What if..... Wednesday

I went to orientation for summer school on Tuesday and when it was over, a group of us walked from the elementary school to the middle school to set up our classrooms for next week. When we got there the door was locked and we had to wait for someone with a key to let us in.

It was a hot and humid morning and while we were standing there many people in the group started complaining about things that had been said during the orientation. I won't bore you with the pettiness of their complaints, but I tried to  block them out as I patiently waited....and looked around at the hazy morning.


And as I looked around I noticed this sitting on top of the school, looking down at us:
 (I didn't have a camera so I had to improvise with flickr)

The little sparrow definitely had something in its mouth and kept glancing down at us and..... at a spot on the wall of the building. I looked around again and saw a bird's nest behind this:

I could see bits of straw and twigs sticking out from behind the grate and I knew there were babies in there waiting patiently (and quietly) for their breakfast. It was a bit comical to watch the sparrow as its little head kept moving between looking at us and then looking at the nest. I am sure the little bird was calculating whether or not it could get in to deliver the breakfast without being seen by the pesky humans.


After a short while we were rescued by the key and were able to go inside, and I am sure that the little bird was relieved to see us go so it could feed the hungry children....

Now, What IF...... those crabby complainers had only stopped whining and taken the time to look around instead... they may have had the opportunity to enjoy a bit of the world around them instead of the pettiness within themselves......

"I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in."  
~George Washington Carver

"I go to nature to be soothed and healed, 
and to have my senses put in order."  
~John Burroughs

 (part of my attempt at 90 Days of Kindness)

Makes Us All Happy Monday 6/28

I have got to share these greeting cards with you!!

They are quilting and knitting related and SO funny that I could not stop laughing!!

I wanted YOU to have a good belly laugh to start off your week, so I had to share....please  read them all, it is so worth it!!

Have a wonderful week!

Dakota Cabin Quilts Greeting Cards  

PS Additional info from Dakota Cabin Quilts website:
Not only are these cards really funny, the stitching/knitting and card-making is accomplished "by a group of about a dozen deaf women who participate in the vocational training programs of Asia Project Grace in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province in south-central China. Heretofore denied access to any education and unemployable due to their handicap, they are now being taught Chinese sign language, live in comfortable apartments, make a living wage, and are provided with   retirement funds and health insurance."

(Although many animals found the greeting cards to be quite funny, my cats did not want to risk their dignity by laughing. I thought I may have caught a glimpse of a smirk, but the cat in question emphatically denied it).

Schnibbles Update

Been working on my schnibbles "Scratch".... these setting triangles are a real challenge for me. I have a hard time with spatial relationships (remember on the SATs there would always be questions about flipping a shape and figuring out what it would look like.... yeah, couldn't do those!)

Several times I almost ripped out some seams because I thought I had sewed the triangle on wrong,but I just wasn't putting the square in the right spot. I was making myself crazy!

I did have to rip a few seams, especially when I got to the end triangles. Put the wrong size on first (oops) then just didn't get it on there correctly. Luckily it seems to have worked out okay. Still have to trim off my triangle tails, but I think I will give this row a rest for now!

I am loving the Swanky, though!


(LATER)

Here are the 2 rows done....

And here are all 3..... figured I would get them all done before I forgot how to do it! hehe
Still have to trim the edges but now I get to make the 4 rows of coins that go in between... maybe tomorrow!

Are You Up for the Challenge?

I have found another challenge that I am eager to join. I hope that you will join as well. One thing about school being out, and the weather being super humid and hot (summer school doesn't start until next week) is that I don't feel like doing much of anything except eating popsicles and sitting in front of the fan.

While catching up on my blog reading I found a new one and my new challenge. It is the 90 Days of Kindness Challenge.

I do try to be kind most of the time, however I have noticed myself getting "sucked in" to the attitudes and behaviors of those around me, especially at work. This has been a tough year at my school. It seemed that almost daily we were in the newspaper because of teacher indiscretions out side of school. Two teachers and one custodian lost their jobs and a third teacher will be returning in the fall.

