Monday, July 31, 2017

Selvages

Several years ago I found this cool pattern using selvages in one of the quilting magazines. I delved into my fabric and some of the saved selvages, and made the bag.

 Front
Back

Along the way, I have saved selvages whenever I cut into fabric. But after organizing my fabric stash, I've pretty much decided that I won't be making anything else with left over selvages.

So..... here's the thing. I have the large zippy bag stuffed with selvages.

 I'd be glad to send them to anyone for the cost of postage.  Interested? Just leave a comment or shoot me an email. I'm sure someone can put them to good use.

Friday, July 28, 2017

Half Squares

I think Half Square Triangles are my favorite block. They can make a quilt look scrappy, fussy, or organized.

I started this quilt several years ago, and while going through my ufo's I discovered this one would be great for Quilts of Valor.

How about you? Do you have a favorite quilt  block?


Tuesday, July 25, 2017

What to do, what to do

Many years ago, I made this Sampler quilt. I've only made a couple of samplers, but the fabric from this one seems pretty dated to me.

So what would you do? Would you finish it? Should I change the borders to something solid?? Or just stuff it into the trash? I loved the blocks, just not the fabric so much anymore.

Any suggestions?

Friday, July 21, 2017

Antique quilts

Last week hubby and I took a drive up to the Ocala area. We visited several antique malls and I was surprised to see so many quilts on display.









And finally this little gem.

It was fun to scout out these old quilts.

Happy Quilting!


Tuesday, July 18, 2017

High as the Heavens

Reading has become a hobby of mine. When my children were small, and I was schooling them, I never had time to read for pleasure. When they finished school, I think I've been making up for all those lost years.

"High as the Heavens" is a story that takes place during WWI. When Germany occupied Brussels, Evelyn Marche becomes a nurse to the allies and the enemy. She moonlights as a spy for the Belgian resistance, and finds herself walking into more danger than she bargains for. On her way to meet up with her contact, an explosion lights up the sky.  She watches a plane crash a few hundred meters away.  As she rescues the man who is lying near the burning engine, she is shocked when she recognizes the man she thought she had lost forever...her husband Simon.

I have read Kate Breslin's earlier novels, "Not By Sight" and "For Such A Time" and enjoyed them both.  Ms. Breslin has a way of weaving her novels, surrounded by history, into touching and engaging stories.

One of my favorite lines from this book is when Simon confronts the Major that Evelyn has been working for.

"I'm here because she's in danger, Herr Major. I need a truck and a pass to get to her."

"You fight for the Allies. Your soldiers shoot ours." The major scowled. "Why should I help you?"

"Because my daughter saved your life."

Both men turned to see Louise Marche's diminutive figure standing beside the table. With arms raised, she held a pistol pointed at the Hun. "And now you must save hers."

Simon drew in a sharp breath. How had she managed to filch the gun from his coat pocket?

Kate Breslin has created a tale that will take you back into the era of the great war. Hunger, starvation, and death surrounded this generation. Kate shows how these heroic women were a part of helping win the war. If you would like to read more about some of these women, and how their bravery helped the war effort, you can check out Kate's blog on this  LINK.

#HighAsTheHeavens #AmReading #BookLove 

 I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are my honest opinion.



Monday, July 17, 2017

Not just for barns anymore



I love these metal quilts from the Classic Metal Company. Wouldn't they be a fun addition to  your home?

Friday, July 14, 2017

On Love's Gentle Shore

Liz Johnson is a new to me author. But everything I've read has drawn me into her stories. I first read "The Red Door Inn". A sweet compelling story. Then the second novel in the Prince Edward Island Dreams series, "Where Two Hearts Meet" drew me into the characters with all of their flaws.


Ms Johnson's latest novel, "On Love's Gentle Shore" was a beautiful tale of how running away can bring you full circle back to where you started.

Natalie O'Ryan never wanted to return to Prince Edward Island. She never planned to return to the pain and heartache she knew growing up there. Never wanted to face her past. But when her fiance plans their wedding on the Island, Natalie tries to cover her past with lies and deception.

Justin Kane never forgot Natalie. He drowned himself in work at the ranch when his father died and left him to care for his mother and siblings. But when Natalie shows up, his heart remembers the little girl, thin and abused, and the friendship they forged through all the growing up years. How can he watch Natalie marry another man, when his heart was given over to her all those years ago.

A sweet, sweet story about heartbreak and forgiveness. A story about restoration and how we must sometimes face our past before we can move forward to the future. I would give this one a 5 star rating.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are my honest opinion.

Monday, July 10, 2017

Put some sunshine into someone's day

Let's start our week of with a little bit of kindness!

Friday, July 7, 2017

Do you have a favorite?

Finding a fabric line that you love can be a little disabling. You know how it is. You buy some of the fabric, then when you go back for more, it's gone, like trying to capture the sunset when your camera is not around.

So when I first saw Glace by Three Sisters, it was love at first sight. I bought several pieces and used a Miss Rosie's Schnibbles quilt pattern.

When I made this quilt I was short of fabric, so I didn't make the piano border. And finding more of this fabric became a challenge.

But somehow, along the way, I found a charm pack and a Jolly Bar that I immediately snatched up. But how do you use just one charm pack? Most patterns call for at least two. Grumble....

As I was cleaning out my stash closet, I came upon a Moda Bake Shop pattern that I had saved from a few years ago. A pattern called Baby Lattice Quilt by Amy Smart of Diary of a Quilter. Low and behold, the pattern could be made with one charm pack and a fat quarter. I had that. 

I had that!!

Not needing to cut out the 5" squares really was a time saver. So little by little I started building this quilt.


Don't you love the soft colors? I really love anything that Three Sisters designs.

So here it is!  The lattice lined up beautifully and I'm excited about the next step of quilting.

Sure does make for Happy Quilting!



Thursday, July 6, 2017

Has it been a year already?

Last year I signed up with Val's Quilting Studio for a Piggy Bank Savings Challenge.

Click the picture to read more!

Hard to believe but a year has flown by and it's time to count our savings.

So I dumped out the box which held my collection ...

... and counted out the bills and change for a total of...

$68.24!

I think that was pretty good, even though I didn't always remember to do it.

What am I going to use the money for?

I'm not totally sure, but in a few weeks, my hubby and I will be celebrating our anniversary, and he always takes me to a quilt shop wherever we go.

Sounds like a plan :-)

Happy Quilting!

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

A Happy Fourth

I love to bring out this table topper for the Fourth of July.

I had the three large star blocks to begin with, so I improvised and made the table topper.

Happy Independence Day!