Quilting treasure party

Thrift store shopping can sometimes unearth quilting treasures. Browsing in the craft section, I came across no less then 50 quilting books. Now this was looking like a party ready to happen!

I came away with 10 quilting books and a couple of patterns. All for $10!!!

When I looked at this book -

it was very familiar. As I turned the pages, I realized why.


My version of these patterns.

Although I did not own this book, I had made these patterns with a couple of my quilting buddies. It's a great book, and I know I will enjoy making more. Like this one.............

It's definitely on my bucket list :-)

Happy Quilting!

Hearts Entwined

There are so many good fiction books on the market. Many of the authors are ones the I am familiar with. So when I had an opportunity to review Hearts Entwined, a historical Novella collection, I jumped at the chance.

Karen Witemeyer continued her series of Ladies of Harper's Station. I had read two of the books in the series and was delighted with her continuation. "The Love Knot" takes you to Harper's Station, a safe haven community for women, where we meet up with Claire Nevin the young healer. Her sister Polly sends a message that she is sending a hand delivered package for Claire's safe keeping. What a surprise when Claire finds the man who broke her heart, carrying a bundle sent from her sister. Pieter van Duren never stopped loving Claire, but by a misunderstanding had sent Claire running west as a mail order bride. 

Mary Connealy is a new to me author, but I certainly enjoyed her take on "The Tangled Ties That Bind". In 1883 Conner Kincaid returns to his Colorado homestead after being gone for five years,  He's ready to settle down with the grown up girl he left behind. Only five years is a long time for a girl, now young woman, to wait with nary a word. Maggie has moved on with her life. She's training to be a doctor and has committed to venture to a small town when she completes her training. All of this stuns Conner who now vows to follow Maggie into the big city of Denver. 

"Bound and Determined" by Regina Jennings takes us back to Indian territory in 1885. Private Bradley Morris can't seem to stay out of trouble. His sister Louisa is about to marry Major Adams but that doesn't give Bradley any points. After disobeying a direct order, Bradley is assigned to escort a Captain and his herd back to Texas. Cows, horses, whatever, Bradley is confident he can handle the task. However Bradley looks at the strangely shaped mammals he is assigned to escort. Camels! And an ever greater surprise is the Captains daughter, Ambrosia. Now this has become a most trying assignment.

Melissa Jagears has spun a most compelling story in "Tied and True". How far will someone go for love? In 1908 the classes were divided by the have's and have nots. When a bright lovely well to do young lady, Marianne Lister, sets her sights on Calvin Hochstetler, a secretary for the business man who hopes Marianne will marry his son David, things change dramatically. Marianne's life of ease is a concern of Calvin's, a working man who cannot provide things Marianne is accustomed to. This sets Marianne on a mission. To prove that she can live with less. When her parents depart for a vacation, Marianne takes a job at a local mill, working 12 hour days. Calvin tries his best to thwart Marianne's maneuvers, but will love triumph in the end?

Each one of these stories was a delight. And they are each stand alone. Not necessary to have read the previous books to continue with these novellas. I thoroughly enjoyed each one.

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

Trying something new

So in all the years I have been quilting, I've always wanted to take a knitting class. Just to expand my horizons, you see.  A couple of weeks ago, I took a beginner knitting class with two other ladies. Our teacher said we did so well, we signed up for the advanced class!

It was a bit challenging, but we learned a few different things, mostly how to read a pattern.

Here is Laura working on her stitches.

And Kate picked out the prettiest color.

Our teacher's name was Jan and she was great! Very helpful and able to explain technique and stitches. PLUS she was very patient.

Here's my attempt at working on the shawl.

How about you? Have you stretched your wings and tried something new lately?

Can I get a Whoop Whoop? 
Finished or Not Friday 

Snow, snow, snow

Much of the US is blanketed with snow. So isn't it fun to learn more about the perfection and beauty of God's creation -

SNOW

Check out these websites.

