Stamp On It Blog Hop Day One

I'm putting my "Stamp On It" today! 

Welcome to day ONE of the

Our head cheerleader  Thearica of Pigtales and Quilts has done a super job of rounding us 'stampers' up (or maybe that should read - she's really glued us down ...in a good way of course) either way... I'm sure you'll have fun visiting everyone between now and July 3. Thank you as well Madame Samm of !SewWeQuilt! for another fun and inspiring challenge! Visit the Mdm for a chance to win something fun and wonderful when you leave a comment on her page. Our goal was to create a "Mini Quilt Stamp" that would tell you a little about where we are from..do we deal with rubles or Euros...pounds or what? Ok...mini is such a relative term dontcha think? The Madame said we could make our 'mini' ANY size...even 14'x14' (I guess if your name was Igor and you stood 77 feet tall, a 14 foot stamp would be mini)

My "mini" stamp is 13" x 15-1/2" (Igor thinks it's uber-mini)

It represents my chosen home of Florida!

Naturally I had to include a flamingo. And the Florida Sunshine. I took a survey and asked several customers "How much is a First Class Stamp?" Nobody knew for sure.
Nobody. The USPS has been marketing "Forever"stamps for a few years now... The cost is whatever the going rate is 'that day'... and they are good to use... well... Forever!

Works for me. The flower in her 'hair' represents the Orange Blossom. (our state flower - and yes, the real deal looks different...so use your imagination)

Dontcha just dig her Orange 'shades' and her beaded glasses holder? The lenses were cut from a silvery cellophane candy bag. (yes...I ate all the candy...HAD to, so I could cut up the bag)

What's on the back? I'm so glad you asked....

Sweet Florida Oranges baby! I pondered for days and nights about the stamp "edge".... in the end, I used some great Black & White Chevron fabric from Riley Blake for effect. It's a little wonky...but I'm a little wonky too. So that's ok.

There is no "postmark" on the stamp.... are you kidding? This stamp will never be used on an envelope.... unless of course... I become pen pals with Igor.

Thanks so much for hopping by today... I enjoyed making my Florida Stamp... it was fun to have a little 'me' time to play... Most evenings are now spent in the great outdoors... with my new friend.... Mr. Lawnmower..... don't ask.   Enjoy my Stamp On It buddies today for some really  First Class Fun! (see the list below) Lynn ~ The Thimblemouse >"<
Day One - Wednesday June 26

Marjorie'sBusyCorner

Life in the Scrapatch
Pig Tales and Quilts
littlemushroomcap
sosewgreen
The Thimblemouse (Igor's friend)
Just Let Me Quilt
Words & Stitches
In Stitches And Seams

Flap Those Wings....It's For the Birds...Blog Hop

It's my day to Flap my Wings!

I had soooooooo many ideas for this blog hop that my little bird brain just about
exploded!

Do I talk about my obsession with Flamingos?

I LOVE this fabric designed by Kathy Brown!

I wasn't even thinking about Flamingos...

until our Head Cheerleader for this hop...

Mary of I Piece 2-Mary

started talking about her love of the

big PINK bird.

I'm a sucker for anything Flamingo!

My wonderful friends keep me flocked with Flamingos!

This Pink Cadillac fabric drove into the shop last week

and the Flamingos went nuts!!!

These are but a sampling of the 'flock'

(perhaps they need their own story one day)

I bet you think I made something with Flamingos, right?

Wrong.

I told you...I had a LOT of ideas when

Mdm Samm of !SewWeQuilt!

announced this blog hop.

My first thought...

this pattern from Indygo Junction...

Not owls...but aren't they a hoot?

I ordered the pattern. 

While waiting for delivery...the next idea brewed....

to the sketch pad I went...

thinking about those cute birds...

and our cats...

I wasn't thrilled about my choice of background...

the cat head pops...but the bird gets a little lost.

Still in progress I'm afraid....

I guess we're all allowed a little flop when we hop...
now and then.

The bird pattern arrived...but so did this really fun book...

From C&T Publications by

"Piece O Cake Designs"

it's actually a coloring book with black and white drawings

by Becky Goldsmith and Linda Jenkins.

Too Cute!

A couple more ideas were born

and joined the cat...

(I'm so easily sidetracked...

do you think I have Adult ADD?)

At least these were finished....

For my Mom....

The bird was supposed to sit on the cat's head...lol.

But she didn't want to...and I promised she could be in the hop!

I think she looks really sweet on the flowers I found in the book.

My quilting "Sista" Deanna lives in Idaho.

She is all about chickens.
The book had a chicken!

This one's for YOU Deanna!

Do you like the the little 'arty' turquoise corner?

Kinda cool huh?

It was an 'inspiration'.....

I could say it's the twinkling stars...

that still shine in the early morning hours...

when Deanna gets up with the chickens...

but now I'll confess....

On the way home after work...don't ask me how I did it...

but I spilled my coffee...ON the corner.

The appliques were only ironed on...

I hadn't stitched them down yet....

but it was on my "TO DO" list that night....

so....
Inspiration born from

Desperation...
the Mother Hen of Invention...

Cluck Cluck!
I peeled back the applique...cut off the corner...

added the new fabric...voila!

I'll be sending this soon to Deanna...along with this really cute little tote

I found back in February at our local guild retreat

in the quilt sale room...made by my friend April.

but the Flamingos....

they're staying home with me.

As for the little stuffed bird....

*sigh*

I could say it flew away...

or the cats ate it...

but the truth is it's still in bits and pieces...

at the quilt shop...

where I'm not.

Maybe we'll see it down the line...

surrounded by 'flowers'...

or popping out of a 'bag'...

You'll just have to stay tuned to find out.

Thanks again Mary for being

Mdm Samm's Right Wing

You've done a wonderful job

organizing us bird brains!

 Don't forget to visit Mdm Samm's at

!SewWeQuilt!

for a chance at some really great prizes!

Time to Fly-On!

Other great Nests to Visit today

Tuesday, May 14th:

http://www.intheboondocks.blogspot.com

http://mychellem.blogspot.com

*www.thimblemouseandspouse.blogspot.com*

(you're here)

www.quiltingandsewingarts.com

http://Sewgratefulquilts.wordpress.com

www.aquiltingsheep.com

http://tricia-ramblingsofaquilter.blogspot.com

http://sewmanyyarns.blogspot.com

www.moosestashquilting.blogspot.com

http://bethstrand.wordpress.com

http://quiltoo.blogspot.com

http://teatimecreations.blogspot.ca/

http://secretlystitching.blogspot.gr/

Sweet Tweets Everyone!
Lynn ~ The Thimblemouse >"<

Yikes...I almost forgot...
Since we're talking about 'birds'...
Thank you Mdm Samm for the shout out about the
Chicken Fabrics
(ok...You Dear Samm called them "Lucky Ducks"...perhaps you hadn't had your coffee when you posted...we forgive you...lol)

The "ducks" have just about left the "Hen house"
but I have 4 fat quarter bundles left.
The cost is $20 and includes shipping
(U.S. Addresses....more $ if they need a passport)
Leave a comment below if you're interested and I'll get back to you.
I will invoice thru PayPal if that works for you.
Thanks!