Lots Of Blocks

A day patched with quilting seldom unravels.
~author unknown

Yesterday was quiet except for the whir of my sewing machine.  There was a bunch of repetitive sewing of blocks and it was a little mind numbing.  However, I did get most of the way through another audio book.  Both pups slept the day away while Mom sewed.  I had to stop a couple of times to give the requested hugs and kisses during the day - but I don't mind those kind of interruptions.  The weather did cool down just the tiniest little bit and we were able to have the windows open for a couple of hours before the heat started seeping in.  All in all, until the main computer crashed.  I was prepping today's post and all of a sudden I was getting 'Critical System' notifications.  Why does this happen to me?  So today the main computer goes into the shop and I have to work from the laptop.  I guess I shouldn't complain, at least I have a backup device to work on.  How about you?  Did your week start out the way you had hoped? 

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

Pecan Pie

Today, July 12, is National Pecan Pie Day.  Tradition holds that the French created pecan pie soon after settling in New Orleans, after being introduced to the nut by Native Americans. But attempts to trace the origin of this dessert have not found any recipes earlier than 1925, and well-known cookbooks such as Fannie Farmer and The Joy of Cooking did not include it before 1940.

Pecans have their origins in prehistory. The discovery of fossil remains along with millions of native pecan trees found along most major streams and irrigation canals in Texas and the northern part of Mexico showing that this is the original home of the pecan, and that it spread north and east from this area. This also indicates that the pecan was here and producing long before Native Americans came there.

Pecan pie is considered a southern dish, and while it is still more popular in the south, it is also commonly eaten throughout the United States. The southern states produce over 250 million pounds of pecans each year, with Texas and Georgia pecan groves comprising the majority of that amount. Since pecan trees are native to the south and fresh pecans are readily available throughout the region, pecan pie and other pecan desserts have always been more prevalent, and thus more popular, in the southern United States.

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BLOCKS, BLOCKS AND MORE BLOCKS

Yesterday I sat at my sewing machine making blocks.........

82 blocks to be exact.  I'm making a variation of a quilt called Dora from the book, 3 Times the Charm!  I am using 2 charm packs of Hoopla by moda.  Today comes the laying out of the blocks into some soft of random prettiness.  Wish me luck.

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BREAD BASKET SWAP

Last week we found out who our swap partners were in the Bread Basket Swap.  This swap was organized by Cheryll over at Gone Stitchin'.  Yesterday the mailman brought me a squishy....

This wonderful bread basket was made by my friend, Sharon.  She is the author of the fun and interesting blog known as Vrooman's Quilts.  If you haven't checked out her blog, then please take the time to see all of the beautiful work that Sharon creates.  Anyway......Sharon also included some great extras.....

Along with the darling little note card, Sharon included two great fat quarters and lots of little teapot and teacup embellishments.  I can see a mug rug decorated with those darling little blue creations.  Thank you so very much, Sharon for the beautiful bread basket and all of the little extras!!

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FMQ PRACTICE

Yesterday I cut out and sandwiched four 12" squares to begin free motion quilting practice.

I am going to use the website The Free Motion Quilting Project by Leah Day.  I plan on trying a different block each day starting with her Beginner Filler Designs.  I hope starting off easy with one block a day will help me get started in the right direction.  I will also be checking out a couple of other recommendations for learning to fmq by some of my blogger friends.

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I will start my day with a fmq block as I plan to do each day (well, five days a week) and then layout and hopefully start sewing together the blocks for the Dora quilt.

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GIVEAWAYS

Fort Worth Fabric Studio is having a giveaway.  You could win a banner kit featuring Darlene Zimmerman's 2011 Clothesline Club Prints or two back-issues of Australian Patchwork & Quilting.  This giveaway ends Friday, July 15, at 9:00 pm CST.

The Noble Wife is having a giveaway.  Jacquelynne is giving away an autographed copy of her new book, Fruitful Hands.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, July 13, at noon EDT.

Lily's Quilts is having a giveaway.  You could win a five spool pack of Auriful thread.  Lynne will announce 10 winners on Monday, July 18.

Spotted Stone is having a giveaway. You have a chance to win a GO! Baby Cutter and your choice of 3 dies. This giveaway ends Wednesday, July 13, Alaska time.
Annie's Ruby Slipperz is having her Mystery Monday fun and giveaway.  You could win 5 fat quarters in your favorite colors.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, July 13, at midnight mountain time.

Ellison Lane Quilts is having a giveaway.  You could win a GO! Baby Cutter and your choice of 3 dies.  This giveaway ends Thursday, July 14.
Happy Quilting is celebrating their one year anniversary with a giveaway.  You could win a stunning Fat Quarter Pack of Wrenly.  This giveaway ends Sunday, July 17.

