Thursday, June 30, 2022

Tomorrow?

 

Where had the year gone?

Wednesday, June 29, 2022

The Cowboy's Journey Home

 


The Cowboy's Journey Home by Linda Goodnight is part of the K-9 Companion series.  Although I have not read any of the previous books, this one stands alone.

Yates Trudeau is a military man who has come home after being badly injured. Both physically and emotionally. After leaving home so abruptly he dreads facing his family and his old girlfriend, Laurel. Laurel is a strong woman and gives Yates the support and forgiveness he so desperately needs. Yates and Laurel's families have been feuding for years, but this does not stop them from finding their way to healing. 

Linda Goodnight is an author I go to time and again. She writes good clean contemporary romance with depth of heart. Good characters and story line. 

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

Tuesday, June 28, 2022

More Caravans

 I have been working on a few more kitchen towels. They have really been a fun project, not too tiresome on my shoulder.


 


What do you think?

These are not complete but as I have practiced more, I think my applique stitches are getting better. 

Saturday, June 25, 2022

It arrived!

 

A Star for All Seasons arrived in a timely manner! Found it on Amazon. The book is a little worn, but the pages are fine. No worse for the wear then my original book. So now I need to find coordinating fabric to go along with.....

Hopefully I can get it made and quilted before the 4th.


Wednesday, June 22, 2022

A little chat

My garden seems to be done. The heat has been pretty unbearable for this time of year. It feels more like August than June. This was the last of my harvest.

I have never had much of a green thumb when it comes to growing veggies. I like to plant flowers in my yard, but vegetables have always been a challenge, with bugs and heat and all.

My daughter took me to Hobby Lobby a couple of weeks ago and I bought this really cute fabric.


My plan was to make a table runner for the 4th of July. But I have not been able to find my go-to table runner pattern. 

For years I have used A Star for All Seasons, and love it. But I have looked and looked and cannot put my hands on it. It is an older pattern by Quilt in a Day, so I may have to just order another one.

My daughter and hubby went to game 6 of the Lightening game. 


They had a blast when the Bolts won that one. They said people just milled around and didn't leave the stadium after the game, so much excitement.  Lets see if they can pull off another win for the Stanley Cup.

Anyone working on anything new? I'm hoping to get back to quilting soon. Physical Therapy has been progressing but the new exercises are working muscles I have not used in years. :-s



Monday, June 20, 2022

Where the Road Bends

 


Norah King accepts a proposal from Jake Granger in order to save her families land. Days before her wedding she finds a man beaten and left for dead on her land. Norah shows compassion and nurses Quincy Barnes back to health. But things change for both of them along the way.

The story is about forgiveness, hope and second chances. While I have read many of Rachel Fordham's previous books, I found this one felt very different from her previous writings. Ms Fordham is such an incredible author. She has a way of developing her characters to the fullest. This is a good clean novel, one that a young person might enjoy.

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

Friday, June 17, 2022

Quilting tips and hacks

Do you use tutorials for your quilting projects? Sometimes I find I need a little insight from other great quilters. So here are a few that I have found.

Angela Walters shares 5 Cutting Hacks. about cutting.

Sewing the ends together Quilting Daily

Leah Day shares quilting with a walking foot. If you have never used a walking foot before, this is a good tutorial to learn the basics.  Walking Foot Quilting.

Quilt Addicts Anonymous also has a tutorial if you want to use a walking foot for curvy stitiches.  Walking Foot Quilting - Straight and curvy 

Jenny Doan from Missouri Star has a You Tube  for binding that is easy to follow. The Ultimate Quilt Binding

 Perfect Quilt Binding by Jay Bird Quilts

The Quilt Skipper had a tutorial on making a hanging sleeve. 

I've never been good at installing zippers but if you want to add them to a pillow, s.o.t.a.k. has an easy method to try. Installing zipper closure. 

Diane Harris from National Quilting Circle shares quilting tips she wishes someone had told her when she first started quilting. Tips we can all learn from.  5 Quilting Tips

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

A sweet gift

 

Isn't this adorable? A gift from a relative while I was convalescing. Can you make out what it is?

