Little Bits

Summer has set in with its usual severity. 
~Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Summer is still here :(  Yes I know it's still August and that means summer.  But I keep reading about fellow bloggers feeling the coolness in the evenings and/or mornings back east.  Not here.  You walk outside here and it feels like a blast from a furnace.  It does cool down a bit at night but that is only very late at night or very early in the morning.   It's not even long enough to let the house air out.  Our house still smells like the Chinese stir fry I fixed on Wednesday night. YUCK!  Can you guess that I'm tired of summer?

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

How about something different than a National Holiday?  I found some interesting little fun facts to share with you today:

* If you are right handed, you will tend to chew your food on the right side of your mouth.

*  To make half a kilo of honey, bees must collect nectar from over 2 million individual flowers.

* Tourists visiting Iceland should know that tipping at a restaurant is considered an insult!

*  Astronauts can't belch - there is no gravity to separate liquid from gas in their stomachs.

*  Google is actually the common name for a number with a million zeros

*  Your tongue is the only muscle in your body that is attached at only one end.

*  Kites were used in the American Civil War to deliver letters and newspapers

*  Peanut oil is used for cooking in submarines because it doesn't smoke unless it's heated above 450 degrees F.

*  The military salute is a motion that evolved from medieval times, when knights in armor raised their visors to reveal their identity.

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WINNINGS

Yesterday I received two squishy envelopes in the mail from two giveaways I had won...

Frances from One More Quilt had a giveaway earlier this month and I was the lucky winner!!  Aren't these great tractor fabrics?!?  And there are such large pieces here.  I will definitely be making a Loving Hands quilt or two from these this month.  Thank you so very much, Frances!!

And then Incomparable Buttons had another giveaway that I won.  Not only did I win a darling teddy bear fat quarter but I also won those adorable handmade teddy bear buttons!  This is such a wonderful company.  They provide much needed employment to women in South Africa.  You should definitely check out all of the different buttons available and at extremely reasonable prices too.  Their website is buttonmad.com.  Thank you so much, Incomparable Buttons. 

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ANOTHER LITTLE STITCHERY

A little while ago I finished another stitchery for A Gardener's Journal......

This little piece is called Dovecote.  It will end up measuring 3 1/2" X 9 1/2".  I am currently working on the center piece.  It is the biggest and will measure 8 1/2" X 9 1/2"

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ONLY ONE FMQ

I only have one FMQ practice to share with  you today.......

This practice is called Shoo Fly.  I think it looks more like demented rabbits - lol!  Maybe it's because I made the fly bodies more rounded than oval.

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COUNTED CROSS STITCH

Since I don't have much to share with you today, I thought I might share a counted cross stitch piece I did years ago.......

This was a gift to my BIL and SIL that we visited last weekend.  Ignore the glare in the lower left corner - it is not part of the picture.  This was just one of the several angels I did from the Lavender and Lace line.  This angel is called Angel of Grace and was stitched on linen (I think).

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I will make a swap block or two

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GIVEAWAYS

Moosestash Quilting is having a giveaway.  Here is another chance to win a GO! Baby cutter and 3 dies of your choice.  This giveaway ends Friday, September 2.

Jo's Country Junction is having a sponsored giveaway.  You could win a Curio Jelly Roll from Fat Quarter Shop.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, August 30.

The Adventures of the Empress of the Universe is having a giveaway.  You could be one of five winners to win a 4 Citron/Gray FQs by Michael Miller.  This giveaway ends Sunday, August 28.

Annie's Ruby Slipperz is having a giveaway.   You could win 5 fat quarters in  your color choice.  A winner will be announced Monday, August 29.

Random Thoughts do or 'di' is having a giveaway.  You could win a sewing machine cover made by Di herself.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, August 31, at midnight PST.

Quilt Matters is having a giveaway.  You could win 3 fat quarters.  This giveaway ends Sunday, August 28, at 8:00 pm EST.

Quilt Hollow is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of Pick Four.  This giveaway ends Sunday, August 28.

Diary of a Quilter is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of Inspirational Projects by British Patchwork and Quilting.  This giveaway ends Saturday, August 27 at midnight.