Scraps A Plenty is ready to send the Traveling Stash on it's way.  The box includes a quilt kit, patterns galore, and cute fabrics and so much more.  This giveaway ends Friday, July 15, at midnight.

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FINAL THOUGHT

My fingers are on the keys but there's nothing going from my brain to the keyboard.  I guess I didn't have enough brain stimulation today.  Lots of randomness but nothing worthwhile to write amount.  Let's see......I wonder how long the main computer will be in the shop........DH got a Wii Fit - we'll see how long before he injures himself......nothing, nothing, nothing.......hmmmm, I hear the police helicopter going in circles nearby - probably won't ever hear what that's about.......nothing more.  Guess that means it's time for me to get going on my day.  Hopefully tomorrow I will have some thoughts for you :)

The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.
~ Abraham Lincoln

A Completed Mystery

For fast-acting relief, try slowing down.

~Lily Tomlin

What a relaxing weekend I had.  With DH gone, there were no errands to run or meals to fix.  I had a wonderful time visiting with my SIL.  We watched a few movies, caught up with each others lives, and just relaxed.  We even had dinner delivered to the door Saturday evening :)  I was able to get quite a bit of hand sewing in and spent very little time online.  DH and BIL arrived home around 3:00 Sunday happy and a little sunburned.  It was a great weekend all around.  Sometimes it's nice to have the regular routine of life interrupted, even if it's just for a couple of days.  I hope you all had a great weekend, too.

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

Blueberries

July is National Blueberry Month, unless you live in British Columbia - then National Blueberry Month is August.  Doesn't a blueberry muffin sound good right about now?  Or a fresh picked bowl of blueberries?  How about a warm out of the oven blueberry pie?  I'll take all three, thank you very much.  Here are a few facts about blueberries to help you celebrate:

* blueberries are related to azaleas, camellias, heathers, and rhododendrons

* Wild blueberries tend to contain more brain-saving bioflavonoids than the domestic ones

* blueberries are native to North America

* In Sweden, dried blueberries are used to treat childhood diarrhea.  This use is attributed to anthocyanosides, a natural substance found in blueberries which is believed to be lethal to E.Coli

* blueberries won't ripen once they are picked

* On January 12, 2004, Gov. James E. McGreevey of New Jersey signed a bill into law naming the blueberry the Garden State’s official fruit

* blueberries have more antioxidants than most other fruits and vegetables

* Blueberry Jelly Bellies were created especially for Ronald Reagan

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ONE MORE JOURNAL BLOCK

On Friday I finished up the second block for A Gardener's Journal quilt......


This block is called Watering The Garden.  It will end up being 4 1/2" X 6 1/2".  I don't really  like the way the blue thread shows through for the water lines but it called for a running stitch and I couldn't really figure out how to prevent this and still have the spaces in between the stitches.
 

Here is the back.  I had to use knots this time on the back because of the french knots (the flower buds on the large bush) and for the beginning and ends of the running stitches.  Two down and 22 more to go.  Of course, some of those 22 blocks are very small - thank goodness :)

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IT'S A WRAP!

Over the weekend I worked on hand stitching down the binding.....

It seemed like an endless binding.......but I finally finished!

This is the Designer Mystery BOM 2009/2010 that you watched me work on for almost a year.  One block a month, each with a Christmas theme. 

The beautiful quilting was done by my friend, Vera Watkins.  And, do you know, when it was time to pick up my quilt from Vera, she presented us with an absolutely delicious pan of homemade cinnamon breakfast rolls.  Thank you so very much, Vera, for the wonderful quilting job and for the scrumptious breakfast rolls!

This is my first, and probably last, Christmas quilt.  This was a fun quilt to make.  Fat Quarter Shop provided plenty of fabric for each block, so much so that I lots of scraps for future projects.  The finished size is 69" X 75".  It feels good to have another quilt finished this year!!!

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I will work on a the 'simple' quilt I started last week.

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GIVEAWAYS

Threadgatherer is having a giveaway.  Here is one more chance for you to win a GO! Baby Cutter and 3 dies.  Deb will select a winner on Thursday, July 14.

I'm Just A Guy Who Quilts is having a giveaway.  You could win some fabric from Robert Kaufman and/or some Amanda Murphy patterns.  Ryan will announce the winners on  Wednesday, July 13.

Teresa's Heartfelt Stitches is having a Thank You giveaway.  You could win a notebook cover made from a "Lizzy Kate" pattern and some other added surprises.  This giveaway ends Sunday, July 17, at midnight.

The Intrepid Thread is having a giveaway.  You could win 2 charm packs (76 charms total) of Kate Spain's new Terrain that is not yet available in the stores.  This giveaway ends Friday, July 15, at midnight.

My Quilt Diary is celebrating her blogiversary with a giveaway.  Julie is giving away a few things that are very Japanese.  She will draw a winner on her actual blogiversary, Monday, July 23.

