Friday, October 14, 2011

Two More Swaps Completed


Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.
~Robert Louis Stevenson

Well, I'm back in shorts AGAIN!  Mother Nature is not playing fair and has raised the temperature once again.  I shouldn't complain as the Los Angeles area is even hotter with the addition of Santa Ana winds.  Hopefully all of those people who like to play with fire will stay in their homes and not cause havoc.  The plants and trees aren't sure what to do right now.  The sycamore across the street is a huge tree but looks really ugly right now with all of its brown leaves.  The Gerbera daisies are blooming again and I even had a hydrangea send up a tiny bloom.  Everything is so confused.  The one consolation is it is still cooling down at night so we can have the windows open for some fresh air.  The cooler night weather has sent the local rodents looking for new homes and one of them is trying to set up house keeping in our attic.  DH put out some poison so hopefully we won't become known as the Mouse Motel.  Now if only Oregon would share some of that lovely moisture with us commonly known as rain - I would be a very happy lady!!

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Pumpkins

Have you been out collecting your pumpkins for Halloween?  Are you going to carve yours or just make some yummy desserts?  While you decided what size and what you will be doing with your pumpkin, here are some fun facts:
Pumpkins originated in Central America
* The name pumpkin originated from "pepon" – the Greek word for "large melon."
* Pumpkin flowers are edible
* Pumpkins were once recommended for removing freckles and curing snake bites. 
* In early colonial times, pumpkins were used as an ingredient for the crust of pies, not the filling.
* Colonists sliced off pumpkin tips; removed seeds and filled the insides with milk, spices and honey. This was baked in hot ashes and is the origin of pumpkin pie.
* Native Americans flattened strips of pumpkins, dried them and made mats.
* The largest "official" pumpkin ever grown weighed 1,340 pounds. And the largest "unofficial" pumpkin ever grown weighed 1'458 pounds, but was not awarded due to damage.


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A LITTLE HOOT

My swap partner, Melody, for the Quilting Block Swaps Australia this month requested a block with an owl.  Here's is the sneak peek I provided for her.....

Two little eyes and just the hint of a beak.  The block is winging its way to Australia so I thought I would share it with you today...

This little owl came from the pattern Hooterville by Brandywine Design.  I enlarged it to fit better onto a 12" block.  It is a raw edge applique that I used a buttonhole stitch on.  To complete the owl I used two little buttons for his eyes.  I sure hope Melody likes this little guy.

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MUG RUG SWAP

I recently sent off a mug rug to my secret partner in the Mug Rug Swap Adventure 3.  She requested a mug rug for Christmas, Halloween or Easter and dislikes muted colors.  After much deliberation I finally came up with......

This mug rug is anything but muted!  I found this pattern on Artisania under their free pattern tab.  It was a fun foundation paper piecing pattern.  The colors don't show up quite true because when I went out to take the picture, there was no sun left in the yard.  I just couldn't pass up using the spooky eye fabric for the background.  I did a simple echo quilting on this mug rug.  This, too, is on its way across the ocean.

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A FEW MORE PUMPKINS

While looking through Leah Day's designs I found the perfect practice square......

Isn't this the perfect design for October?  If I had found it sooner, I could have used it on the mug rug above.  Oh well.  Next time.  I really like the spacing in the top left corner but for some reason most of the pumkpins and vines ended up spaced further apart.  Maybe I was in a hurry.  Oh, this one is called Pumpkin Patch in case you hadn't noticed.

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TODAY'S GOAL

I'm still working on the Loving Hands quilt.  Today I plan to finish with the applique work and hopefully make the sandwich.


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GIVEAWAYS

Lily's Quilts is having a sponsored giveaway.  You could win a Designer Collection, or an Ultra Collection, or a box of six spools of 50wt thread from Aurifil.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, October 19.

It's So Kiki is having a giveaway.  You could win a Sampler Stack from Connecting Threads.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, October 18.

Quilting By The River is having a giveaway.  You could win an AccuQuilt GO! Baby Cutter and your choice of 3 dies.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, October 18, at 11:59 pm CST.

Alderwood Quilts is having a giveaway.  You could win a Boondoggle Ruler and pattern set by Bella Nonna Quilts.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, November 1.

