Kevin & QOVF

Click Icon to go to QOVF site

During the Celtic Solstice Mystery this year I ended up meeting Kevin in the Facebook group devoted to the mystery quilt-making.  Yesterday on Kevin The Quilter, Kevin announced a wonderful Quilt Block drive that is to benefit the Quilts of Valor Foundation.  I am simply amazed by all those who have made quilts for QOVF and in turn they have reached out to People who have been affected by war, those wounded and those left behind.  I actually first heard about this group from all the beautiful quilts that Kevin has made, each one made to be given away.  Kevin is asking each one of us to consider making a few blocks from his directions so that more people might be touched by these honoring quilts.  As an incentive there is also to be a drawing for a prize.  You can find the directions and more information on Kevin's post HERE!  You also have to check out his finished Celtic Solstice Quilt HERE, it is simply a thing of beauty!

Crispen Point: An Audible Review

Publisher's Description:

Charlotte is a successful romance novelist who escapes city life and moves to the small town of Crispens Point in Blackberry County. She immediately connects with some of the quirky but friendly residents and begins to feel at home right away. When a friend invites her to attend a local community church, Charlotte is attracted to the pastor, but refuses to acknowledge that attraction because of some dark things in her past.

What is the mysterious thing in Charlotte's past that seems to dominate everything? Is it enough to keep her from ever finding a lasting relationship?

My Thoughts:

I listened to the 2nd book before listening to this, the first book in a series.  First off, I can say that though they have characters in common, I think they each stand alone rather well.  From the very beginning of the book, I liked and understood the Character of Charlotte.  I also liked the secondary characters, I thought they were written with real flaws and brought humor with out being ridiculous in their descriptions, words and/or actions.  Thinking back to myself as a single woman (almost 10 years ago) in a Christian environment, I remember the struggle in my attraction to a Young man.  In such a culture, you feel as though everyone is not only watching you, but judging you as well.  The way the Author wrote of this struggle felt very real to me.  I think that perhaps if you do not live in a Christian culture you might not understand that bit in the book.  I have to say that I would recommend not only this book, but this author has very much pleased me. I definitely believe that this book has the quality in it that would have me re-reading or in this case re-listening to it all over again!

*\0/* Cheers

Shanna
PS- You can find the Audiobook version HERE if you are interested in picking up a copy yourself!  

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author, but I volunteered to do a review of the audible book. 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.”

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!!