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FINAL THOUGHT

It's a new week.  Monday brings all sorts of plans and wishes for the week to come.  I hope to get lots of sewing in this week.  I plan to finish a quilt top this week.  Perhaps I'll make a block or two of the WIP that is sitting on my sewing table that just recently moved from the UFO pile.  Maybe I can even get some stitchery time in too.  Oh, and I need to make some 12" blocks so I can start practicing fmq.  Of course there's reading blogs, emails, and preparing my own blog.  And I suppose I need to fix a dinner or two - DH sometimes likes to eat dinner when he gets home from a long day at work.  No shopping is planned for this week - that's definitely a good thing!!  And, of course, I have to stop numerous times a day to give doggy loves and hugs - therapy for both pups and me.  Do you have big plans this week?  Do you have a specific wish for this week?

I like to think of thoughts as living blossoms borne by the human tree.
~James Douglas

Finished At Last!

What a wonderful thing is the mail, capable of conveying across continents a warm human hand-clasp.

~Author Unknown

Yesterday was a lot of busy work.  Once everything was done I didn't have much to show for it craft wise.  Four packages are waiting by the front door for the mailman.  I actually have a clear spot on my cutting table and another on my spare bed.  I guess that's a good thing.  Must be time to find something to fill those holes - lol!  Thank you all for your fmq instruction suggestions!  I knew I could count on you to give me excellent resources and tool advice :D  I would be lost without all of my blogging friends.

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

Hot Dog

Did you know that July is National Hot Dog Month?  In honor of the hot dog, how about some interesting little facts:

* in 1957 the U.S. Chamber of Commerce officially designated July as National Hot Dog month

* Baseball fans will consume more than 26 million hot dogs at US baseball stadiums this season. That’s enough to circle the bases 36,000 times

* In honor of the 1996 Olympics, the world’s biggest hot dog was 1,996 feet long, created by Sara Lee Corp

* The most popular hot dog topping among adults is mustard (87.6%). Among children, it is ketchup

* The average hot dog is consumed in 6.1 bites

* NASA has approved hot dogs as a regular item on Apollo moon flights, Skylab missions and space shuttle flights

* U.S. soldiers in military posts around the world consumed 2.4 million hot dogs in 2007

* Babe Ruth once ate 12 hot dogs & 8 bottles of soda between games of a double header. He was reportedly rushed to the hospital after the game with a severe case of indigestion

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PAY IT FORWARD

I finally finished my last Pay It Forward obligation!

I made this candle mat for my third and final participant.  Her favorite color is green.  I'm sure she has given up hope on ever receiving something from me since I started this back in September.  I had one year to complete three gifts so I actually had two months to spare.  I quilted this with a fancy stitch from my machine and used a shiny rayon thread. 

Yesterday morning I added this personalized label.  I covered the name of the recipient so that they will be totally surprised when they get the candle mat in the mail (I'm not sure if she reads my blog any more or not).  I printed that outline design and flowers from a free download at Connecting Threads and printed the label out on my printer.  This one even matches the fabric I used to make the mat.

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today and over the weekend I hope to bind the Mystery BOM quilt!

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GIVEAWAYS

Quilt Story is having a giveaway.  You could win a fat quarter bundle of Happier by Deena Rutter for Riley Blake and the pattern booklet Happy Hour by Terry Atkinson.  This giveaway ends Monday, July 11.

Nunu's Quilt World is celebrating her blogiversary with a giveaway.  You could win 2 yards (1 yard each) of Summer Breeze by Sentimental Studios for Moda and a pattern book On A Roll by Heather Mulder Peterson.  Not sure when this one ends :(

Bugglebee is having a giveaway.  You could win a GO! Baby Cutter and three dies of your choice.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, July 13, at 11:59 pm EST.

The Vintage Sheet Blog is having a giveaway.  Here is another chance to win a GO! Baby Cutter and 3 dies.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, July 19, at midnight PST.

Kitschy Suburbia (aka my daughter) is having a giveaway. You could win some wonderful nail polishes or, if your not into manis and pedis, you could win two sets of adorable recipe cards, a pretty pair of earrings and magnetic shopping list/memo pad. This giveaway ends Wednesday, July 20, at midnight CMT.

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FINAL THOUGHT

This weekend DH is going north with his brother and BFF to attend a car race.  It's a 'Guy's Weekend'.  I'm envious only in the fact that they will be in much cooler temps.  Do I want to go to the race?  NO!  My SIL will be arriving on Saturday and spending the night so she can drive her hubby home on Sunday evening (they live about 4 hours away and he will be arriving here on the train).  We will be able to watch a couple of chick flicks and I can get some hand sewing in while she is here.  We don't get to spend much time together because of the distance between our houses.  Who knows, we may even splurge and have dinner delivered to our door - lol!  What are you plans for the weekend?

