Jolly Jabber is having a giveaway.  You could win a Pom Pom de Paris pattern and fat quarter bundle.  This giveaway ends Thursday, April. 7.

Happy Cottage Quilter is having a giveaway.  You could win a package of Lapel Stick.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, April 5.

Applique Addict is having a giveaway to celebrate reaching 100 followers.  Marjorie is giving away 12 five inch batik squares to 9 lucky winners.  This giveaway ends Thursday, April 7.

Blushing Rose is having an Easter giveaway.  Marydon is giving away an Easter basket filled with lovely gifts and 'pinks'.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, April 5.

I Have A Notion is having a book giveaway.  You could win a copy of Pennies From Heaven (a book I would really like to have).  This giveaway ends Wednesday, April 6.

Inch Worm Fabrics is having an April giveaway.  You could win a fat quarter of each of the 5 new Riley Blake prints.  This giveaway ends Friday, April 15.

Mad About Patchwork is having a giveaway for spring.  You could win batik strips of solid fat quarters in pretty shades of spring.  This ends Thursday, April 7, at 10:00 pm.

The Intrepid Thread is having a giveaway.  You could win two charm packs of Happier.  Not sure when this one ends.

Val Laird is having a giveaway to celebrate 300 followers.  Val is giving away a threadcatcher, pincushion, needlecase, scissor pillow and sewing pouch is a little pack of 30 charm squares from the Garden Party range.  This giveaway ends Saturday, April 9, at midnight Aussie time (it's also her birthday!)
Bryn Alexandra Interiors is having a giveaway.  You could be the grand prize winner and win 5 stacks of 5 one yard pieces of Waverly Modern Essentials fabrics, or one of five winners to win 5 one yard pieces.  This giveaway ends Sunday, April 10, at midnight.

Pieced on Earth is having a giveaway.  You could win five fat quarters of Love Birds.  The winner will be chosen on Thursday, April 7.

Quilty Giveaways is having a sponsored giveaway.  You could win a PDF patterns offered by Pear Quilts or from Little Louise Quilts.  This giveaway ends Saturday, April 9.

Crooked Seams is having her first giveaway.  Megan is giving away a 12 Days of Christmas charm pack and a Spring Meadow jelly roll.  The giveaway ends Tuesday, April 5 at 9:00 pm EST.

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FINAL THOUGHT

Gosh.  What to write about......I've had many thoughts going through my little pea brain lately.  I came to the realization just this week that I'm over half way through my life.  Weird thought, right?  I look at the obits in the local paper and see the ages of people who have passed and the average is around 80.  Then I think, well, that gives me 25 years.  But that's not enough time to get everything done that I want to make!  Then I think back to where I was 25 years ago and it seems like a very long time ago.  My girls were little and it was a time of learning and exploring life.  Over those 25 years so much has happened and I have changed over the years.  I really have to quit dwelling on how much time is left because you just really don't know.  So onto creating, living, and loving.  On with life!

With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

It's Monday and a brand new week - enjoy every little bit of it!!

It Was One Of THOSE Days

Certain flaws are necessary for the whole. It would seem strange if old friends lacked certain quirks.
~Goethe

I'm a little depressed.  I know that I'm not supposed to care but I do.  I have been losing a few of my followers lately.  I don't know what I've been doing to cause this exodus.  I reply to almost every comment left to me (if there is a valid email).  I try to stop by several different blogs throughout the day and leave words of encouragement and/or support.  I try to provide something a little different each day with a bit of fun or information.  Where am I going wrong?  I'm not looking for pats on the shoulder or for you to join my pity party.  If there is something you don't like, please let me know.  I can't fix it if you don't tell me where it's broken.

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

Blueberry Popover

Here is another obscure holiday that you may not know about.  It is National Blueberry Popover Day and it occurs on March 10 every year in the United States of America. On this day, the puffy, air-filled popover bread made with blueberries is celebrated. Popovers are sometimes compared to Yorkshire pudding, and they have an almost custard like base surrounded by air bubbles and a crisp crust. They are made using eggs, milk, butter and flour.
Blueberries are highly nutritious fruits, and they are thought to help fight diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. They contain high levels of antioxidants, which fight free radical damage on a cellular level. Studies have shown that consuming blueberries may help ward off the buildup of belly fat.2 However, this effect may be limited when they are paired with high fat foods such as popovers.