No it isn't an antique machine.  It's a bird feeder!  But I am not putting it outside for the birds. I will probably hang it in my sewing room :-)

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

Love and the Dream ComeTrue

 


Country music star Cameron Lee returns to his hometown of Midlothian Texas for his sister's wedding. Filled with disappointment and self-pity for his failure to succeed. He meets Morgan, the daughter of energetic, positive thinking Lexi at the wedding.  The attraction between Cam and Lexie is electric. But knowing he will be leaving after the first of the year, Cam tries to resist the draw he feels for Lexie.

Lexie has had a crush on Cameron ever since she was 13. She was Cassie's (Cam's sister) best friend and always dreamed of Cameron. When Cameron returns to Midlothian he is shocked at how beautiful Lexis has become over the last 10 years.

This is a romance with a lot of complex twists and turns. Lexie's total acceptance of Cam, drives him out of his self absorption and tries to find his music again,  

Tammy L. Gray is an excellent writer. She brings life to her characters in a way that you are drawn in and want to know what is going to happen next. There is a lot of heart in her writing. This is a good clean read.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Monday, June 13, 2022

A camping we will go

I've been working on these kitchen towels.


Missouri Star had a camper pattern, but I modified it a bit. I am not very good doing the machine blind stitch as it's kind of hard to see where to go.  I think they make cute little gifts. And I had a lot of kitchen towels that I had planned on using for a different kind of applique. It has been fun to work with the different color combinations. What do you think?

Thursday, June 9, 2022

Wile away the hours

Thank you for all the well wishes for the recovery from my recent fall. I've had a lot of time on my hands since then. Besides going to Physical Therapy, I have cleaned out closets, did some sorting of things to go to Goodwill, and some reading. I do things as I am able, as I don't have the endurance as before. Plus there is still the pain to deal with. But I have tried to fill my days profitably. 

Before my accident, I had started a small vegetable garden, but I have tried to maintain that. I don't have a green thumb so success has been hit or miss. I did get some tomatoes and cucumbers.



I also finished two puzzles. I find that is good to keep my mind busy.


I forgot to take a picture of the first one before I put it all away. I enjoy these little puzzles. I bought two more to work on.

Doing some reading but I find that it is hard to keep interest. Many stories are so much the same. In the evenings I go to YouTube and watch movies. The hardest thing to deal with is not being about to sleep. Some nights I fall asleep only to wake up a couple of hours later and can't go back.  I'm still not driving but have been trying to walk a bit in the evenings. Maybe when I start driving again I won't feel so isolated.

How are things going with you? What projects are you working on? 


Monday, June 6, 2022

All People Quilt

 All People Quilt always has patterns to share. Have you ever made anything from their website?

A couple of years ago I had this wild fabric that was waiting for a great project, and this tote was perfect. The pattern is so easy. I changed my mind on the straps and had to rip out what was sewn and audition other fabrics.

 A great FREE pattern that works up into a really cute little tote.

Thursday, June 2, 2022

The joys of therapy

 Ten weeks ago, I slipped and fell in our pond, breaking my shoulder. My hubby said I could have drown if I had hit my head. But I am thankful and blessed that it did not happen that way. So, for the last four weeks this is where I have been spending my time.

Physical Therapy and I have been pretty close. It has been painful to try to regain mobility to my left arm. 

This is a really nice place. Very clean, spacious, and therapists are really nice. It's been slow going. My Orthopedic Dr did not see enough bone growth, so PT has stayed the same. But I can see that I have made some inroads in improvement. I'm just praying that I can regain enough movement to get back to life. It has been a bit discouraging because you know how it is. You want to do things and just can't. Trying to gain enough courage to start driving again. 

I've been trying to figure out what I can do, as I have been cooped up and isolated. I know it takes time, and I'm trying to be patient, 

I am hoping you all are enjoying some happy quilting :-)