A habit is something you can do without thinking - which is why most of us have so many of them.
 ~Frank A. Clark

A Normal Day

We are never prepared for what we expect. 

~James A. Michener

Thank goodness for a better day.  Yesterday was a more normal day.  No personal drama, no physical upsets, and a better night of sleep.  The only downside to yesterday was that it didn't start the cooling trend that the weather gods-that-be had predicted.  We still reached 108 degree F.  When the morning starts out at 81 degrees at 4:45 am with high clouds and sticky humidity, you know it's not going to be a good weather day.  Isn't it funny that we are now calling a cooling trend getting down into the 90's.  Just a month ago our high was lower than our low was last night - YUCK!  I did get some sewing in and some cutting too.  If it weren't for the trip to get groceries, it would have been a perfect day - lol!

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

Chocolate

Today is Chocolate Day.  Here are some interesting facts about chocolate that I found:

* The largest chocolate bar ever manufactured was in Italy in 2000. The bar had a weight of 5,000 lbs

* Chocolate is a natural form if anti-depressant. It produces serotonin –a chemical that elevates the mood. It is also referred to as the "happy chemical." Now that is a happy fun chocolate fact.

* White chocolate has no caffeine. In fact, white chocolate isn't chocolate at all. White chocolate is based on fat (vegetable oil or cocoa butter) and sugar, without any cocoa solids.

* Chocolate syrup was used to depict blood in the iconic shower scene of Hitchcock's film, "Psycho."

* Chocolate melts in your moth because its cocoa butter component has a melting point that is slightly below the human body's average temperature

* Scientific research can prove that chocolate is not addictive

* The first bar of chocolate was produced by Cadbury in England in 1842

* A dark chocolate bar has approximately 10-15g of sugar. A glass of orange juice has about 22g of sugar
* An average Swiss will eat about 21 lbs of chocolate a year. The Swiss, however, have one of the lowest heart failure rates and obesity cases in the world

* In the U.S., 25% of all peanuts and 40% of all almonds are used in chocolate making

Now go out and enjoy some chocolate - I will personally eat a chocolate kiss or two today :D

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BEE BLOCK

Yesterday I made a block for one of the hostesses for July in the Let's Bee Together group.

Wendy sent us this beautiful fabric to work with.  She selected the block, Ann's New Years Eve Star.  The only fabric placement she gave us instructions for was the background fabric.  The fabric is much richer in person.  I probably could have gotten a better shot outside but I really didn't want to go out into the heat.  This will be in the mail to Wendy on Friday.

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FMQ ADVICE

I have decided to put off purchasing a long arm machine for awhile.  So, now it is time for me to learn free motion quilting on my regular sewing machine.  For those of you out there that do your own quilting, is there a book or website that you would suggest to begin the process of fmq on a regular machine?  I like detailed instructions that are easy to understand.  I would appreciate any suggestions you might have.

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I SPY BLOCKS

On June 8th I won a giveaway from The Q and the U.

Riel had a giveaway for 40 five inch I Spy blocks and I was the lucky winner.  She included several extra blocks too.  This is just a small sampling of some of the adorable blocks that were included in this package.  Thanks to the Canadian postal strike, the blocks just reached my house the other day.  I look forward to making a darling little child's quilt with these squares - probably to be given to Project Linus.  Thank you so much for the wonderful I Spy blocks, Riel!!

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I will finish my final PIF commitment I have had since October.

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GIVEAWAYS

Gen X Quilters is having a sponsored giveaway.  You could win a pattern bundle from Dewberry Lane.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, July 12, at 11:50 pm EST.

Jo's Country Junction is having a sponsored giveaway.  You could win a $100 Visa gift card from BlogHer.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, July 20.

From The Blue Chair is having a giveaway.  You could win a GO! Baby Cutter and three dies.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, July 12, at 11:59 pm MT.

Lily Pad Quilting is having a sponsored giveaway.  You could win a wonderful fat quarter bundle from Intrepid Tread.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, July 13, at midnight.

Alderwood Quilts is having a giveaway.  You could win a fresh bundle of lavender.  Sue will select a winner on Monday, August 1.

So Sew Crafty is having her first giveaway.  You could win Lucky Stars pattern by Atkinson Designs AND a $25.00 gift certificate from the online quilt shop of your choice.  Donna will draw a winner on Monday, July 25.

Fabric Worm is having their weekly giveaway.  You could win Zoe Pearn Designs Alphabet Soup Girl Bundle in Fat Quarters.  This giveaway will end Monday, July 11, at 8:30 am PST.

The Shabby is having a giveaway.  You could win one of three $25 gift certificates to Shabby Fabrics.  This giveaway ends at the end of the month.

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FINAL THOUGHT

My granddoggie, Samson

R.I.P

March 2006 - July 2011

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.

