Sweeter Than Chocolate

 

Sweeter Than Chocolate by Lizzie Shane was such a WOW fun book to read!

Lucy Sweet is the owner of How Sweet It Is, a chocolate shop that has become her legacy. Every Valentine's day, if someone ate a Cupid chocolate they were bound to find true love. Although Lucy was hesitant to make the claim, many others had found it to be true.

Dean Chase, a TV reporter who chases down fraud was given the assignment of doing a fluff piece for the station. Resisting his natural tendency of skepticism, he meets Lucy and the chemistry is immediate.

This was such a great clean rom-com. I loved how Lucy and Dean interacted. They had great dialogue, and their continued resistance to each other made the story all the more intriguing. It was really hard to put this story down. A Hallmark publication, that I could see made into a movie. Definitely one that you should put on your to be read list.

I received a complimentary ebook copy from the publisher, through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Best of 2022 - A full year

This hasn't exactly been the best year for me. Started off with a UTI, went to the walk in for antibiotics and picked up Covid there :-( Then in March I fell and broke my shoulder. Sigh..... But I often take stock of my quilting finishes this time of year. I have not had much mojo, but I did finish a few things.  

After I fell and broke my shoulder, all sewing and quilting stopped.

As I was recuperating I was able to decorate these dish towels.

Slowly I was able to work on these charity quilts.

And then back to regular quilting.

The last two for Christmas gifts. 

And between quilts the countless pillowcases for Ryans Case for Smiles. 

 In addition to quilting, 33 Book reviews in 2022. Not including the additional books I read that were not up for review.

I hope your year was full and rewarding.

Gifts

 

When people take the time and care 
to make the presents they give, 
they put into the gifts not only the materials needed,
  but also a part of themselves.
~ Tasha Tudor ~

Best Christmas present

My daughter is home for Christmas and her birthday.

"Wasn't it just yesterday that you were a baby in my arms? I looked at your precious face and wondered where life would take you. Today I look at the person you've become .... strong, kind, thoughtful, caring, and optimistic .... and I realize that the dreams I held in my heart for you are alive in your beautiful spirit. I am so proud of you, and I love you with all my heart."

(source - Marci)

She was the best Christmas present ever!

Happy Birthday to my beautiful daughter.

In Love's Time

 

Kate Breslin is such a gifted author. She writes historical novels set in WWII. As this beautiful story unfolds, we find Clare and Marcus back. They were introduced in previous novels, but this story is a stand alone.

Marcus' secret mission takes him to Russia with a Russian ballerina posing as his fiancée'. Unfortunately Clare is devastated when she witnesses Marcus giving Natalya an engagement ring as part of the coupe. He cannot explain. But when Marcus returns wounded, he has no memory of Clare or anyone else of his acquaintance. The story is about courage and sacrifice. Trust and faith.

Ms. Breslin always does an amazing job of research in history, intertwined with fiction. You don't have to be a history lover to love her books.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

 

Merry Christmas

 

"I thank God for Christmas. Would that it would last all year. For on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, all the world is a better place, and men and women are more loveable. Love itself seeps into every heart, and miracles happen...". ~ Peter Marshall

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 

John 3:16-17

Baby it's cold outside

 Our Florida weather turned freezing this morning. At 29 degrees even the fountain froze.

I think the birds could have skated on the ice that formed.

Hope you are staying warm where ever you are.

Christmas Every Day

 

Enjoy!

Catching up

 Racing against time to finish the last two Christmas gifts.

Christmas wish

 

(source Living Christian)

My first loves

 I love it when the grandkids come to visit.

Finished table runner

 Well I finished quilting this table runner.  

It was using three orphan blocks. I think it turned out pretty good :-)

                                       Sew and Tell

                                      Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?

                                      Finished or not Friday

                                      Peacock Party

Quilt shop hopping

 Last week my quilting partners and I took a day trip to visit local quilt shops. There aren't many left in our area, so we thought we would see what the shops had to offer.

The first one was Rainbows End. Rainbows End used to be a huge quilt shop in Dunedin, but closed about a year ago. I recently learned that a new one had opened in Clearwater. Come to find out it is a relative of the original owners. 

It was a descent size.  But many of the fabrics were of the old stock from the original store. There were a lot of new pre-cuts.

The next stop was Country Quilts and Bears. 

The place was hopping with a class going on. 

But it was fun and the did have a lot of beautiful fabrics.

Owners John and Marilyn are always so sweet and kind.

And busy, busy, busy.

The last shop, which I visited myself was Sweet Darlings. It's a small shop north of Tampa. 

I bought the pattern for this last quilt. I loved the color choice. I believe that Missouri Star has a tutorial.

Well, I hope you are getting all your Christmas projects done.  

Happy Quilting!

Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange

Welcome! Today is my day for the annual Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange. Thank you to Carol from Just Let Me Quilt for organizing this every year. It is fun to get new yummy cookie recipes and inspiration for a new fabric craft.  I have a craft and a cookie recipe to share!

