2 Finishes

Bittersweet October.  The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter.  

~Carol Bishop Hipps

Fall has temporarily arrived.  There has been a nip in the air and we even had a spattering of rain the other night.  Would you believe northern California even had 5 tornadoes on Monday?  The last few mornings I've been able to wear jeans and a zip hoodie - with the hood up!  My morning time at the computer is spent with both dogs and my legs wrapped in a quilt.  I'm loving it and so are my furbabies!!!  Unfortunately, they are predicting that we will be back in the mid eighties next week :(  Hopefully it will be short lived and we will be back to those wonderful autumn mornings.  What's the weather like in your area?

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Tarantula

I decided to keep with the spooky, creepy again - this time Tarantulas.  Do these fuzzy spiders make your skin crawl.  I'm usually not afraid of spiders, but this one is a bit over the top for me.  Here are a few interesting facts about this large, hairy creature:

* Tarantulas were named after Taranto, a town in Southern Italy

* Tarantulas can only drink their food, meaning that they must liquefy anything before they try to eat it (the mouth is shaped like a straw)

* Tarantulas can grow to be 1 foot long (that's including their legs)

* The hairs on a tarantulas body have the power to kill small rodents

* Tarantulas having a bite that is deadly to humans is a myth (in fact, scientists are still trying to discern the effects of a tarantula bite)

* The oldest tarantula lived to be 49 years old

* Female tarantulas can live 30 years or longer in the wild.

* Tarantulas are quite docile and rarely bite people. And it wouldn't do a tarantula much good defensively to bite you, since its venom doesn't pack much of a punch. A tarantula bite is no worse than a bee sting in terms of toxicity.

* Tarantulas have retractable claws on each leg, like cats.

* Tarantulas can regenerate lost legs.

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A LITTLE QUILT

I made and turned in my latest little Loving Hands quilt last week.

I used the same pattern I've used before, Squares Upon Squares, but explored a bit with the quilting.  I did the normal anchor of stitching in the ditch and then added a large petal design.  This was quick and easy and helped me renew the feeling for free motion quilting.  The fabrics were some I had in my stash.  The green I've had for ages and it just happened to blend with the persimmon fabric from Connecting Threads that I bought awhile back.  It's hard to find a good place in my yard to take photos in the sunshine this time of year so please excuse the shadows.

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BIG FINISH

I finished my big stitchery project!!  And in plenty of time to get it framed before Christmas.

This piece was fun to stitch with the challenge of different stitches and using some metallic threads.  I'm ready to start another Chatelaine Design pattern.  It will be another Christmas gift but this time for 2013.  I feel so good to be getting such a head start.  

Design:  Desert Mandala

Designer:  Martina Weber / Chatelaine Designs

Fabric:  Antique White Belfast (linen - for those of you who do not stitch)

Stitched:  2 strands of DMC floss over 2 threads

1 strand of Treasure Braid over 2 threads

Started April 2012 - Finished October 2012

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FINAL THOUGHT

Small Quilts

If all the cars in the United States were placed end to end, it would probably be Labor Day Weekend.  
~Doug Larson

It's almost Labor Day weekend.  Three days to relax and enjoy.  We don't have a lot planned for the three days.  Perhaps we will go to a movie.  Yes, out to a theater to sit in the dark and watch a movie on a really, really big screen - lol!  We definitely won't be going out of town.  We try our best to stay off the freeways and highways on any long holiday weekend.  It's still supposed to be hot so we won't plan any outdoor activities.  Maybe we will play some Wi.  Hopefully I will get some stitching in.  What are your plans for the 3 day weekend?

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Apples

Apples are one of my favorite fruits.  I especially like the varieties Pink Lady and Honeycrisp.  And you can never go wrong with an apple crisp - yummy!!  Here are a few facts on this wonderful fruit:

* The crab-apple is the only apple native to North America

* Two pounds of apples make one 9-inch pie

* 2,500 varieties of apples are grown in the United States

* The science of apple growing is called pomology

* The apple tree originated in an area between the Caspian and the Black Sea

* Apples are a member of the rose family

* The largest apple picked weighed three pounds

* It takes the energy from 50 leaves to produce one apple

* In colonial time, apples were called winter banana or melt-in-the-mouth

* Archeologists have found evidence that humans have been enjoying apples since at least 6500 B.C

* The apple is the official state fruit of Washington, New York, Rhode Island, and West Virginia

* Apple trees don't bear their first fruit until they are four or five years old

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HELP!

