Friday, April 6, 2012

It's A Good Friday!

I lied on my Weight Watchers list.  I put down that I had 3 eggs... but they were Cadbury chocolate eggs. 
~Caroline Rhea

It's Good Friday and Easter is just a couple days away.  Spring has sprung and the weather readers promise it will be a gorgeous day.  However, we are still riding the wild roller coaster of spring with our low down to near freezing this morning and a predicted high on Monday of 81 degrees.  I think Mother Nature is going through menopause with these hot flashes and is taking it out on all of us - lol!  We will be spending Easter with family and look forward to a feast of wonderful food.  Do you have plans for Easter?  Will the Easter Bunny be leaving a basket of sweets for someone in your family?

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LITTLE FACT OF THE DAY


Filled Easter basket

Sunday is Easter.  For some it is a religious holiday.  For others it's a day to give and receive baskets of candy.  For some, it's both.  What will your Easter baskets be filled with this year?  Here are some fun facts about what you may fill your basket with:
90 million chocolate Easter bunnies are made for Easter each year.
16 billion jelly beans are made for Easter (that’s enough to completely fill an 89 feet high and 60 feet wide plastic Easter egg – about the height of a nine-story office building!)
63 percent of Americans would most like to receive a chocolate bunny on Easter morning, followed by marshmallow bunnies (10 percent)
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest Easter egg ever made was just over 25-ft high and made of chocolate and marshmallow. The egg weighed 8,968 lbs. and was supported by an internal steel frame.
Each day, five million marshmallow chicks and bunnies are produced in preparation for Easter
88 percent of adults carry on the Easter tradition of creating Easter baskets for their kids & 90 percent of adults hope for their own treat from the Easter Bunny
The first chocolate eggs were made in Europe in the early 19th century and remain among the most popular treats associated with Easter.
Kids first grab for chocolate bunnies (76 percent) when checking out their Easter baskets, followed by marshmallow treats (18 percent), malted milk balls/eggs (17 percent) and jelly beans (16 percent)

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A NEW PROJECT


Last week I started a new counted cross stitch project.  You may ask why when I haven't finished the Summer Sampler.  This new piece is a Christmas present and I don't want to have the pressures of the holidays to get it finished.

I'm not too sure about the colors in this one but hopefully I will like it better when more of it is completed.  I rarely start stitching in the center of a pattern but the way this one is presented (in bits and pieces) it's necessary.  See that top area with the teal colored stitches?  I had to unstitch that entire area last night because I realized that I had used too light of blue for the background.  Luckily, I was able to get a few rows of the teal in before it was time for bed.  The pattern calls for several silk threads but I can't afford them at this time so am substituting DMC floss.  Same goes for the beads.

Design:  Desert Mandala
Designer:  Martina Weber / Chatelaine Designs
Fabric:  Antique White Belfast (linen - for those of you who do not stitch)
Stitched:  2 strands of DMC floss over 2 threads

I have added something new to my cross stitch necessities.  A magnifier.  The pattern is a pdf file and the print out is so small I have trouble seeing some of the symbols.  I have enlarged it as far as possible without making the symbols blurry beyond recognition.  Normally I like working from a black and white pattern the best, however, I am working from the color pattern (both are provided) as this seems to help a bit.  I didn't start working with the color pattern until after I had stitched the top center section and, as I stated above, I started with the wrong color when reading the black and white chart.  Error discovered and fixed - luckily before I had completed anything more.

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TWO BLOCKS AND A PATTERN



Karen P was my March swap partner for Quilting Block Swaps Australia.  She made me two wonderful blocks  "to make up for my tardiness".  In reality, they weren't late (they arrived on the 31st) but I will gladly accept two blocks.  I just love the alligator and gecko prints Karen used to create these two adorable blocks.  Karen and I both joined in the first ever pattern swap for the swap group.  She sent me a darling little backpack pattern that she says she has made several times.  Thank you so very much for the darling blocks and cute pattern, Karen!

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TODAY'S GOAL


Today I plan to sandwich my paper piecing project - still not sure how I'm going to quilt it.

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GIVEAWAYS


Fabrics N Quilts is having a giveaway.  You could win a kit to make a table topper.  This giveaway ends Sunday, April 8. 

Crazy Mom Quilts is having a giveaway.  You could win a fat quarter stack of Matsuri.  This giveaway ends Monday, April 9.

Hancock's of Paducah is having a giveaway.  You could win a Forest Galorest Quilt Kit.  This giveaway ends  Friday, May 18, at 10:00 am CST.

Sewing Miles of Smiles is having her first giveaway.  You could win a Sweetwater's Designer Select Fat Quarter Bundle featuring the Hometown Collection.  This giveaway ends Tuesday, April 10.


Diary of a Quilter is having a giveaway.  You could win a layer cake of Aneela Hoey's latest collection, A Walk in the Woods.  This giveaway ends Saturday, April 7, at midnight.


