A Rose and A Hummingbird

Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.
~Les Brown

I didn't make it to the moon yesterday, but I definitely made it among the stars.  I had a very productive day for a change.  Even with my cleaning lady scrubbing my home from top to bottom, I managed to get quite a bit done.  A few blocks were made and a Christmas gift was cut out.  And that's not counting the time taken by the computer to answer email and reading blogs.  (I really wish you all would quit writing such fascinating posts out there - I can't keep up with them all and am sad every time I miss a posting! *sigh*).  Hopefully the rest of the week will be just as productive!!

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PHOTO OF THE DAY

My Japanese Maple

Now that we are heading into winter, my Japanese Maple is finally in full autumn color.  I wish the sun had been on it but I think you can still see the deep red color.  Autumn is another word for fall. It is defined as the season when the leaves change the color and fall from the trees, leaving the ground with a splendid array of brilliant red, yellow and orange dried leaves. It is the season the marks the end of the summer season and the beginning of the winter season.  It occurs approximately at the same time when the sun is close to the winter solstice.  Pretty soon all the leaves will be off of the trees and winter will be visiting us here in central California.  Winter here means bone chilling fog and no sun for days on end.

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Yesterday I stretched my brain's creativity to its max.  I am a member of Block Lotto and as a thank you to our administrator, many of us are creating Rose Blocks to help her complete her rose quilt.  I think I've stated before how my brain does not do wonky well.  It took me three tries to get anything that I thought was even near acceptable.

I really struggled making this.  Looking at examples helped but I'm still not sure about it.  Maybe there should have been more variety in the reds.  Maybe it should have been bigger.  I won't be disappointed if Sophie should decide that this will not work in her quilt.  And, besides, how will I ever know - lol!  Give me instructions and measurements and I am a happy camper.  I supposed it was good to stretch myself a little.

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Yesterday I also made a block for the International Friendship Quilters mosaic swap.  Nellie sent me a 4 1/2" block of cute frog fabric that I had to work from.  There is a set pattern for making this block.

After making the wonky rose this was a breeze.  I matched the colors in some of the frogs and went from there.  I hope that Nellie likes her block.

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I also cut out this fabric by Hoffman International.....

I purchased this fabric several years back and each piece was missing the name of the line.  I am going to make a Reusable Market Bag that I found on allpeoplequilt.com.  This will be my cleaning lady's Christmas gift.  She loves hummingbirds so I thought this would be a perfect match for her.

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GIVEAWAY

Janet over at A Hug Delights is having a birthday giveaway.  She is giving away three books to three lucky winners on Friday, December 10th.

Emily, over at Em Celebrates! is having another fun giveaway.  You have to go over to blog to find out the details but involves sending her a picture involving a word from a book that is soon to be released.  How fun!!

There are still a few days left to enter my Big Giveaway!  Remember to enter by Friday, December 10th.  It looks like I might have to have another giveaway before Christmas if I reach 300 followers!

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FINAL THOUGHT

Some days are just made for work.  The phone doesn't ring and no one comes to the door providing peace and quiet, allowing thought and creativity.  I certainly could use several more days like yesterday.  I even prepared a crock pot meal so I didn't have to do much prep work right before dinner and could work right up until the DH gets home from work.  It was one of the few days that I didn't feel totally exhausted after being in the sewing room all day.  Hooray for that!  I hope your day was productive too.

The happiest of all lives is a busy solitude.
 ~Voltaire

Be thankful it's Tuesday - you still have most of the week to accomplish your goals.

Mail Me a Flower

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.
~William A. Ward

My mailman has been bringing both gifts that I am giving and gifts that I have received.  I have been a very lucky gal lately as you will see later in this post.  WOW!  Can you believe it is already December 1st?  Are you ready for gift giving?  Trying to figure out just the right gift for someone is sometimes down right exhausting.  Will he like it?  Is it the right size?  The right color?  So many times it's just easier to buy a gift card and let the recipient do their own shopping.  However, I don't especially like giving that kind of gift.  It just seems that I haven't put much thought into what might be just the right gift.  It does help that I require a 'wish list' from each of my family members.  What do you do for your gift giving decisions?

