Secret Santa Arrived!

It's so hard when I have to, and so easy when I want to.
 ~Annie Gottlier

I am now sure that I have a screw loose some place in  my head.  Whoever thought it would be fun to run two giveaways at once?!?  Well, me, of course.  I never expected to receive almost 600 comments between the two giveaways.  I'm still working on responding to each comment left plus I have comments to respond to left for me on my Wednesday post.  Now don't get me wrong.  I'm glad to have so much participation in the giveaways and I love reading all of the comments but talk about overload.  Whew!  Never again will I have two giveaways going at the same time.  And you know what?  I have another giveaway to run next week for the Traveling Stash.  Sometimes I never learn.

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Snowflake

Some parts of the country have already seen snow this year. Others will soon be watching fluffy white flakes drift from the sky.  I won't be one of those lucky ones.  We only receive snow about once every seven to 10 years and so far it's been much too warm.  Here are some interesting facts about those little beauties:

* Every snowflake has its own unique shape and is different than all other snowflakes.

* All snowflakes have six sides.

* Snowflakes aren't always white. Years ago, when coal was used in factories and homes, snow was often gray. Why? Because the coal dust entered the air and was absorbed by the clouds.

* The largest snowflakes ever recorded fell in the state of Montana. The snowflakes were 15 inches in diameter.  (Can you imagine?)

* The snow capital of the United States is Stampede Pass in Washington State. Each year, the average snowfall is 430 inches.

* In Prince Edward Island, Canada, where the soil is red clay, snowflakes often look pink. Why? Because red dust from the soil is blown into the air and absorbed by the clouds

* The average snowflake falls at a speed of 3.1 miles per hour. (5 kilometers)

* People buy more cakes, cookies and candies than any other food when a blizzard is in the forecast.

* Billions of snowflakes fall during one short snowstorm.

* Snowflakes are made up of ice crystals

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SECRET SANTA SOIREE

In October I signed up to participate in the Secret Santa Soiree being hosted by the Coloradolady.  Tuesday a package arrived in the mail......

hmmmmm......only a return address (Colorado) - no name.  Now my curiosity got the better of me and I just had to open it........

Look at all those goodies!  And isn't the button and thread tissue paper adorable?  But do you know what I first noticed?  The wonderful scent of cinnamon!  My favorite!!

Ten little gifts in all!  WOW!  And the cutest little card letting me know these were from my Secret Santa.

WOW!  My Secret Santa did a wonderful job and must have done some research on me.  She knew that my favorite Christmas decoration is snowmen.  There is the most darling snowman with the green fleece hat and scarf and real buttons down his front and a cute  little snowman ornament with blanket stitching on his hat.  There was also a pretty ornament made from ribbon and scrap fabrics (far left), and a darling knitted or crocheted pincushion that looks like a cactus.  And there is what was giving off the wonderful scent of cinnamon - two Holiday Cinnamon candles.  SS also included four fat quarters - two white on white (they didn't really show up in the picture) and two Christmas prints (designed by Sweetwater).  Also included was a set of 6 handmade note cards that have two different hexagons sewn to the front of each card.  I'll use these for special notes to very special people.  And last but definitely not least is a Bordeaux bar from See's.  My absolute favorite and it was quickly devoured soon after its arrival.

Thank you, my Secret Santa, whoever you are!!!!  And thank you to Suzanne for making the Secret Santa Soiree a huge success!!

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IT'S TIME TO VOTE

I have entered my Christmas quilt in this week's Quilting Gallery contest. 

The title of it is Christmas Mystery.  When you go to vote, if you choose to vote for mine, be careful because there is one that looks just like mine.  Mine is NOT the first one.  Mine is the 9th quilt down.  There are loads of gorgeous entries this week with a grand total of 67 submissions from 14 different countries!  Please take the time to look over all the gorgeous entries, and if you see fit, please cast a vote for my Christmas Mystery by going HERE.

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BEE BLOCK

I recently completed a block for one of the hostesses for Let's Bee Together in December.....

Marta sent out Christmas fabrics for us to work with and requested a star block - any star block.  I finally decided on Go Along Block #2 and changed it up just a bit.  Instead of making the points all the same color, I alternated between the two prints.  She also requested that we write our name and state on the block, which I did before it was mailed.