I need your help/advice.  It seems as though 50% of the quilts I make end up with a wavy border.

I don't know what causes it and I don't know how to prevent it.  Does anybody have a sure fire way to prevent wavy borders?  Please let me know either below or through a separate email.  Do you know of a video or tutorial that I could watch or read?  All help and suggestions are welcome.

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BABY QUILT

I finished a Loving Hands quilt last week.  This will be my donation to the guild for September.

I created this quilt using the Squares Upon Squares pattern.  I like how it makes little hearts in each square.

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A LITTLE QUILT

I recently completed a little foundation paper pieced quilt that I will be entering in our fair next month.

I named this quilt "Bubbles".  It is made from the pattern, Tropical Fish Pond, by ABC Patterns.  It measures 12.5 inches square.   I am very happy with background fabric I selected but should have made a couple of the fish a bit brighter.  I'm still learning to work with batiks.  Who knew that there was a totally different way of looking at that kind of fabric.

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FINAL THOUGHT

Flowers and Love

Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are good is like expecting the bull not to charge because you are a vegetarian.  

~Dennis Wholey

It's definitely warming up here in my corner of the world.  And it's doing it a little bit too fast for my taste.  After all, we had highs in the low 50's at the end of last week and now they are forecasting 90 degrees for Saturday.  I think if will feel more like 110 degrees after such a rapid climb.  There has been nothing normal about our spring so far so I don't know why I expect the temperatures to be normal - lol!  I'll just stay inside and, if necessary, turn on the fans while I sew the hours away.  I'm not looking forward to the summer heat making its appearance and then refusing to leave.  Oh well, thank goodness for the good ol' AC!

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Worms

Does the sight of worms send your skin to crawling?  I remember as a child enjoying having a worm crawl around on my hand.  They are wonderful for the garden and make great fishing bait (and, yes, I put worms on my hook myself).  Here are a few facts about worms:

* A worm has no eyes, legs or arms

* There are 2700 different types of earthworms in the world

* There can be up to 1 million earthworms in just 1 acre of land.

* The sticky slime a worm makes helps keep it from drying out. If the worm dries out, it will die, because it ‘breathes’ through it’s skin.

* A single worm has both male and female parts. This is called a ‘hermaphrodite.’ But they still need a mate to reproduce.

* Some of the largest worms can live to be 50 years old.  Regular earthworms can live 15 years.

* A worm chopped in half will not become 2 worms. Just the head end will regenerate into a new worm.

* The largest earthworm ever found was in South Africa and measured 22 feet from its nose to the tip of its tail.

* Baby worms are not born. They hatch from cocoons smaller than a grain of rice.

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ONE FLOWER WEDNESDAY

During my week off, I didn't find time to make any hexie flowers for myself  for One Flower Wednesday, but I did make two for my swap partner.

Karyli, my April swap partner for The Inchy Hexagon Flower Swap, requested yellow petals with black centers.  I checked with her before using a print on the petals and she said that would be fine. I went with bananas and bumblebees.  I tried to make sure the traveling lines on the bee petals matched going from one petal to the next.  These were fun flowers to make and I hope that Karyli likes them.

To see more hexie flowers out there in blogland, Karen, of Journey of a Quilter, has provided a linky for us.  It sure makes hunting for hexies easy!  Thanks, Karen.

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LOVING HANDS QUILT

This little quilt for Loving Hands has been completed for a couple of weeks.

I will be turning this in Thursday evening when I attend my guild meeting.  I used the same block pattern, Squares Upon Squares, that I used to make the pink one.  I really like how this pattern worked up and will definitely be using it for future Loving Hands quilts.  Sorry for the darkness of the photo but it didn't show up well in bright sun light so I went with the photo in the shade.