Snow Crystals Photo Gallery

Snow Ice Cream

Wilson Bentley - The Snowflake Man

The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of His hands
~ Psalm 19:1

Sew Goodness

Late last year I found myself disgusted with so much extra fabric sitting in my closet. How could I ever use up all of my stash in my lifetime? After thinking and pondering what was the best use of my material acquisitions, the thought of helping kids woke up my incentive. Ryan's Case for Smiles is a worthy charity that sparked me. Quickly I started making pillowcases and ended up donating two dozen before Christmas for this worthy cause.

So when I read about Amy Smart's (Diary of a Quilter) monthly challenge, I was again motivated to dig into my stash.

How about you? Will you take a few days and make either pillowcases or pillowcase dresses? Why let all that fabric gather dust when you could bring a smile to a child, helping them to heal?

Can I get a Whoop Whoop? 
Finished or Not Friday 

 Finish it up Friday 
Saturday Sparks

Walking Foot Quilting

After reading the review on Quilt Shop Gal's blog, I made a request for a copy of Leah Day's newest book.

And sweet hubby had this under the Christmas tree.

Happy Quilting!

Getting there

A gift, is a gift, is a gift. At least it is one when it's finished. Still squeezing in time to work on this table runner.

I know it's hard to see the color, but the background is a deep blue. Kansas Troubles fabric with embedded roses. After being sick for the last two weeks, there is so much to catch up on. But I will finish this tablerunner gift... 

 

... soon.

Can I get a Whoop Whoop? 
Finished or Not Friday 

 Finish it up Friday 

A Star for All Seasons

After the marathon sewing of December, I am finally getting back to the machine again.

I love making this pattern.

Happy Quilting!

Holding the Fort

Two weeks stuck at home with chills, coughing, wheezing, and sneezing affords a lot of time to catch up on reading and watching movies you didn't have time to watch before.

 One delightful book was "Holding the Fort" by Regina Jennings.  The story of being in the wrong place at the right time. Dance hall singer Louisa Bell travels to Fort Reno, her quest to help her wayward brother. But when she arrives she is mistaken for the new governess hired to train Major Daniel Adams teenage daughters.

The story unfolds when Louisa finds herself face to face with a soldier who is thrown from his horse as he attempts a daredevil feat. Little did she know this soldier turns out to be Major Adams. When she decides to step into the role of governess, she soon finds she is in over her head. This turns out to be the performance of a lifetime.

I loved the way Ms. Jennings portrayed her characters. Hard times in Indian territory helped develop Daniel and Louisa's determination to succeed. This was a sweet story as an unexpected romance.blooms between the two characters.

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

What's your story?

Many years ago, I took a required class my first year in High School. On one of the first days of our Home Economics class, our teacher, Mrs. Trainor, told us that we would be constructing a garment, learn to bake, and learn how to design a home.

I had never sewn before, as my own Mom did not sew. So we learned about fabric and thread, and sewing machines, tracing wheels and zippers. And each one of us made a garment!

After graduating from High School, I found that making garments was fun and challenging. I ended up taking another garment class through Adult Education offered in our public schools.

After I married and started a family, I found the local craft stores offered different classes. Cake decorating was a great asset to make birthday cakes for my little children. But the class that changed how I looked at a sewing machine was the quilting class.
At that time, we used scissors, templates and we hand stitched everything. When our class was almost over, our teacher brought out an instrument that she said would make cutting our fabric easier. Can you guess what it was?

Yep, it was the first time I ever saw a Rotary cutter. None of the students were impressed, saying "How could this pizza cutter take the place of scissors?" Not only were we wrong, but my sister in law took a class at a new quilt shop and learned Eleanor Burns Quilt in a Day method. Sewing has never been the same for us since ;-)

How about you?? Who taught you to quilt??

Happy New Year!

Auld Lang Syne History & Lyrics

This 18th century poem was written by Robert Burns and is traditionally sung at the moment the clock strikes midnight of the brand new year.
Auld Land Syne actually translates to Good Old Days.



Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne

We twa hae run aboot the braes
And pou'd the gowans fine;
we've wander'd mony a weary foot
Sin' auld lang syne

We two hae paidled i' the burn,
Frae mornin' sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin' auld lang syne

And here's a hand, my trusty friend,
And gie's a hand o' thine;
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!