Rhyme Bible Storybook for Toddlers: A Book Review

By L. J. Sattgast, illustrated by Laurence Cleyet-Merle 

Published by Zondervan

Book Description

Children love the soothing sound of rhyme! And now they can enjoy ten classic Bible stories retold in delightful read-aloud rhyme in The Rhyme Bible Storybook for Toddlers. From the story of creation ("In the beginning God made the light. The light was for day. The dark was for night.") to the resurrection of Jesus ("All his friends were happy then. Jesus was alive again!"), this is the perfect choice for parents who want to introduce their toddlers to the Word of God. Newly updated illustrations and classic stories told in vivid verse make this padded cover board book a sure favorite that will entertain young ones and teach them biblical lessons that last a lifetime.

My Thoughts

My intentions were to obtain this book to use with my 2-year old daughter.  From the very moment I took it out of the box, she recognized that it was her type of book (IE. for small children).  The pages are bright but not in an overly busy sort of way.  Each story covers a few pages, the rhyming aspect is done well in all the stories except perhaps one, it was a little stretch that those words rhymed.  The best part is that the rhyming aspect has already had my daughter trying to memorize the words.  We have used this book every day for over a week, she often handles it when we are not sitting down together to read it.

My only complaint would be that I wish they had only done a two-page spread for each small story and then included more stories.  Even with that, it is the type of item I would purchase for a gift.

*\0/* Cheers

Shanna

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255  <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Stash Report 2014-Week 8

Posting this early as I don't plan to complete Friday night Sew-in Until Saturday night.

Here is the Zig Zag Quilt that I tease you with on my posts on Monday & Tuesday.  I used my fabric stash for this quilt including strips from several moda scrap bags.  I used a doodling design for the FMQ top stitches.  I have been working on this quilt for a year now.  The last couple of months I have thought that this would be a quilt for Miss Z, but she actually took no interest in it when completed.  She is more interest in the Quilt that I made using the Hugs and Kisses pattern

Used This Week:  -6.25 yards
Used Year To Date:   -13.75 yards
Given Year To Date:   -5.5 yards
Added this week:  +3 yards
Added Year To Date:  +14.75 yards

Net Used/Given For 2014:  -4.5 yards

Fabric added to use in 4-patch & HST swaps

Check back Sunday for FNSI Finishes.

*\o/* Cheers
Shanna

Don't forget to go visit all those who have posted for the second week of the Hugs & Kisses Blog Hop with Sew We Quilt!!

I am linking up this week to: 
Thursday Linkup with Kelly @My Quilt Infatuation
Thank Goodness It's Finished Fridays with Amy @Amy's Crafty Shenanigans
WHOOP, WHOOP Fridays @Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Link A Finish Friday @ Richard & Tanya Quilt

Finish It Up Friday @ Crazy Mom Quilts

Really Random Thursday--EVE Online

Source

I have to admit I have been wanting to write this post for a couple weeks now for RRT, but I have been bogged down with a million obligations, plus several things I have volunteered to be a part of, plus Miss Z projectile vomit days at the beginning of this week.  Well some of you might remember of my writing about Eve Online once or twice during this blog's existence.  It's an MMORPG, a Space computer game that happens in real time on the internet with players from around the world.  I have to admit there are some weeks I spend more time in the Eve universe than I do sewing, in part because my husband also plays the game.  Last year we both took part in the largest battle of Eve History with more than 4000 individual accounts taking part in the one system with more people spread out in the connecting systems (More on the battle of 6VDT Here).

A Couple of weeks ago, a battle happened in Eve Online that lasted for about 21 real time hours.  I was not at this battle, but a couple of my friends were, one of which said he literally sat there for 17 straight hours fighting in his pixelated spaceship. In the aftermath, all across the world, everyone was stunned to find out that the total loss from that one battle in real money equivalence was over $330,000 USD.  That could certainly buy a lot of fabric or a couple of houses!  

