I LIKE Thursday

 

I’m joining friends at Not Afraid of Color to talk about some good things! 

I finished the sling bag for my granddaughter! 

I’ll give it to her this weekend.

My book club met last Monday. We reviewed and discussed Go As A River! Most of us liked it, but one member was put off by parts of it! No spoilers here, but I’ll say I liked it a lot! 

I finished The Amber Keeper, 

I recommend it, if you like historical fiction, tossed with a love story and a dysfunctional family!  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. 

And I’ve just started this one. It’s been on my Kindle for a long time! I am enjoying it . 

 

My stitching group met today. Lots of project for show and tell and WIPs.

Lower center is homemade apple caramels! Yum-O!

LeeAnna asked this question: 

What dish would you take to a family dinner this month?  

My answer is always my mother-in-laws cranberry jello salad! We call it Grandma Ruth’s Cranberry Salad. And we have had it every Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner since Mr.Busy and I were married. Sixty years! Not always made my me, but often. 

Have a good week everyone! 

Stay  Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful! 

Finished or Not Friday Snowy Tote

 I'm linking up with Myra at Busy Hand Quilts and Finished or Not Friday. 

Finally I have a finish.   It is Snowy Tote from Connecting Threads.  It's 10" X 12" tall and approximately 4" deep.   I purchased the kit quite a while ago from Connecting Threads.  I am a sucker for fabric with words, and the fabric in this kit had lots of fun words. Like"Mittens, Snowflakes, Brrr!, Cold Hands, Warm Heart"  I started it last October at a retreat. Got stopped because the next step was to quilt the sandwich before assembling the bag. That always stalls me. I can Stitch in the Ditch, I can follow a grid, some stipple.  The instructions did call for "in the ditch" and a grid pattern on the back. Anyway, it got set aside. Then I put it on my challenge list for another group I belong to.  It is the challenge due to be done for our September 17th meeting. Success!!

The front is patchwork.

The back is a piece of fabric, with side pieces and then a tiny strip and a larger top piece. The entire tote is done in a single slab of pieces, quilted with the lining as the backing of the sandwich and then sewn into the tote shape . The bottom is a separate piece.  Inside, all the seams are sewn right sides together and then the seams are finished with a zig zag.  There are no inner pockets, but they could be added easily enough, if I make this pattern again. I have quite a bit of leftover fabric, the kit was very generous. 

The top is then bound with bias binding,  as are the handles. I really like it. Now to decide... do I keep it for me, give it for a gift or donate it to the county library's Christmas Silent Auction. All proceeds from the auction are used to buy craft, sewing, needle art type books. 

Until next time

Stay Busy and Stay Happy

2014 Christmas Projects Link up at Quiltville for Christmas Eve

Bonnie Hunter invited everyone to join a Linky Party on Christmas Eve with pictures of Holiday projects new or old. They can be Christmas, Hanuka, Kwanzaa or just seasonal. I am looking forward to seeing everyone's creations.
So here are mine. All done this year  2014:

 This was part of a BOM Stitchery from Shabby Fabrics. There were 12 similar, all themed for the month all the same size. I have been working on them for 2 years. Finally December is done. The only one left to finish is January.

 This is a pattern called Roobois. It is made from charms squares. I put it together at a retreat in early November. Since then, I have added a cream 2" border, to break up the busyiness, and the pieced 1.5 inch strips piano key border. I'll bind it in solid red. It is ready for me to quilt, but I haven't gotten it done yet.

 This is a pattern called Five and Dime. It is made from a layer cake and charm squares. This needs the two borders, but it won't get them before Christmas. I put this one together at the retreat in November too.

This little funky tree is a pattern from Patchabilites. I just had the pattern, so I used scraps from my stash.  I have a whole lot of these. They are all very similar in size and so I change out the little banner with each season. They fit perfectly in the small narrow space between the coat closet and the stairway to the basement.


Merry Christmas from my sewing space to yours!  Happy Holidays.

Saturday Snapshots Baby It's Cold Outside!

Melinda at West Metro Mommy Reads hosts this fun weekly meme. Its a place to show us a picture or two of places you've been, or people you seen, you get the idea. There are a few easy rules. Link up with Melinda, read the rules and join us.

Its been really cold this week. Last Sunday it was 68 and sunny, Monday it was -5. Wow, huge adjustment. We don't have a fireplace, or a gas stove,or pellet stove.  This is as good as it gets.  A candle burning on top of our entertainment center with my November stitchery. If you can't read it, it says Give Thanks. Between the candle and the stitchery is a small Christmas cactus that I repotted after the cat broke a piece off my large cactus. It is doing well, no blooms yet. Maybe this year. 

