Sunday, January 29, 2017

Thursday, January 26, 2017

An Uncommon Courtship

As I have been working my way through unfinished quilts, I find reading to be an enjoyable diversion.


An Uncommon Courtship, written by Kristi Ann Hunter, was the latest of Ms. Hunter's novels I read. Continuing with the story of the Hawthorne family, Ms. Hunter brings her characters in historical fiction to life. When two young people find themselves in a compromising situation, marriage is forced on both of them.

Lady Adelaide Bell, a shy neglected younger sister, finds herself married to Trent Hawthorne, younger brother to the Duke of Riverton. A man she barely knows. Trent, being honor bound to marry Adelaide, his family famous for their romance marriages, loses his dream of marrying for love.

How they learn about each other and the society of their times, led me to understand how complicated life was in the early 1800's. And how courtship and being introduced to society played such an important role.

Although the book continues with a family history, it is a stand alone story. I found it to be entertaining and thought provoking, as two young people find their way in marriage. I'm looking forward to the next story, when Griffith, the Duke finds the love of his life.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions of this review are my own.

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Valentine's Cards

With Valentine's Day a three weeks away, I thought I would re-post the Scrappy cards. They are fun to make and a great way to use up those small scraps of fabric. Help a child make a card for their parent.



You can find the tutorials here and here.
 
Happy Quilting!

Sunday, January 15, 2017

Friday, January 13, 2017

Featherweight to the rescue

Working on a new quilt, I noticed the pressure on my Bernina was not holding true. It could be because I was working with a lot of bias fabric.

When I noticed the border appeared to be wrinkling, I tore it out and set up the Featherweight.

I continued sewing on both borders.
 
Sometimes it just works better to use old faithful.

Thursday, January 12, 2017

A Moonbow Night

I've been a fan of Laura Frantz since reading The Frontiersman's Daughter. Since then I've devoured her Ballantyne Legacy novels. When I was offered an opportunity to read her latest novel A Moonbow Night, I thought it would be like the others.


A Moonbow Night is set in the late 1700's. When men forged the wilderness of the west. Surveyors trekking unknown Indian country, making a way for settlers. Men like Daniel Boone.

This story took me to a place I never thought much about. I've always enjoyed history, but little did I know about the taming of the roughed west. Laura Frantz brings to life the struggles, heartache, perils and dangers men and women faced in the 1700's. As a native Kentuckian, her attention to research and detail instilled a hunger to know how these early settlers braved so much loss. And yet they continued to pursue the next mile. Learning about the land that lay before them.

Laura Frantz wove a sweet love story through the pages of her novel. A story that was laced with pain and restoration. Her writing digs deep into the hearts of her characters. Miss Frantz truly brings history to life.

I found it interesting that there is certainly a thing called a Moonbow. It is the rainbow created by the moonlight rather than sun light. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions of this review are my own.

Monday, January 9, 2017

Let's visit a quilt shop

One of the things I love about quilt shops is drinking in inspiration from the samples they display.

Case in point...


And then of course, there is always the one that grabs me. and won't let go.


So yes, I bought fabric. Isn't that one of the rules for the New Year? 

Happy Quilting!


Sunday, January 8, 2017

Friday, January 6, 2017

First finish

...of the new year.

A gift for my friend's new grandbaby.

I hope your New Year has started out with happy quilting!

Sunday, January 1, 2017