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BIRDIE STITCHES

Yesterday, well actually Tuesday evening, I finished stitching Block 3 of the Birdie Stitches BOM

Can you tell I made the border to represent March?  Definitely shamrock green.  I even stitched the birdie in green.  I tried something different with my stitching this time.  I decided to try stitching without a hoop.  I'm not pleased with how it came out.  My stitches are not uniform and the tension is not great.  Next month I'm definitely going back to the hoop.  If you would like to make a comparison, you can look at last month's block HERE.  That one just looks worlds better to me.  My thought on this?  "You don't know if you don't try it".  So it's been tried and I learned - Use A Hoop.

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ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Have you ever wondered what it was like "Down Under"?  I have but will probably never go :(  For me, the next best thing to going there is having made friends through blogland that live in Australia!  Monthly I send a block or two to that great land and receive a block back in exchange.  It is loads of fun and they even have that 'funny' way of talking.  Australia has some amazing quilters and they all have hearts of gold.  So won't you help me celebrate the one year anniversary of QUILTING BLOCK SWAPS AUSTRALIA!

Wouldn't you love to join this wonderful and fun group?  Sue B is our fantastic hostess who keeps us all organized and is the originator of the group.  There are more groups you can join that are relatives of this group, just jump on over to the website (link above or button on the sidebar).  All are welcome - even us regular talking Americans - they are not picky - lol!

Happy Anniversary Quilting Block Swaps Australia!!

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LAYER CAKE QAL

Yesterday I finished the 10th block of the Layer Cake QAL- but not without lots and lots of ripping and resewing!!

First I made this mistake.  You see the orange square?  It is supposed to be the bud part of the flower.  Then why is it floating in the air?  Because I sewed it together wrong and didn't even notice it until I had both of sides of the petals attached.

Here is what I thought was the finished block.  Mind you, I also had to rip out two more seams to get to this point!  I have to admit that I looked at this 'completed' block most of the day thinking "It just doesn't look right".  Well, if I would have looked at the example block I would have discovered what was wrong.  There were supposed to be green leaves - NOT A GREEN POT!  OMG!  This block took probably three times longer for me to make than it should have.  I thought I was paying attention but obviously not.  So, late yesterday evening I made the correction.......

Here is the correct finished block.  Doesn't it look better?  I guess for me the saying should be "Make it simple and Linda will screw it up"!  I really like the look of this block.  Oh, this block was designed by Kari Ramsay of Fresh Cut Quilts.  Don't tell her how messed up I made it look for awhile.

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I think I will stick to some hand sewing and work on my Baltimore block.  Maybe I need a day away from the sewing machine.

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GIVEAWAYS

Amy's Creative Side is having a sponsored giveaway.  The Fat Quarter Shop has donated a bundle of Sugar and Spice by The Quilted Fish.  This giveaway ends Monday, March 14.

Happy Quilting is celebrating having 500 followers with a giveaway.  Melissa is giving away some amazing Fat Quarters from Riley Blake's new collection Penny Lane.  The giveaway will end on the evening of March 16th.

Wouldn't you like to win a darling applique pattern?  Then just click HERE to enter my giveaway!

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FINAL THOUGHT

Trial and error.  Mistake, mistake, mistake.  Learn, learn, learn.  Some days I think there is a barrier between my brain and my eyes and even down into my fingers.  There are days when simple becomes hard and hard seems impossible.  Luckily those days are far and few between.  I really do learn from days like yesterday.  If nothing else, it reminds me that I need to pay attention.  Attention to each and every detail.  Today is another day.  A day to start fresh.  A day to pay attention.  A day that everything will work correctly - brain, eyes, hands, and heart.

The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.
~John Powell

A good Thursday to you all :)