It's Heart Day

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Hugs,

Catching Up On Blocks

Follow your passion, and success will follow you. 
~Terri Guillemets

Friday night we did our monthly run to Costco and Walmart.  We were only able to purchase about half the things on our list at Walmart.  The person working the register said the last three days had been like the Christmas rush.  Is there something big happening that I don't know about?  Saturday we ran errands, I had blood drawn by an excellent phlebotomist (no pain, success with the first stick!), attended an ALS support group meeting, and gave Snickerdoodle a bath.  Sunday was much more laid back and I was able to get some stitching in along with 5 loads of wash.  Now that Monday's here, I'm ready to get back to the sewing machine and maybe get some more stitching in.  What will you be working on this week?

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FUN FACT OF THE DAY

Cats

Cats.  Some people adore them while others truly detest them.  Here are some interesting facts about those adorable furballs with sharp nails:

* Groups of kittens are “kindles,” while groups of adult cats are “clowders

* On average, cats spend 2/3 of every day sleeping. That means a nine-year-old cat has been awake for only three years of its life

* Cats paw (repeatedly treading on a spot - often it's owner) to mark their territory. Cats sweat through the bottom of their paws and rub this off as a marking mechanism

* Cats have 230 bones in their bodies, this is 24 more than humans

* The print on a cat's nose is like that of a fingerprint of a human, each is unique

* The oldest cat ever is/was Creme Puff who was born on August 3, 1967 and lived until August 6, 2005. That's 38 years!

* The longest whisker on a cat measured 17.4 cm (6.8 in) on July 30, 2004 and belong to Mingo, a Maine coon (also the biggest breed of domesticated cats)

* A cat can jump up to five times its own height in a single bound

* Cats have 32 muscles that control the outer ear (humans have only 6). A cat can independently rotate its ears 180 degrees

* The world record for the cat with most toes belongs to Jake Perry of  Austin, Texas, who has 28 toes, with 7 on each paw. (Cats with more than 5 toes on a paw is called polydactyl cats)  

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BLOCKS

I am behind on sharing blocks that I have made for Bees and swaps.  Here are a few that I have made over the last couple of months....

This was a block I made for Anne Mc, my December swap partner in Quilting Block Swaps Australia.  Anne requested a Log Cabin block in blues and greens.  I was happy with the way this block turned out and Anne was happy with it too.

Karen, my January swap partner in Block Swap Adventure, requested a Signature Star in blacks and reds.  This block certainly makes a bold statement.  Karen said that this was just what she was looking for.

Lynette was my January swap partner in Quilting Block Swaps Australia.   Lynette requested the Solomons Star block in blues and whites.  I had never made this block before and will use this design again. 

I have more blocks to share but will do so at a later time.

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I need to sew labels on the Loving Hands quilts I will be turning in on Thursday.

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GIVEAWAYS

Swim, Bike, Quilt is having a giveaway.  You could win a $25 gift certificate to Burgandy Buttons.  This giveaway ends ?

Hawthorne Threads is having their weekly giveaway.  You could win an Amy Butler Lark fat quarter bundle.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, February 15.

My Sister Made Me Do It is having a giveaway.  She is ready to send the Traveling Stash on the road again.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, February 14.

Lily's Quilts is having a giveaway.  You could win a Colourbox of Oakshott shot cottons of 100 F8ths.  This giveaway ends Friday, February 24.


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

Val Laird is having a giveaway.  You could win country version of Val's Herb Garden wall-hanging, a sweet little Etui, a charm pack of Grace, and a few buttons and charms to embellish your stitching.  This giveaway ends Saturday, February 18, at midnight.


I Have A Notion is having a giveaway.  You could win a signed copy of Simple Choices.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, February 14. 


Kate n Libby is having a giveaway.  You could win a Lucky Seven pattern.  This giveaway ends Saturday, February 18.


Quilt Hollow is having a giveaway.  You could win win two or three Debbie Lofgran's Little Stitches patterns.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, February 15.

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FINAL THOUGHT

I just got my new mobile phone, - and it's one I understand how to operate!!!
At Last, a Mobile Phone for Seniors!