Hope you all are staying warm and dry and happy in your corner of the world. 

Until next time,

Stay Busy and Stay Happy

Saturday Snapshots 10/18/14

 Join us at Melinda's blog, West Metro Mommy Reads to share your photos. There are only a few rules. They must by taken by you or a family member, not a random internet picture and they must be suitable for all eyes. So please join us.

Last Monday my DH brought me this small bouquet of fall leaves he picked up while walking the dog. In Wyoming we don't have lots of trees, or lots of colorful leaves, but he heard me say how I like the dark red or purple leaves. When you have been married 50 years, your "love language" changes. So I take these small gestures as proof that he listens to me, and he thinks of me. That may sound a bit "schmaltzy" but it is important to make note of your partner's way of showing the he/she cares.

Also, I think I shared this photo last year about this time. But it makes me smile, and 'tis the season.

So Drop In For A Spell and share your photos taken recently or not so recently.


Until next time
Stay Busy and Stay Happy

Saturday Snapshot - What to Do?

West Metro Mommy Reads hosts this Saturday meme. Click on over to Melinda's blog and check out the rules and see other posts.

Today there will not be much reading time. Today is our annual N.E.W. Quilt Show. In past years I have been on the committee but this year I did not participate. I am no spring chicken and the work involved set me back. I appreciate the time and effort it takes to make an event like this happen. It is a lot of work. So this year I will enter a few items.

 The Winnie the Pooh and Friends quilt was make last year for our #2 great grandson. It did not get entered in the show, partly because he was born early September and he already had it. Secondly, last year was Storm Atlas the first week in October and our quilt show was cancelled. The first time in 30 years.

Log Cabin Pumpkins, Seasonal Banners

This year (2014) my focus was to "bust my stash." The Log Cabin table runner has six log cabin pumpkins in an elongated octagon shape.  I used only fabrics from my stash.  The four seasons small banners, Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer where featured in Quick Quilts magazine in 2012 and all fabrics were from my stash. I have not purchased any new fabric this year, with the exception of one piece to make an already mostly finished quilt bigger to fit on our guest bed. I am pretty proud of that, but even so my shelves and totes and baskets are still overflowing!. I have made other things, but they will not be entered in the show.  My word, I can't believe it! I will have to do the same thing for 2015. My hope is to reduce the over abundance of materials and kits, etc.

Maybe next week , I will have pictures to share of all the quilts at the show.



Until next time,
Stay Busy and Stay Happy

Saturday Snapshot 9-20-14

Melissa at West Metro Mommy Reads hosts this Saturday meme. Here are the rules from her blog. 

To participate in Saturday Snapshot: post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky below. Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don’t post random photos that you find online.

Last week I posted pictures of our September snow, this week it has been quite warm. One day it was nearly 90. The saying goes, "in Wyoming if you don't like the weather just wait a moment".

I talked about a quilt I was working on, in one of my posts last week. So I hung a pale pink sheet on my design wall, so the picture would show up better.It is very pale, white and aqua, some lavender and blue. It isn't finished, there are paper-pieced blocks to border this center. Paper piecing is not my favorite technique, but I am working on them. There is still lots of embroidery to do and some beading. It is called Snow Flurries and I am anxious to continue to work on it.



Until next time,
Stay Busy and Stay Happy

Review: The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

The Invention of Wings
Sue Monk Kidd
read by Jenna Lamia and Adepero Oduye
Penguin Audio


Publisher's Synopsis: edited slightly-


Hetty "Handful" Grimke, an urban slave in early nineteenth century Charleston, yearns for life beyond the suffocating walls that enclose her within the wealthy Grimke household. The Grimke's daughter, Sarah, has known from an early age she is meant to do something large in the world, but she is hemmed in by the limits imposed on women.

Kidd's sweeping novel is set in motion on Sarah's eleventh birthday, when she is given ownership of ten year old Handful, who is to be her handmaid. We follow their remarkable journeys over the next thirty five years, as both strive for a life of their own, dramatically shaping each other's destinies and forming a complex relationship marked by guilt, defiance, estrangement and the uneasy ways of love.

As the stories build to a riveting climax, Handful will endure loss and sorrow, finding courage and a sense of self in the process. Sarah will experience crushed hopes, betrayal, unrequited love, and ostracism before leaving Charleston to find her place alongside her fearless younger sister, Angelina, as one of the early pioneers in the abolition and women's rights movements.

Inspired by the historical figure of Sarah Grimke, Kidd goes beyond the record to flesh out the rich interior lives of all of her characters, both real and invented, including Handful's cunning mother, Charlotte, who courts danger in her search for something better.