I have shared this on my blog before, but if you are visiting for the first time, I hope you will enjoy this fun and easy idea.

 

A couple of years ago I made these cute little snowmen for the children of some friends.  There's a full size Hershey bar wrapped under the snowman.  The hats are a pair of inexpensive children's gloves. Or you can make your own with fabric. You can also use scraps for the wrap, but I used a little bit of flannel and shagged the ends. I think this is one of the cutest little gifties for someone young and old :-)

You can find a link for the template HERE.
(p.s. be sure to turn the template to the Landscape position before printing)

Now for my cookie recipe. 

Chewy Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies

4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups softened butter

1 1/4 cups sugar

1 1/4 firmly packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla

2 cups (12 oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips or M& M's

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt.  Set aside

Combine butter, sugar, brown sugar. Beat until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla. Continue beating until well mixed.

Gradually add dry mixture. Stir in chocolate chips.

Drop dough by 1/4 cupful's, 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 10-14 minutes or until light golden brow. 

(I use M & M's instead of chocolate chips)

These cookies bake up so large and delicious. 

Thanks for visiting. I hope you will come again. Enjoy!

Trendy Tables

 While we were traveling in Texas a few weeks ago, I came across this at a quilt shop.

I absolutely fell in love with the color choices. So I tried to find the pattern by Anka's Treasures and had not found it in any of the shops I visited. 

But low and behold, last week we visited a quilt shop in Clearwater, Country Quilts and Bears, and right when we walked in I found the book!

I may never make this table runner, but I just had to have the book, in case inspiration struck :-)

Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange

 

Today is the beginning of the Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange. Be sure to follow along for some delicious cookie recipes and Christmas crafts.

December 5

Creatin' in the Sticks

DesertSky Quilting

Karrin’s Crazy World

Days Filled With Joy

Just Because Quilts

That Fabric Feeling

For The Love Of Geese

Words & Stitches

 

December 6

MooseStashQuilting

Just Sew Quilter

Ms P Designs USA

Beaquilter

Pieceful Thoughts of My Quilting Life
Stitchin At Home

 

December 7

Inflorescence

Crazy'boutquilts

Patchouli Moon Studio

Texas Quilt Gal

Pinker n' Punkin Quilting & Stitching

Needled Mom

Quilted Delights

 

December 8

Just Let Me Quilt

Quiltscapes

Songbird Designs

Patchwork Breeze

Quilt Schmilt

Homespun Hannah's Blog

Happy Cottage Quilter

What to do this Christmas

 

  What To Do This Christmas

This Christmas, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Share some treasure. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Find the time. Forego a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Listen. Apologize if you were wrong. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Appreciate others. Be kind; be gentle. Laugh a little. Laugh a little more. Deserve confidence. Take up arms against malice. Decry complacency. Express your gratitude. Go to church. Welcome a stranger. Gladden a heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love. Speak it again. Speak it once more. Christmas is a celebration, and there is no celebration that compares with the realization of its true meaning --- with the sudden stirring of the heart that has extended itself toward the core of life. Then, only then, is it possible to grasp the significance of that first Christmas --- to savor in the inward ear the sweet music of the angel choir; to envision the star-struck sky, and glimpse, behind the eyelids, the ray of light that fell athwart a darkened path and changed the world. 

                                        Author Unknown

Christmas sewing

 Christmas sewing in the works.

And an orphan block made into a hot pad!

Great way to use up scraps. 

                                      Sew and Tell

                                      Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?

                                      Finished or not Friday

                                      Peacock Party

Happy Thanksgiving

 

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving, His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name." Psalm 100:4

To Do List

 

Can't think of a better way to start the holiday season :-)

Need quick gift ideas?

There are so many wonderful tutorials out there in blog land. If you have one that you enjoy, I'd love to hear about it.
But for today, grab your cuppa of coffee or hot tea and visit a few of my favorite tutorials.

I love to read Karen's very creative Tool Time Tuesday. Handmade recycled gift tags to use for the holidays.

A very cute tutorial on making a Needlecase. What a great gift idea for a hand quilter from nana's company

This is one of my go to Travel-sized Tissue Cozy patterns. Kim shared her easy tutorial on "an oft traveled road".

I have all the fabric ready and waiting for this pattern by Tea Rose Home. It is a Modern Square Garden quilt.

Have you got a little buddy to make a gift for? How about this TOO cute Softie doll from "60piggies".

For teachers and friends a Notebook Cover from "My Patchwork".

How about a pretty gathered clutch from Noodlehead?

A quick and easy Table Runner by Diary of a Quilter.

And here is a library of Free Quilting Patterns and Projects from the Quilting Gallery. All in one place.

Go forth and SEW :-)

Christmas is on the way

 I found these cute panels and decided to make them up for two little girls.  I'll give them before Christmas so they can snuggle on Christmas morning.

                                             Sew and Tell

                                      Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?

                                      Finished or not Friday

                                         Peacock Party