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I just might start something new.

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GIVEAWAYS

The Barn Hollow is having a giveaway.  You could win an adorable stuffed doll made from a Craftaholic Creations design.  This giveaway ends Monday, April 30.

SewCalGal is having a giveaway.  You could win two spools of Aurifil Invisible thread with 1094 yards each, or two spools of Aurifil Invisible thread with 16400 yards each, or Pat Sloan's Simple Stitches and  a collection of cotton threads contain 10 spools of 40 wt. Mako thread, 150 yards each.  This giveaway ends Friday, April 20.

Quilting Gallery is having a giveaway.  You could win a pair of Olfa 5" Precision Applique Scissors.  This giveaway ends Sunday, April 22.

Quilty Pleasures is having a giveaway.  You could win a 3 pack of Sulky Blendables.  This giveaway ends Friday, April 20.

Gene Black is having a giveaway.  You could win a great package of goodies from Colonial Needle, or a small machine embroidered lace bookmark made by Gene and a pack of "betweens" needles.  This giveaway ends Friday, April 20.

Sarah Beth's Cross Stitch Blog is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of Donna Killer's book of Christmas Stockings.  Not sure when this giveaway ends. 

Annie's Ruby Slipperz is having her weekly Monday Mystery giveaway.  You could win 5 fat quarters in your choice of colors.  This giveaway ends Saturday, April 21, at midnight MT.

Cat Patches is having her Fun Fact Friday Freebie.  You could win a fat quarter.  The winner will be announced Friday, April 20.

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FINAL THOUGHT

Wednesday?!? Already?!?

Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature.  

~Gerard de Nerval 


Wednesday came much too quickly this week.  The days just keep flying by and I don't seem to get much accomplished.  Monday I did some stitching and had my hair cut.  Tuesday was spent catching up on some blogs, a bit of sewing, and a visit from the bug man (we get sprayed bi-monthly to keep the creepy crawlies under control), and our bi-weekly grocery shopping excursion.  I guess that's a lot to have completed in two days but I just don't feel I have much to show for it.  Well, I better get to the sewing machine instead of sitting here in front of the computer or I won't be getting much done today either.

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Flowers

I have several different kinds of flowers blooming in my garden right now.  Daffodils, tulips, gerbera daisies, freesia, and more.  I don't plant toward a specific hue so my garden is a riot of color.  Here are a few facts I found out about different flowers:

* Almost 60 percent of fresh-cut flowers grown in the U.S. come from California.

* Pinks are so called not because of their color but because of the ragged edges, or pinks, on each petal. The color pink is actually named after the flower.

* Sunflower stems were used to fill life jackets before the advent of modern materials.

* The Daisy got its name because the yellow center resembled the sun. It was commonly known as the “day’s eye” and over time, was eventually called daisy

* The city of Mt. Vernon, Washington grows more tulips than the entire country of Holland

* Every plant in Tomorrowland at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, is edible

* The largest single flower is the Rafflesia or “corpse flower”. It is a type of malodorous lily that can weigh up to 15 lb and be close to 40 inches wide. It apparently smells like rotting flesh.

* Babe Ruth wore a cabbage leaf under his cap to keep cool. He changed it every two innings.

* White flowers tend to be more strongly scented than their colored kin.

* Angiosperm is the scientific name for flowering plants. It means “seed bearing.”

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TRAVELING STASH WINNER

Thank you to all who participated in this quick giveaway for the traveling stash.  With the help of random.org the winner is.......

Kim

Kim said "Every time I see your stitching update, I think that I need to get that pattern! It would be perfect to hang in my guest room!

I would LOVE the chance to receive a stash box!!! I was away from quilting for a couple years. However, I continued collecting fat quarters whenever we found a quilt shop! LOL 
Now, my style and the colors I am drawn to have changed. I would love the opportunity to add some new and trade some that are no longer in my color schemes. Thanks for the chance!"

Congratulations, Kim!  I will be sending Kim an email to get her snail mail.

Come back tomorrow for the Leap Year Traveling Stash giveaway!

