Friday, February 14, 2025

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Featherweight failure

 I'm happy to say the winner of the EPP is Joyce C. Thank you to those who played along.

I am on another mission. Last year I made lap quilts for the nursing home my aunt was in.  She has since passed away, but I decided that I will try once again to continue to make and donate lap quilts for the residents.

I started over the weekend using my Senior Featherweight Singer. 


But just as I was sewing the last block, the uptake lever refused to go up! So now I will have to find someone to take a look and see if it can be repaired. Sigh...


Monday, February 10, 2025

Book review

Dana K. White does an outstanding job with this book. Jesus Doesn't Care About Your Messy House is a breath of fresh air in a world pushed by busyness.
For those who can't seem to get everything done, it helps to keep the perspective and a reminder of what really is important. Practical and relatable, it feels like you are sitting down chatting with a friend. 
"It's assumed that a woman who is admirable and worthy to be praised would have a perfect house."
Cleanliness is next to godliness is a false statement. Often referred as a bible verse. It is not in the Bible. It was a statement made by John Wesley in a sermon in 1778.  Although cleanliness is a good thing, we need not get hung up as a spiritual thing. Cleaning is absolutely necessary. Dirt and bacteria can be dangerous to our bodies and health.
Dana shares biblical wisdom for God's purpose and love. Encouragement we all need. She states she is a woman from Texas who figures out how to teach people how to get their homes under control and break their death grip attachments to clutter. 
This book is well worth reading. 
I received a complimentary ebook copy from the publisher, through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

Saturday, February 8, 2025

Created block and EPP giveaway

 On Thursday I posted the found blocks that I sewed together. And I asked if anyone could find the one additional block that I made with the left over pieces of fabric. It was on the lower (third row) left corner.

There were just little pieces that miraculously went together to make this block :-)

If anyone is still interested in the EPP giveaway please let me know on THIS page. I will draw a name and send the package. It doesn't seem there are many people who are doing English paper piecing.

Happy Quilting!




Thursday, February 6, 2025

Found blocks

 Putting these blocks together made up a nice top. 


There were eight to start with. I needed to make another block to make this figuration work. Well I didn't know what the original pattern was. And I only had a smidgen of fabric left. But I managed to make a block out of the left over fabric. Can you tell which is the one I made from the scraps? 

                                       Sew and Tell
                                       NTT
                                      Finished or not Friday
                                      Design wall Monday

Monday, February 3, 2025

January Sew Sampler + giveaway

 The January Sew Sampler was not the usual fare. 

There were three charm packs included. But other than that, there was nothing that I would normally use.

I am not particularly fond of English Paper Piecing and it's not something that I am interested to do.  So if you are interested, I am offering the EPP and pattern for YOU! If you would like to have them or to try something new, leave a comment. I will draw a winner at the end of the week. Please note! All the comments that are coming to my feed are saying no-reply comment (is anybody else having this problem?). So I am not even sure I am getting all the comments. So if you would please leave a way to reach you, that would be great. If you leave an email address, use a dash instead of the dot com. I will know to change it to dot com.


Thanks for following along. I am happy to share with you.

Happy Quilting.


Thursday, January 30, 2025

Uneasy Street

 Cover Image: Uneasy Street

Uneasy Street

Pub Date:    |   

The Sons of Scandal is a series by Becky Wade. Uneasy Street is the third and final book in the series.

This is Max Cirillo's story. He and Sloane Madison meet in college and go on to start a business together. But when Sloane disappears from an important meeting, Max takes it on himself to remover her from the company.   Going from best friends/co-workers to enemies.

The story is about betrayal, forgiveness, loyalty and finding love. The characters host so many deep feelings, deep hurts, and distrust. But I loved how Max finds himself and patiently tries to woo Sloane back. It's a great story with Becky Wade's signature wit and humor. Ivy was a breath of fresh air, as the 15 year old niece of Sloane spending the summer with Aunt Sloane while her parents traveled. The surprise that she uncovers adds a dimension of interest and complexity. Ms Wade has a way of bringing her characters to life, flaws and all. Good clean contemporary romance. A novella with a follow up on Max, Sloane and Fiona would be a great addition to the series. 

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary advanced e-copy of this book. All views expressed are my honest opinion.


Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Heart Pocket

 Recently I came across a cute Heart Pocket tutorial by Pillar Box Blue.

Liberty fabric and denim fabric heart treat pockets


So I decided to give it a try.

This is my first one. It was a bit of a challenge, but I think if I enlarge the pattern a bit, and practice a little more, it will get easier. Plus  I did not have any denim to make my first one. I think it would look cuter in denim.  