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TODAY'S GOAL

Hopefully today I will finish responding to all the wonderful comments left in the giveaways!

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GIVEAWAYS

Tattered Garden is having a giveaway.  You could win  enough Apple Cores to make your very own Apple Core quilt.  This giveaway ends Saturday, December 24.

Sew Kiki is having a giveaway.  You could win an Aurifil sampler pack!  This giveaway ends Wednesday, December 21.

Canton Village Quilt Works is having a giveaway.  You could win 10 beautiful fat quarters.  This giveaway ends Sunday, December 18, at 10:00 pm EST.

All About Applique is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of A Year In The Life Of Sunbonnet Sue by Christine Porter and Darra Williamson.  This giveaway ends Sunday, December 18, at 7:00 pm.

Hawthorne Threads is having their weekly giveaway.  You could win a Joyful Garden fat quarter bundle.  This giveaway ends  Wednesday, December 21.

Thru The Red Door is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of Tilda's Christmas Ideas, a fat quarter of Christmas red felted wool, a pack of charm squares by Sandy Klop for Moda, some spotty red and white ribbon, Cosmo 2 strand thread and Cosmo hanks in Christmas reds and greens, and some lovely red fabrics as well as fat quarters of delicious green linens.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, December 21, Melbourne time.

Quilt Story is having a giveaway.  You could win a $40 credit to Five Monkey Fabrics.  This giveaway ends Monday, December 19.

Just a quick reminder to enter my giveaways if you haven't already.  Go HERE and HERE to enter.  They end very, very soon!

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FINAL THOUGHT

Christmas Flowers

Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.
 ~Peg Bracken

Have you all made it through the seemingly endless list of giveaways the last couple of days?  I'm not even half way through Quilting Gallery's Party Blog Hop with Giveaways and have barely put a dent in Sew, Mama, Sew! Giveaway Day.  There's just not enough hours in the day!  I have found some 'new to me' blogs that I have begun following that look like a lot of fun.  I'm way behind on responding to comments left for my giveaways.  Where was my brain when I decided to run two giveaways at the same time?  And once those are through, I have another giveaway coming up for the Traveling Stash.  Oh my! 

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Candy Canes

One of the most often seen symbols of Christmas is the candy cane. Not only are candy canes used as a sweet Christmastime treat but they are also used for decoration. How did this seasonal candy get its familiar shape, and when did it become part of Christmas tradition?

When the practice of using Christmas trees to celebrate Christmas became popular in Europe the people there began making decorations for their trees. Many of the decorations were food items including cookies and candy. Our modern candy cane appeared at about this time in the seventeenth century. These were straight, white sticks of sugar candy.
Part of the Christmas celebration at the Cologne Cathedral were pageants of living creches. In about 1670 the choirmaster there had sticks of candy bent into the shape of a shepherd’s crook and passed them out to children who attended the ceremonies. This became a popular tradition, and eventually the practice of passing out the sugar canes at living creche ceremonies spread throughout Europe.
The use of candy canes on Christmas trees made its way to America by the 1800′s, however during this time they were still pure white. They are represented this way on Christmas cards made before 1900, and it is not until the early 20th century that they appear with their familiar red stripes.
Many people have given religious meaning to the shape and form of the candy cane. It is said that its shape is like the letter “J” in Jesus’ name. It is also in the shape of the shepherds’ crook, symbolic of how Jesus, like the “Good Shepherd” watches over his children like little lambs. It is a hard candy, solid like a “rock”, the foundation of the Church. The flavor of peppermint is similar to another member of the mint family, hyssop. In the Old Testament hyssop was used for purification and sacrifice, and this is said to symbolize the purity of Jesus and the sacrifice he made.

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FINAL CHRISTMAS FLOWERS

I  have decided after these two flowers, I am not going to make anymore Christmas flowers.  After all, this isn't a Christmas quilt.

This flower is ablaze with Christmas candles.  It could almost be a Halloween flower with the colors that are in it.

Since we have two miniature dachshunds as part of our family, I just couldn't pass up the fabric with the doxie wearing a Santa hat.  This pup reminds me of our very first mini doxie, Schnitzel.  He was a red, short haired and oh so very smart.