Hawthorne Threads is having their weekly giveaway.  This week you could win a Notus daisies half yard bundle.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, August 31.

The Learning Curve is having a giveaway.  Here is yet another chance to win a GO! Baby cutter and your choice of 3 dies.  This giveaway ends Thursday, September 1, at midnight.

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FINAL THOUGHT

There was no sewing going on in my house yesterday.  I didn't even get in my FMQ practice.  It was a day of organizing the monthly swap partners for Block Swap Adventure and for preparing packages for mailing for two swaps.  Who knew that it would take most of the day.  I did get a little stitchery in while watching tv

I cannot count my day complete
'Til needle, thread and fabric meet.~Author Unknown



Celebrating My Blogiversary With A Giveaway!

You can always tell a real friend: when you've made a fool of yourself he doesn't feel you've done a permanent job.

  ~Laurence J. Peter

Yesterday was my normal day for going out to lunch with my friends.  We went to our favorite haunt.  Shortly after we were seated at our table, Friend #2 and I were chatting away when our favorite waitress came over to check on our drink order.  I'm not sure exactly what happened but somehow Friend #1 knocked his very full glass of water over.  Did it go on his side of the table?  Of course not!  It went straight across the table and onto Friend #2 and myself.  Mind you, we were in a booth, and of course, I was on the side where there was no escape.  So guess who got the brunt of Friend's #1 ice cold water?  ME!!!  Have you ever tried to slide out of booth bench without your butt on the seat.  It's not easy - especially when the floor under your feet is slippery from the water.  We had our bench seat dried but my pants remained wet for the entire meal.  Luckily it wasn't cold in there.  In spite of it all, we had a great lunch and loads of wonderful conversation.  And yes, Friend #1 is still my BFF.

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

It's another day for some fun facts.  Facts that really don't make any difference if you know about them or not.  Little facts to just enjoy.....

* Chocolate was used as medicine during the 18th century. It was believed that chocolate could cure a stomach ache.

* Thomas Edison designed a helicopter that would work with gunpowder. It ended up blowing up and also blew up his factory.

*  Women blink twice as many times as men do

* State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work: Alaska

* Percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28%   -  Percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%

* Average number of people airborne over the US at any given hour: 61,000

* Did you know that there are coffee flavored PEZ?

* When opossums are playing 'possum, they are not "playing." They actually pass out from sheer terror.

* Clans of long ago that wanted to get rid of their unwanted people without killing them would burn their houses down - hence the expression "to get fired." ================================= A FEW SWAP BLOCKS As I stated in Monday's blog, I had completed a lot of swap and bee blocks.  Here are a few of the blocks I sent out..... This Starflower Block was made for Evelina.  She was one of my swap partners in Block Swap Adventure for August.  She requested yellow and green with a white background. I also made a Starflower block for Lillian.  She was my second swap partner for August in BSA.  The background fabric in this block is much paler than it photographed.  She requested pastels including lavender and yellow.  Sue and I were swap partners for Quilting Block Swaps Australia.  Talk about pressure, Sue is the founding Swap Hostess for this group, so you know I had to make sure all of my work was up to par...... 

Sue requested the Sawtooth block in either blue or red with a 4 patch center with  tone on tone white for the background.  I think I fulfilled her request with this block. 

Sue made this Blazing Arrows block for me.  I just love the green floral fabric!  Isn't it pretty?  Thank you so very much, Sue!!!

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A LITTLE CLOSER TO FINISHED

Just to show you that I have really been working on my Colors Thru The Window quilt.....

I'm getting ready to hand stitch the binding!!!!

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ONE YEAR AGO

One year ago, on August 2, I began the journey of blogging.  Little did I know that I would make so many new and wonderful friends.  You have stuck with my through the boring, the questions, and even through the fun of it all.  I think you all deserve a BLOGIVERSARY GIVEAWAY!  What do I have this time around?  A little bit of this.......and a little bit of that.......

Some of it was just purchased and some of it I've had around for awhile.  Let's take a closer look, shall we?

A pattern named "Decadence" by toadusew.  You can make it up in two different sizes: 57 X 57 and/or 80 X 80. 