 ~From a headstone in Ireland

My Growing Garden

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

I had an incredibly crappy day yesterday.  It didn't help that I started the day out tired and being aggravated by stomach troubles.  It was just one personal thing after another.  One of those days you wish you could start over and reprogram to be better.  It started on its slippery slope downhill about 8:30 and slid non-stop for the rest of the day.  Luckily I hadn't planned on any heavy machine operation or detailed cutting - it just wouldn't have worked.  It was one of those days where you would like to throw something at the wall, close the drapes, pull the covers over your head and just go to sleep.  But sleep wouldn't have come either.  It was just one of those crappy kind of days.  I'm ready for a new day and it's here - so let's take the day by the horns and get started!
 
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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

Postcards

Today in history, the first picture postcard was made.  Cards with messages had been sporadically created and posted by individuals since the creation of postal services. The earliest known picture postcard was a hand-painted design on card, posted in London to the writer Theodore Hook in 1840 bearing a penny black stamp. He probably created and posted the card to himself as a practical joke on the postal service, since the image is a caricature of workers in the post office.

The first commercially produced card was created in 1861 by John P. Charlton of Philadelphia, who patented a postal card, selling the rights to H. L. Lipman, whose postcards, complete with a decorated border, were labeled "Lipman's postal card." These cards had no images. In Britain postcards without images were issued by Post Office, and were printed with a stamp as part of the design, which was included in the price of purchase.

The first known printed picture postcard, with an image on one side, was created in France in 1870 at Camp Conlie by Léon Besnardeau. Conlie was a training camp for soldiers in the Franco-Prussian war. They had a lithographed design printed on them containing emblematic images of piles of armaments on either side of a scroll topped by the arms of the Duchy of Brittany and the inscription "War of 1870. Conlie camp. Souvenir of the National Defence. Brittany Army". While these are certainly the first known picture postcards, there was no space for stamps and no evidence that they were ever posted without envelopes.  The first American postcard was developed in 1873 by the Morgan Envelope Factory of Springfield, Massachusetts.  The first postcard to be printed as a souvenir in the United States was created in 1893 to advertise the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
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FLOWERS

The only peace I found yesterday was working on hexagon flowers.  For today's One Flower Wednesday, I made two flowers - just because I could.

The first flower was made using some Debbie Mumm fabric I had in my stash.  I really like the cherries and little checkerboard squares.

And then I created this flower from the left over scraps from the Loving Hands quilt backings I made over the weekend.  The center has more of a pink cast to it in person and matches the butterfly wings almost perfectly.  I like how the butterflies almost glow with the green highlight around them.

After making the two flowers, I then made about 20 stepping stones.  These took no thought whatever and I could lose my mind in a senseless TV show.  I was then able to add the stepping stones and four flowers to my Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt....

You may remember these flowers from earlier in the year.  I had forgotten about the little flower with the embroidered center that I made to bring in 2011.

And, so grows my garden.  It now measures 55 inches long.  I think I will add another four flowers to the length before I decide exactly how wide I want it to be.  I haven't decided if I will be making a lap quilt, a twin size quilt, or a full sized quilt.  Decisions, decision, decision - lol!

If you would like to see other flowers around blogland, check out Karen's blog, Journey of a Quilter.  She provides a linky to other blogs where beautiful flowers are being created.

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I will make a Bee block for one of the July hostesses in Let's Bee Together.

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GIVEAWAYS

Silly Stitching is having a giveaway to celebrate her 200th post.  You could win  a fat quarter bundle of Minick and Simpson's Christmas Past.  This giveaway ends Sunday, July 9, at 9 pm EST.

Sew Crafty Jess is having a giveaway.  You could win a GO! Baby Cutter and 3 dies.  This giveaway ends Thursday, July 7, at 11:59 pm EST.

Jaybird Quilts is having a sponsored giveaway.  You could be one of two winners of an Amy Butler Quilting Solids Fat Quarter Bundle from Fat Quarter Shop.  This giveaway ends Thursday, July 7, at 10 pm EST.

Lily's Quilts is having a giveaway.  You could win a FQ Good Luck bundle or a FQ Happiness bundle.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, July 12.
McCall's Quilting is having a giveaway.  You could win 1 of 3 prize packages, each including a Simplicity® 6 1/2" x 24" Simpli-EZ™ ruler, Graphic Impressions novelty tape measure, Simplicity® 4" curved blade scissors, and 14 fat quarters of fabrics from the Quilt Diva collection by Amy Bradley for Moda.  This giveaway ends Monday, July 11.

The Jolly Jabber is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of Scrap Book Sensations by Kim Brackett.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, July 12.

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FINAL THOUGHT

I've been thinking about finally starting another full size quilt.  It may end up to be a lap quilt.  But at least it will be something more than one block a month, a bee block, or a swap block.  It will be simple quilt.  I think I need simple right now.  I love all of the hand work I'm doing but sometimes it just seems to move along so slowly.  I also need to start back up on the hand applique of the Baltimore Blocks.  I probably have too many  irons in the fire projects going right now and it all seems a little daunting.  Sometimes you just need to simplify and I think I'm there.  What do you do when you have too many projects going on at once?

