America 250

 

With America 250th anniversary are you looking for free patriotic patterns? Check out Quilt Inspiration.  Not only does she have free patriotic patterns, she has hundreds of free quilt patterns. Look at her side bar or her quilt pattern archive to find different ones. So many to choose from. She also has quilt tutorials.

Happy quilting!

More travel day inspiration

 

 

A travel stop

You know when you are traveling, and you come reasonably close to Paducah KY, you just need to stop in Hancock's of Paducah to check things out.

Always an inspiration.

A Chance for Kallie Mae

 

A Chance for Kallie Mae by Ann Gabhart is a Christian romance set in the Appalachian Mountains. Living in the mountains in 1911 many adults never learned to read or write. Families held grudges as  bitter feuds fueled enemies. This story was a breath of fresh air.

Kallie Mae Bertram was left to care for her baby sister Emmie, and her brother Whitt when their mother died in childbirth. Kallie has been in love with Quinn Spencer since they were children. But his family was the other part of the grudge. Even though their families were enemies, their feelings for each other only grew. Aunt Sudie was a wonderful character and added so much to the mountain life.  

Ann Gabhart is truly a gifted writer. Her descriptions were well executed and the thoughts of the characters left you feeling like you knew them personally. This is a lovely story, centered around hope, forgiveness, a blooming romance and faith. Faithfully caring for family and sometimes heart breaking sacrifice.  The story is inspired by Cora Wilson Stewart, the woman who founded the adult literacy education program.  She started the Moonlight Schools, where illiterate adults were taught to read and write. Definitely a must read. 

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

Mobile quilting

 Hubby and I were on a trip recently. He insisted that I bring my sewing machine. I had a project that I wanted to work on, so here is the progress.'

The set up

And the progress.

Sew and Tell 

 Finished or not Friday 

  Brag About Your Beauties   

Scrap Happy

Patchwork and Quilts

Happy Mother's Day

 

Her children rise up and call her blessed.

Proverbs 31:28

Mother's Day is a special day. Not everyone is a Mother, but we've all had a Mom in our lives. Whether it was a natural Mother, an adopted one, or just a special woman who came along side to encourage you. My own Mom went to be with the Lord when I was in my 20's, but there have been women who stood in her place. I am thankful for God's mercies to allow me to share special "Mom" time with these women.

If your Mother is still living, be sure to give her a hug. And if your Mother is already gone, find someone who could really use a hug. It could be a relative, a friend, a neighbor, or even an acquaintance. In the Bible we see when Jesus hung on the cross, he gave His own Mother into John's safe keeping (John 19:26-27). I'm sure after Jesus died, Mary needed a hug. And when the Lord returned from the grave, in my heart of hearts, I know He hugged His Mother. Mary probably treasured those moments, just as she did when the shepherds told of the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:19).

May the Lord bless each one of you, whether you are a daughter, Mother, Grandmother, sister, niece, friend or neighbor.

Exodus 20:12 ESV “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away. 

~Dinah Craik

Happy dreams

I couldn't pass this little doll bed without taking a picture.

Happy Quilting!

Pineapple Coconut Cake

My niece makes this cake.  Talk about moist and delicious.  I first tasted it at a birthday party and  immediately I knew this was something my family would love.  Plus it's a quick and easy dessert.  A "go to" when you need something special.  So here it is......

Pineapple Coconut Cake

1 Yellow Cake Mix

2 cans Crushed Pineapple in Natural juice (drained with juice reserved)

1 can Cream of Coconut

Sweetened flaked Coconut

Cool Whip or fresh Whipped Cream

Prepare cake according to direction on the box.  In place of the water, use the same amount of the Pineapple juice.  Bake according to directions on package.

Remove from oven and poke holes all over cake (about 2" apart).  While cake is still warm, pour Cream of Coconut evenly over cake.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

When cake is completely cooled, pour crushed pineapple over the cake and spread evenly.

Top with Cool Whip or Whipped Cream and sprinkle flaked Coconut over top.

Wouldn't this be a special treat for Mother's Day?

Enjoy!

Love your Creativity

The Bachelor Spy

 

The Bachelor Spy by Pepper Basham is a Christian romance. Adventure, mystery and love all rolled into a delightful novel.

The story starts out gripping your attention. With spies lurking around, a sinking ship and a shooting that maims Blake. Does he survive? Does Evie go down with the ship? Basham weaves a suspenseful mystery. The characters Grace and Fredrick have such a special relationship as sleuthing partners that round out the story. There is a little violence in some scenes of people fighting. But all in all it is well written and definitely to be put on your to be read list.

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

Table Runners

Don't you  love table runners. A quick change can transform any table from rustic to elegant. Here are some to help you on your way. These have been shared by Stacy Lee.