You REALLY have to be OLD to appreciate THIS joke.

A New Project

Happiness is never stopping to think if you are. 

~Palmer Sondreal

It's off to Costco and Walmart for our monthly shopping excursion.  It doesn't seem like it was four weeks ago that we were maneuvering the aisles but it has been and it's time to restock our shelves.  The weekend promises to be a busy one with both errands and a support group meeting.  We might have a little rain but I doubt that will happen.  The forecasters have been trying to make it rain here for the last week with no results.  We have trees in full bloom and the leaves are starting to show on the hydrangeas.  I think Spring is here whether I'm ready for it or not.  Is your weekend going to be wet, white or dry?

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Since I've been having trouble with allergies, how about some fun facts about sneezing.  Isn't the cartoon above funny?  Anyway, here are some of the facts I've found:

* Experts say that you cannot or one is incapable of sneezing while at sleep. In this stage, certain body neurons and reflexes indicators are not stimulated and therefore cannot send the required signal or signals to the brain

* How fast does a sneeze go? 100 miles per hour

* The person who holds the longest sneezing streak of being able to sneeze almost every minute was England’s Donna Griffiths. Her usual day was spent entirely on sneezing. She actually spent the 978 days of her life sneezing

* You cannot possibly sneeze with your eyes open (and don't you remember trying when you were young?)

* Saying “lamp” or “cucumber” repeatedly after sensing a sneeze to be coming, delays or stops it from happening

* Contrary to the myth that your heart stops beating when you sneeze, a scientific study further shows it actually does not

* “Bless You” is usually said soon after a person sneezes. This is believed to be an ancient practice when people used to believe that the soul escaped from the nose. In order to stop the devils from taking away the souls ‘bless you’ was widely said.

*About one in three people sneeze when exposed to bright lights, an inherited trait called photic sneezing or ACHOO (Autosomal Dominant Compelling Helio-Ophthalmic Outburst) Syndrome

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A NEW CCS

Monday I started a new counted cross stitch project......

Design:  Summer Sampler

Designer:  Sandy Orton for Kooler Design Studio

Fabric:  18 count cream Aida cloth

Fiber:  2 strands over 1

The colors are a bit bolder than what was pictured on the pattern cover but hopefully it will all look good at the end.

For those of you who don't stitch, here it is compared to a nickel so you can judge the size of the stitches.  Sorry it's a bit blurry but you get the idea.

You may be wondering why I'm using the same fabric as I did for my last project.  Well, I bought a roll of the Aida cloth when I found it at 1/2 price last year.  Couldn't pass up the deal!  My next project will be on linen.

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I will be working on my applique project and cut some fussy-cut hexies.

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GIVEAWAYS

American Quilting is having a giveaway.  You could win a Quilter’s Bunco kit.  This giveaway ends Monday, February 13, at midnight.  (You must live in Utah to enter this giveaway).

Piece N Quilt is having a giveaway.  You could win a $25 gift certificate to Green Fairy Quilts.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, February 14.

FabricWorm is having a giveaway.  You could win 8 Nature Inspired Fat Quarters.  This giveaway ends Monday, February 13, at 8:30 am PST.

Lavender Ridge is celebrating her 3rd blogiversary with a giveaway.  You could win two patterns (ends Tuesday, February 14), or 1 metre of fabric (ends Tuesday, February 21), or 4 fat quarters (ends Tuesday, February 28).  This giveaway ends on various dates.

A Quilting Life is having a giveaway.  You could win a $25 gift certificate to SkyeReve.  This giveaway ends Sunday, February 12, at midnight?

The Jolly Jabber is having a giveaway.  You could win 5 Rouenneries Deux Charm Packs.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, February 15.

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FINAL THOUGHT

Now doesn't that make you smile?

Have a wonderful weekend :)

Stones In My Garden

Always walk through life as if you have something new to learn and you will.
~Vernon Howard

I finally got around to cleaning up my sewing room.  Well, maybe I shouldn't call it cleaning as much as straightening.  I did put all the scraps away in their colorway totes and removed the piles from my cutting table.  It's  so nice not to have to move piles just to cut fabric.  I also started two new projects this week - one counted cross stitch and a raw edge applique.  It's always fun to start something new.  What are you working on this week?