Karen (over at Journey of a Quilter) has organized One Flower Wednesday and provides a linky for all of to share our hexagon flowers.  If you would like to see more flowers out there in blogland, just click HERE.

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I will continue working on my Gardener's Journal

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GIVEAWAYS

Want It, Need It, Quilt is having a giveaway.  You could win a California Girl Layer Cake by Fig Tree Quilts.  This giveaway ends Saturday, December 31.

Jolly Jabber is having a giveaway.  You could win Blackbird Designs’s Designer Select Fat Quarter Bundle.  This giveaway ends Friday, December 16.

Sew Kiki is having a giveaway.  You could win a $25 gift certificate to Fat Quarter Shop.  This giveaway ends Monday, December 19.

The Jolly Jabber is having a giveaway.  You could win a mini mason jar pincushion sewing kits from Caroline Simas.  This giveaway ends Saturday, December 17.

Annie's Ruby Slipperz is having her Mystery Monday giveaway.  You could win 5 fat quarters and a pattern by Rosalie Asby.  This giveaway ends Saturday, December 17, at midnight MT.

I currently have two giveaways running.  First click HERE for a chance at a table runner kit from Connecting Threads.  Then click HERE for a chance at a Pure charm pack.

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FINAL THOUGHT

Posted by Bonnie of Quiltville on FB 12/10/11......

Giveaway Day!

There aren't enough days in the weekend.
  ~Rod Schmidt

I'm so glad it's Monday!  We were so busy this weekend that we barely had time to enjoy DH's two days off from work.  We left the house at 9:30 Saturday morning and didn't return until 4:30 except to drop off a few perishables.  DH was kind enough to order dinner delivered from a local Chinese restaurant because I was in no mood to cook.  Sunday started a bit more leisurely as I took my time perusing the local paper.  We spent the rest of the morning wrapping gifts and boxing them in preparation for shipping out this morning.  Added to that was the normal 5 loads of wash and a bit of straightening up and you have the total of our weekend.  I'm looking to a more peaceful and quiet day today!  How was your weekend?

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Poinsettia

Today is Poinsettia Day!  All year long there’s hardly a poinsettia to be found, and then suddenly the holiday season rolls around and POOF these bright red plants are showing up in homes and offices all over the country. Here are some fun facts to help you celebrate this day:

* Did you know that the poinsettia's main attraction is not its flowers, but its leaves? The flowers of the plant are the yellow clustered buds in the center. The colored leafy parts are actually bracts or modified leaves.

* Poinsettias come in a variety of colors from red, salmon, and apricot to yellow, cream, and white. There are also unusual speckled or marbled varieties like "Jingle Bells" and "Candy Cane" with several colors blended together.

* Although every state in the United States grows poinsettias commercially, California is the top producer with about 27 million pots grown, followed by Texas, North Carolina, Ohio, and Michigan, each with about 14 million pots.

* Did you know that in the wild, the poinsettia can reach heights of 12 feet with leaves measuring six to eight inches across? It is actually a small tropical tree belonging to the Euphorbia plant family.

* In the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries, the Aztecs used the poinsettia leaves to dye fabric for clothing and the sap for medicinal purposes

* True or False? The poinsettia is a poisonous plant. If you answered false, you're correct. The plant has been tested repeatedly and cleared of this charge by the National Poison Center in Atlanta, Georgia, and the American Medical Association. The POINSINDEX Information Service, the main information resource for poison control centers across the country, reports that even if a 50-pound child consumed more than 500 poinsettia bracts--the amount tested in scientific experiments--the consequences would not be fatal. Even at this high level, no toxicity was found.

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MINIS ALL READY FOR GIVING

I finally finished up the two little mini quilts we are giving as a gift to my SIL and BIL.....

First is this snowflake.  I was going to go with a Christmas theme but since the time for decorating will basically be over by the time they open it, I figured I should go with something more neutral like winter.

Then I decided the next holiday to create a mini for was Easter.  What better way to celebrate than with an Easter basket filled with a dyed egg and chocolate bunny.  Both of these little quilts measure 6 1/2 inches square.  They will hang on a table top wire stand.  I found the patterns for the applique at Fat Cat Patterns and shrunk them down to fit on the size block I wanted.  I now need to get these wrapped and in the mail.