Quilt As You Go Table Runner

Chunky Wheel Table Runner

Easy to Make Table Runner

Tannenbaum Table Runner

Star Flower Mini Quilt

Table Runner Roundup

Free Quilted Hexagon Table Topper Pattern

Weapon of choice

Rotary cutters. There are so many varieties available now. There are big ones, and small ones. There are cutters with straight blades and some with wavy blades. They come in an ergonomic design, or just plain ;-) The list could probably boggle the mind.

So, what is your weapon of choice?

Small?

Medium?

or large?

I had problems with this large blade rotary. The lock would not stay in the locked position when I would use it. I wrote to the company and they sent me a replacement, no questions asked -

But my favorite baby is this one

She was my first rotary and I still love to use her when I am cutting fabric. I also find that my blades don't dull as easily when I use her sister mat.

I have several mats, and I find that the Olfa mat seems softer then some other brands. I don't know if that is what makes the difference in dulling a blade, but I'm an Olfa girl :-)

So choose your weapon................. and start cutting :-)

Happy Quilting!

Clean books to read

Here are f-r-e-e additions for my to-be-read library this week! No-cost this morning on Amazon but prices do change so be sure to check before hitting the buy button! All should be clean and faith-friendly

Three clean books for free.  

• Western Hearts by Carolyne Aarsen is a contemporary Christian cowboy romance;

• First Lights of Mahone Bay by Sylvia Price is a short read about finding home (no faith content but should be clean);

• Steele by Laura Scott is Christian romantic suspense

Happy Iron

 Maintaining a happy iron usually takes a little effort. 

I never put water in any of my irons. I use a spritzer whenever I need to dampen my fabric. But as I was re-reading the directions for cleaning my iron I came upon this little hint -

Rowenta irons are designed to be used with regular tap water (up to 12 grains of hardness). If your water is harder than this, Rowenta recommends mixing half tap water with half distilled water. Never use 100% pure distilled water since this can cause the iron to spit and leak.

There are many types of household water softeners. Many of them are perfectly acceptable for use in an iron. HOWEVER, some types of softeners, particularly those that use chemicals such as salt, can cause the iron to leak or spit during use. If you experience this type of problem, we recommend that you try using inexpensive bottled spring water. NEVER USE 100% PURE DISTILLED WATER. Once you have changed water it will take several uses to correct the problem.

So just a word to the wise. These are suggestions from the Rowenta cleaning kit, but it may be applicable to other brands as well.

I hope this will make for some Happy Quilting :-)

Quick way to use scraps

Here is a quick way to use up left over fabric. 

Cut 24 strips, 2" x 5", of assorted coordinating fabrics

Cut 10 2" x 2" for accenting blocks

 Lay the strips and accenting blocks in whatever order you like.

After you find a pattern that pleases your eye, start sewing the strip together.

Trim the edges.

Cut a 1 1/4" strip from a darker fabric for the inner border.

Cut 2 1/2" strips of outer border fabric and add to table runner

.

And now it's all ready for quilting!

I have enjoyed making these table runners in different color ways for the different seasons. This one is in icy blues and a touch of gold. This table runner is longer, using 42  2" x 5" strips.

I hope you enjoy making this easy table runner.

Happy Quilting!

Sew and Tell 

 Finished or not Friday 

  Brag About Your Beauties   

Scrap Happy

Tablerunner

 After I made my Valentines quilt, I had charms left over. So I decided to use them for a table runner.

Simple and cute :-)

Sew and Tell, 

Finished or not Friday   

Brag About Your Beauties,  

 Scrap Happy

What is really important?

 

This is the closet in my sewing room. Unfinished quilt tops waiting for backing and quilting. This is not all of them. There are still some that are older than dirt in a plastic container.  Sadly made from fabric that is really dated.

So why do we quilt? I have paused to reflect on this question. My love of quilting has not diminished, but the reasons have. I used to make quilts for gifts. Weddings, for babies, housewarming, birthdays. But through the years it appears that most people don't really appreciate all the time, effort and money that goes into a hand made quilt. Some quilts may even be relegated to the dog bed.

It's why I've been making more of an effort to make pillowcases for Ryan's' Case for Smiles. Hoping to bring a smile to a child, a boost while they are experiencing illness.

Most recently, these things that take our time and money have left a deep impression of what is really important in life.  A quote from the late Barbara Bush struck me.

 (source - Woman's World)

At the end of your life, what will you regret? What will really be important?

Happy Easter

 

Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" She said to him, "Yes Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world." (John 11:25-27)

"He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said" (Matt. 28:6)

May you rejoice in knowing that the Savior of this world lives.

Wishing you a Blessed Easter.

Any shade will do.

 Okay, I have a thing for pink!

 What about you? Do you have a color that draws you?

Happy Quilting!