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Lipsticks

I've never been a wearer of lipstick.  I can't seem to find a color that I really like.  And, besides, it gets in the way when you have to lick the end of a thread to get it through a needle's eye.  However, I did find some interesting little bits of information about lipstick:

* During the revolution wearing lipstick of any kind was taken as a sign that you sympathized with the aristocracy and could get you sent to the guillotine. This ended the era of men wearing lipstick. 

* During her heyday Elizabeth Taylor was so known for her siren red lipstick that, on certain movie sets, no one else was allowed to wear the color.

* Most lipsticks contain fish scales

* The first recorded evidence of lipstick use dates back to the Sumerian city of Ur, 2000 B.C.

* The most important ingredient which creates a shiny film after drying that does not smear easily is the caster oil.* Cosmetics giant Max Factor began life as a servant to Czar Nicholas. Max wasn't that into that. He needed to find a way to escape from the Royal household, so he used tubes of lipstick to make himself look sickly. He was taken to the infirmary, from which he escaped, and made his way to America

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MY GARDEN GROWS

Once again I didn't get any hexie flowers made for One Flower Wednesday but I did make stepping stones.....

Not a lot of fun but a necessary part of a garden.  And with some of these stepping stones I was able to  add to my Grandmother's Flower Garden/Eye Spy quilt top.......

The garden is growing ever so slowly.  Maybe a dose of fertilizer is necessary - lol!

This is where I worked in the garden over the weekend.  I see that the peace/rainbow flower didn't go on facing the correct way.  Oh well.  I think it will stay that way for now.

I was surprised to receive two hexie flowers in the mail.....

These flowers came from Beverly.  She was not my swap partner for February's Inchy Hexagon Flower Swap so it was quite a lovely surprise to receive these.  Beverly says that she is "hooked on the no template method of piecing" her hexagons.  She is much braver than me.  I need those templates to make sure everything stays accurate.  Thank you so very much, Beverly!

If you would like to see flowers that have been made this week, Karen has created a linky that will take you all over blogland to view beautiful flowers HERE.  Thank you, Karen!

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I will continue with the raw edge applique I'm working on.

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GIVEAWAYS

Fresh Lemons is having a giveaway.  You could win  10 fat quarters from Art Gallery’s Modernology line, sponsored by Jacqueline of Canton Village Quilt Works.  This giveaway ends Thursday, February 9.

Annie's Ruby Slipperz is having her weekly giveaway.  You could win 5 fat quarters.  This giveaway ends Saturday, February 11, at midnight MT.

Quiltscapes is having a giveaway.  You could win a kit to make a Drunkard's Path Table Topper.  This giveaway ends Saturday, February 11.

Quilting Ranny is having a giveaway.  You could win a cute tape measure, a pattern, or a darling bag.  This giveaway ends Saturday, February 11, at noon PST.


Hanging On By A Thread is having a giveaway.  You could win a needlebook.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, February 14.

Richard Quilts is having a giveaway.  You could win something handmade by Richard and his wife.  This giveaway ends on the day of his daughter's birth.

Cloth Stitched is having a giveaway.  You could win 4 FQs of the Far Meadow colorway of Aunt Edna by Denyse Schmidt or Picnic Parade FQs.  This giveaway ends Saturday, February 11.

All About Applique is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of Quilt Fiesta by Cheryl Lynch.  This giveaway ends Friday, February 10.

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FINAL THOUGHT

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

First CCS Completion for 2012

We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.

~Epictetus

It's too early in the year to be fighting allergies.  Isn't that supposed to start around March or April?  Not this year.  With the lack of rain and warmer temps, there is dust and dried plants and grasses.  And I'm starting the spring allergy fight.  I didn't even realize that my sinuses were stuffed until I bent over and suddenly felt dizzy yesterday morning.  Allergy meds are helping a bit and it's better than having the feeling of having a spacey head.  Between sneezing and moving a bit slower, it's hard to be motivated to sew.  But that's what I'm going to do anyway.  Looks like it's going to be a terrible allergy spring.