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GIVEAWAY DAY !

This giveaway is now closed!

Sew, Mama, Sew! has once again organized Giveaway Day and I am happy to be participating.  I'm going to giveaway away......

A charm pack of Pure by Sweetwater for Moda.  This is a package of forty-two 5" squares.  In case you don't know what fabrics are included in the Pure line, here is a sample picture:

How can you win this charm pack of Pure?  Easy!  Just leave me a comment telling me whether you have a furry friend(s) in your family and what their name is.  If you don't have a furry friend, then tell me what your favorite animal is.

Rules:

1.  Only one comment per person

2.  You must leave me some way to contact you.  If you are a No-Reply blogger, please include your email address in your comment.  If I can't contact you, you can not win.  If you aren't sure if you are a No-Reply blogger, check out the info in my left sidebar.

3.  This giveaway is open to everyone - yes, that means international.

4.  This giveaway will end Friday, December 16, at 5:00 pm PST.

5.  The winner will be selected with the help of random.org and posted Saturday, December 17, no later than noon.

Now that you've entered my giveaway, don't forget to go to Sew, Mama, Sew! and check out all of the other giveaways!

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I will continue working on my Gardener's Journal quilt

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GIVEAWAYS

Normally I post giveaways I find here while blog hopping.  However, with today's Sew, Mama, Sew! Giveaway Day and Friday's Party Hop Blog with Giveaways, I figured you had enough to keep you busy.  But don't forget to enter my giveaway from Friday (just in case you missed it) - you can enter that giveaway HERE.

I will return to my normal list of giveaways on Wednesday.

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FINAL THOUGHT

It's Party Time!

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.
~Burton Hillis

Every time I look at the calender I'm a little surprised how close Christmas is.  I think I have all of my shopping done and am only waiting on a few more things to be delivered.  Next I have all the wrapping to do.  Hopefully I will get some wrapping done this weekend - at least the ones that need to be sent to our daughter's family in New Mexico.  We thought about having Amazon wrap the packages and then have them sent directly to her but it was going to cost around $60 to have that done and then there were a couple that wouldn't be wrapped because they were being shipped directly from the seller. (Wow, that sentence was way too long - lol!)   I think we can beat that price in shipping alone.  Maybe I can convince DH to help with the wrapping - he does a beautiful job.  Are all of your gifts wrapped, sent and/or under the tree?

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Christmas Cards

Today is Christmas Card Day!
Christmas Cards originally started as letters sent from school children to their families around the holidays. Christmas Cards as we know them today began to be seen after the invention of the steam press in the 1840s.
The first cards printed in England specifically for use at Christmas were designed by John Horsley in 1843 and were sold at Felix Summerly's Home Treasury Office. They featured the greeting, "A Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You."
The first signs of people mailing cards to each other in the United States occurred around 1845. Until 1875 Americans had to import their Christmas Cards from Europe, but in 1875 that changed when a German immigrant by the name of Louis Prang published the first line of U.S. Christmas Cards.

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DECEMBER FINALLY FINISHED

I finally finished my December mini quilt and was able to put Mr Turkey away......

Santa was a fun little quilt to make.  It ended up measuring 12 1/2" X 12 1/2".  His cheeks are supposed to be rosy and created with crayons but I don't have any crayons in the house :(  This is a pattern from Count On It by Nancy Halvorsen.  Santa is hanging on his wire stand ready to greet everyone who enters our home.

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IT'S BLOG HOP PARTY TIME!

This giveaway is now closed!

Michele over at Quilting Gallery has organized a great Blog Hop Party again this year.  Last I looked, there were over 200 participants!  That's a lot of giveaways!  I'm participating, too.  What am I giving away?  Well, how about........

A Connecting Threads table runner kit!  The pattern is called Louisa May Table Runner and measures 16" X 32".  Included with the pattern is.......

this gorgeous assortment of fabric.  There are five fat quarters (hmmmm....I see one didn't get in the picture but it is in the package) plus two 1/2 yard cuts of the fabric on the right.  This is enough fabric to make the completed table runner - top, bottom and binding.