As you can imagine, morale was low, rumors and gossip were flying. I usually try to stay out of the gossip, neither listening to or repeating the ugly things I hear. But as the year went on I found myself becoming more and more a part of it. And as I became more and more a part if it, the worse I started to feel.

I have been in a funk for months and I haven't been able to figure out why, but I think my participation in the unkind gossip has been the root of it.

So this 90 day Kindness Challenge will be my commitment to return to my anti-negative and anti-gossip ways at work. When I start summer school I will see many of the same people so I will be able to begin this change right away and I will continue it when school resumes in the Fall.

So, kindness will rule at work for me, 

where will you add kindness to your life?

That's What Friends are For.....

People unfamiliar with the internet and computers are always surprised when I talk about my friends online. Back when Genie and Prodigy were the only way to get online I made some wonderful friends that I still talk to everyday. My friends in the "real world" just don't get it.

Now that I have jumped into the blogging world I have met a whole new array of wonderful people and I am forming new friendships. One of my first new friends in blog land was Barb....  Barb is a prolific quilter and blogger and I think many of you already know her!

Today I received this beautiful fabric in the mail from Barb. No reason, she sent them to me "just because".  The only clue I had that something was up was that she asked me my favorite color. There are more than enough gorgeous blue tumblers here to make a wonderful quilt. I have always loved blue and white quilts so I think that I will add my Bella Solids to this and make one for myself.

And when I snuggle with it I will think of my good friend Barb who brightened my day more than she will know by sharing this kindness.... Barb, thank you for being my friend!

"When a friend is in trouble, don't annoy him

by asking if there is anything you can do. 

Think up something appropriate and do it."  ~ Edgar Watson Howe

Great Give Away!

Deanna from Wedding Dress Blue   is giving away a Curve Master. Now when I first heard about this I thought maybe it was a torturous weight loss device a la "Thigh Master" (heheh) BUT in reality it is a great sewing tool.



From the Just Curves Website:

Imagine sewing any CURVE with no pinning!  Imagine perfect, consistent 1/4" seams, both STRAIGHT and CURVED.The Curve Master Presser Foot does that and more!
The Curve Master Presser Foot is a new sewing technology that allows us to sew any 1/4" or 5/8" curved seam without pinning!  It also does perfect straight seams.  It adapts to fit any home sewing machine regardless of brand or age of the machine.



Doesn't that sound like a great gadget?? If you would like to enter to win, visit Deanna by 6/25 and post your entry!!

And while you are there, take a look at some of her beautiful quilts and tutorials!! You will love them!

Makes Me Happy Monday 6/21

Happy First Day of Summer in North America!

Summer fun with my friends makes me happy!!

Got to spend some time with my friends at the lake,

eating good food, playing board games late into the night

and just enjoying each other's company in the beautiful sunshine.

Hope that you can make time to kick back and have some fun too!

Lowering stress levels  helps you see the happiness around you!

Do You MSQ? (Missouri Star Quilt Co)

Have you visited the Missouri Quilt Co yet?  

Not only do they have a great store but they also have a blog, user forum, free patterns and tons of great You Tube tutorials!
Every day at midnight (central US time) they post a daily deal that is always an amazing price. This deal often sells out, so you have to check it out early (or sign up for their daily deal emails).

If you join their forum you can enter their weekly fabric give aways (this week they are giving away a charm pack of Kona pastel solids).

AND if you subscribe to their YouTube channel by midnight tonight (6/18) you will be entered to win a $25 gift certificate to MSQ!

How can you say no to fun like this??

WIP Wednesday - New Projects x Two

I have never made a Schnibbles quilt before, but I have seen lots of quilters in blog land who have.


Each month I look for the "Year of Schnibbles" quilts that get posted on the blogs, (Pink Pin Cushion and A Quilting Life). They are all so different and so beautiful!


I finally got brave enough to try one, with a little encouragement from Michelle at L7 Quilt Co.