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Mosquito

 

 

Does the picture above give you the creeps?  For some reason this buzzing, blood sucking insect came to mind for the Fact Of The Day.  With summer fast approaching it's time to learn a little about these flying pests.

* Only female mosquitoes bite; using proteins from a blood meal to produce eggs. Most species can produce several batches of eggs during their lifetime

* The mosquito's visual picture, produced by various parts of its body, is an infrared view produced by its prey's body temperature

* The average life span of the female mosquito is 3 to 100 days; the male's is 10 to 20 days

* Most mosquitoes remain within 1 mile of their breeding site. A few species may range up to 20 miles or more

* Depending on temperature, mosquitoes can develop from egg to adult in as little as 4-7 days

* An adult female mosquito consumes about 5-millionths of a liter in a single blood meal.

* In the interest of science, Artic researchers uncovered their chests, arms, and legs and reported at many as 9000 mosquito bites per person, per minute.  At this rate, an unprotected human would half of his blood supply in approximately 2 hours.

 

 

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A CROSS STITCH FINISH

I finished my first cross stitch project for 2012 on Wednesday......

Design:  Cirque des Carreaux

Designer: Tracy Horner - Ink Circles

Fabric:  18 count cream Aida cloth

Fibers: 2 strands over 1 DMS #4240

Started:  November 2011

Completed: February 1, 2012

This is the first piece I've made using just one floss color, however it was variegated so it added a little bit of change throughout.  My favorite part about this piece is that no two designs are exactly alike - well, except for the three littlest designs.  It is sort of like a BOM in quilting.  Now I need to find a frame for it and get it hung on the wall.

I've gotten through about 2/3 of the floss colors, getting them organized and put away.  This is how I do that......

I created a sort of quilted floss binder.  I grabbed some fabric from my stash and quilted it.  Why did I quilt it with white thread?  Because that's what was on the machine.  I even tried my  hand at a binding that was totally machine stitched.  Not my favorite way to do a biding but since this is a strictly utility piece I went with it.

There is an internal flap for added protection for the floss.  This keeps it from flopping out the sides.

And here it is all opened.  I have added a lot more floss since I took this picture.  All floss is cut to approximately 20" lengths.  I know that all instructions say never to work with anything longer than 18" but I like the little bit of added length and have never had any troubles with it.  When I go to start a project I can select as few or as many strands as I wish of any color.  It is also easy to return any unused floss when I'm through.  I secured the top flaps with a Velcro square.  And, yes, you probably noticed that it's not black like it should have been but I had tan available.  Anyway, that's how I store my floss.

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TODAY'S GOAL

I'm going to finish up a Loving Hands quilt today.

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GIVEAWAYS

The Empty Nest is having a giveaway.  You could win a $30 gift certificate to Fashionable Fabrics.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, February 8, at midnight.

Samplings From a Blue Ribbon Gal is having a giveaway.  You could win a trio of Blue Ribbon Designs needlework charts.  This giveaway ends Saturday, February 4, at 11:59 pm.

Annie's Ruby Slipperz is having a giveaway.  She is ready to send one of the other Traveling Stash boxes on its way.  This giveaway ends Sunday, February 5, at midnight MT.

A Legacy of Stitches is having a giveaway.  You could win 40 charm squares.....all different and also a bit of fabric and a pre-cut wool snowman.  This giveaway ends Saturday, February 4.

Quilary is having a giveaway.  You could win a sewing kit made to your colour choice and a rainbow charm pack.  This giveaway ends Monday, February 20, at midnight AEST.

World of Charity Stitching is having a giveaway.  You could win a sampler pack of Aurifil threads.  This giveaway ends Friday, February 10.

Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is having a giveaway.  You could win a pdf. cross stitch pattern.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, February 14.

13 Woodhouse Road is having a giveaway.  You could win a $25 gift certificate to Fashionable Fabrics.  This giveaway ends Monday, February 6, at 8:00 am IST.