How can you win?  Simple!  Just leave me one comment telling me what you will be serving for Christmas dinner.  My answer would be - "I don't serve Christmas dinner.  We always go over to my SIL's and I ALWAYS bring the fruit salad ambrosia".

RULES

1.  Only one comment per person. 

2.  You must leave me a way to contact you.  If you are a No-Reply blogger, then please leave your email address in  your comment.  If I can't reach you, you CAN NOT win.  If you are unsure if you are No-Reply blogger, check out the info in my left sidebar.

3. This giveaway is open to everyone - yes, that means internationally.

3.  This giveaway will end on Saturday, December 17, at 4:00 pm PST.  The winner will be announced on Sunday, December 18, no later than noon.

After you have entered my giveaway, remember to click on the link above or HERE to take you to all of the other giveaways.  The list of links will be available Saturday morning, shortly after midnight.  Happy blog hopping!!

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I hope to start cutting fabric for my Gardener's Journal quilt

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GIVEAWAYS
(These are not part of the Blog Hop Party)

Dye Candy is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of The Wedding Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini or Chris's stained glass snowflake ornament or a $25.00 credit toward the purchase of Chris's quilt jewelry pieces or hand dyed fabrics from my Dye Candy shop.  This giveaway ends Saturday, December 10, at 7:00 pm.

The Q and the U is having a giveaway.  You could win a signed copy of Riel's novel The Town That Drowned.  This giveaway ends Sunday, December 11, at 7:00 pm AST.

Art Nest is having a giveaway.  You could win a quilt made by Susannah on her new machine.  This giveaway ends towards the end of December.

Notions is having a giveaway.  You could win two fat quarter samplers of Just Desserts from Connecting Threads.  This giveaway ends Sunday, December 11, at 11:59 pm.

I Have A Notion is having a giveaway.  You could win a signed copy of Square-agonals or a Square-agonals pattern.  This giveaway ends Monday, December 12.

Toad U Sew is having a giveaway.  You could win a Blue and White Triplets Kit.  This giveaway ends Monday, December 12.

McCall's Quilting is having a giveaway.  You could win a fat quarter pack of Moda Christmas-themed fabrics.  This giveaway ends Monday, December 12.

Quilt Hollow is having a giveaway.  You could win two patterns from the designer, Debbie Allen.  This giveaway ends Sunday, December 11.

Hawthorne Threads is having their weekly giveaway.  You could win  a Mod Tod fat quarter bundle.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, December 14.

American Quilting is having a giveaway.  You could win six Christmas fat quarters.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, December 14, at midnight.

Canton Village Quilt Works is having a giveaway.  You could win 11 fat quarters of Kaffe Fassett's Aboriginal Dot fabric.  This giveaway ends Sunday night, December 11.

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FINAL THOUGHT

Flowers Galore

Oh sleep! it is a gentle thing,
Beloved from pole to pole.
~Samuel Taylor Coleridge
 
Winter has definitely arrived here - at least in the mornings.  We have been down around or just below freezing every morning for almost a week now.  In the morning inside the house it gets down to 55 to 58 degrees.  Makes for great sleeping weather.  We are some of those strange people that turn off the heater and open the windows at night.  I love waking up during the night with a cold nose.  I just snuggle under the covers, turn up my side of the heated pad, pull a dog (a living, little heater) up next to me and sleep the night away.  The only drawback is it forces you to make very quick trips to the bathroom when nature calls during the middle of the night. LOL!  I can't sleep in a warm house so winter is the best.  Do you sleep with the windows open or do you run your heater all night?

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Cotton Candy

Today, November 7, is National Cotton Candy Day.  I can't remember the last time I ate some of the melt in your mouth spun sugar.  Here are a few fun facts about this sugary delight:

* Cotton Candy was originally called Fairy Floss

* There is only ONE ingredient in cotton candy - sugar

* There is not even enough sugar to provide the person eating it cavities

*  there is only just as much sugar because there is in a can of soda

* This sweet treat was introduced by four men named Thomas Patton, Josef Delarose Lascaux, John C. Wharton and William Morrison. Morris and Wharton could patent the very first cotton candy machine in 1899.

* Cotton Candy made its major debut at the 1904 World's Fair

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SENDING HEXIES

Today I will be sending out hexie flowers to my December swap partner in the Inchy Hexagon Flower Swap.

