Needlework Tuesday - Summer Scarves (who am I kidding)

 I really don't know why I am sitting here knitting scarves in the middle of the summer, but I am on scarf number two.  This lovely burgundy colour scarf is for daughter.  I am using CoBaSi, cotton, bamboo & silk sock weight yarn in a reversible rib pattern which if free from Skacel. This is a good project for me as I love to knit cables.

Needlework Tuesday is a regular weekly post where I share the progress of my various needlework projects over the past week. I enjoy the encouragement that I receive from my readers and in return visit their blogs and cheer them on with theirs. You are welcome to grab the cute little mouse and create your own Needlework Tuesday post. Leave a comment with a link and I'll be sure to visit with you

 I'm at my mom's house helping her out while she heals her broken leg.  I started this scarf last week and it's now finished.  Thanks to my sister for supplying the emergency kit when I forgot my project.  I am sending it back to her to darn in the yarn ends.  It was a very easy to knit pattern that can be used with any weight yarn, just add or subtract stitches in groups of six.  This is explained in the free pattern by Sammie Carraher.

While I have my mom captive recuperating, she has been doing some sewing on her quilt projects.  I have been slipping some of my pieces in front of her.  My friend Kevin from The Papertrail, Canada's foremost paper making supply company, marbled some Kona cotton for me.  On the weekend, I cut out the pieces for a small wallhanging.  It's a little project that he and his wife will be able to take with them when they attend events and show how the marble fabric can be used.   I am using the pattern "Fabric Fusion" by Bill Kerr and Weeks Ringle  from the February 2012 issue of American Patchwork & Quilting.

I'll be cottaging this weekend and will be taking the scarf with me.  Hopefully I'll get a bit more completed, but I'm not counting on it.  Depends on the weather.  Do you cottage in the summer? if so, do you take handwork with you, and do you actually work on it?

Mister Linky is waiting below for a link to your current needlework Post.

Free Audiobooks - SYNC Week 11

Available from July 24 – July 30, 2014





HEADSTRONG by Patrick Link, Performed by Deidrie Henry, Ernie Hudson, Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine and Scott Wolf (L.A. Theatre Works)

THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE by Robert Louis Stevenson, Narrated by Scott Brick (Tantor Audio)

Thanks to SYNC for use of all images.

Tangled Thursday - Bring on Zeta

 You're getting a twofer today.  My mom broke her leg last week and I am at her house offering care.  Yesterday we sat together on the sofa and worked on Zeta.  This is a new tangle to both of us.  We included purple since that is the colour of her new cast.  You can see a good picture of it in my Tuesday Needlework post.   isn't she a beauty and she gets to keep it for at least 4 weeks.

This first tiles is Elaine's.  A much more open feel than mine.

This second tile is mine.  i used the following tangles: zeta, swirls, knightsbridge, kings crown, growth, and port holes.  I found zeta not the easiest.  It was difficult to keep the proportions the same from zed to zed.  And as I said earlier, it's a more open and free tangle which I'm not as comfortable with.

I also brought with me my tin of zendalas, so they are next on our list of things to attack in her convalescence.

Welcome to Tangled Thursday.  A few of my local and online friends have joined me in an occasional Zentangle challenge.  We'll take turns choosing a theme  and them post our drawings in about 2 weeks time.  All are welcome to join in the fun.  If you are new to Zentangles, then visit the website for a complete explanation and all sorts of online resources.  I'm also a big fan of TanglePatterns.com.

Did you get a chance to work with Zeta?  Mister Linky is waiting below for your link.  Please leave a comment and I'll be sure to visit.

Needlework Tuesday - I'm In London visiting the Queen

 I'm away this week in London visiting with the Queen.  Well, London, Ontario and my mother.  She fell last week and broke her leg and needs some TLC.  Today sh is modelling a stylish purple cast. Perfectly fitting as it is the team colour at the University of Western Ontario, which is down the street from her.

In my rush to get here to help, I carefully packed everything I might need during my stay, including the scarf that I had started for daughter.  I had completed 3 pattern repeats and was quite pleased about the results.  I was so looking forward to stitching more.  I made a comment to daughter that I had better not forget my knitting or I'd have to call my sister for an emergency replacement kit.