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PHOTO OF THE DAY

One of my favorite Norman Rockwell Christmas pictures

My camera has been rather idle as far as scenic pictures lately.  My yard is ugly and the neighborhood isn't producing anything but brown leaves.  So, today I give you Norman Rockwell.  Norman Rockwell thought of himself first and foremost a commercial illustrator.  Born in New York in 1894, Rockwell had early hopes of becoming an artist. As a young man he left high school to attend art school. A diligent student at the Art Student’s League in New York, he graduated to find immediate work as an illustrator for BOY’S LIFE magazine. By 1916 Rockwell had created his first of many SATURDAY EVENING POST covers. He would continue to create memorable covers for them for nearly fifty years — making three hundred and seventeen in all. Although his vast body of work has often been dismissed or stereotyped, Rockwell remains one of 20th-century America’s most enduring and popular artists. Now, more than one hundred years after his birth, he is achieving a new level of recognition and respect around the world.

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Today is Wednesday, so it must be One Flower Wednesday. 

I liked the petals for the flower when I was cutting them out.  I'm not so sure about them actually on the flower though.  I can't say that this is one of my favorites but it will work in the GFG quilt as it is bright and cheery.

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Last week I received a Mosaic Tile Block from Lynn in Ontario, Canada.  We are both member of the International Friendship Quilters swap group.

For this swap you send your partner a 4 1/2" block that they then add to with their own fabrics.  Didn't Lynn do a nice job of matching the colors?

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On Monday, my mailman brought me a package from my friend, Leona.  We have only been email friends for a few short months but I think we have made a lasting friendship and one that I am honored to have.  Look what Leona sent me......

Lots and lots of Connecting Threads fabrics.  Leona knows how much I like their fabric and thought of me when she was recently destashing.  She also included a little packet of 1" hexagons with some adorable reproduction squares and a package of 80 die-cut hearts also of reproduction fabrics.  Leona has a super blog - go check her out at Leona's Quilting Adventure.  Thank you so very much, Leona!!

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A few weeks ago I was the lucky winner of a contest being held by Em Celebrates!  The winner, me, received one of Emily's very own handmade quilts!!  I couldn't believe it when she let me know I was the winner.  The quilt is adorable - let me share it with you.....

Isn't it cute?!?!?!?!  I just love it.  The wonky houses are so original and the colors are so bright.

Here is a close up of one of the houses......

Can you see all of the wonderful quilting she has done?  And she emailed to say that she is still in the learning phase of quilting - if only I could be so talented.

I will treasure this quilt for years to come.  Thank you so very much, Emily!!!!

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GIVEAWAYS

Quilt Times is giving away Quilt Calendar 2011.  You must enter this giveaway by December 7th.

One More Quilt is having a great giveaway to celebrate her 100th post.  She is giving away 5 yards of fabric.  There are several options available.  Enter this giveaway by December 5th for a chance to win. 

And, of course, there's always my BIG GIVEAWAY to enter!  The Thimbleberries are just waiting for you.  Coming this Friday, I will give you another way to enter.   You must enter by December 10th!!

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FINAL THOUGHT

My head is fuzzy this morning.  I think I'm tired of thinking.  Possibly could be from not getting enough sleep.  Who knows.  Hopefully my brain will become clear once I have my first cup of coffee and the sun peaks over the eastern horizon.  I have a big problem with over thinking things, especially this time of year and I'm sure that is a lot of my fuzziness.  I know I promised that I wouldn't stress this Christmas season and I'm really working on that!  Breath in..........breath out.  Relax.  And breath again.  I think some therapeutic sewing will help today!

Often the hands will solve a mystery that the intellect has struggled with in vain.

~Carl G. Jung

Have a wonderful and wacky Wednesday!!