Storybook Quilts Rocks! » [Turtle]

Which Contest in 2010? You Choose!

Nancy — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 01:21:06 +0000

By now, you undoubtedly have decided on your New Year’s resolutions (if you make them). Here at Storybook Quilts, we have picked a few of our own. The first one is to hold contests again this year that tickle the imaginations of you and the children in your life.

As you remember, last year’s big contest was to find a name for [Turtle], the theme character in a new Storybook Quilt. The winners, Kelly Hermann and her family, have had a great time with the quilt and the story! (For more on that contest, click here.)

The Hermanns with the Luna Storybook Quilt

To make the next contest as much fun as this one was, we’d love your input. Please take a minute to cast your vote in the box on the right and tell us what type of contest you would most like to see.

We look forward to your vote and to an exciting year!

[Turtle's] Name Will Be Announced Tuesday

Nancy — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:39:50 +0000

[Turtle] soon shall have a real name. The first-place and the tied second-place winners have been notified and, need I say, are thrilled.

Tuesday morning, first thing, a press release will go out announcing the results. At the same time, a new post will appear here on the blog and details will be posted on the website.

Stay tuned!

As Summer Winds Down, [Turtle] Gets Closer to a Name!

Nancy — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:19:56 +0000

Although the calendar insists that it’s still summer, it is clear we have entered another phase of the year. The beach vacations, for the most part, are pleasant memories. Thoughts turn now to corn mazes (see Zach’s adventure with his dog, Max) and football (see David’s adventure in the red sports car on the way to the game).

Like all our SQs, [Turtle] is one of the great memories that not only lasts, but lasts for decades. At this point, [Turtle] is very close to having a name. We are awaiting the decisions from the remaining two judges. It is veeeeery tempting to provide an early peek at the results. Instead, let me say once again that I appreciate the inventiveness of all of you who entered.

Update on Selecting the Winners of the Name the Turtle Contest

Nancy — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:11:22 +0000

Many thanks to all of you who took the time to send in such thoughtful and fun suggestions for a name for [Turtle]! Yesterday was spent tabulating the results and winnowing them down to a manageable number for the judges. All the necessary background and information will go out to the panel today.

In the end, we had entries from all over this country and from Canada and England. A wide range of people entered, from moms with toddlers to grandparents, aunties and family friends. Many included suggestions directly from the mouths of the child him/herself, always inventive and always fun to read. I wish we had more than one [Turtle] to name!

While the judges decide, we’ll be preparing for the announcement of the winners, which will happen in mid-September. Of course, we will keep you posted about the exact date.

In the meantime, we’re also planning our next themes — most likely beginning with a penguin, perhaps the penguin who first appears in the Dapper Dan the Snowman Storybook Quilt.

The Judges for the Name the Turtle Contest

Melissa Abbott, artist mom of two toddlers

Dotsie Bregel, founder of National Association of Boomer Women and
BoomerWomenSpeak

Andrew Gilman, CommCore Consulting Group

Marilyn Jackson, The Editing Genius

Mike Logan, Ask Mike the Counselor

Melanie Notkin, founder and CEO of Savvy Auntie

Stephanie Sanzone, creator of StillMadeInUSA.com

Aletha Scarangello, retired teacher, mom and grandmom

Gwenn Schurgin O’Keeffe, MD, founder of Pediatrics Now and Dr. Gwenn Is In

Cora Sparling, naturalist mom of two and grandmom of four

Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, founder and host of All Things Southern

The Name the Turtle Contest Ends Today!

Nancy — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 12:44:08 +0000

As they got closer to the shore, Sam could see a cave. Something was gleaming inside. Was it the treasure?! She jumped off [Turtle] and ran for the cave. “STOP! STOP!” [Turtle] yelled. But it was too late. Sam was face to face with the pirates!

“Avast! What have we here?” one said, grabbing Sam. “A slave, I’d say. AND the makings of turtle soup right behind her!” said another. “No! Let me go!” yelled Sam, kicking the biggest pirate in the leg. “OUCH,” he yelled. “Tie her up in the cave! We will make her walk the plank later. First we make soup out of that turtle! YUM!”

WHAT HAPPENS? Does Sam get rescued? Does [Turtle] escape? Ah, to find that out, you must enter the contest to give [Turtle] a name. Today’s the last day!

Only THREE Days Left to Win [Turtle], Our Newest Storybook Quilt Theme

Nancy — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:04:07 +0000

ONLY THREE DAYS?!

Entries are coming in faster as we near the deadline, with great names and exciting ideas about future Storybook Quilt themes. We have many more entries now from the southeast coast, where volunteers and non-profit organizations work hard to help ensure the survival of the Loggerhead sea turtle. It’s this time of year that the eggs hatch and the tiny hatchlings make their dash to the sea.

The next step is to winnow down the entries to a manageable number of names for our 11 judges, who will make the final decision.

The contest ends Sunday night. To enter, visit the contest page on our website.