The greatest step towards a life of simplicity is to learn to let go.
~Steve Maraboli

Three Little Finishes

Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day.
~Author Unknown

Did you all have a wonderful 4th of July?  Ours was spent in the house, under the A/C and ceiling fans.  There was no way we were going out in the scorching heat (105 degrees F.) and higher than normal humidity.  DH did barbecue a fantastic tri-tip but other than that there were no celebrations at our house.  It was a quiet time - until the fireworks in the neighborhood started.  I should have known what we were in for when the whole area was eerily quiet on Sunday night - LOL!  I think WWIII broke out about 9:00 pm.  Luckily the war only lasted a couple of hours and now things are back to normal.  I hope you all survived the 4th!

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

National Graham Cracker Day

Today, July 5, is known as National Graham Cracker Day.  The graham cracker was developed in 1829 in Bound Brook, New Jersey, by Presbyterian minister Rev. Sylvester Graham.  The true graham cracker is made with graham flour, a combination of fine-ground white flour and coarse-ground wheat bran and germ. Graham crackers are often used for making s'mores and pie crusts.

The Graham cracker was originally marketed as "Dr. Graham's Honey Biskets" and was conceived of as a health food as part of the Graham Diet, a regimen to suppress what he considered unhealthy carnal urges, the source of many maladies according to Graham. Reverend Graham would often lecture about the adverse effects of masturbation or "self-abuse" as it was commonly called at the time. One of his many theories was that one could curb one's sexual appetite by eating bland foods. Another man who held this belief was Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, the inventor of the Corn Flakes cereal.
Many modern "graham crackers" are made of the refined, bleached white flour to which the Rev. Graham was implacably opposed. Some modern commercial graham crackers are no longer considered health food, but have remained popular as a snack food and breakfast cereal with greater amounts of sugar and other sweeteners than in the original recipe, and far less graham flour, often with no whole-wheat flour whatsoever.

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MUG RUG SWAP

Friday's mail came with a wonderful squishy package.  In this package was......

This wonderful mug rug from Jodi!  I just love the colors and the layout of this mug rug.  Jodi was my secret swap partner in Leona's Mug Rug Swap Adventure 2.  She did some wonderful hand quilting in different colored threads and the backing is scrappy stripping that includes some selvages (sorry, forgot to take a picture).

Jodi also included some special surprises:  two bags of chamomile herbal tea, a wonderful dish towel, and an assortment of great hexagons! 

Thank you, Jodi, for the beautiful mug rug and the added tuck ins!!!!

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3 FINISHES

On Friday and over the long weekend I worked on Isolette covers....

I made three of these little quilts that will be donated through our guild's project, Loving Hands, to the local NICU at one of our hospitals.  These little quilts measure 32" X 32".
I used the Jelly Roll Race Quilt method to make these quilts.  I had a jelly roll of Spirit by moda laying around and used it.  Now, I know some people in the race have made their quilt tops in something like 36 minutes but I certainly don't know how.  They must not have ironed as they went and their machine must sew much quicker than mine - lol!  It took me around 3 1/2 hours to make these tops.  And if I had continued on with a couple more seams to make the full sized quilt top as they did in the race, it would have taken me even longer. 

I have had the butterfly backing material for a few years and thought it would be perfect for babies.  The jelly roll worked perfectly to make these three quilts - I only ended up not using two of the strips - and only because they had fallen on the floor and I missed them.  I had absolutely no excess so nothing was wasted :D

Here are the three completed quilts.  As I was taking the picture, Weasley decided to insert himself into the frame.  I think he was really just looking for a cooler spot on the sofa.

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I hope to make more than one hexie flower!

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GIVEAWAYS

Cat Patches is having her weekly Fun Fact Friday Freebie.  You could win a fat quarter for just answering her question of the week.  The winner will announced Friday, July 8.

Patsy Thompson Designs is having a giveaway.  You could win a Beam n Read.  This giveaway ends Friday, July 8, at 12:01 am EST.

We Love Quilting is having a July giveaway.  The giveaway will be a surprise but she promises "My give a ways are PACKED TO THE BRIM with goodies".  The winner will be announced on the last day of the month.

Stitchin' Heaven Howdy is having their monthly giveaway.  You could win a $25 Stitchin’ Heaven gift card.  The winner will be announced on the first of August.

The Intrepid Thread is having a giveaway.  You could win a Fat Eighth Pack of Little Apples.  This giveaway ends Friday, July 8.

Hawthorne Threads is having their weekly giveaway.  You could win  1/2 yard bundle of Amy Butler's Soul Blossoms Corduroy.  A winner will be selected at random Thursday, June 7th.