I have found some videos, pictures and links for those who want to see more about the battle of B-R5RB.

1.  The Stats of the game explained
2.  Footage from the Titanic Struggle of B-R 
3.  A Blog about Eve, the battle, & so much more
4.  The AP article on the event-@ CBS

What my character looks like in Eve

I could keep going on and on for hours about the game...but I will put away my geek hat for the rest of the day as I am hoping to get a skirt completed for a banquet that we are attending tonight..Yeah I am about 30 minutes into it; looking pretty good!  Well I better get back to work!

*\0/* Cheers
Shanna
Linking to: Really random Thursday @ Live A Colorful Life

What Do I plan to Work On for FNSI??

So The following are several projects I have pulled out for me to work on Saturday evening during  FNSI:

I don't which I will get completed, something from this list must get done!
*\0/* Cheers
Shanna

Love, Hugs & Kisses

Welcome to Day Five of the Hugs and Kisses Blog Hop!  The line-up for today is:

It Seams To Be Sew

FrimART

Sparrow In Flight (HERE)

Amanda Murphy Designs

Sew Golden A Chance

The first project I am sharing with you is a little pillow I made from the heart paper-piecing pattern to coordinate with the quilt that I have been working on for my daughter.  It turned out to be a very sweet pillow, perfect for her Dollie to have her own pillow to sleep on.

XX
The second project I am showing you came into my mind the very first time I saw the pattern!  The larger paper-pieced blocks are made with the original pattern, but the smaller paper-pieced blocks are made from the pattern reduced to 25% of the original.  The Cuties girl blocks came from a panel from one of Pam Kitty's lines of fabrics.  Almost all the fabrics used in this quilt came from my daughter's stash that we picked up last year (I talked about them HERE).  It's only a flimsy right now, but I have high hopes I will get it completed soon.

The patterns are rather easy to use, if you like what you have seen on the hops it is worth picking this one up. Thank you so much for stopping by on my stop on the tour this day, please be sure to look up the stops on the schedule for today posted at the top.

*\0/* Cheers
Shanna

Happy Birthday Miss Z!

It has been a crazy few days, which I really didn't get into yesterday.  I had this overwhelming desire to complete my daughters quilt by her birthday which was today.  Two years ago my darling girl came into the world (after 24 hours of labor, 2 hours of pushing and an emergency c-section that is) and when I gaze upon her I can't help but be awed my the miracle of her being here.  Even though all 4 of her 2-year molars want to come in at once, this weekend, I cherish holding her.

Miss Z's Quilt is sandwiched (above); I have been working quite hard on the FMQ stitching (Right) late into the night last night.  It won't be done for her Birthday, but it WILL be done tomorrow.  I plan to have it completed, washed and on Miss Z's bed by bedtime tomorrow.  I have to square up a couple more items for my post for blog Hop on Tuesday so you won't get to see a close up of the quilt until Wednesday, so I am leaving you with a little bit of a teaser.  To the right is a close-up on the back of a little stitching that stood out, sometimes one does these things without thinking.  More to do tomorrow!

I am linking up to:
Design Wall Monday with Judy@ Patchwork Times

*\o/* Cheers
Shanna

Hugs & Kisses Blog Hop Day 4

Don't forget to check out the beautiful creations on the Hugs & Kisses Hop!

Day Four

Mary@ I piece 2 Mary

Vickie@ More stars in Comanche

Anne@ Stitchingbythebeach

Selina@ selinaquilts

Theresa@ bumbleberrystitchn

Jane@ janesquilting

Stash Report 2014-Week 7

I didn't get all of the fabric ironed, trimmed and organized this week, but I did think it was time this week for a picture update!  I will admit that there are a few pieces pulled out until I am done with my projects, so the left overs will be folded into the cubes or if less than 1/8 yard I will put them in the scrap bin.