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ONE FLOWER WEDNESDAY

While traveling up the valley on Saturday, I was able to create two more hexagon flowers.

I called this one Pink Hawaiian.  The pinks are so vibrant and I like the way the orchids fit onto the petals.

Doesn't this one remind you of a hunting lodge?  I know it's really a Christmas print but I went with it anyway.  

Thanks to Karen, you can see many more hexie flowers out there in blogland.  Just click HERE to start your journey.

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ONE MORE LITTLE QUILT

Last week I finished one of two Loving Hands quilts.....

The sun didn't come out Sunday for quilt picture time so the colors don't show up as vibrant as they really are.  Bright pinks and warm greens went perfectly with the little heart fabric.  I think you can see the free motion hearts along the border.  I just did some straight line stitching and stitch in the ditch for the rest of the quilt.  I used the block pattern, Squares Upon Squares, to make this one up.  I still have to do the quilting on the other little one I'm working on.

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OH MY GOODNESS!

If you would like to be amazed by a young man's voice (he's only 17), take a listen to this

Jonathan Antoine Audition for Britains Got Talent 2012

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I hope to finish the Doll Quilt I've started for the swap.

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GIVEAWAYS

Sunshower Quits is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of Finish Almost Any Quilt by Marguerita McManus.  This giveaway ends Sunday, April 1.

Arrow Sewing Cabinets is having a giveaway.  You could win a Reliable V50 or V100 iron.  This giveaway ends Monday, April 9, at 5:00 pm.

World Of Charity Stitching is having a giveaway.  You could win Happy Butterflies kit by Yiotas XStitch.  This giveaway ends Sunday, April 1.


Kathy Davis and Where Women Create is having a giveaway.  You could win a ten yards of fabric of Wildflower Fabric Collection.  This giveaway ends Thursday, March 29, at 9:00 am EST.


Traceyjay Quilts it having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of her new pattern and a layer cake of Rouenneries Deux.  This giveaway ends ?


Annie's Ruby Slipperz is having her Mystery Monday giveaway.  You could win 5 fat quarters in your color choice.  This giveaway ends Saturday, March 31, at midnight MT.


Vroomans Quilts is ready to send another of the Traveling Stash on its way.  This giveaway ends Friday, March 30, at midnight.


It's Sew Kiki is having a giveaway.  You could win a polie of Millie's Closet.  This giveaway ends Friday, March 30.


My Go-Go Life is having a giveaway to celebrate her one year blogiversary.  You could win a moda Chrysalis jelly roll, a charm pack tin of the Summer In The City, one sampler pack of Aurifil thread, and an Omnigrid Half-Square Triangle Template.  This giveaway ends Friday, March 30.

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FINAL THOUGHT

A New Day and A New Week

Springtime is the land awakening.  The March winds are the morning yawn.  
~Quoted by Lewis Grizzard inKathy Sue Loudermilk, I Love You 

Friday did not turn out as planned.  Thursday night, our little furry love, Weasley, had another night of focal seizures - over two hours of on and off again seizures.  We took him into the emergency vet around 12:15 am.  Luckily there was no one else there and we didn't have to wait long.  They dosed Weasley with Valium and that did the trick.  They did keep him there until morning but he came home back to normal.  Our own vet gave us a couple doses of Valium for any further seizures so at least we will be able to avoid the emergency vet, hopefully (not to mention the $$$).  As a result I ended up with about 3 hours of sleep.  I didn't attend the scheduled workshop and it's a good thing I didn't.  My brain just didn't want to work all day!  I attempted to cut fabric for two simple Loving Hands quilts and I can't tell you how many wrong cuts I made.  I should have spent the day sitting on my hands doing nothing - lol!  But today is a new day and a new week and I'm ready to go!  How was your weekend?

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Raccoon

Isn't the raccoon just one of the cutest creatures there are?  We used to do a lot of camping and having these little guys visit our campsite was always a highlight.  Here is what I found out about the raccoon:

* The word "raccoon" comes from the Algonquin Indians and means "he scratches with his hands".