Mrs Sassy Crafter is celebrating 300+ followers with a giveaway.  You could win a box full of surprises.  This giveaway ends Friday, July 8.

Katie's Korner is having a giveaway.  You could win a GO! Baby Cutter and your choice of three dies.  This giveaway ends Friday, July 8, at 11:59 pm.

The Average Quilter is having a giveaway.  You could win a wonderful fat quarter bundle.  This giveaway ends Saturday, July 9.

Love Affair With My Brother is celebrating her birthday with a giveaway.  You could win A Heather Bailey pattern for the Happy Stacker Ring Toy, Small Stash Sewing: 24 Projects Using Designer Fat Quarters (forward by Amy Butler), and one "Little Wallet".  This giveaway ends Thursday, July 7.

Inch Worm Fabrics is having a giveaway.  Jeanette is giveaway away a mystery box that she says "will put in there items that will be well worth you time to get, some will be things from the store and some will be items that I have left from my booth in June".  Not sure when this giveaway ends.

KoolBenz is having her weekly giveaway.  You could win a 16 pc Fat Quarter bundle set in Ann Kelle's Urban Zoologie Part 2.  This giveaway ends Friday, July 8, at midnight EST.

1 Choice 4 Quilting is having a giveaway.  You could win a fat quarter bundle of Anthology Bryant Park Fat Quarter Bundle.  This giveaway ends Sunday, July 17.
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FINAL THOUGHT

My brain is tired after a late night of bangs, booms, and hisses.  Today should be quieter.  I really enjoy that we celebrate our country's independence but I wish it didn't have to be quite so noisy, full of fire, and so late at night.  Barbecues, games, and family get together are a great way to show our happiness.  Aren't I sounding like a grumpy, old lady?  YES I AM.  Not getting enough sleep will do that to you.  My brain is as foggy as the air was smokey last night.  So, instead of boring your further, I wish you a great rest of the week - be it quiet or loud, busy or restful.  Now, onto some sewing!!
I have often lamented that we cannot close our ears with as much ease as we can our eyes.
~Richard Steele

The Winner!

Thank you all for the great response to my giveaway!!  I am happy to report that there were only 6 No Reply bloggers this time - a huge improvement over my previous giveaway.  I wasn't very good at responding to comments left for the giveaway this time - I apologize but something had to give and that was it.  I have managed to keep up with all other comments and will continue to do so :) 

Without further ado, and with the help of random.org, the winner of MY VACATION GIVEAWAY is....

Mimi and Meme said...

Hi!  I am new to your blog my sis introduced me; (Lori from 'Mayo's for him' To Everything there is a season!)  I love quilts & she makes them...I love the embrod/scissors too cute!  I would love them :)  Nice to meet you I will be back to visit!

Meme (Lisa)

Congratulations Meme!  I will be sending you an email to get your snail mail info.

Once again, thank you to all of my followers and readers, I wish all of you could have been winners!

A Day Of Celebration

On July 4, 1776, the people of the United States announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain were now independent states, and thus no longer a part of the British Empire. Written primarily by Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration of Independence is a formal explanation of why Congress had voted on July 2 to declare independence from Great Britain, more than a year after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War. The birthday of the United States of America—Independence Day—is celebrated on July 4, the day the wording of the Declaration was approved by Congress.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

This sentence has been called "one of the best-known sentences in the English language" and "the most potent and consequential words in American history". The passage has often been used to promote the rights of marginalized groups, and came to represent for many people a moral standard for which the United States should strive. This view was greatly influenced by Abraham Lincoln, who considered the Declaration to be the foundation of his political philosophy, and promoted the idea that the Declaration is a statement of principles through which the United States Constitution should be interpreted.

As you celebrate today, remember the history that has brought us here and why we are now a free country!

Giveaway Reminder

Just dropping in today with a quick reminder about MY VACATION GIVEAWAY.  If you would like a chance to win .....

This wonderful Hen & Chicks Table Runner kit from Connecting Threads (3 1/2 yards of fabric plus pattern)

AND

these Bella Blue - Embroidery Angels 4" embroidery scissors.....

Go HERE to enter today! 

DO NOT ENTER ON THIS POST

Remember, this giveaway ends Sunday, July 3, at 8:00 pm.

A Squishy & A Mini

There are three kinds of death in this world. There's heart death, there's brain death, and there's being off the network.
~Guy Almes

Yesterday morning I was having trouble with our main computer.  I could not find the top of my blog page where you sign in (the blogger navigation bar).  I broke out in a sweat.  How can I read my blogs?  How can I write my blog for the day?  What about my Swap and Bee?  I restarted the computer.  That didn't help.  I reset it back to an earlier day.  And then I remembered the lap top.  Oh, thank goodness!  The sign in bar was there and so my day could begin.  My stomach was turning into knots - I was almost stick to my stomach.  Isn't that strange?  All because I couldn't get into my blog?  I just goes to show how much I enjoy working on my blog and how lost I would feel if I could no longer communicate with all of my blogger friends. I'm so glad you are all still here!!
P.S. Resetting the computer to an earlier day fixed the main computer - whew!