I'm sure you can guess what happened.  When we unpacked the car at moms, my knitting got missed and daughter took it back home.  So, yes, I, did have to call my sister for a replacement project.  Son brought it by today in this lovely bag.

Three balls of a pretty grey, knitting needles, and a pattern.

"Reversible Herringbone Scarf" by Sammie Carraher.   The free pattern is from the blog Neverendingyarn.  Look at the upper right area of the page for the scarf image.

Needlework Tuesday is a regular weekly post where I share the progress of my various needlework projects over the past week. I enjoy the encouragement that I receive from my readers and in return visit their blogs and cheer them on with theirs. You are welcome to grab the cute little mouse and create your own Needlework Tuesday post. Leave a comment with a link and I'll be sure to visit with you

 Are you stitching this week, or perhaps you are vacationing and visiting distant shops.  Anyone participating in the Row by Row Experience.  Over 1200 quilt shops across the US and Ontario, Canada are offering a free block pattern to all in person visitors.  Visit the website to see if there are participating shops near you. 

February 8, 2015 - Thank-you all for your concern and best wishes for my mom.  She has healed beautifully though still using her cane when she goes outside.  She ended up in a cast for 16 weeks.  The fracture was about 4 inches long and went right to the end of the bone, that's why it took so long to heal.

Mister Linky is waiting below for a link to your current needlework post.

Free Audiobooks - SYNC Week 10

Available from July 17 – July 23, 2014



THE CASE OF THE CRYPTIC CRINOLINE by Nancy Springer, Narrated by Katherine Kellgren (Recorded Books)

THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES II by Arthur Conan Doyle, Narrated by David Timson (Naxos AudioBooks)

Thanks to SYNC for use of all the images.

Bitter Chocolate by Dawn Greenfield Ireland and Contest

This is one of those stories that makes you want to wrap yourself in a cuddly blanket,  grab a cafe mocha and then sink down on your sofa for a good read.  The Alcott family is a warm and inviting clan .

The patriarch, 92 year old Bernie, is the founder of Alcott Chocolates.  His young, former caregiver, Bambi, is expecting their child.  His other daughters Madge, Lila Mae and Dorothea, also pregnant, have welcomed Bambi into their family and cherish her like a younger sister.  In fact, Bernie and his daughters treat all their staff as family.  When a murder happens in the home of Lila Mae's cook/friend, the family circles around her with support.


You might think that a family as wealthy as the Alcotts would be snobby and look down on others, but they aren't like that at all.  Each year they organize the Chocolate Ball as a huge fundraiser for the local animal shelter.  Oh how I wish I could attend and sample some of those Alcott Chocolates.  Along with the good, they also have a few skeletons in the closet so to speak.  It isn't long before these are brought out to air.

One of my favourite passages is the hiring of Bernie's new driver.  It clearly shows their  care and concern for their father as well as their employees.

The story moves quickly along a several month timeline but it doesn't feel rush in any way.  There is ample attention to details, particularly the wonderful food that is prepared by Amelia and Carmichael.  A cup of that cafe mocha please.  At the end of the book are recipes for some of the tasty dishes described in the novel.

There are a lot of characters in the story and they are all summarized in a helpful family tree found at the beginning.  I referred to it several times as a refresher of who's who.  This book can be read on it's own, though you will want to start with Hot Chocolate and not miss one minute with the warm and inviting family.

My review of Hot Chocolate


For a chance to win an ebook of Bitter Chocolate, enter your information in the Rafflecopter below. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks to author Dawn Greenfield Ireland and Virtual Author Book Tours for my review copy.

For more foodie fun, be sure to visit with Beth Fish Reads for her Weekend Cooking post.  She invites you to add a link to your current food related post.

Needlework Tuesday - Progress is the word

I'm a but late today, but that's because I have been so busy stitching and accomplishing so much.  And yes, I do have lots of progress to share with you today.  I have finished all the blocks for my Red Heart Checkerboard Crochet Along.  Red Heart has assembled an easy to print pattern.  Looking for inspiration for making your own afghan,  there are already photos of over twenty finished projects on the Facebook page.  Some are made in one colour as the pattern suggested, some used two colours to emphasis the checkerboard pattern.  One stitcher used all variegated and it brought out some interesting patterning of the colour bands.