The Raspberry Rabbits is having a giveaway.  You could win a pair of Rabbit Embroidery Scissors.  This giveaway ends Monday, October 17.

Stitches From The Bush is having a giveaway.  You could win  'I'm Charmed, I'm Sure' Table Runner pattern, Rouenneries Deux Charm Pack (new FG range due out in January next year), 70cm of Oyster FG fabric (for stitching on), 30cm of Rouge FG fabric (for binding), and 1 reel of Cosmo Multi Work Thread.  This giveaway ends Monday, October 24, Australian time.

Vrooman's Quilts is celebrating her blog-aversery with a giveaway.  You could win a 'StoneHenge' roll pack.  This giveaway ends Friday, October 21.

My Patchwork Life is having a giveaway.  You could win some floss.  This giveaway ends Sunday, October 16, before Erin's bedtime.

Fabricworm is having their weekly giveaway.  You could win 7 fun Fat Quarters of Doohickey Designs Fox Trails in Green.  This giveaway ends Monday, October 17, at 8:30 am PST.

Renegade Quilter is having a giveaway.  You could win 'countdown to christmas' charm packs.  This giveaway ends Monday, October 17, at 5:00 pm.

Hockey Mom Stitchin' Hobby is having a giveaway.  You could win a mystery bag of stitching stuff and maybe even a gift certificate to 123Stitch.  This giveaway ends November 27, at 11:59 pm PST.

Still a few days left to enter my giveaway for a fat quarter bundle of Family Forever from Fat Quarter Shop.  To enter go HERE.

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FINAL THOUGHT

My mind has been on nothing but a little quilt the last couple of days.  I didn't even start my day with a FMQ yesterday.  It's amazing that something so small can be so all time consuming.  But I'm determined to get it done.  I hope to be stitching on the binding this weekend.  I'm starting to feel the time crunch on so many things.  Once again I've over loaded myself with swaps and the time is drawing near that they are all due - by the end of the month!  Why can't I say 'No'?  It took me years to convince my DH that he could say no to Community groups that were eating away at his time.  And now it's me.  I've got to know when to put the brakes on and learn that two letter word.  Why is it so much easier to yes?  Oh well, I know I will make it but in the mean time I'm feeling just a tiny bit of stress.

Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.
~Etty Hillesum



34 comments:

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Love your opening quote. Very cute owl block and super mug rug. Enjoy your weekend.

Quiet Quilter said...

Yes, this weather is weird...it rained a little last week and our yard, which had not grown an inch and looked generally as brown and dry as winter all during the "growing" season, has now greened up and looks almost like spring, along with weeds galore...in October! Sure glad we have the colors of fall to look at on blogs!

Barb said...

Love your blocks and mug rug...

yorkie mom said...

I love Hooterville! I'm making that for a new grandbaby... of course with out the buttons for eyes!

Lynda said...

I am so in awe of your FMQ! It is fabulous. As always your hexie flowers are so cute. Love the mug rug too. We had very cool, rainy weather last week with snow on the mountains. Now it is warm and sunny again. Keeps us guessing.

Paulette said...

How very cute and fun are your swap block and the mug rug! Love the bright pumpkin and the eyes background.

Impera Magna said...

I love the "Pumpkin Patch" quilting pattern... that is so cool and would look great on a fall quilt or table runner!

Needled Mom said...

I have been wondering how you were doing with the heat. We hit 102* on Wednesday, but it is cooling down a bit each day.

The little owl is so cute and I love the mug rug!!!! I am sure they will both be appreciated. I wish I had seen the FMQ pumpkin design sooner too. It is so perfect for Halloween quilts.

Enjoy the weekend, my friend.

✾Jamie Lee Cooley✾ said...

Wow, your mug rug pumpkin is fantastic!!!! I am going to try your pumpkin patch on [yet another] fall tablerunner I've almost finished. Thanks for the inspiration!

Jocelyn said...

I am happy to still be wearing shorts and flip flops :-) I do not like the cold weather, so the warm feels great! You are doing so good with your FMQ!

Kris said...

Great post, Linda!! Melody will love her little owl and the pumpkin mug rug is wonderful!! I too really like the eyes fabric!! And I agree, why is is so much easier to say yes? In pondering that question I think its because we want to experience so much in life and share those experiences with others!! My most favorite parts of being a quilter are the swaps and the charity projects!! I hope we both always have lots of time to be of service to others and savor that time!! Enjoy this day!! Kris

Angie in SoCal said...

