The process

 Last August I started on a journey with a couple of girls from my church. Teaching them sewing and quilting. It has been a slow process, as they did not have any previous experience with sewing machines. But we made a good start and planned to get back together to finish their quilts.

As it turns out, the week we had planned to sew, a hurricane made a big mess of our area. So we put it off for another time.

Well yesterday we finally were able to gather together and work on their quilts. They are doing such a great job.

They finished piecing and tackled the quilting process with great courage.

We still need one more day to do the finishing touches, but all in all they were great to work with and I look forward to doing another quilt with them.

Have you ever taught someone to quilt? Did someone teach you?

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a truly patriotic holiday which is celebrated on the last Monday in May. It is a day set apart for remembering and honoring those who died while serving in the American Armed Forces.

In 1971 Congress passed a law making Memorial Day a national holiday. Typical Memorial Day celebrations include parades, special programs and speeches. Americans often attend picnics and baseball games, and almost any other type of outdoor event made possible by the freedom these soldiers died to protect. This holiday is the unofficial beginning of summer.


"I have never been able to think of the day as one of mourning; I have never quite been able to feel that half-masted flags were appropriate on Decoration Day. I have rather felt that the flag should be at the peak, because those whose dying we commemorate rejoiced in seeing it where their valor placed it. We honor them in a joyous, thankful, triumphant commemoration of what they did."
Benjamin Harrison,the 23rd President of the United States. 
 

In memory and honor of those who have fought and died to keep our country free.

"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends."

John 15:13

3 Yards make me smile

 Recently I was introduced to the 3 Yard quilt books. My quilting buddies and I got together and we worked on a nice pattern. 

Two buddies finished theirs.

But as usual I am still working on mine.

It was a fun and easy pattern. Have you ever made a quilt using the 3 Yard quilting books?

The Atlas of Untold Stories

 Do you remember when I reviewed "The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip." It was by far one of the best contemporary novels I had ever read.  Well now, Sara Brunsvold has an upcoming new book The Atlas of Untold Stories? It's a mother/daughter adventure of faith, family and great books. 

You can pre-order a copy now. I am previewing the book and will soon have a new review for you.

Amazon: https://a.co/d/1C75sFr
Amazon CA: https://tinyurl.com/2nv57zfr

Barnes & Noble: https://tinyurl.com/semyafdh

Christianbook.com : https://tinyurl.com/yaueke4h

Books-a-Million: https://tinyurl.com/488yfk5c

Gone, gone, gone

 So sad to see JoAnn's gone. I have shopped JoAnn's even before they became an ETC store. It was not my mail fabric store, but they always had good sales on things like quilting books, needles, thread, etc....

So I went to see if they had anything left. And came away with a little bit of fabric, mostly for backing.

With all the quilt shops closing it will be harder to find affordable fabric for my hobby. So I will continue to sew through my stash, until the end of it :-S

Ongoing progress

 I was given some leftovers scrap trimming from a quilt one of my quilting buddies was working on. 

Nice triangles to put together.

I worked on rearranging them into some sort of pattern.

Then added some sashing and an inner border.

Now I need to find some fabric from my stash for a border as I don't have any of the fabric that was in these pieces. Hoping to make it into a lap quilt for the charity quilts that I am working on.

Design wall Monday    Sew and Tell    NTT     Finished or not Friday   Brag About Your Beauties   Scrap Happy

Happy Mother's Day

Wishing each of you a Happy Mothers Day, whether you are the nurturer, or have ever been nurtured by a special lady in your life. May this day bring some sweet memory to cherish in your heart.


"Psalm for Mama"
Forgive me for the times I may have hurt you. Hear the song of love in my heart.

I do not remember the times I drank from your breasts, or the times I slept in your arms, or the times you sat beside me as I tossed with fevers.

I do not remember them, but I know those times existed. I have experienced those times with my daughter who will also not remember them.

I now understand things only mothers understand.

And at night, when I bend over and kiss your granddaughter, I sometimes feel your love in the room.

I only hope.... you can feel mine too!
(Terry Helwig)

My Pressed Flower Friend

Today would have been my BFF  birthday.  Diane lost her battle with cancer 20 years ago.  But I still think of her and miss her.  So in memory of Diane, I wanted to share this poem, written by Sherry Morris.

My Pressed Flower Friend

In my book of memories, 

there is a pressed Flower that fills a page,

With a gentle fragrance lingering still,

though it's faded now with age.

The way my Friend smiled and laughed,

The many ways she cared,

Are a legacy that she left behind

In stories I love to share.

So remember the hearts who've touched

your life,

It's what we each are here for.

A pressed Flower gently reminds us

To love and treasure our friendships more.

·.·.,¸¸,.·´¯`·.,¸¸,.·´¯`·.·\o/.(¨`-¦-´¨).\o/·.·´¯`·.,¸¸,.·´¯`·.,¸¸,.·.·

I love you Diane.  Your Fragrance still lingers.

The Light on Horn Island

The Light on Horn Island by Valerie Fraser Luesse is such a delightful story.

Set in Mississippi, Edie Gardener's loss of a beloved friend, sends her home to her grandmother, Punk. The Ten Spots surround her with love and encouragement. The sisters, Sugar, Cookie and Coco are the balm to sooth her grieving heart. With good creole food and the Gulf, Edie sets out to photograph Horn Island. But there is a mystery on the Island. A light that appears at night that no one knows where it comes from.

Cole Donovan was a summer romance that Edie had never forgotten. When she runs into him again, they recreate the teenage romance that had captured her heart. Edie meets a shopkeeper that offers her a job cataloguing photos of Hurricane Camille, she jumps at the chance. A difficult task as she interviews many of the survivors. 

This is a beautifully told Southern story that will touch your heart and stay with you. The characters were deep and well defined and the storyline well written. A good clean story, very engaging. 

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

Dinosaurs

 I have always liked this pattern. It's great for featuring fabric. This one is for a little boy on his way overseas with his military family. The dinosaurs are always a favorite with boys.

Cute, huh? I hope he likes it.

Design wall Monday    Sew and Tell    NTT     Finished or not Friday   Brag About Your Beauties   Scrap Happy

Just Desserts

 Another great Sew Sampler box. This one was for April.

With all the quilt shops and JoAnn's closing, I am enjoying these fun treats every month. 

Thanks Fat Quarter Shop. Check out their website HERE to see the details.