Marie requested flowers in lilacs or dark red.  I think these two fit that request.  These flowers are headed for Denmark.

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CUTE FLOWERS!

I was Melody's December swap partner for the Inchy Hexagon Flower Swap.  She must have received her swap information early because these arrived on the same day that I received the swap information.....

Aren't these flowers adorable?!?!  Both flowers will be wonderful additions to my Grandmother's Flower Garden/I Spy quilt.  Melody also included a piece of fabric that will definitely be made into hexies, some darling buttons, and a pretty handmade card.  Thank you so much, Melody, for everything!!!

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WEDNESDAY'S FLOWERS

Over the weekend I created two more flowers of my own......

Since I love to cross stitch I decided to add this bright flower to my collection.  The fabric itself is rather thin but I like the look of the bright orange stitches on the bright pink background.  Can you see the shadow cross stitches in the center?

Do you recognize this fabric?  I made this flower from the fat quarter I won from Barbara.  There are so many I Spy characters all on one flower.  I think my favorite petal is the snake with the funny expression on his face.

To see more hexie flowers out there in blogland, Karen has graciously supplied us with a linky to make browsing so easy.  Just go HERE to look for more flowers.

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FAT QUARTERS

Recently I was the lucky winner of Annie's Ruby Slipperz Mystery Monday giveaway where I won 5 fat quarters......

Aren't these gorgeous?  Annie asked what color(s) I would like and I told her I was sadly lacking in oranges and reds.  Each week Annie has a Mystery Monday where you can learn something new and enter her giveaway.  It's lots of fun, and who knows, you could be the next lucky winner of 5 fat quarters.  Thank you, Annie!

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I plan to make a block for December's Bee In Oz hostess.

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GIVEAWAYS

Lily Pad Quilting is having a giveaway.  You could win 12 fat quarters and a panel of darling penguins.  This giveaway ends Thursday, December 8.

Kelbysews is having a giveaway.  Kelly is ready to send the Traveling Stash on its way to a new home.  This giveaway ends Friday, December 9, at 11:00 pm.

Jackie's Art Quilts is having a giveaway.  You could win a bundle of Jackie's hand dyed fabric - Pastel Petal collection.  This giveaway ends Friday, December 9.

SewCalGal is having a giveaway.  You could win MyMemories software.  This giveaway ends Friday, December 9.

Alderwood Quilts is having a giveaway.  You could win a Christmas Jewel pattern designed by Jacqueline de Jonge.  This giveaway ends Thursday, January 12, 2012. 

The Intrepid Thread is having a giveaway.  You could win Petal Pushers fat quarters.  This giveaway ends Friday, December 9, at midnight.

World Of Charity Stitching is having a sponsored giveaway.  You could win a jelly roll of Moda's Chrysalis by Sanae generously donated by Quilting Lodge.  This giveaway ends Sunday, December 11.

Fairy Face Designs is having a giveaway.  You could win a bundle of 6 metric FQs of Circa 1934.  This giveaway ends Friday, December 9, at 9pm Irish time.

KoolBenz is having a giveaway.  You could win  your choice of 10 Fat Quarters by Jane Sassaman's Early Birds from Cotton Blossom Farm.  This giveaway ends Friday, December 9, at midnight EST.

Annie's Ruby Slipperz is having her Mystery Monday giveaway.  You could win 5 fat quarters.  This giveaway ends Saturday, December 10, at midnight MT.

The Quilting Booklady is having a giveaway.  You could win 2 charm packs of Ruby.  This giveaway ends Monday, December 12, at 5:00 pm EST.


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FINAL THOUGHT

Sharing Stitcheries and Stories

Automobiles are not ferocious.... it is man who is to be feared.
~Robbins B. Stoeckel

Wow!  I now know why I do most of my shopping online.  We had to do some actual in-store shopping on Saturday and I couldn't believe the crowds.  We ventured into Bed, Bath, and Beyond and I felt like a mouse in a maze.  Between the people and the crowded aisles, we constantly had to change direction to get where we wanted to be.  There definitely wasn't room for two carts going in opposite directions and people must have had blinders on not to see that they were blocking progress for other shoppers with their carts.  And the crazy December drivers were out in force too.  Why is it this time of year people are in such a hurry that they forget parking lot etiquette?  I really like to try to support the local shops but this time of year I will have to go back to shopping online.  Did you find the same thing happening in your area over the weekend?