Used This Week:  -0 yards
Used Year To Date:   -7 1/2 yards
Given Year To Date:   -5 1/2 yards
Added this week:  +0 yards
Added Year To Date:  +11 3/4 yards

Net Used/Given For 2014:  -7 3/4 yards

Sorry, no finishes this week, but I am making good progress!!

*\o/* Cheers
Shanna

Don't forget to go visit all those who have posted for the first week of the Hugs & Kisses Blog Hop with Sew We Quilt!!

Oh I forgot...

So let me set the scene for you...

This morning, Miss Z was all cozy in her fold-up-chair contraption snacking on her food and watching an episode of her newest favorite show in the world, Callou thanks to Netflix. I was a few feet away at my desk trying to bend my fingers in un-natural directions as I worked out holding the paper-piecing and fabric bits without reaching for the glue, somehow sew everything in the right spot. Meanwhile in my ears, an audible book was being read to me in various voices.  Suddenly, something triggered my brain into remembrance, which for some reason led me to shouting, but it was louder than usual with the ears being occupied which startle Miss Z, greatly upsetting her.  I turned to console her, my kindle flew through the air, narrowly missing her, and the pieces of my project went every which way.  My daughter has taught me the proper way to rub her back in circles when she is upset, I have no idea how she formed a preference, but I guess she has.  I am now sitting here with her tucked in my lap while I write this, her assortment of stuffties, dolls, & carebears are falling out of my lap though cause it certainly is not that big of a lap.  This is Joy....

Now as to what I had suddenly remembered...

I forgot to share with you the birthday Club Mini-quilts for the other two January Birthdays, which were completed and mailed off late unfortunately.  These two projects were already counted in the yardage usage from this past Saturday.

They both measure 11 3/4" X 11 3/4" square.  The first one was a triangle to represent the Trinity with the inner triangles expressing the 6 days of creation.  The second one uses Civil War reproduction fabrics, but I was going for an art deco look.  I wish I had been able to better capture the stitching on that one.  They also both received other bits in their boxes.  After I get through the List from yesterday, I plan to get working on the Next Birthday Buddy which is in March!

Thanks for stopping by!

*\0/* Cheers

Shanna

BOM's & Design Wall

I am in that mad dash mode to make sure I finally have Miss Z's Quilt completed for her birthday this year! So this week my list looks like this:

1. Finish Miss Z's Quilt
2. Travel Quilt Pannel to put together
3. Finish 4-patch & HST for a swap
4. Finish My blog Hop projects for my stop next week
5. Finally Finish ironing, trimming and organizing the last of the fabric pile I washed over a month ago
6. Listen to another couple audible books and write reviews for them.
7. Go through my scraps, organize them

Now, I am realistic and know that I just can't get all of it completed this week, but I am certainly going to try my best!!  I have signed up for things and I really do need to follow through with #2-#4 on the list, but I threw the other three on the end just in case I can fit them in around the first Four plus watching the Olympics and peeking in on the Hugs & Kisses blog hop posts this week!  I am going to promise you that my EveOnline Playing will be sparse this week!

Okay, now to share some items on my design wall:

Sadly, this is still where I am at on Miss Z's Big Girl Bed Quilt

Remember this block?  I am using it as my inspiration for the traveling quilt!!

Those are just a couple items to tease you with off the top of my list!  Though my blogging will be sparse this week, I will try to drop in with a picture on my progress as the week progresses!

I am linking up to:
Design Wall Monday with Judy@ Patchwork Times

*\o/* Cheers
Shanna

Don't forget to go visit the posts for the first week of the Hugs & Kisses Blog Hop with Sew We Quilt!!

Stash Report 2014-Week 6

I finally completed the Time Warp Quilt!  You can thank in part, the Superbowl as I found hand-sewing the binding on to be much more interesting than the game.  I finished sewing on the rest of it a little bit at a time through out this week.  I finished it late Wednesday night, but it's just so gloomy outside that it hard to get any good pictures thus far so I finally decided to tack it up on my wall on my porch for a quick photo op!