Want It, Need It, Quilt is having a giveaway.  You could win a signed copy of the new Tula Pink Book - 'Quilts from the House of Tula Pink'.  This giveaway ends Monday, April 30.


Cluck Cluck Sew is having a giveaway.  You could win a fat quarter bundle of Cherry.  This giveaway ends Saturday, April 7.


World of Charity Stitching is having a giveaway.  You could win 2 Pastimes Quilt Design patterns.  This giveaway ends Thursday, April 12.


Hopeful Threads is having a giveaway.  You could win an assorted bundle of vintage lace.  This giveaway ends Friday, April 13.


All About Applique is having a giveaway.  You could win a copy of Fast, Fusible Flower Quilts.  This giveaway ends Monday, April 9.


Hawthorne Threads is having a giveaway.  You could win a Riley Blake Scoot fat quarter bundle.  This giveaway ends Wednesday, April 11.

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FINAL THOUGHT


I get a sugar headache just looking at this cake someone created!

Happy Easter!!

I will be taking a week's holiday from blogging and will return on Monday, April 16, at my normal time.


20 comments:

sunny said...

That cake could put someone into a deabetic coma! I'll be thinking about it today while I'm cleaning, in preparation for weekend guests. Not much stitching happening here over the weekend. :-(

Impera Magna said...

I lied on my Weight Watchers list. I put down that I had 3 eggs... but they were Cadbury chocolate eggs.
~Caroline Rhea


*roflmao*

Dirt Road Quilter said...

I love starting new projects! Hence, the growing number of UFOs. :) You stitched a lot and I can't wait to see what it is. It's like a puzzle where you turn one block at a time to reveal the picture.Is it a big project? I'm envious that you're starting a new one. The bear cub I've been working on 'forever' is a Christmas gift too.

Wendy said...

I have that same struggle doing the counted cross stitch these days...so hard to see the pattern. I've tried different magnifiers but they're such a pain! Anyway, your new project looks great. And those blocks you received are so bright and fun. I love cake but that one is a bit over the top.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend and happy Easter!

Sallie said...

Happy Easter, Linda!

Kris said...

Linda - You are a brave, brave woman!! I checked out a picture of the Mandela you are doing and it is gorgeous!! But I can see why you are starting it now!! :-))) Have a wonderful Easter and a fabulous week long holiday!! Kris

Teresa said...

I think we all have a few unfinished projects before we start a new one.
Easter for me is religious with a side of Easter goodies.
Teresa's Heartfelt Stitches

Needled Mom said...

I unstitched cross stitches the other night. That is NO FUN!!!! All that wasted time! I can't wait to watch the progress. I have used the magnifying glass for sometime with those graphs!! LOL

The blocks are so bright and colorful - just the way I like them. Very nice.

Have a wonderful Easter. I hope you find all of your eggs!

quiltercaroline said...

Hi Linda. The cross stitch looked so interesting I had to cheat and take a look at the full design - it is stunning and just a wonderful thing to give someone for a present. Lucky them! I hope you have a good Easter and a restful week. Take care and see you soon. C x

Raewyn said...

Happy Easter Linda!! Love the blocksyou have received - they will look great sewn up. Wow the cake - sugar overload but looks oh so tempting!!

Teresa F. said...

Happy Easter Linda. Love your Easter cake, it seems delicious although you can't eat it.
I always make some Easter recipes during these days, not to good for my waste line but...It's only once a year. AH!AH!

Barb said...

Your cake looks fabulous....

I will look forward to seeing your new project grow.

rubyslipperz1052 said...

Thaz wheeelly funny...lieing about eggs. =P

Thanks for the fun Easter basket facts...and your "double" blocks for the exchange are mighty purdy =)

Happy Easter!

hugZ,
annie

Lynda said...

Happy Easter to you too. Hope you get to spend time with loved ones.

Miss Hillbilly said...

Enjoy your week off and don't eat too many cadbury eggs!

Anonymous said...

I love that cake! I want to make one just like it! Not sure I want to eat it, though. LOL Your two blocks from OZ are terrific!

Snoodles said...

LOL You had me at Cadbury.....heehee! Oh, I'm such a sucker for those!
Hope you have a wonderful Easter and a pleasant break from blogging. :)

Pokey said...

Such a happy fact post, dear Linda! The basket of goodies is sure fun, and yes, I still try to give Easter-y treats to my family.
Happy Easter to you and yours. I'm glad we serve a Risen Savior!
:-}pokey

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

Have a great time off and Happy Easter!

Quiltingranny said...

Hey my friend, that cake made my ill just looking at it. Oh the days when I could eat something like that! Did your Spring quilt win on Quilting Gallery? I voted for it and posted on my blog to have others vote. Hope you won it was gorgeous!

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