Happy Quilting is having a giveaway.  You could win a $200 gift certificate to Fat Quarter Shop.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, February 14.

Notions is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of Eleanor Burns' new book, Tales of First Ladies.  This giveaway ends Sunday, February 5, at 11:59 pm.

The House On The Side Of The Hill is celebrating her birthday with a giveaway. You could win a $25 gift certificate to Want It, Need It, Quilt.  This giveaway ends ?

Quilting Dreams is having a giveaway.  She is ready to send the Pass It On Box on its way.  This giveaway ends Sunday, February 5.

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FINAL THOUGHT

Doesn't it seem like this at times?

It's Wednesday!

Oh, wouldn't the world seem dull and flat with nothing whatever to grumble at?
~W.S. Gilbert

Last night I cut my finger.  Not badly but just enough to sting like crazy and to require a bandage.  And this had nothing to do with quilt making or stitching.  I received the cut from one of those infernal, tough plastic wrappings that so many things come in these days.  I think they should be outlawed!!  Or at least they should provide some sort of tear strip to allow the consumer to open the desired plastic to get to the item they purchased.  I know they super glue these packages together to prevent theft, but come on!  It took me ten minutes to get a package of razors open (multi pack from Costco) using a pair of scissors and lots of muscle.  It's just ridiculous that it should be almost impossible to penetrate.  Okay.  I feel better now.  I've had my rant for the day and now I can go sew :)

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Hands

Hands.  Where would be without them?  We probably wouldn't be doing much sewing or crafting of any sort.  However, I have seen some art work created by those who use their feet and I know of at least one quilter out there who uses her feet to create beautiful quilts.  Here are a few facts I dug up about hands:

* The skin on the palm of the hand has no fingerprints, hair or color pigmentation.

* Fingernails grow an average of 1/10 of an inch each month. Fingernails grow 4 times faster than toenails.
* There are no muscles in your fingers. The muscles that move your fingers are located in the palm and up in the mid forearm. They're connected to the finger bones by tendons which pull and move the fingers like the strings of a marionette.

* The Hand has been used as a symbol of protection since ancient times

* The longest Fingernails ever belonged to Shidhar Chillal. They were 20 feet, 2.25 inches! It took 48 years to grow them (GROSS!)
* 12.6% of all men are left-handed, while only 9.9% of all women are
* About a quarter of the motor cortex in the human brain (the part of the brain which controls all movement in the body) is devoted to the muscles of the hands.
* Structurally, fingernails are modified hairs.
* Each hand contains: 29 major and minor bones, 29 major joints, at least 123 named ligaments, 34 muscles which move the fingers and thumb, 48 nerves and 30 named arteries.

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WEDNESDAY'S FLOWERS

I  had the best intentions of 1) Putting some flowers into my garden, and 2) Making two new flowers for my garden.  Neither happened.  But today I can share two flowers I made for someone else......

Lara G is my swap partner for February in the Inchy Hexagon Flower Swap.  Lara requested purple/red - the more colorful the better.  I think these two flowers fill that request.  These will be making their way across the ocean to Australia in today's mail.

If you would like to check out more hexie flowers, be sure to visit Karen's One Flower Wednesday.  Karen provides with a linky and you can 'one stop browse'.  Thank you, Karen.

A few of you have asked how I am able to create my fussy cut flowers.  Without a see-through template, it would very difficult.  The company I bought my tool from is located in Australia and had to increase their shipping rates so it has become a rather pricey purchase.  However, my friend Mary, found a company in Ohio that has a hexagon template available.....

This allows you to see exactly what will appear on your flower petal.  With the cost of shipping, you can purchase this template for just over $10 (USA) from Schoolhouse Quilt Shoppe.  If you scroll about half way down the page you will find the 1" hexagon template.  There are other templates available too.  I'm not advertising nor endorsing this company, just putting the information out there for those who wanted to know.

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LITTLE BLOCKS

I'm a member of the 6" Block Swaps Australia.  I received these beautiful blocks from Ann.....

