Two Completions

April prepares her green traffic light and the world thinks Go.  
~Christopher Morley, John Mistletoe

Saturday was a whirlwind of errand running.  We even visited two local quilt stores where I bought a small amount of fabric - some for future hexie flowers and a fat quarter pack that I just couldn't resist of dark batiks.  Sunday was spent washing the dog, doing laundry, watching (well, I listened) to the Nascar race, and I even managed to get a bit of stitching in.  This week promises to be a little quieter and hopefully I will get something accomplished in the sewing room.  How is your week starting out?

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Salt and Pepper

Salt and pepper are a mainstay on most of our tables and in our cooking.  Of the two, salt is definitely a favorite with me.  Here are a few interesting facts on this duo:

* In the Middle Ages, salt was so expensive it was sometimes referred to as “white gold”.

* Black pepper is the number one selling spice in America.

* Consuming too much salt can have fatal outcomes. 1 gm of salt consumed per kilogram of body weight is capable of drawing a person to death.

* Most black pepper is grown in India, Indonesia, Brazil, and Vietnam.

* In India, the hard seeds are mixed with salts to produce the black salt of India. This mixture is allowed to stand for certain period to form the lumps of black salt.

* Peppercorns grow on a vine supported by a stake or host tree. A pepper vine can grow to lengths of 100 feet. The plant requires three years to mature and produce peppercorns, but the vines will continue to be fruitful for years.

* The towns with names ending with either “lick”, “saal” or “wich” are all founded because of the availability of the salt.

* Americans consumed more than 112 million pounds of pepper last year, an increase of nearly 80 percent during the past two decades.

* Out of the total salt production, only 7% is diverted towards the human consumption while the remaining 93% is used by the manufacturing and chemical industry.

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LEAP YEAR TRAVELING STASH WINNER

The Leap Year Traveling Stash is hitting the road and this time it will be visiting

Congratulations to

Miss Mary

Miss Mary said, "Let the traveling stash come to Tennessee, please!"

I have already email for her snail mail info and am ready to send the Traveling Stash to Tennessee.

Thank you to all who participated!

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THANK YOU!

Thank you to all of you who took the time to vote for my little quilt, Spring has Sprung, over the weekend.  It was fun to see such a wonderful response to my entry :)

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DOLL QUILT SWAP

Last week I completed and mailed my first doll quilt to my swap partner....

The theme for the month of April for Doll Quilters Monthly was 3 Colors.  My swap partner, Margaret, requested orange, purple, and lime green - the brighter the better.  I think this fits that description.  I used the Disappearing 9 Patch for the block.  For the quilting I did some stitch-in-the-ditch and then used a fancy stitch from my machine to do some diagonal quilting.  The final quilt measures 17.5" X 17.5".  This went out in the mail on Friday so Margaret should have it shortly.  I hope she likes it.

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SWAP BLOCK

This month my swap partner for Block Swap Adventure was Rachelle.  

Rachelle requested the Rail Fence block made up in jewel or winter tones.  The colors in the block are much deeper than they appear in the photo so that it fits the jewel tone request.  This block went out in Friday's mail so Rachelle should have it fairly soon.

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I am going to work on a paper piecing project from a Craftsy class I'm taking.

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GIVEAWAYS

McCall's Quilting is having a giveaway.  You could win a colorful OttLite Creative HD task lamp.  This giveaway ends Thursday, May 31.


McCall's Quilting is having another giveaway.  You could win a pair of Olfa 5" Precision Applique scissors.  This giveaway ends Thursday, May 31.


Hawthorne Threads is having their weekly giveaway.  This week you could win a remnant stack of Riley Blake Chevron prints.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, April 4.


Favequilts is having a giveaway.  You could win a GuideLines4Quilting Ruler Set.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, April 3.


!Sew We Quilt is having a giveaway.  You could win a fat quarter bundle of Luscious.  The winner will be announced on Tuesday, April 3.


Desertsky Quilting is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of Snowball Quilts and a charm pack of Little Apples.  This giveaway ends Thursday, April 5, at 6:00 pm EDT.


Cat Patches is having her weekly Fun Fact Friday Freebie.  You could win a fat quarter.  The winner will be announced Friday, April 6. 


Pins and Needles is having a giveaway.  You could win a rainbow of 54 charms from her stash.  This giveaway ends Thursday, April 5, at midnight UK time.


Stitch This is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of Nature's Beauty in Applique by Susan Taylor Propst.   This giveaway ends Thursday, April 5.


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FINAL THOUGHT

Another Traveling Stash To Giveaway

Just because everything is different doesn't mean anything has changed.  

~Irene Peter 

Yes, I know it's not Friday!  But one of the requirements of winning the Traveling Stash is that I have to hold the giveaway on the 29th of the month.  So here I am, a day early.  Think of this as my Friday post :)  Yesterday was spent divided between my sewing machine and prepping a new counted cross stitch project.  If I could add about 4 additional hours to the day devoted to crafting I would be a happy camper.  We don't have any big plans this weekend for a change.  I'm looking forward to a bit of quiet.  Do you have plans for the weekend or will you be able to spend the time plying your favorite craft?