Ditto about the weather. I'm done with 100 degree weather even though we had a half inch of rain 10 days ago. Bring on Fall!!

Love your owl - he is so cute! And thanks for the link to the mug rug free pattern. That Jack will work for some placemats I want to make.

No is hard for me also.

Miss Hillbilly said...

Your Pumpkin FMQ is wonderful. You are doing so good!!!

I did finally learn to say no last spring. It has done wonders for my stress level. I hope you find your 'inner no'. *grin*

Linda said...

We've had the same kind of weather. 70's on Sunday and 90's yesterday. (Cooler than the 100's though!)
You've been busy and your projects are all great! What a cute little owl!

Sheila said...

I'm sure Melody will love the owl ,it is super cute and the mug rug is so cute too!!

sunny said...

Our weather can't decide either. My Rose of Sharon is covered with flowers, and most of our summer flowers are still blooming right next to hubby's mums. Hopefully the sun will come out tomorrow.

Denise :) said...

Enjoyed, as always, reading through your post and your pictures! Have a lovely weekend! :)

Raewyn said...

Our weather is the opposite over here - spring is trying to happen but gets a bit confused and messes up from time to time! love the little owl for melody - I'm sure she will love it. That feeling of taking too much on I know well; it feels good to achieve but stressful trying to achieve it! Good luck with trying to say No from time to time :-)

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

What a cute owl! Your free motion is really good. I find myself waiting to see what's next.

Staci said...

We're back up to the 90's again, too. Totally stinks! The A/C is back on full blast, and last week we actually turned the heater on early in the morning to take the chill off. Love your Pumpkin filled post & your darling little owl block! Have a great weekend.

Sheila said...

CUTE little owl!! and Mug Rug!!
Wonderful quote. Hope you get some rain.

quiltzyx said...

I know that whenever I see there's a new Stray Stitches, I'm going to see some cute stitching. :D

The mug rug is faboooo! That would have been fun with the pumpkin quilting too. Like you said - next time!

Jessica said...

It's warm over here in Jersey too :( Hopefully we can get back to our fall weather momentarily! You've inspired my Favorite Fridays post of pumpkiny goodness - thanks Linda :D

Megan Harmeyer said...

It's not shorts weather here, but it's definitely warmer than it was a week ago. That little owl is adorable!! And like your pumpkin mug rug (you could make me a mug rug some day if you're ever looking for something to do). Talk to you this weekend.

Barbara said...

The owl and the pumpkin are just as cute as can be. Oregon would be happy to share its rain with you if only we could figure out how to do it.

Nancy Sue said...

I love your pumpkin free motion quilting. If I squint, I think I can see Linus behind one waiting for the Great Pumpkin to arrive. Also love your closing quote of resting between 2 deep breaths. I need to remember that bit of advice. I'm definately not a deadline person who pulls out something out of the hat in the 11th hour. Love watching Project Runway, but wouldn't make a good contestant. Have a wonderful weekend!!

Perri said...

Thank you for sharing my blog giveaway .. good luck!
Happy stitching, P

quilterliz said...

G'day. Your little owl is so very cute. I just love it. The weather is warming up here in my part of Australia, but then again we are in spring here now and we do get some lovely warm days, it's a forerunner to our summer, which they are saying will be another hot one. Take care. Liz...

Wendy said...

What a cute owl. I'm curious, do you fuse your applique to hold it in place? Your FMQ pumpkins also remind me of mini cinderella coaches.

Pokey said...

Good post, I enjoyed all your pumpkin shares, in facts, and stitches. (your stitch practice is cute!)
What a positive thought your Stevenson quote is, I'm gonna go plant some seeds today ~
:-}pokey

ElfRenee said...

I love your pumpkin rug and the pumpkin patch design!!

Sharon - Hobbies on a Budget said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
quilary said...

Love your foundation pieced pumpkin and thanks for the link to the site. I've had to restrict myself to two swaps at a time because I was starting to get stressed instead of enjoying them!!

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

I just love that little owl and your FMQ pumpkins are too cute! Our weather is getting colder and we had our first fire in the wood stove.

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