Ann said "I have just finished by Dear Jane quilt top so I enlarged 2 of the blocks and foundation pieced them for you".  Aren't they beautiful?!?   It  looks like they are different sizes but I think the color causes an optical illusion because they are both 6.5" square.  Aren't they gorgeous?  Thank you so very much, Ann.

Ann requested any star block in blue and white.  This

is the Go-Along #2 block from Quilter's Cache.  They look like they are made from the same fabrics but the only fabric that is the same is the white background.  I hope Ann enjoys these blocks.

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I plan to start working on 2 Loving Hands quilts.

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GIVEAWAYS

Smashed Peas and Carrots is having a giveaway.  You could win a $100 Olive Garden gift card.  This giveaway ends Sunday, March 18.

KoolBeenz is having their weekly giveaway.  You could win a $25 shoppe credit to The Quilted Castle.  This giveaway ends Saturday, February 4, at midnight EST.

SewCalGal is having a giveaway.  You could win a set of buttons from Incomparable Buttons.  This giveaway ends Thursday, February 2, at midnight PST.

My Patchwork Life is having a giveaway.  You could win 3 fat quarters.  This giveaway ends Friday, February 3.

Cat Patches is having a giveaway.  Barbara is ready to send the Traveling Stash on its way.  This giveaway ends Friday, February 2, at 5:00 pm PST.

Quilt Inspirations is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of Passionate Patchwork autographed by KaffeFasset, or a $10 gift card from Joann's, or a Modern Robe pattern, or a 1/2 yard each of "Aurora" and "Splash" batik fabric from Hoffman California International, or a copy of  Red and Green : An Applique Tradition by Jeana Kimball, plus red fabrics.  This giveaway ends Monday, February 6.

Leona's Quilting Adventure is having a giveaway.  You could win 2 pouch patterns from Flutter From Kat.  This giveaway ends Friday, February 3, at midnight EST.

Linda's Quiltmania is having a giveaway.  You could win a Bali Pop.  This giveaway ends Friday, February 3. 

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FINAL THOUGHT

This could be my house - lol!!  Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Winners

Life is not about how fast your run or high you climb but how well you bounce.

Vivian Komori

It's a new week and I'm ready to catch up on some obligations that I'm a little behind on.  I also hope to try something new this week.  The weekend was pretty typical but with some fun thrown in on Saturday (see below).  The fog decided to settle in over the last couple of days but the sun did manage to peek out on Saturday to create a little warmth and lots of glare.  Do you have your week planned out or are you just going to do whatever strikes you at the moment?

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY

Volcano

Don't ask me why but I'd thought I'd do a little research on volcanoes today.  Here is what I found:

* The word volcano originally comes from the name of the Roman god of fire, Vulcan

* Volcanoes are usually located where tectonic plates meet. This is especially true for the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area around the Pacific Ocean where over 75% of the volcanoes on Earth are found.

* Hot liquid rock under the Earth’s surface is known as magma, it is called lava after it comes out of a volcano

* While we certainly have some big volcanoes here on Earth, the biggest known volcano in our solar system is actually on Mars. Its name is Olympus Mons and it measures a whooping 600km (373 miles) wide and 21km (13 miles) high

* Volcanoes can be found on the ocean floor and even under icecaps, such as those found in Iceland

* Volcanic eruptions can send ash high into the air, over 30km (17 miles) above the Earth’s surface.

* Pumice is a unique volcanic rock that can float in water. It can also be used as an abrasive and is sometimes used in beauty salons for removing dry skin.

* The biggest volcano in the world is Mauna Loa in Hawaii.

* The rock debris carried by the blast of Mount St. Helen’s eruption traveled as fast as 250 miles per hour

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AND THE WINNERS ARE......

Thank you to everyone who participated in this giveaway!  You are all winners in my book but unfortunately there could be only two winners of the Good Fortune charm packs.  So without further ramblings, the winners are:

Vesuviusmama said...

Sunny Lush - love it! And I'm not at all surprised that you are at 700 followers - your blog is so inspiring and informative and fun!



and

ShirleyC said...