* If you give a raccoon a sugar cube, it will first try to clean it (as raccoons clean all their food before eating it). It will wash it and wash it until the sugar cube finally dissolves to nothing

* The record life span for a captive raccoon is 21 years

* Raccoons are very clean and use a common latrine in the wild

* Raccoons never den more than 1,200 feet from a permanent water source

*  When walking, they arch the back, walking from heel to toe with non-retractable claws.  The front and back feet have five toes, making it easy to grasp and hold things.

* Most people are surprised to find out that raccoons are not only good swimmers but they actually love spending time in the water.

* The raccoon's scientific name, Procyon lotor, means "washer dog" although it is a closer relative to the bear family.

* Raccoons have a large array of vocalizations. They purr, whistle, growl, hiss, scream and even whinny.

* A raccoon's hands are so nimble they can unlace a shoe, unlatch a cage and deftly retrieve coins as thin as dimes from your shirt pocket

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LOVING HANDS FOR MARCH

Last week I finished up and turned in the two little quilts I made for my guild's Loving Hands....

This first little one is definitely for a baby boy.  I think I should have arranged the blocks just a bit different but I couldn't figure out whether to have the same sashing colors match up against each other (green to green and blue to blue) or to do like I did.  This was made using the 16" block pattern, Philadelphia Pavements.  By the way, the quilt really is square but the breeze kept messing with it as I was trying to take a picture.

Once again the breeze just would not stop for picture time!  I was very happy with the way this little quilt turned out.  Definitely pink and girly!  This quilt was made using the 16" block pattern, Crossed Roads.  I will probably use this pattern again to create a Loving Hands Quilt.

I learned something making this quilt.  My original idea was to make a one block quilt.  The quilt is supposed to measure 32" square.  So wouldn't you figure that you could use a 16" square pattern and then just doubling the size of the blocks used?  I tried that and the quilt was going to end up being 35".  I was totally amazed at that.  Guess I will have to do some sort of math problem to figure it out.  Does anybody have any hints to make this an easy process?

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FEBRUARY'S BEE BLOCK

No, I'm not late on sending the block out, I just have gotten behind on sharing some of the swap and bee blocks I've been making lately.  

Christina sent out some great black and white fabrics, along with one red, to work with for February's Let's Bee Together.  She requested that we make a Disappearing 9 Patch block with those great fabrics.  It's always fun to see how a simple 9 patch can be transformed.

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TODAY'S GOAL

I'm going to start sewing next month's Loving Hands quilts so I don't feel so pressured next month.

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GIVEAWAYS

Fabulous Frogger is having a giveaway.  You could win one of two Little House Needleworks charts.  This giveaway ends  Thursday, March 22.

From Blank Pages is having a giveaway.  Diane is ready to send the Traveling Stash on its way to a new home for a visit.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, March 21, at 6:00 pm MST.

Hawthorne Threads is having a giveaway.  You could win a Rosalie Quinlan Folk Heart fat quarter bundle.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, March 21.


Don't forget about my giveaway!  You can go HERE to enter.


And you can also access so many giveaways by visiting Blog Hop Party with Giveaways.

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FINAL THOUGHT

Just in case you haven't seen this already......

Lots Of Love

I am always ready to learn although I do not always like being taught. 
~Winston Churchill

I learned something over the weekend.  I learned that there are as many colors of white as there are of black.  I always knew there were many various shades of blacks; some more red, some more purple, some more blue, etc.  Three weekends ago I bought 2 yards of Kona White at Beverly's.  The next weekend I bought 4 yards of Kona White at Joann's.  When I got home and compared the two purchases I was amazed to find that the Beverly's Kona White was noticeably grayer than the Kona I bought at Joann's.  Now I know that there are blue shades, gray shades and even pink shades of white even if they are all called white.  Luckily when I returned to Joann's on Saturday, I was able to buy 2 more yards of the same Kona White that I had previously purchased there.  Live and learn.  I guess this ol' gal can still learn something new.

