Words of Valor #1

Words of Valor was created using half of the blocks that gMarie made and donated for this Quilt of Valor, which is quilt number 8 in Alycia's 12 Quilts of Valor in 2012 Challenge.

 gMarie made each 36-patch block unique by embroidering

 a single word of valor.

 This quilt is going to warm the heart of some soldier.

 The fabric is bright and colorful and cheery. 

Words of Valor
56 x 70 inches
Quilt of Valor

Thank you gMarie for your making this Quilt of Valor possible.

Foreign Friday

Rice Planting
Near Misawa, Japan
Spring 1980

I was thrilled to happen upon these women planting rice in the flooded fields one afternoon. The women were very gracious and allowed me to take their photo and to watch them work. The blue basket tied around their waists held the seedlings, and each one was planted by hand.

It looked like back-breaking work. 

The women were definitely skilled because their rows were perfectly even and straight. 

I can't even imagine how many hours it took them to plant this one field. 

This short video shows how today's technology has made planting much easier and faster.

The Fall rice harvest can be seen in this post.

Wonderful Surprise!

In January, gMarie offered to make twelve blocks for the Quilt of Valor 12 in 2012 challenge, and Tuesday, her package arrived. Oh my, that box was a treasure chest!

Enclosed in the box were 24 red/white/blue blocks, plus a couple extra for good measure - enough for two quilts!

gMarie's generosity did not stop there because she also sent the scraps (pictured above). These are simply luscious scraps: gMarie's sense of color is wonderful.

Yesterday, I started sewing the blocks together into tops. Wait until you see her unique and classy blocks: they are beautiful.

Please come back on Monday to see gMarie's blocks made into Quilt of Valor tops.

Another Favorite

No doubt, having a blog can be frustrating, especially if you don't know how to personalize it or make it user-friendly. Karen from Sew Many Ways has gathered all the common concerns and provides a page of solutions on her blog.  She offers help on the following topics:

• How To Add Pages To The Top Of Your Blog



• How To Add A Button To Your Blog



• How To Link In Your Blog Post



• Don't Be A Lurker, Anonymous or a No Reply



• Change To New Post Editor



• How To Change The Time And Date Of A Post



• How To Add Labels To Post And Sidebar



• How To Comment On A Post



• Gmail and Answering Comments



• Linking To Your Profile Picture



• Followers And Links



• How To Add A Comment Greeting



• How To Change Your Comment Label



• Blogging-Getting Started



• How To Add A Static Sentence Under Your Blog Header



• Are Your Pictures Flipped In A Post

Spend some time on Karen's blog, it's packed with great ideas and helpful information: she has some wonderful recycling ideas and sewing tutorials, so be sure to check them out, too. 

Holey Moley!

A couple of weeks ago, I blew out a heel on the first pairs of socks I knit, and close inspection revealed that several other pair were also getting thin heels, making it necessary to get busy knitting.

This colorful yarn was given to me in a swap and is knitting up nicely. I doubt that the socks will match, but that really doesn't matter to me.

* Holey Moley! definition - to exclaim or show surprise. 
(The exclamation used by the comic book character Captain Marvel, "Holey Moley! A whole quarter! Shazam!"  Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.  Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill. 

Finishing Up

The last of the Orange Blossom and Bluebell Bernat Baby Jacquard yarn is destined to be knit into hats. It amazes me how the starting point on the yarn changes the entire look of the finished project.

These little hats knit quickly on my twelve-inch addi turbo circular needle. It is one of my favorite needles, and is the perfect size to knit baby hats.

Foreign Friday

Street vendor
Autumn Festival
Misawa, Japan
August 1979

Carts like the one in the photo were common in Misawa. This one offered a selection of sweet-bean paste cones to the crowd gathered for the festival parade. The vendors also sold flowers door to door from the carts.