Finished At Last!

What a wonderful thing is the mail, capable of conveying across continents a warm human hand-clasp.

~Author Unknown

Yesterday was a lot of busy work.  Once everything was done I didn't have much to show for it craft wise.  Four packages are waiting by the front door for the mailman.  I actually have a clear spot on my cutting table and another on my spare bed.  I guess that's a good thing.  Must be time to find something to fill those holes - lol!  Thank you all for your fmq instruction suggestions!  I knew I could count on you to give me excellent resources and tool advice :D  I would be lost without all of my blogging friends.

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

Hot Dog

Did you know that July is National Hot Dog Month?  In honor of the hot dog, how about some interesting little facts:

* in 1957 the U.S. Chamber of Commerce officially designated July as National Hot Dog month

* Baseball fans will consume more than 26 million hot dogs at US baseball stadiums this season. That’s enough to circle the bases 36,000 times

* In honor of the 1996 Olympics, the world’s biggest hot dog was 1,996 feet long, created by Sara Lee Corp

* The most popular hot dog topping among adults is mustard (87.6%). Among children, it is ketchup

* The average hot dog is consumed in 6.1 bites

* NASA has approved hot dogs as a regular item on Apollo moon flights, Skylab missions and space shuttle flights

* U.S. soldiers in military posts around the world consumed 2.4 million hot dogs in 2007

* Babe Ruth once ate 12 hot dogs & 8 bottles of soda between games of a double header. He was reportedly rushed to the hospital after the game with a severe case of indigestion

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PAY IT FORWARD

I finally finished my last Pay It Forward obligation!

I made this candle mat for my third and final participant.  Her favorite color is green.  I'm sure she has given up hope on ever receiving something from me since I started this back in September.  I had one year to complete three gifts so I actually had two months to spare.  I quilted this with a fancy stitch from my machine and used a shiny rayon thread. 

Yesterday morning I added this personalized label.  I covered the name of the recipient so that they will be totally surprised when they get the candle mat in the mail (I'm not sure if she reads my blog any more or not).  I printed that outline design and flowers from a free download at Connecting Threads and printed the label out on my printer.  This one even matches the fabric I used to make the mat.

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today and over the weekend I hope to bind the Mystery BOM quilt!

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GIVEAWAYS

Quilt Story is having a giveaway.  You could win a fat quarter bundle of Happier by Deena Rutter for Riley Blake and the pattern booklet Happy Hour by Terry Atkinson.  This giveaway ends Monday, July 11.

Nunu's Quilt World is celebrating her blogiversary with a giveaway.  You could win 2 yards (1 yard each) of Summer Breeze by Sentimental Studios for Moda and a pattern book On A Roll by Heather Mulder Peterson.  Not sure when this one ends :(

Bugglebee is having a giveaway.  You could win a GO! Baby Cutter and three dies of your choice.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, July 13, at 11:59 pm EST.

The Vintage Sheet Blog is having a giveaway.  Here is another chance to win a GO! Baby Cutter and 3 dies.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, July 19, at midnight PST.

Kitschy Suburbia (aka my daughter) is having a giveaway. You could win some wonderful nail polishes or, if your not into manis and pedis, you could win two sets of adorable recipe cards, a pretty pair of earrings and magnetic shopping list/memo pad. This giveaway ends Wednesday, July 20, at midnight CMT.

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FINAL THOUGHT

This weekend DH is going north with his brother and BFF to attend a car race.  It's a 'Guy's Weekend'.  I'm envious only in the fact that they will be in much cooler temps.  Do I want to go to the race?  NO!  My SIL will be arriving on Saturday and spending the night so she can drive her hubby home on Sunday evening (they live about 4 hours away and he will be arriving here on the train).  We will be able to watch a couple of chick flicks and I can get some hand sewing in while she is here.  We don't get to spend much time together because of the distance between our houses.  Who knows, we may even splurge and have dinner delivered to our door - lol!  What are you plans for the weekend?

A habit is something you can do without thinking - which is why most of us have so many of them.
 ~Frank A. Clark

Flowers, Bees & Baltimore

What may be done at any time will be done at no time.
~Scottish Proverb

I'm getting that feeling again.  The feeling of wanting to start something new.  This is a bad feeling.  I currently have 5 projects I'm working on.  To start another would most certainly send one of my current projects into that deep pit known as the UFO pile.  I just remembered - I have another project that needs to be sandwiched, quilted and bound.  Not a big project - it is a PIF project.  I keep putting it off knowing that I have until October to finish it.  So, I definitely should not start a new project.  I have to quit looking at other's projects but that is rather difficult when I'm reading blogs.  The temptation to start something new is sometimes hard to ignore.  Okay.  I will promise myself not to start a new project until I have completed at least one of the 5 I'm currently working on - swaps and bees not included.  There.  It has been said out in public.  Ahhhhhh!  I feel better.  Well, at least for today I do - lol!

