Thingies and a Giveaway!

Giveaway!  Giveaway!  Thank you, all, for the terrific and creative things you've come up with.  But really, don't you think Linda, with all those ideas for the lowly clothespin (14 or so!!) really deserves recognition?  Yes, I do!  So I've emailed her, and will be sending her a little somethin' this week.  Happy 4th of July!
Brita




Thanks, all y'all, for the compliments on my Design Ironing Board last time!  It was a happy accident.  I really, really needed to re-cover my ironing board, it was majorly grungy.  So I dragged out a piece of flannel covered with sewing notions, pretty appropriate, no?  It has turned out to be the best cover!  I don't have to chase blocks or pieces thereof around the board, they stick.  The only thing I'd do different is have the flannel a lighter color, and maybe just a tone on tone.  But do try flannel on your next ironing board re-do!

Since we're on a domestic kick here, thought I'd share a couple of handy gadgets I love.  My fingers and wrists aren't what they once were -- maybe being a typist and steno for decades had something to do with them wearing out, ya think?  So, if Mr. Happiness isn't around, I really struggle with opening jars and bottle tops.  He bought me a "Lids Off" by Black and Decker a couple of years ago, and it is a wondrous invention, indeed! But for those lids and small jars, pictured above is another great thingie (and you know I love my thingies!).  It grabs hold of the top or lid or cap and doesn't slip, and adds some "oomph" to the twisting so you don't have to.  And that little doo-hickey on top lifts tab tops without any effort!  I know, I know, I should've been an engineer -- I know all those technical terms!

And I love my funnel, never thought I'd use a funnel in the kitchen as much as I do!  But the small part at the end is sometimes too small for pouring stuff, and it clogs or slows down.   You see the funnel on the right, the white one?   It works even better, and it's bigger on the end so it doesn't back up.  Know what it is?  An empty thread cone :-)  

I've had these hot pads for.ev.er!   Use them all the time.  Do you realize what a cool quilting design they have!?!  Now I'm on a quest to look more closely at all my stuff to see what else they can be used for, what kinds of quilting designs they have, if they can pull double-duty!  


What kind of tool/technique/design inspiration is your favorite?  A really cool contraption?  A double-duty handy-dandy neat-o mosquito discovery you'd like to share?  I'm going to pick one of your comments, maybe at random, maybe one that made me laugh the most, or the best IMHO idea, and send you a little something of some kind  :-)  Since we have a long weekend, I'll let y'all party and celebrate and put on your thinking caps and I'll pull a comment out of the hat on Monday evening.


Happy Birthday, USA!!!  Be safe out there!

Design Wall Monday 5/30/11

Off the design wall and quilted and bound!!!  I got to play with my new machine just that long :-)  It's a simple pattern using 8 FQ and 1/2 yard for the border.  This is going to Habitat via one of the guilds I belong to.

While you're here, go to my previous post ( http://scrapsofhappiness.blogspot.com/2011/05/so-whats-it-going-to-be-giveaway.html ) for a giveaway!  It's open till tomorrow night.  


I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday weekend, and that the weather is perfect for whatever you're doing.  Please take the time to send out a silent prayer and thank you to those who lost their lives, for us, for our freedom.  Thanks!

So, What's It Going To Be? Giveaway!

With names like "Hot Chocolate," "La Chocolada!" "Chocolate Covered Cherries," "Chocolate Pound Cake," how could anyone not start craving Chocolate!?!

But then, "Four Scoops, Please," "Summertime Sherbet," "Cherry on Top," "Girlie Girl Grape," get my taste buds wanting Ice Cream!  

Here are your choices, "Quilts for Chocolate Lovers" book with some yummy chocoholic fabrics (mainly batiks) or "Quilts for Ice Cream Lovers" book with French Vanilla topped with strawberry goodness fabrics to start.  Both flavors will consist of eight fat quarters, for a total of two yards.

Nothing complicated to qualify for the giveaway, just leave a comment, making sure I have a way to contact you, and telling me which you'd pick.  I'll draw two names in the evening of May 31st.  First person drawn gets their choice, second gets the other.  


Have a wonderful, happy, safe Memorial Day weekend, and take a minute to remember why we celebrate this day.

She's Heeeeeere!

Of course, I'm talking about my new baby, the HQ18 Avante :-)  And boy is she sweet!  The dealer, Linda of Creative Stitches in Glascow KY (I had the incorrect name, and changed it, I hope it didn't create any confusion), came with her hubby and set up, leveled, adjusted, tweaked the machine and frame, and she patiently taught me the basics of using it.  They were here for about 6 hours!  That's what I call customer service, and I wholeheartedly recommend them!  

By the time they left, my poor brain was totally fried -- I've never used a longarm, except for some timid doodling at a quilt show.  But I played all day yesterday, and just had a blast.  It's so different from quilting on my Janome, but also very similar.  I feel pretty comfortable with the quilting part, and I know practice will help with all those herky-jerky moves.  The loading and unloading are the tough parts!  Seems so weird.  But practice will help with that, too.  And I have lot o'flimsies waiting in the tote to become quilts.  Here's some of the practice areas:

The weather didn't cooperate today, it rumbled thunder off and on all day, so I didn't dare turn it on.  Maybe tomorrow!!!  In just this short period of time, I totally understand the passion and joy I've heard about quilting on a longarm, I'm loving this :-)


And with this happiness, I feel the need to share!  On Saturday, I'm going to have a little giveaway.  Just because.  Meanwhile, think about which you'd choose: chocolate or ice cream?
  

Pay It Forward Giveaway!

Wouldn't you love to open your mailbox and find a surprise handmade gift?!  Yup, me too!  So I joined in the "Pay It Forward" and I'm offering to send you a little something, just because.  The first three to comment will receive a handmade little giftie, one day, as a surprise.  There are a couple of things you're asked to do, like join in and Pay It Forward, too!  


I learned about this from http://gapquilter.blogspot.com/2011/02/pay-it-forward.html.   



It is a simple game. Here's how it works (copied from Quilter in the Gap):

1. I will make a little something for the first 3 people who comment on this post. It will be a surprise and it will arrive when you least expect it.
2. I will have 365 days to do it in. What's the catch? To get a handmade present from me, you have to play too! This means YOU pledge to send a little handmade something for 3 readers of your blog. It doesn't have to be quilty - just handmade.
3. You must have a blog.
4. Once you comment here, you must post about your Pay It Forward on your blog to keep the fun going - with the Pay It Forward badge.  Also, feel free to join the Flickr group to see what else is being sent!

Simple huh? That's what I thought, and the best part is that I have 364 days left to think about this and create something lovely for the first three to comment on this blog.