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Beaver

Beavers have always been a favorite of mine.  They can be very destructive but I still think they are one of cutest creatures.  One of local parks located on a natural waterway has had to put up tree protective barriers to keep a beaver or two from felling the trees along the walk paths.  It caused quite an uproar when the city said they were going to trap the beavers and move them to a more remote location.  Here are some facts about beavers:

* Beavers grow three to four feet long and weigh between forty and sixty pounds

* A beaver's front teeth never stop growing

* Beavers can swim at an average of five miles per hour.

* A beaver can stay underwater for approximately fifteen minutes before coming up for air.

* Beavers are very vocal with their children. They even discipline their offspring.

* A beaver's teeth have a hard orange coating that helps to keep them from breaking.

* Their front teeth stick out of their closed mouths so that they may work underwater without swallowing water.

* Beavers mate for life

* The beaver waterproofs its thick fur by coating it with castoreum, an oily secretion from its scent glands.

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LEAP YEAR TRAVELING STASH GIVEAWAY

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

On the first of the month, I won the Leap Year Traveling Stash from Ann Marie of 16 Muddy Feet.  When it arrived, I was amazed at how much fabric there was in the box.  It was absolutely crammed full and I told Ann Marie that she must have had to sit on it to close it.  And, guess what?  She DID!  Here's the top layer of the box....

There is layer, upon layer, of fabric in this box.  Mostly fat quarters but there are a couple of larger cuts also.  Here is what I removed:

11 assorted fat quarters.  I will be replacing them with the same amount if not more.

Here is what you need to do if you want to win it:

1. You must be a blogger so you can "pass it on" to another blogger on the 29th of next month.This way it can keep on giving all year long and beyond. Keep us posted about where it's going.

2. You must be willing to ship it on to the next person, within a day or so after your giveway on the 29th.

3. You may take anything you like, but for every item you remove, you must replace it with another item, or more.To keep the box filled to the brim.(Items do not need to be new, but if they are not new, they must be gently used.)

4. You may fill the box with:  orphan blocks, books, patterns, notions, rulers, and definitely fabric, anything sewing or crafting related.

5. There is a note in the box that logs where the box has been.  Please add your info and place the note back in the box.

6.  Because of the weight of this box, you must live within the USA to enter.

7.  This giveaway will end on Sunday, April 1, at 4:00 pm PDT.  I will post the winner in my regular Monday post (April 2).

8.  You must have a way for me to contact you.  If you are a no-reply blogger, you must include your email in your comment.  Otherwise, your comment will not count and you can not win.

Okay, now leave me a comment telling where the Traveling Stash will be going if you are the winner.  

Only 1 comment per person, please.

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COUNTED CROSS STITCH UPDATE

As I warned you last week, I wouldn't get in as much stitching time as I did last week.....

This will be the last update on this particular project for awhile.  I will be starting a new project (hopefully tomorrow) that is to be a Christmas present.  Yes, I know it's only March, but I don't want to feel pressured come the holidays to get it completed.  So, for now, it's on to something new but I will definitely be back to this project just as soon as the new one is finished.

Design: Summer Sampler

Designer: Sandy Orton for Kooler Design Studio

Fabric: 18 count cream Aida cloth

Fiber: 2 strands over 1 - DMC floss

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6" BLOCKS

Earlier this week I received swap blocks from Sue B, my March swap partner in 6 Inch Block Swaps Australia.....

I requested bright with thoughts of children and these two wonderful blocks definitely fit that description.  Thank you so very much, Sue!

And here are the blocks I made for Sue.....

Sue requested sailboats.  This was a fun paper pieced block to make.  I had just the perfect fabric for the water, too.  Sue has received these blocks and said that she really liked them.

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I will be finishing up the second of my Loving Hands quilts.

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GIVEAWAYS

McQ News is having a giveaway.  You could win a pack of fabric from the Amelia collection by Me and My Sister for moda.  This giveaway ends Monday, April 2.

Terry's Treasures is having a giveaway.  You could win 3 past issues of quilting magazines.  This giveaway ends Sunday, April 1.

Stitch This is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of  Kaleidoscope Paper Piecing.  This giveaway ends  Tuesday, April 3.

The Jolly Jabber is having a giveaway.  You could win Jenn Ski's Designer Select Fat Quarter Bundle.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, April 3.

Qspace is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of Fresh Fabric Treats or copy of Miniature Food Masterclass.  This giveaway ends Sunday, April 1, Australian time. 

Fabricworm is having a giveaway.  You could win 1 yard of Ghastlies Family Reunion in Natural by Alexander Henry.  This giveaway ends Monday, April 2, at 2:00 pm PDT.

Diary of a Quilter is having a sponsored giveaway.  You could win a bundle of 5 half-yard cuts of Heather Bailey's Freshcut fabrics.  This giveaway ends Saturday, March 31, at midnight MST. 

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FINAL THOUGHT

Something to bend your mind with today.