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Sugar

How many of us love things with sugar on it.  I can't eat grapefruit without sugar no matter how sweet it is.  Okay, these days I use sugar substitutes but I still love that sweet taste.  Here are a few facts about sugar for your Monday:

* Sugar is one of the oldest ingredients, dating back to 326 BC.  In 327 BC, Alexander the Great discovered the sugar cane; it then spread through Persia and introduced it in the Mediterranean

* Sugar’s name originated from the Sanskrit word “Sharkara,” which means “material in a granule form

* Sugar was called “White Gold”: Until the late 1700's, sugar was a luxury that European nobility used to validate their rank and social power

* Sugar does help the medicine go down! It’s an important component of many modern medicines

* Some people say that one teaspoon of sugar swallowed “dry” can cure the hiccups

* Sweet is the only taste humans are born desiring (That explains a lot!)
* Sugar cane stalks can reach 30 feet high
* Some plants can make their own sugar— when a banana ripens, it changes starch into sugar, making it sweeter

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LITTLE QUILTS

Last week and over the weekend I completed two little quilts for Loving Hands.....

This is the first one.  Probably a little boys quilt.

I did a lot of heart shape free motion quilting on this one.  Thought it fit the fabric with the little hearts in the design. 

Here's the second one I made.  I had planned on making it all green and pink but the half yard of pink I had to work with was not quite a half yard.  So I improvised with some coordinating fabric.  All of the sides are actually straight but a breeze came up when I clicked the photo making it look all wonky.

I did some fmq large flowers all over this one.  Something different and a way to stretch my fmq a little.  The stitches are way too small but I will work on that over time.

A wonderful blogging friend emailed me a little over a week ago asking me if she could donate a couple of quilts to Loving Hands.  Lisa sent me.......

(breeze caught this one, too)

and

And look what arrived last week from Kentucky!!  Aren't they wonderful!!!  Lisa also sent me some fabric pieces that I can use for future quilts and also for some hexie flowers.  Thank you for your generosity, Lisa!!  I know that a preemie and his/her parents will love your quilts.  Isn't the blogging/quilting connection something when others take the time to donate their fabrics, time, and ability to help others without even being asked?  I certainly think it is!
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?QUESTION?

I have a question for those of you who do a lot of raw edge applique.  Do you use a polyester thread or cotton thread.  I don't know if I want the shine of the polyester or not.  I could use all of the information you wish to give me.

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I plan to start something new :)


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GIVEAWAYS

Creative Confessions is having a giveaway.  You could win one of Jo Morton's newer books titled Coming Home, a selection of 4 co-coordinating fat quarters of Jo fabrics, and a collection of her Jo's Little Women Club patterns.  This giveaway ends Sunday, February 12, at midnight.

Quilt n Queen is having a giveaway.  You could win a new Bird Brain Design pattern.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, February 8, at midnight.

Paducah Convention is having a giveaway.  You could win a $100 Gift Certificate to the NationalQuilt Museum shop, or Honorary "Benefactor" Friend of the Museum Status, or fabric designed by Caryl Bryer Fallert for Benartex.  This giveaway ends April 25.

Hawthorne Threads is having their weekly giveaway.  You could win an Anna Maria Horner Little Folks bundle.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, February 8.

Quilt Story is having a giveaway.  You could win a 1/2 yard bundle of Little Apples from Aneela Hooey.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, February 7.

Melissa Stramel is having a giveaway.  You could win a $25 gift certificate to Green Fairy Quilts.  This giveaway ends ?

Mountain Quiltfest is having a giveaway.  You could win a trip to a trip to the 18th Annual Mountain Quiltfest in Pigeon Ford, Tennessee.  This giveaway ends Thursday, February 23.

123Stitch is having a giveaway.  You could win a chart called "Chocolate Cake Sampler" by Casey Buonaugurio Designs.  This giveaway ends Thursday, March 1.

Jo's Country Junction is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of Urban Country Quilts by Jeanne Large and Shelley Wicks.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, February 7.

Katie's Quilting Corner is having a giveaway.  You could win a Hoffman Fabrics Bali Pops – Key Lime.  This giveaway ends Friday, February 17, at midnight EST.

Cat Patches is having her Fun Fact Friday Freebie.  You could win a fat quarter.  The winner will be announced Friday, February 17.

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FINAL THOUGHT