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PHOTO FACT OF THE DAY

Fireworks

I am sure many of you will celebrating the 4th of July by attending your local fireworks show.  Or, maybe, you will be putting on your own display.  While you wait for the cover of darkness to enjoy the festive display, perhaps you would like to be able to share a few facts about fireworks with friends and family:
* The first fireworks were probably made in China, around 2,000 years ago. Chinese crackers, as they are known, are still used in China today to celebrate weddings, births and religious festivals - and to scare away evil spirits!
* The first recorded fireworks in England were at the wedding of King Henry VII in 1486.
* The word for firework in Japanese, 'hanabi', means 'fire-flower'.
* The first fireworks recorded in America were set off by an Englishman, Captain John Smith, famous in the story of Pocahontas.
* Three sparklers burning together generate the same heat as a blow-torch.
* The world's largest single firework was set off at a festival in Japan in 1988. The shell weighed over half a tonne and the burst was over a kilometre across.
* Disney World has more than 1,000 fireworks shows every year.
* Workers who make firecrackers have to be sure to wear an ensemble that is entirely cotton, lest static electricity generated by their clothing set off the fireworks.
* At first, the only colours that could be produced by fireworks was orange and white. However some Italian scientists managed to create more colours by adding different types of salt into it.

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SQUISHY FROM ILLINOIS

Yesterday, my mailman brought me a squishy envelope.  In this envelope was......

This wonderful block from Jorie.  I love the bold red with the subtle blue and the clean crisp white.  But wait!  Not only did Jorie make this wonderful block above but she also made.......

This amazing block!  I have not tackled circles yet and I think Jorie did a great job on this block.  I love both the design and the fabrics.  Thank you so very much, Jorie, for two such beautiful blocks for the June Block Swap Adventure!!

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MY NEW MINI

Yesterday I finished up my monthly mini quilt to hang in my entry for the month of July.......

At the top you will find this little dragonfly. 

A little further down is this little butterfly just fluttering around.

And if you look carefully, you might just see this little caterpillar climbing up a flower stock.

And here is the entire mini scene.  This little quilt is called June Bugs and is from The Wooden Bear Quilt Designs.   I know that this isn't their July pattern but who else is going to know that except you and me.  I think it will work just fine for July.  Do you like my straight line quilting?

And for a final look, here it is on it's stand in my entryway.  I think this is my favorite of all the mini monthly quilts I have made :)

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I am going to work on some NICU baby quilts for my quilt guild.

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GIVEAWAYS

Hanging On By A Needle And Thread is having a giveaway.  Here is another chance to win a Beam n Read.  Susan will draw a winner on Saturday, July 2.

Blueberry Patch is having a giveaway.  You could win a half meter each of Strawberry Fields in Robin's Egg and Henna Gardens in leaf both from Sandi Henderson's Meadowsweet 2.  A winner will be drawn on Tuesday, July 5.

Bejeweled Quilts By Barb is having a giveaway.  You could win a Beam n Read.  Barb will draw a winner on Saturday, July 2.

Joy Of Quilting is having a giveaway.  You could win Slice Fabrique Cordless Digital Design Cutter.  This giveaway ends Monday, July 22.

Butternut Street is having a giveaway.  You could win a Penny Lane 1/2 yard bundle; 2 1/2 yards total.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, July 5.

Just a few more days for you to enter MY VACATION GIVEAWAY.  You could win a wonderful table runner kit from Connecting Threads and a darling pair of embroidery scissors.
 
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FINAL THOUGHT

We will be staying home for the long 4th of July weekend.  Away from the crowds and the noise and off the busy highways and freeways.  It promises to be blistering hot with a predicted high of 108 F. on Monday.  We will be staying indoors under the A/C and whirling ceiling fans.  We will also be staying home to protect our home from any errant flying fireworks - you know, the kind that are illegal here.  We have already had a least 3 aerial fireworks shot off in the wee hours of the morning (2:00 am and 4:00 am).  As we lay in bed on Monday night listening to a neighborhood that sounds like a war zone, the dogs will be sleeping, oblivious to the noise and flashing lights.  And right beside them will be my DH, snoring away the hours.  Me?  I will be wide awake waiting for that unseen danger that might land on our roof or on one of our neighbors.  Or maybe the dry grass across the street will go up in flames.  Finally about 1 or 2 o'clock I may finally get to sleep.  Can you tell I'm a little paranoid about the fireworks around here?  How will you be celebrating the 4th?
 
Those who won our independence believed liberty to be the secret of happiness and courage to be the secret of liberty.
~Louis D. Brandeis