It's so hard to choose. I think my favorite is the Fly a Kite bundle.

Each of you will receive 2 charm packs of Good Fortune.  I will or have sent you an email to get your snail mail information.

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QUILT SHOW

Cotton Patch Quilters of Kern County held their bi-annual quilt show over the weekend.  There were 205 entries.  I worked at the admissions table in the morning and then DH and I spent over two hours admiring all of the beautiful creations.  And, yes, for those of you wondering, my sweet DH really does enjoy looking at all the quilts and sharing his thoughts on them with me.  I also bought a couple of new patterns with dreams of the future.  Here are just a few of the ones we really liked.....

We really liked use of scraps on this quilt.  DH couldn't get back far enough to photograph the entire quilt but I think you get the idea.  This quilt received a first place in the Pieced-Large, Professionally Quilted category  and was titled Eye Foolery.  It was machine pieced by Fran David and professionally quilted by Sandi Collins.

This was a beautiful little quilt received second place in the Pieced-Wall category and is called Space Saver Star.  It is pieced and quilted by Cece Westerfield.  Cece does some amazing long arm quilting and quilted many of our members quilts throughout the show.  If I remember correctly, this little quilt measured around 18" square. (Sorry it's a little blurry).

We both really liked the use of so many bright colors in this quilt.  It received a first in the Art Abstract division.  The quilt titled The Sunny Wide was made and quilted by Patti Young.  It is a paper pieced project she started in our of our guild's workshops with Deb Karasik.  Unfortunately, I missed this workshop because it was full before I even knew about it.

This was a 'Display Only' quilt.  There are so many things I really liked about this quilt called Circles Squared by Cindy Seitz-Krug.  Cindy does amazing work and has won lots of shows including the  2011 AQS Quilt Show & Contest at Paducah with her quilt titled Simply Sante Fe. She said this quilt was made entirely from templates (no paper-piecing).

Isn't this quilt adorable?  Vintage Christmas won a second place Applique-Wall, Professionally Quilted category.  It was appliqued, pieced and stitched by Pamela Gavin with Lynn Douglas doing the machine quilting.

Isn't this stained glass quilt gorgeous?!?  This quilt titled The Window That Colors My World placed first in the Applique-Large category.  Everything is done by Celia Ho and it was her first attempt at reverse applique.  Just beautiful.

Oh no!!! Blurry!!!  Just squint your eyes and it doesn't look quite as bad.  But I just had to show you my quilt, A Gardener's Journal won a ribbon!  I received Honorable Mention in the category for Mixed-Wall quilt!  Woohoo!  I'm so pleased :D  (you can see a better picture of it here)

And this third place quilt - it's mine too!  It placed third in the Pieced-Wall category.  It is titled African Triad Variation.  I created this from the block I made from the workshop by Sylvia Davis in November.  I just did straight line quilting and stitch-in-the-ditch quilting on this quilt.  The finished quilt measures 28.5" square.  You couldn't erase my smile Saturday.  Two quilts entered and two ribbons earned :D  I'm already thinking ahead to t

he next show in two years - lol!

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TODAY'S GOAL

Today I have a swap block to make.

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GIVEAWAYS

McCall's Quilting is having a giveaway.  You could win Heritage Stars Blocks & Fabric.  This giveaway ends Thursday, March 1.

A Turtle's Life For Me is having a giveaway.  You could win a $25 gift certificate to Poppy Seed Fabrics.  This giveaway ends Thursday, February 2.

McCall's Quilting is having another giveaway.  You could win a fat quarter pack of Blueberry Crumb Cake fabric by Moda.  This giveaway ends Thursday, March 1.


A Hugs Delight is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of Threading The Needle by Marie Bostwick (used copy).  This giveaway ends Wednesday, February 1.


SewCalGal is having a giveaway.  You could win a set of heart buttons from ButtonMad.  This giveaway ends Thursday, January 2, at midnight PST.


Cat Patches is having her Fun Fact Friday Freebie giveaway.  You could win fat quarter.  The winner will be announced next Friday, February 3.


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FINAL THOUGHT