My thoughts: I fell in love with the narrative voices of Jenna Lamia (Sarah) and Adepero Oduye
(Handful) from the very first chapters. Their voices and the words of Sue Monk Kidd, told an endearing story of two young girls in the American South in the early 1800's. How their lives intertwined and how they influenced one another made for a remarkable story. It is difficult to write my thoughts and feelings regarding this story. It is powerful, poignant, disturbing and compelling. It invaded my dreams and my waking moments. It is one of my favorites of 2014 and maybe of the last few years. I did not know that the Grimke sisters, Sarah and Angelina were real people, until I listened to the author's words at the end of this audible edition. I had not read the publishers synopsis until the end of the edition. This book was recommended by a member of my local book club and we will meet to discuss it in mid October. I couldn't wait to read it after I read The Secret Life of Bees by the same author. How had I not heard of these two white women who began to speak against slavery and for women's rights until now? Several of the members of my book club are teachers in our local school district, I am sure that is a question I will ask them.

My recommendation: READ this Book!! How ever and whenever you can get you hands on a copy, read it or listen to it.

It's Monday! What are you Reading #6 Listening, reading and creating.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.  I am really enjoying this meme as a way to visit other's participating and see what everyone is reading. I have added lots of titles to my reading list as a result. So fair warning....you could be adding to yours too. Come and join us by visiting Sheila's blog and checking on all who link up. 


Today, I am listening to The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I must be one of the last in the country who hasn't already read this book. It was the only edition available at my library, due to the movie being released I am sure.  Listening to a book is good during this busy time of year. I can get 2 things done at once. I have been busily doing hand stitching and reading. 

My sister sent me a copy of  

It is not a book you read from cover to cover, though you could if you wanted to, but the idea is to create calm and this book needs to be savored and enjoyed. I have read some negative reviews, stating there are no DIY pictures etc. I am viewing it as a tutorial in attitude and gratitude. There are project ideas, but it is up to you to create your own calm, your own special art. 

Also I am back to Benni Harper, taking #14 State Fair by Earlene Fowler to bed with me at night.  This one takes place after Elvia and Emory's baby girl is born and Benni's Aunt Garnet is visiting from Arkansas. It is "county" fair time and there is lots of lemonade, corn dogs , agricultural  exhibits and of course a "dead body".  Hud is on the case and Benni can't keep her hands ( ie opinions) out of the investigation. It is a fun one. 

Until next time 
Stay Busy and Stay Happy

Sharing my love of books......audio that is!

The world can change forever in a single...

SPLIT SECOND

Michelle Maxwell has just wrecked her promising career at the Secret Service. Against her instincts, she let a presidential candidate out of her sight for the briefest moment, and the man whose safety was her responsibility vanished into thin air. Sean King knows how the younger agent feels. Eight years earlier, the hard-charging Secret Service agent allowed his attention to be diverted for a split second. And the candidate he was protecting was gunned down before his eyes. Now Michelle and Sean are about to see their destinies converge.

Drawn into a maze of lies, secrets, and deadly coincidences, the two discredited agents uncover a shocking truth: that the separate acts of violence that shattered their lives were really a long time in the making-and are a long way from over...

My thoughts:
Michelle Maxwell is a tough, strong and caring woman. She is an Olympic athlete, comes from a family of police officers and is out to prove she just as good as any man. She doesn't give up without a fight and she fights to the last breath. As the events unfold that look like the end of her career with the Secret Service, she decides to visit Sean King to see if she can figure out if the events that ended his career in the Secret Service are connected to hers. She instinctively feels that they are.

I like both these characters. This audio book was narrated by Scott Brick, and although he did all the voices, male and female, it was easy to follow. 

My husband and I listened to this together and we both have become David Baldacci fans. The plots are relatively easy to follow and much harder to figure out. I for one, did not have the villain in this one pegged til the very last minute. 

We are anxious to continue with the second book with King and Maxwell as the main characters. 

I really enjoy listening to an audio book. I can work on my hand stitching. While we listened to this one, I completed a block of the month stitchery that I was working on. Continued working on a Christmas project I started a couple of years ago, and put the hanger sleeve on my September stitchery block of the month. I will share pictures of those projects later this week. I am also working this month at my former employer. I have been away from there for 2 years but they needed help while an employee is on medical leave. Boy, it has been stretching my memory bank and I am tired. 

Until next time,
Stay Busy and Stay Happy

A confession and more

I recently finished reading a book recommended and written by a fellow blogger and that I used to fulfill a book challenge for a group I participate in on goodreads.com.  The author of the book,  Paulita was so kind as to respond twice to my post from last Tuesday.