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

Here are some fun animal facts that you may, or may not, know:

* Hippo milk is pink.

* The oldest known animal in the world was 'Ming' the 405 year old clam, discovered in 2007.

* Sharks, like other fish, have their reproductive organs in their chests.

* Sheep can survive for up to two weeks buried in snow drifts

* Flies are deaf.

* Honeybees never sleep.

* Cockroaches can live for 9 days after their head has been cut off.

* The katydid bug hears through holes in its hind legs!

* The ant, when intoxicated, will always fall over to its right side.

* If NASA sent birds into space they would soon die; they need gravity to swallow.

* A duck's quack doesn't echo, and no one knows why.

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ONE FLOWER WEDNESDAY

Yesterday when I made my goal for the day, I had forgotten it would be One Flower Wednesday today.  But have no fear, I did get a hexie flower made.....

This bright and cheery flower will be a great addition to my GFG.  To see more wonderful hexagon flowers, go to Karen's blog, Journey of a Quilter.  Karen is the one that keeps all of us flower makers in line and provides the linky site.  Thanks, Karen!

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BEE BLOCK

Even though I had to get my hexie flower done, I still me my goal of making a Bee block....

This block, much like the last block, was a challenge to make.  Our hostess for Let's Bee Together Group B, Jorie, sent out beautiful fabrics to work with, but all of the pieces were rather small.  Every pattern I looked at needed more fabric of certain a certain color than I had.  I must have spent an hour looking at block patterns.  I finally just ended up cutting 2.5" squares.  I think I arranged them in a rather pleasant pattern.  Now I just hope that Jorie will like the block, too.

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BALTIMORE CONTINUES

Over the last couple evenings I have been able to make a little progress on block 4 of the Baltimore Basics....

So far this block has given me two new things to try.  First the little stems were only 1/8" when finished.  Instead of creating a bias tube, you folded the fabric wrong sides together and stitched down the length just shy of center.  Then you centered the the stems on the placement marks and folded the finished edge over the unfinished edge and stitched it in place that way (did that make sense?).  The other new method to me was needle turn applique.  The gold center piece is all done with the needle turn technique.  You can almost tell where I first started working (top right corner) and where I finished (bottom right corner).  My technique improved as I went.  Now to make flower buds.

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I need to cut and assemble the background pieces for my quilt class at Quilt University.

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GIVEAWAYS

Sew 4 Home is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of Crazy Quilting by Allie Aller.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, May 31, at midnight PT.

Sew I Quilt is having a giveaway.  You could win an I Top Tool and accessories.  This giveaway ends Thursday, May 19.

FabricWorm is having their weekly giveaway.  This week you could win  Laurie Wisbrun Pooches and Pickups in Fat Quarters.  This giveaway ends Monday, May 23, at 8:30 am PST.

Grosgrain is having a giveaway.  You could win a Silhouette SD Machine.  The winner will be announced Tuesday, May 24.

Ditzy and Dotty is having a giveaway.  Sally is giving away a pdf file of her lunch bag pattern PLUS a copy of the ‘Red Riding Hood Basket’ pattern plus, if that wasn’t enough, Lisanne at Sewcity has donated a bundle of 4 gorgeous Fat Quarters.  This giveaway ends Thursday, May 19.

Rsisland Crafts is having a giveaway.  Robin is giving away two Simplicity patterns - one is for bags and the other is for skirts.  This giveaway ends Friday, May 20.

The Intrepid Thread is having a giveaway.  You could win a darling little kit for a pillow that was only available at Market.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, May 24, at midnight.

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FINAL THOUGHT

Thank you all for your encouragement to attend the local quilt guild meeting.  I think I have convinced myself to give it a go (don't you like the decisiveness there - lol!).  If I don't go, I will never know and will always wonder what it is like and what the people are like.  I've been thinking about dragging my DH along for the first meeting but that might be considered cruel and unusual punishment.  He likes (or at least pretends) to learn about what I'm working on and enjoys going to quilt shows with me, but I don't think listening to 2 hours of quilt talk would be very interesting for him.  I just need to suck it up and be brave.  I need to push myself out of my secure little nest - to spread my wings, so to speak.  I think I could handle this for one evening a month.  I will do it!!