She convinced me that there were some easy quilts in the new Schnibbles Times Two book and that I should give one a try and join in on the contest at Charming Chatter.

I decided to work on the Scratch mini sized quilt. I am using Swanky from Moda and Bella Snow. I am so excited to use my Swanky fabric, I love it!

This shouldn't be too hard, I know how to make 4 square blocks, and sewing strips together shouldn't be a problem. We will have to see about those setting triangles, though. I am hoping it will all be clearer when I actually GET to that part of the sewing!

 As you can see in the pictures I already have some of my fabrics cut and I have even sewn my strips together for the 4 square patches (no picture of those yet). So far so good.... so that means I  can start something else right?? Right???

It seems that Charming Chatter has another sew along, featuring the quilt Between Charming Friends.
This is an 8 week sew along, which should give me plenty of time.... just have to decide on some fabrics to use.
(at least I am using up stash fabrics on these projects!)

So I have two new irons in the fire and 

working on my stash.... it's all good!

"Never be afraid to do something new.
Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the titanic."
-unknown

Makes Me Happy Monday 6/14

Finding inspirational blogs and posts help to make me happy. Somehow, I manage to find just the right message when I need it most.... I would like to share some of my favorite inspirational blogs and I hope they help make you happy too. Just click on the links to be inspired!

 

Kind Over Matter 1


Kind Over Matter 2


A Beautiful Ripple Effect


The Positivity Blog


The Toy Society   (read about it and then check out the blog)

And in America, June 14th is Flag Day! 

Happy Flag Day, USA!

(Flag Day Facts)

PS: Another reason to be happy...... I won a prize in Jane's celebration give away!!  Thank you Jane!!!!

Some Sewing and Thank-yous

I got caught up on some of my sewing... these are blocks 6 and 7 from the Jelly Roll Sampler sew along.

The red and green one is my favorite so far, the other one..... I am not sure of yet!

                          

I have purchased this book and I plan on making one of the mini quilts inside. Then I can join in on the fun at Cottage Charm Quilts. The mini quilts use charm packs and there are a couple that seem beginner friendly.I plan on looking through my stash tomorrow and finalizing my choice.

~ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ~

And now I would like to send out heart felt thanks to all of the wonderful friends that voted for me at Barbs Accuquilt Go give away! If you have been following the voting at all you know that it is a HOT contest between Sew Meow and Call Me Crazy.... not sure who will win, but boy it has been fun to share in the excitement!
But I wanted you all to know that I appreciate you taking the time to vote for me!!! It is nice to know you guys care! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥  THANK YOU.........

Now check out this link for an interesting song and video about God.....

God video by Wendy Francisco

Pet Musings... Adoption, Names and Cuteness

I am loving the explosion of furry adoptions that is going on in blog land this spring! These are just a few of the lucky dogs and kitties and bunnies that have found new homes. You should pay them a visit!

Joypatch's Bundy

Dandelion Quilts' Jake 

Linda at Little Bits and Pieces: Neptune

Terry Ann's Sawyer

Melinda' fabric fancies's Donald

Roscoe, adopted by a friend of Myra's
Tactile Pleasures in Fabric

The Quilted Fish's Jango











Aren't these little furries just adorable?? And the cutest names!! All of my cats were rescued and most of them had names and I didn't change them. But I love thinking of names for pets.... what about you? Any great original pet names out there?

AND this little guy was found abandoned and was fostered by my daughter who works for the Humane Society. He lived with her for about 5-6 weeks and was adopted this past week by a friend of ours.

When he came into the shelter they named him "Blanco" (white).My daughter didn't like that and changed his name to Bronco because she thought he was so frisky.
Bronco stayed with me for a weekend while my daughter was away and I renamed him "Sparky" because he would spit at one of my cats and it sounded just like an electrical short.

But, his new family has named him Dino, because they already had a Fred and a Barney. Isn't that cute?

Little Bitty Kitty

Dino Home with His Family

I love happy endings!!!