How Sam Meets Stanley the Starfish and [Turtle]

Nancy — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:16:04 +0000

Only SEVEN days left to enter the Name the Turtle Contest! First prize is the first edition of [Turtle] or one of our other themes; second prize is a gift certificate good toward any of the Storybook Quilts.

This excerpt from the story draft tells how Sam meets Stanley and Turtle.

“My own castle! Cool!” Sam thought. She sat down in the resting spot, tipped her head back, closed her eyes and imagined herself as a princess in a real castle far away. Suddenly, someone yelled “Hey! Move your bottom!” Sam jumped up. She saw a starfish squashed up against the wall of the castle. He looked very angry and shook each arm at Sam in turn. “This is MY sand and MY beach. I claim this castle as mine! Beat it!” said the starfish. “Not so fast, Mr. Starfish,” Sam said. “My Auntie and I built this castle.” “Yeah and she told you a lot of stories about pirates, too, didn’t she?” said the starfish. “I bet she has never even MET a pirate! Hmph! And as for that treasure, shoot, I know exactly where it is!” “You DO?!” said Sam, very surprised. “Yep, I grew up on the beach by the pirate caves. If you let me have the castle, I’ll take you there.” “You WILL?” Sam said, even more surprised. “DEAL!”

“Follow me. Oh, by the way, may name is Stanley,” said the starfish. Sam thought it was very strange for a starfish to talk, but she followed anyway. “I am Sam,” she said. Stanley ignored her and headed straight for the water. He slapped the sand three times—SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT!—and waited. Nothing. So he did it again, this time harder—SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT! Ever so slowly, a nose emerged from the water, then two flippers and then . . . what do you think this was? Why, it was a huge sea turtle, nearly as big as Sam!

Enter the contest to give [Turtle] a name and find out how the story ends!

Is [Turtle] a “Turtle,” “Tortoise,” or “Terrapin”?

Nancy — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:28:53 +0000

The Name the Turtle Contest ends in just 11 days! First prize is the first edition of the [Turtle] Storybook Quilt or one of our other themes. Second prize is a gift certificate good toward any of the Storybook Quilts.

By now, you all are familiar with [Turtle] and his adventures But is [Turtle] really a “turtle” or is he a tortoise or a terrapin?

Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle

Although British, American and Australian English use the terms somewhat differently, the sea-dwelling [Turtle] would be a turtle in all versions. In American English, he’s a “sea turtle,” to distinguish him from a turtle that lives in fresh water, like the snapper our earlier post.

What’s a tortoise, then? They are first cousins to turtles and they live on land. Think of the giant tortoises of the Galapagos islands. Growing up to 4.3 feet long and weighing as much as 660 pounds, a tortoise’s average life expectancy is estimated at 200 years. In 2006, a giant tortoise named Adwaita said to be as old as 250 years died in a Calcutta zoo, having been taken to India by British sailors, records suggest, before the American Revolution. That’s old!

Giant Tortoise

And a terrapin? That name is reserved for the diamondback terrapin, which is a type of turtle (and, of course, for the University of Maryland athletic teams!). The terrapin is believed to be the only turtle that survives in brackish water areas (a mix of salt and sea water) and is native to the eastern coast of the US.

Diamondback Terrapin

So, [Turtle] is a turtle. What better gift could you find for that wonderful child in your life?

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Who are Stanley the Starfish and His Relatives?

Nancy — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:45:06 +0000

In the story about [Turtle], Stanley the Starfish claims that he can take Sam to pirate treasure. True, but what an adventure!

Starfish aren’t really fish, of course, and marine scientists are doing their best to replace that name with “sea star.” Whatever the name, they are fascinating creatures.

1. Some 2,000 varieties of sea stars can be found, living in all the world’s oceans. None live in freshwater.

2. We are most familiar with the five-armed variety, like Stanley, but sea stars can have 10, 20 and even 40 arms which can be up to 24 inches long.

3. Sea stars are famous for being able to re-grow a lost limb. Some can even grow an entire body from just a piece of limb.

4. Sea stars have no “blood;” filtered sea water is used instead.

5. The lifespan of a sea star is up to 35 years.

6. Starfish come in many colors — including bright red!

ONLY 14 DAYS remain to enter the Name the Turtle contest to win the Storybook Quilt about Sam, Stanley and [Turtle]. Click here for information and the entry form.

Tick! Tick! Tick! Only 16 Days Left!

Nancy — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:07:53 +0000

The entries are coming in and the judges are ready. The Name the Turtle Contest ends soon! So, pull up a comfy chair, pour a cool drink and help [Turlte] find a name. Feel free to consult the children in your life for ideas.

Details, more photos and an entry form are on our website. An illustrated summary of the story can be found here on the blog.

First prize is either the turtle Storybook Quilt or a $500 gift certificate good toward the purchase of any of our Storybook Quilts. Second prize is a $250 gift certificate good toward the purchase of any of our Storybook Quilts.

We look forward to your entry!