Oldies but goodies

I have become enamored with Vintage sheets. I had a few sheets, but after seeing some quilts made up in blog land, I've been more on the hunt for them.

This quilt sent me over the edge and gave me a goal -

Anyone Can Quilt 

And vintage sheets reign on this blog -

The Vintage Sheet Blog 

So take a look. You may fall in love. As for me, I found these two pillowcases recently.Vintage sheets are getting harder and harder to find in our area. Maybe everyone else is falling in love with these soft lovely oldies.

Have a happy quilting day!

Old Sewing Machines

Don't you just love old sewing machines??

The Sewing Machine Man had a display at a recent Quilt show.

He takes old sewing machines and refurbishes them.

He had quite a nice collection of old sewing machines and toy sewing machines.

This one was my favorite.

It sometimes makes me wish these machines could talk :-)

Happy Quilting!

With Every Breath - a book review

Memorable! That would be my first comment on reviewing Elizabeth Camden's book "With Every Breath". This is my first time reading any of Ms Camden's books and it was well worth reading. I often read a fiction book but in the end have been left with little to ruminate on. Not so with this book. I loved the story, I loved the characters, I loved the way Ms Camden worked her plot from the beginning when Kate and Trevor are classmates in school. Their diligence, competitiveness and academic excellence pave the way to showcase how difficult it was treating chronic and critical illnesses in the 1800's.I found it interesting that Ms Camden was inspired to write this book after reading about a doctor who had contracted tuberculosis while treating his dying brother. A quote by Dr Trudeau in the historical notes - "I have learned that the conquest of Fate is not by struggling against it, but by acquiescence; that it is often through men that we come to know God; that spiritual courage is of a higher type than physical courage; and that it take s a higher type of courage to fight a losing rather than a winning fight" 

Although this story is fiction, I was captivated with the extent of Trevor's dedication to finding a cure for this disease. Trevor and Kate are a perfect match in their determination and fire. He in holding his emotions close, and Kate in holding onto her fears.

This book was provided for review by Bethany House for my honest review. I plan to read Elizabeth Camden's other books. If they are anything like"With Every Breath", I have found an author that has the ability to capture my attention and draw me into the lives of her characters. I don't think you would be disappointed.

Flea Market pattern

 Several years ago, my sister in love finished two Flea Market Fancy quilts. We found this scrappy pattern on crazy mom quilts blog site Crazy Mom Quilts. I love Amanda Jean's quilts. She is so creative and always has an interesting blog. Plue she has lots of great patterns and tutorials posted.  I read her posts every day.

Look at how pretty my SIL's pink quilt turned out!



















I made the blocks and they sat in my ufo pile for a long time.  But I finally got around to putting it together and finished for my niece.

I decided not to add the sashing, and sewed all the blocks together.  

I like how it turned out.  And so did my niece :-)

Happy Quilting!

Bread for the Journey

A Name

You know that sometimes a name will conjure up pictures in your mind. Past experience will start the mind computer and run the video.

A rose will conjure up this -


For sewers the name Bernina brings something like this to mind -

Summertime

Summertime, and the living is easy............
Or so the song goes. Summertime. What does it bring to mind? Sunshine, gardens, mowing lawns, corn on the cob, watermelon, beaches, vacations. There's so much to enjoy in the summertime.

At the beginning of every summer, our family would trot up to the mountains. 

We attended an annual homeschooling conference and then would spend a few days in the cool mountains near Bryson City. My in laws had a very tiny trailer parked between Bryson City and Cherokee. The children always enjoyed our time at the trailer. There was a creek that ran close by, so the boys would bounce down in search of any kind of critter or special rock. We would rent those great big tires and float down Deep Creek! One year we rode the Smoky Mountain train. We'd watch the rafters as they would bob down the rough Nantahalla River. Of course we'd drive over to Dillard and Franklin to take in the shops. Such sweet summer memories. Do you have any special summer memories??