A year from now you may wish you had started today.

~Karen Lamb

Make your Wednesday wonderful!!

One Flower Wednesday & Tidbits

Sewing mends the soul. 
                                            ~Author Unknown

Isn't that the truth.  I have felt so much more relaxed the last two days being able to concentrate on sewing instead of a bunch of life's stresses.  I hope sewing does the same for you!

Photo Of The Day:

A pink Gerbera

No more boring information on Gerbera daisies - today will be on the color pink.  Pink is a softer, less violent red. Pink is the sweet side of red. It's cotton candy and bubble gum and babies, especially little girls. While red stirs up passion and action, studies have shown that large amounts of pink can create physical weakness in people. Perhaps there is a tie-in between this physical reaction and the color's association with the so-called weaker sex. In some cultures, such as the US, pink is the color of little girls. It represents sugar and spice and everything nice. Pink for men goes in and out of style. Most people still think of pink as a feminine, delicate color.  What do you think of when you see the color pink?

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Today is One Flower Wednesday.  But today you get two for the price of one.  I was able to complete three flowers while staying with my DM in the hospital last week.

Here is the first flower - well, actually my 6th flower

And here is my 7th flower. Not quite as bright but I couldn't pass up the cute little dogs!

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Yesterday in the mail I received a package with the winnings from a giveaway held last month by Monica from Diary Of A Quilt Maven.  Don't you just love packages? I do and was so very happy with the contents of this one!!

Included in this wonderful package was an adorable firehouse note card, a great book "the Directory of Quilting Techniques" that I'm sure I will refer to many times, two great charm packages of "Civil War Homefront" by Barbara Brackman for moda, and a cute little pincushion/holder that Monica made herself.  When you open the lid, the liner is printed with "quilt til you wil'!  I'm so glad that I was the selected winner of all of this!!!  Thanks, Monica!

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Last month I asked for 3 people to join me in "Pay It Forward".  I did receive my 3 participants and they are Jennifer of Patchwork Possibilities, Niina of Ilmattaren Ihmemaa, and Charity of A Handle On It.  I warned each of these ladies not to expect anything before Christmas!  If you would like to know more about this fun project you can link to it here.

My friend, Charity is starting her quest for Pay It Forward.  She is looking for 3 people to join her cause.  If you are interested please go to her blog, A Handle On It.  She is even accepting people who don't blog!
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I want to thank you all for the great response to my giveaway.  I love reading all of the comments and am slowly making my way through all of them.  I really do read each and every one of your comments!!  Currently I am three days behind but do plan on responding to at least one of the comments you may have left.  So please don't think that I'm ignoring you!  Thanks for the wonderful response to my giveaway!!!!!!
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GIVEAWAYS

Leona's Quilting Adventure is having a super giveaway!!  She is giving away: 1). One Assorted Christmas Themed Jelly Roll containing 42, 2 1/2" Strips  2). Five Assorted Christmas Fat Quarters  3). Three Handmade Christmas Coasters  4). One Miranda Day Bag Pattern  5). One Easy Scallop Ruler by Darlene Zimmerman  6). One Bucilla Mary Engelbright Santas Ornaments Kit to Make 6 felt ornaments  7). One Package Needle Threaders.  Enter today!!

How about another chance to win an AccuQuilt GO!  You can enter for a chance to win over at Alderwood Quilts!  This contest is open until November 1.

And you still have time to enter my Fall Into Fall Bloggers Giveaway.  Just click the link HERE to enter!!
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Final Thoughts

I know it's not really a thought but I thought this was a great way to let you know that cooler weather has finally made it's way into the central valley of California!  Woohoo!  I'm enjoying every little bit of it.  And so are Weasley (under the blanket) and Snickerdoodle - keeping each other warm.

Have a wacky, woolly, willy-nilly Wednesday!

Little Sewing But More Projects

"There's nothing more exciting than starting a new project"
                                                               ~author unknown

Yesterday morning started as just a normal day, first computer time and then breakfast.  After breakfast I headed back into the computer and on the keyboard was a folded piece of paper with my name on it.  My first thought was "Uh oh, what did I do wrong?".  When I opened it I was very much surprised to have a love note from my dear, sweet husband!  How very special I felt!  It certainly put a brighter light on my day.  It was so indescribably wonderful to read how much he still loves me after 35 years of marriage.  I am such a lucky lady!!  Okay, so much for the mush.............on with today.