I used a couple of Moda Scrap bags of 30's reproduction prints that was released about 3 years ago.  For the back I used this delicious peach bubble fabric, which was also used for the binding.  It finishes out at 55" X 50" and works well for either a lap blanket or a large floor quilt for the littles.  It currently is hiding so Miss Z doesn't try to claim this one as well!

I was so pleased to use more of my stashed fabrics instead of running off to purchase more.  I do have to warn you that I am quite low on cream and white background or low volume prints.  I have just signed up to do a block swap which promises to deplete much of my left overs so I will need to get some more of that in the stash.  I am also a part of a traveling quilt group which starts up in a week or so!  So much to do and I don't want to let anyone done on all those things I have signed up for.

I also gave 5.5 yards of fabric away over the past 4 weeks; I wasn't sure if I should include in the totals, but I finally did decide to add since it left my home.

Used This Week:  -8 1/2 yards
Used Year To Date:   -7 1/2 yards
Given Year To Date:   -5 1/2 yards
Added this week:  +0 yards
Added Year To Date:  +11 3/4 yards

Net Used/Given For 2014:  -7 3/4 yards

*\o/* Cheers
Shanna

Don't forget to to visit those participating in the Hugs & Kisses Blog Hop with Sew We Quilt (It starts this coming week)!!

A Woman in Process...

The process of cleaning, organizing and purging one's processions is enjoyable for me. I don't want to be bogged down just by things. I was very confident that I was at a place where I could pull out all the baby items and finally go through them. The idea is of course to save some for Miss Z to share with her children one day, and to pass on the rest to those I know having children.

Yesterday morning I dug through the storage closet on our porch pulling out two bright turquoise tubs each filled to the brim with a space bag shrunken down collection. The apartment was picked-up, vacuumed and my plan was for me to get through the tubs last night while my husband was off at school for the evening. The snow changed his plans so he was home with us instead.  I could hear his voice behind me singing a song to our precious daughter he was holding while I opened the first bin.  The sound of the air filling the bag hit me first and it was a surprise, like a gasp. And then I gasped as my fingers first encounter the tiny newborn clothes for a little boy.  The eyes of the little crab seemed to laugh at me, mocking me with their joy.

I always planned to have lots of children. Even now as I write, I am snuggled up in a quilt my great-grandmother made (in the photo above) that was passed down to my mother and then eventually to me about 6 years ago.  I always thought it would be filled with children as our family would gather on it to take a picture one day when I would be old and silver-haired. I sat there last night on the floor, the quilt covering my lap and clutching the baby boy sleeping sacks to my chest, sobs shook my body as I tried to let go of that hope.  A little hand appeared on my back rubbing little circles, my precious almost-two year old was trying to comfort me with her tender heart.  My husband came over to my side and said," Shanna, all hope is not gone.  Someday the Lord may gift us that boy through adoption." Suddenly my world turned back around and the little seed of hope I wish to purge has instead been planted back within me.  So though it is time to perhaps go through a few baby items of Miss Z's, I think I shall still hold onto that little crab shirt.

Shanna

Kindle Book Review: A December Bride

Layla O'Reilly is a home stager who is trying to get her business off the ground. After she attends a wedding with Seth Murphy, she finds herself right in the middle of an engagement--a fake engagement that is.  Under normal circumstances Layla would have set things straight on the spot, but suddenly she needs to maintain this facade.  Across the back drop of Christmas she uses the moment of staging Seth's house for Christmas to find her balance.  

I found this book to be a nice diversion during my daughter's afternoon nap.  It is a short Novella, but I think it does well to develop the characters in the story for the time they are with you.  There is a lot of humor and sweetness to be found in these pages; it sort of read like a script from a Hallmark Movie Channel.  This is not a deep thinking book; its a purely read for enjoyment book.   If you are looking for deep theological overlay to the story then I would look elsewhere, however I would recommend it for those looking to be entertained for an hour or two. 

*\0/* Cheers

Shanna

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255  <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”