I really am such unknowledgeable blogger. I can't always get links to other sites to work, I don't even know how to link a review from another site, like Amazon or Goodreads. And I feel so unworthy when it comes to writing reviews. It seems most bloggers have a degree in English, or Literature or something, I graduated HS, got married and raised a family. I have always loved to read, but writing reviews intimidates me. I could sure use some pointers, if any of you have any.

I love reading all your blogs. I get to see all the different books that are out there. I get to feel a little like we are friends. I have been exposed to books I never would have picked up on my own. So, for all this I thank you.

When I started this blog, I had recently retired from work, and wanted to be able to share projects I completed, books I read, and some parts of my life. My life is in a constant flux, so sometimes I am away from my blog for days or even weeks at a time. Please know that even though there are days that I cannot share what is happening in my life, I still read and sometimes even comment. I try to stay involved in several MEMEs. My favorites are "What's in a Name 6", "First Chapter, First Paragraph Intro Tuesday", "Mailbox Monday"," Wondrous Words Wednesday" and "Snapshot Saturday".

In addition to reading, I also quilt with a group of women 2 Sundays a month, I am a member of another local quilt guild, I belong to a stitching group and a stitching club (we do hand embroidery). So my mother always said busy hands are happy hands and that is why I named my blog the same. These days I am not happy, so please forgive the "rant" an know that I am working on getting back to "happy".

Until next time,
Stay Busy and Stay Happy,
Judy.

Jan Mailbox Monday 1-21

Nothing in my mailbox this week. But I did go to the library and check out Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. The book jacket says, "Jamie Ford's first novel explores the age-old conflicts between father and son, the beauty and sadness of what happened to Japanese Americans in the Seattle area during World War II and the depths and longing of deep-heart love. An impressive, bitter and sweet debut." Lisa See. 
It is the January read for Love of Reading group on Goodreads and the February read for Ladies and Literature on Goodreads. I am about half way through it and am captivated.

I also picked up The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott. It is the alternate read for the Love of Reading group, but I wanted to read it too. I have not started it yet, but soon.







Ladies and Literature's read for January is The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. So I downloaded it to my Kindle.  I started it last night and it is really good. I know I will like it a lot.

So many books, so little time.!!!!  I keep saying that and nothing changes. I keep adding books to read !!!

I must get my challenge quilt nearer completion this week. I finished the stitching on a table topper I started a while back, so I would like to complete that too. And I volunteered to do some piecing for the NEW raffle quilt for the show planned for October 2013..........again, over committed.


I guess my mantra is

Stay Busy and Stay Happy

Tuesday - Countdown to Thanksgiving.

I haven't posted in a while. Keep thinking that there is nothing to write about. I haven't finished reading The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman, but I am really enjoying it. I have been sewing some.




 Finished some really simple place mats for Christmas. They will go 2 to my daughter and her husband, they have an empty nest now that the youngest has flown. The other 2 to my oldest granddaughter and her husband. They have not started to fill their nest yet so only the 2 of them too. I will send them before Christmas, cause what fun is it to have Christmas place mats the day of Christmas then you have to pack them away? They are reversible and slightly different in the binding. One set is bound with the red snowflake fabric and one set is bound with the Christmas Words fabric.

I belong to a local book club and we will have a bookmark exchange during our December gathering. I made a bookmark and will supplement with a package of Book Darts. Have any of you used these? I have not, but I saw them online and thought what a great idea. I can't stand to write in books I own,  and of course don't write in book that I borrow. But I often want to remember a word or quote, and don't want to stop to go find a dictionary or a pen and paper. I found a small package of them in our bookstore. I will order some for myself online, after Christmas. They are on my Christmas list, so will wait to see if they appear in a gift.

The book mark is an oriental looking fabric, in burgundy, teal and gold. The book is our book club's reading selection for discussion in January. It is Russian Winter by Daphne Kalotry. It's hard to see in the picture, but the book darts are little copper arrow shaped pieces that slip over the edge of the page.  Cool!!!! Below  is a little bit better picture of the Verse Keepers by Book Darts.

I also am a member of a quilt group, a quilt guild ( more organized than just my group) and a  group of women that meet every Thursday to just stitch. Hand embroidery, knitting, crocheting, or even sewing the binding on a quilt. We call ourselves the Thursday Stitchers and we have decided to have a stitch block exchange. So I traced a design on 8 squares of fabric, and will come home with 8 different traced blocks after our December 13th session. I will post pictures of those after the party.

So I guess I did have something to write about after all. This evening I will grind the cranberries for my family cranberry salad recipe and make the cornbread for the dressing. I am going to try a new crockpot dressing recipe that I have tasted by never made before. Will let you know if I am successful.

Til Later

Stay Busy and Stay Happy




Judy.