Photo Of The Day

A partial branch of a Japanese Maple in my side yard

Japanese Maple is a species of woody plant native to Japan (go figure!), North and South Korea, China, eastern Mongolia, and southeast Russia. The first specimen of the tree reached England in 1820.  Many different cultivars of this maple have been selected and they are grown worldwide for their attractive leaf shapes and colors. When Swedish doctor-botanist Carl Peter Thunberg traveled in Japan late in the eighteenth century, he secreted out drawings of a small tree that would eventually become synonymous with the high art of oriental gardens. He gave it the species name palmatum after the hand-like shape of its leaves. This would hardly surprise the Japanese who for centuries referred to their group of maples as kaede and momiji, references to the 'hands' of frogs and babies, respectively.  As you can tell from the picture, my tree has yet to start any kind of fall color change.  It is showing signs of sunburn after a long, hot summer. 

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Pay It Forward

I'm joining my friend, Lana, of It Seams To Be Sew, in a new way to share the joy of crafting.  Here's what is involved:

The idea is that 3 of you join my Pay It Forward and then I will send a hand made gift (made with love!!!) to each one of my THREE within the next 365 days!  ( I am one of Lana's 3)

Then, those 3 people must also host a PIF on their blogs and ask for 3 people to join their PIF - To Pay It Forward!

You may send anything homemade (and you get to choose what you want to make)- a small quilt, wall hanging, tablerunner, bookmark, pillow case, mug rug, cross stitch item, embroidery item - well, you get the idea. 

So, this is me, asking for 3 people to join my PIF - just leave a comment to this post stating that you want to be one of my 3.

That's it....No Catches!  Now, I only need THREE.....will you be one of my three?

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Yesterday I also joined in the Quilting Gallery's Candle Mat Swap.  The pattern is Candlelight, by Sandi Anderson, and they provide a free download for this.  It's super cute and easy to make.  One charm pack will make two candle mats, plus you'll need a fat quarter for the backing (two FQs if you are making two) and a scrap (or two) of batting.  Registration closes October 5 and partner info will be sent by October 8.  If you are interested, just click on the link above.
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Can you tell I didn't get much sewing done yesterday?  I did manage to get a few more blocks made for my Paganini, but for some reason, the computer kept calling my name - could that be because my sewing started out with ripping out the first three seams I sewed for the day!?!  So I have decided to share a recipe with you today since I certainly don't have any progress pictures to share.  I snatched this recipe up from my daughter, Megan, over at Kitschy Suburbia!

Lemon-Tarragon Chicken Toss

Ingredients

6 oz dried fettuccine or linguine
2 cups broccoli or cauliflower florets
1/2 cup chicken broth
3 Tablespoons lemon juice
1 Tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
12 oz skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
2 teaspoons olive oil or cooking oil
1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon, crushed, or 1 Tablespoon snipped fresh tarragon, crushed

Directions

Cook pasta according to package directions, adding the broccoli or cauliflower for the last 4 minutes of cooking;  drain well.  Return pasta mixture to pot; cover and keep warm.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl combine broth, lemon juice, honey, cornstarch, and white pepper; set aside.

In a large nonstick skillet stir-fry chicken in hot oil for 3 to 4 minutes or until no longer pink.  Stir cornstarch mixture; add to skillet.  Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly.  Add tarragon; cook for 1 minute more.

To serve, spoon chicken mixture over pasta mixture.

Personal Notes:

1.  I used broccoli

2.  In the future, I would begin cooking the chicken while the pasta is cooking.  The pasta cooled a little too much by the time the chicken mixture was prepared.

3.  I used multi-grain linguine

4.  When reheating leftovers, add a few more drops of lemon juice as the lemon taste seems to dissipate over time in the fridge.
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GIVEAWAYS

Here's a chance to win an AccuQuilt GO! Jump over to Jane's Fabrics and Quilts to enter (or don't - maybe I will have a better chance that way - lol!).  This giveaway ends Friday!

Don't forget to enter my Thank You Giveaway!  This will end on Monday.
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Final Thoughts

How has your week been going?  I think I have figured out my future quilting plan - once I get through the 5 projects I'm currently working on (way too many to be working on at one time - I'm usually a one thing at a time kind of gal)  I think I need to be working on at least one sampler quilt at all times.  While working on Cheryl's Sew Along, I decided it is a great way to keep boredom at bay.  I'm even looking into making a Dear Jane quilt.  I think that would be anything but boring.  Any suggestions from you, my friends?

Have a thoroughly thrilling Thursday!