Next is two spools of thread - both still in their plastic shrink wrap.  The large spool is 2500M of 100% cotton thread.  The smaller is YLI's Wonder Invisible Thread:  100% Nylon, 1500 yards, .004, clear.

Aren't these buttons just too cute?  I picked these up at the International Quilt Festival from the Incomparable Buttons booth.  They are a great organization that gives employment to women in South Africa.  Each little bird measures approximately 3/8" tall by 1/2" wide.

I also picked up this great autographed copy of Growing Hearts, at Kay Mackenzie's booth.  I have a copy for myself, too!

And last, but certainly not least, is this bundle of seven Ty Pennington's Impressions for Free Spirit Fabrics.  That's a total of 1 3/4 yards of beautiful fabric.  And with fall just around the corner, these colors are perfect.

How can you win all of the above?  Simple!  Just leave me a comment.  Your comment can be about anything -  from Hi! to what you are doing today or some little known fact about yourself.  And if  you would like a second entry, blog about this giveaway then come back a leave a separate comment with a link to where you posted about it.  If you combine both answers into one comment then it will only count as one entry.

1.  If you are a no reply blogger, you must provide your email.  IF I CAN NOT CONTACT YOU,  YOU CAN NOT WIN :(

2.  TWO comments per person - all extras will be deleted

3.  This giveaway is open to everyone.  No matter where you live - across the street, across the country, or across the ocean - you may enter.

4.  You do not have to be a follower.  However, if you like what you see please join my others friends by becoming a follower.

5.  This giveaway will end Sunday, August 14 at 8:00 pm PST.  The winner will be announced by 10:00 am, Monday, August 15.

I probably won't respond to every comment but I will be reading each and every one.  And, once again, thank you for taking this ride with me.  This year of blogging has been loads of fun all thanks to you!!!

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I will work on the binding for my quilt. 

I did have two more FMQ to show you but this post is long enough.  I will share them with you on Monday

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GIVEAWAYS

MooseStash Quilting is having a giveaway.  You could win a collection of TSA approved bag made by the blogger herself!  A winner will be selected on Saturday, August 6.

Such A Sew And Sew is celebrating her 500th post with a giveaway.  Elizabeth has created some beautiful Hexie Art Journals and is giving one away.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, August 9, at 10:00 pm MST.

Splitting Stitches is having a giveaway.  Joanne is giving away 20 half price long arm quilting AND for every 200 entries she will draw a name for a free quilting for one lucky entry.  The winners will be announced the first week of September.

Fairy Face Designs is having a giveaway.  Here is another chance to win a GO! Baby Cutter and 3 dies of your choice.  This giveaway ends Saturday, August 6, at 6:00 pm Irish time.

Sweet P Quilting and Creations is having a giveaway.  You could win some wonderful wool from Hollyhock Hill Design.  A winner will be selected on Wednesday, August 10.

Stitched in Color is having a giveaway.  You could win a bundle of 5 fat quarters in the Seed Catalogue prints.  The winner will be announced Saturday around noon.

Quilt n Queen is having a giveaway.  You could win one of two patterns from Crab-apple Hill.  This giveaway ends Sunday, August 14, at midnight.

Black Creek Primitives is having a giveaway.  You could win 1 yard of Honey and Me fabric, 6 mini candy corns, 5 fat quarters, and little stuffed black kitty.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, August 10.

Quilting Gallery is having a giveaway.  You could win  copy of Fruitful Hands or an Aurifil thread sampler pack and a Lapel glue stick.  Two winners will be selected on Wednesday, August 10. 

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FINAL THOUGHT

Friends are the most wonderful things.  I consider you all my friends.  I have had a great year of learning about so many things.  I've shared your lives and have been awed by your amazing creations.  You have made me step outside the box (those dreaded wonky stars and mosaic tile blocks) and encouraged me to try something new (hand applique and FMQ).  I have been inspired and challenged.  I have been rewarded through your kind comments and your caring words.  I have made some close friends - even if we have never met in person.  We have swapped blocks, fabrics, and gifts. Quilting and stitching bloggers are truly an amazing bunch of people.  I hope you all know how much you mean to me.  Thank you for becoming my friend!

Since there is nothing so well worth having as friends, never lose a chance to make them.
~Francesco Guicciardini