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Dice

Sunday, November 4, was National Dice Day.  I totally missed it.  Dice have been used to wager long before Vegas was a twinkle in a hotel magnate's eye. An archaeological dig yielded dice that were 5,000 years old, proving that even the ancients liked to gamble.  Here's a few more facts about dice:

* Traditional dies are cube-shaped, and have six sides. Each of the six sides is numbered from one to six

* The circular dots are called pips

* Early dice were made from the ankle bones of hoofed animals.  They were also referred to as "knucklebones". The statement "Roll the Bones" alludes to this.
* The Roman Goddess, Fortuna, was believed responsible for the outcome of a dice throw.  Fortuna was the god of luck in Roman Mythology. She was often referred to as "Lady Luck".

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MORE STITCHERY

 My sewing machine has been sitting patiently waiting for me to return.  I have been busy trying to finish up the stitcheries for my Gardener's Journal quilt.  Here are some more stitcheries and their stories......

The stitchery on the left is called Birds In The Tree and will measure 3 1/2" X 7 1/2".  The stitchery on the right is called Lawn Mower and will measure 2 1/2" X 5 1/2".  Here is there story:

"Lawn Mower Man................Harold tells me he loves to mow the lawn (I've yet to see any evidence of this). He likes to get in touch with Mother -Nature and embrace the earth. He especially loves to mow a week before Christmas and the day before his mother-in-law turns up. He gets so excited it takes him six months to recover. Yet another reason why I married him."

The stitchery on the left is called Flower Basket and will measure 2 1/2" X 3 1/2".  The stitchery on the right is called weather vane and will measure the same as the Flower Basket.  The story also includes......

this stitchery called Dog House.  It will measure 3 1/2" X 4 1/2" when cut down to size.  Here is the story for these three blocks:

"The Dog House........I think we have a rabid greenie in the family. I have noticed 'Woof' has been relieving himself on every patch of flowers I have planted. I have no problems using natural organic products in my garden however I feel 'Woof' needs to have a few lessons in the correct dilution procedure in mixing his sprays. I have had to chain him up and I'm sure I saw him giving me the peace sign with his doggy paw."

The story will continue and hopefully I will have the last stitchery completed today!

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FAT QUARTER WIN

A while back I won Cat Patches Fun Fact Friday Freebee.  Barbara sent me a darling fat quarter.....

Isn't it just too cute?  I foresee several hexie flowers being made from this fat quarter.  Thank you so very much, Barbara!!

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I hope to finish up at least one of the little, tiny mini quilts I'm making for a Christmas gift.

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GIVEAWAYS

Lisnaweary Quilts is having a giveaway.  You could win a GO! Baby Cutter and 3 dies.  This giveaway ends Sunday, December 11, at midnight GMT.

Growing Stitches is having a giveaway.  Sara is ready to send the Traveling Stash on its way again.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, December 13.

Hawthorne Threads is having a giveaway.  You could win an Echo fat quarter bundle.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, December 7.

Quilting By The River is having a giveaway.  You could win mini ruler/template board and an Easy Angle ruler.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, December 7, at midnight CST.

Cat Patches is having her weekly Fun Fact Friday Freebie giveaway.  You could win a fat quarter.  The winner will be announced Friday, December 9.

From The Blue Chair is having a giveaway.  You could win an item of your choice from Story Snuggles.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, December 7, at 8:00 am MT.

Happy Quilting is having a giveaway.  You could win an entire fat quarter bundle of Deb Strain's Coming Home from Green Fairy Quilts.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, December 7.

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FINAL THOUGHT

This was shared by my friend, Karen, via email......

Well, the Church threw my cookies out of the bake sale again.

It's Time To Vote

It's time to go over to SewCalGal's 2011 Christmas Quilt Show and place your votes.  There are 104 Christmas and Winter entries - so many beautiful creations.  Votes need to be made by the end of Sunday. Winners will be announced on Tuesday December 6th. And if you vote you will be entered in the drawing of wonderful prizes.  Go HERE to place your vote.