                                       Sew and Tell
                                       NTT
                                      Put Your Foot Down
                                     Finished or not Friday
                                      Design wall Monday

Saturday, January 25, 2025

Discovering Dahlia

 

I loved Discovering Dahlia by Jennifer Moore. A sweet historical fiction. 

Set in the late 1800's Dahlia is shunned by her peers after being rejected from a highly sought after engagement. A year later Dahlia decides to build a luxury ocean liner through her steamship company. She invites her friends, and enemies, on the maiden voyage. However someone tries to sabotage the trip with what appears to be accidents. But when someone ends up being poisoned, it's clear that Dahlia's life is in danger. Lord Miles Meredith, a close friend of Dahlia's former fiancé, works together with Dahlia to find out who is trying to destroy her business.

Great characters and storyline. Well written with a bit of a mystery and a long time coming romance. Although a part of a series, it is a stand alone story.I would highly recommend it.

Thanks to Net Galley and Covenant Communications for a complementary e-copy. The review and comments are my own. 

Friday, January 24, 2025

Quilts for Valentine's Day



It's just a couple of weeks away! Are you inspired?

Amy Smart (Diary of a Quilter) has shared several really cute free Valentine's patterns. Check them out!

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Pretty blocks

 It has been so cold here in Florida. Down to the 30's. With no real break for a couple of warmer days.

So I have been digging into my stash and ufo's and found these blocks. 

Can't really remember what pattern they were from. Or even what fabric line. But I figured I might as well try to make something with them.

So here goes! 

                                      Sew and Tell
                                       NTT
                                      Put Your Foot Down
                                     Finished or not Friday
                                      Design wall Monday

Monday, January 20, 2025

Scrapaholic

Over the years I have saved scraps. I just cannot throw away fabric that I could use one day. But lately, I just don't seem to find a project to use them. Pat Sloan talks about using her 2 1/2" squares for a free quilt. So it gave me the idea to try to organize my scraps into useful squares. 

Right now I am cutting them into 2 1/2" squares.

Cutting them with my "GO" baby really helps to be accurate and quick.  


I know I am a long way from having enough to make a quilt, but it is a start. Later I may also cut 5" squares and 2 1/2" strips. 

2 1/2" strips can also make for a quick and easy quilt. Jenny Doan did a tutorial on making them.

Have you ever made the checkerboard quilt using your scraps?

Sunday, January 19, 2025

Sunday Scripture

 




"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,." Isaiah 55:10

Monday, January 13, 2025

My next project

 

From my September Sew Sampler box from Fat Quarter Shop.  

Friday, January 10, 2025

To Light the Way Forward

 

To Light The Way Forward by Nancy Naigle is a sequel to The Shell Collector but is a stand alone read. It centers around a widow in her golden years as she is trying to find her way after being married for over 50 years.

Rosemary visits her high school friend Kathleen in Whelks Island. A small town in North Carolina. But a Cat 1 hurricane hits the island and destroys a lot of the local place. Rosemary decides to stay and help with the clean up. She meets Tug whose restaurant is blown away by Hurricane Edwina. They form a sweet friendship. 

The story is about overcoming grief and forgiveness. And the joy that comes with helping others in a close knit community. 

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


Tuesday, January 7, 2025

A special friend

 



Do you have a friend who sticks closer to you then a sister? I've had two such friends in my lifetime. One is with the Lord, and the other lives many states away. But yet when I think of the sweet friendships that we have shared, it warms my heart beyond measure.

"There's a blessing in our friendship,
It's a bond between we two.
For the Lord brought us together,
And I thank Him now for you.

You've been there when I needed you,
We've shared our dreams and plans.
And when at times I've fallen down,
You've given me your hand.

You are always such a Joy
Each time that we're together,
But more than that, you are my friend
And in my heart forever."

So today I am thankful for my heart friends. The ones who really care.

And share part of their lives with me. Friends may come and friends may go, but your heart friend is with you forever.


"Kindness is a friend's greatest asset,
With it she can mend misunderstandings
and smooth out rumpled feelings.
With only a well placed word,
She can raise a downcast spirit."

Hug your friend today :-)

Friday, January 3, 2025

Stone Ledge Manor

 Well it has been a fun year, making the quilts for the nursing home. And they have finally been delivered.

They were so appreciative with ooh's and ahh's over them. At the last moment I decided to sew a label on the back for them to write a name. This way when they are washed it won't be confused about getting them back to the right person. I sure hope they like them.

                                       Sew and Tell
                                       NTT
                                      Midweek Makers
                                      Put Your Foot Down
                                     Finished or not Friday
                                      Design wall Monday

Wednesday, January 1, 2025