My entry for the Christmas theme is #48. If you like my Christmas quilt I would certainly appreciate your vote :)

Have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you all on Monday.



A New Month

“How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?”
 – Dr. Seuss

Yesterday was the start of a new month.  A month that also marks the end of another year.  December certainly ushered in cooler weather here with its arrival.  We reached a high of only 49 degrees, which is more typical of late January here.  It was definitely a day for Toasty Toes, sweats, and to have a quilt on my lap all day.  I have spent so much time on the computer this week that I'm ready to give it a rest over the weekend.  The one good thing is I have just about all of my Christmas shopping done - woohoo!!  We don't have any big plans this weekend.  We will definitely be visiting the Farmer's Market and will probably run a couple of errands, but other than that, it's a stay at home weekend.  Do you have big plans for the weekend?

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

December

December.  Just what is interesting about this month?  Well, let's see....

* The name December comes from the Latin decem for “ten”, as it was the 10th month in the Roman Calendar

* The term Yuletide (’yule monath’) comes from a Norse tradition of cutting and burning a huge tree on December 21st. It was supposed to symbolize the winter solstice, bring good luck and burn throughout the 12 day winter festival, known later as the 12 days of Christmas

* Birthstones for the calendar month of December are turquoise, blue topaz, tanzanite, zircon, lapis, onyx, ruby, and chrysoprase.
* December’s birth flower is the Paper White Narcissus. The narcissus, which symbolizes self esteem

Hmmmmm.......not much to share about this new month.  Well, hopefully next time  I will have something a bit more interesting.

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BEE BLOCKS

Last month I made 3 blocks for Let's Bee Together hostesses.  One more than normal but then one was actually a late one for October.......

I just love the fabric that Toni sent for us to work on last month.  This Modified Irish Chain was the perfect block to set off the fussy cut center.

Lana sent out these warm colored fabrics to create a "Man Quilt".  This New Album block worked up quickly.

Staci sent out different Denise Schmidt fabrics for us to work with.  This Flyfoot block looks harder than it really is.  And to make it even simpler, Staci included Triangles On A Roll for for making all the HST.

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BLOG HOP PARTY & GIVEAWAY DAY

Quilting Gallery is celebrating their 4th birthday with a Blog Hop Party.  It sounds like so much fun that I've decided to participate.  How can you join in the fun?  Host a give-away on your blog starting December 9th and lasting until December 17th. What you choose to give-away and how you wish to run the give-away, is totally up to you.  Use this as an opportunity to spread some Holiday Cheer, thank your regular blog readers and make some new quilting friends.   To participate just register your blog HERE.

It’s time for The Original, the big, the amazing… Giveaway Day! organized by Sew, Mama, Sew!   Mark your calendar for Monday, December 12th!  Giveaway Day is a HUGE event she coordinates where everyone with a shop or blog can give something away.  It will actually last all week instead of just one day as in the past.  To find out all the details, just click on the link above or on the button in the right sidebar.

This is another fun event I will be participating in.  There will be giveaways all over blogland that week.

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I need to get started on a 6" applique block for a small display hanging gift.

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GIVEAWAYS

Rsisland Crafts is having a giveaway.  You could win a Christmas stocking full of goodies.  This giveaway ends Monday, December 5.

Love Affair With My Brother is having a giveaway.  You could win a set of flannel from Fabric Shoppe.  This giveaway ends Monday, December 5, at 11:59 pm PST.

Jolly Jabber is having a giveaway.  You could win an 8 yard Dessert Party bundle.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, December 6, at midnight PST.

Samelia's Mum is having a giveaway.  You could win a charm pack of Meadow Friends.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, December 7, at midday AEST.

FabricWorm is having their weekly giveaway.  You could win a custom bundle of 10 fat quarters in pink and yellow.  This giveaway ends Monday, December 5, at 8:30 am PST.

Kool Benz is having a giveaway.  You could win a $25 shopping credit to Skye Reve Fabrics.  This giveaway ends tonight, Friday, December 2, at midnight EST.

One More Quilt is having a giveaway.  You could win 11-count throw size (45" x 66") afghan cloth with free cross stitch design.  This giveaway ends Saturday, December 3 at 10:00 am.

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FINAL THOUGHT