Needlework Tuesday is a regular weekly post where I share the progress of my various needlework projects over the past week. I enjoy the encouragement that I receive from my readers and in return visit their blogs and cheer them on with theirs. You are welcome to grab the cute little mouse and create your own Needlework Tuesday post. Leave a comment with a link and I'll be sure to visit with you

Block 10 was interesting to stitch.  On the wrong facing row, I did a slip stitch alternated with a double crochet.  The front facing row was all double crochets.  I was sceptical that this would work, but after a few rows, I could see the pattern and it looked good.  Less texture than popcorn but a lot more interesting that just single or double crochet stitches.

 Yesterday I finished stitched the 72 blocks for my flower garden quilt.  I have most of them on the wall for this photo, but two rows didn't fit.  It's going to take a lot of arranging till I am happy with the layout.  I don't want like fabrics touching or right beside each other.  I am in no rush to get this finished, so I'll take my time.

I finally managed to get some bedding plants in my front garden.  Not much choice left at the garden centres.  Fortunately, one of my friends works in landscape design and she directed me toward some lovely plants.  They are too small for a photo at this point, but I'll be sure to post one when they start to fill out.  In my mind, I'm a much more avid gardener, but in practise, all that green stuff makes me sneeze and itch, too many allergies.  My fabric flower garden will have to do.

I hope that you've been able to work on your stitching this past week.  Mister Linky is waiting below for a link to your current post.  Do you have a stitching project that you refer to as your flower garden, add the link to that post as I'll love to see your 'garden'.

Overnight Oats with Pumpkin and Blueberries

A few weeks ago I learned about the technique of soaking oats overnight.  The process is easy and results in  chewy though non-sticky oat that seems to be easier on my stomach than traditionally prepared oatmeal. I have Heather from the Soulful Spoon to thank for this method.  She has been a wonderful source of nutritional information and for food ideas while my insides have healed.  Last year I suffered from a bowel infection that left me unable to consume foods with the exception of green grapes and rice. 

I was still having some difficulty with oats, yet wanted to be able to eat them as they are so good for me and I enjoy them.  Hence my willingness to try soaking them.  I have no idea if the soaking removes any good benefits, but it does take away that gooeyness.  It is also recommended for raw buckwheat, which I have done before.

Here are a couple of articles/posts on the subject:
High On Health
Phytic Acid
Pamela Salzman

On to my recipe.

Overnight Oats with Pumpkin and Blueberries

1/2 cup 5 minute oats
1/4 - 1/3 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup blueberries
1 tbsp maple syrup
Ground Cinnamon

Soak oats in water overnight.  You can leave these on the counter, thought a loose cover is a good idea.  In the morning, pour the water and oats into a strainer and rinse well with fresh water.  At this point your oats are ready to eat.  They are a bit chewy still.  If you want you can cook them, but it is not required.  Mix in the pumpkin, blueberries and maple syrup.  Sprinkle with cinnamon.  i also like to add a tablespoon of raw pumpkin seeds.

Here's another breakfast oat recipe from The Soulful Spoon.


Do you soak your oats or any other grain.

For more food related posts, be sure to visit with Beth Fish Reads for her Weekend Cooking Post.  She invites all readers to add a link to their recent food related post.

Free Audiobooks - SYNC Week 9

Available July 10 – July 16, 2014







CLAUDETTE COLVIN: Twice Toward Justice by Philip Hoose, Narrated by Channie Waites (Brilliance Audio)

WHILE THE WORLD WATCHED by Carolyn Maull McKinstry with Denise George, Narrated by Felicia Bullock (Oasis Audio)

Thanks to SYNC for use of all the images.

Tangled Thursday - Making use of Negative Space

This week's challenge was from Marie at Daisy's Book Journal, to use negative space. Please drop by Marie's blog this week and leave her a message of encouragement.  The river behind her house is flooding and it's expected to be bad.  It flooded two years ago and that was supposed to have been a 300 year storm.  This could easily be worse.

 I started by drawing a five point star and then tangling around it.  At first I was going to let the tangles define the edges of the star, but then realised that wouldn't work because I started with Questing, which is a very open tangle.  After adding dots along the sides of the star I felt much better about it's visibility.  Additional tangles used: Hair, Firecracker, Fog Horn and Traffic.  This is my first time using pink and I find I love the combination of it with black.  I'll be using this one a lot more.  Shading is important in this tile.  The pink section of Hair was very boring, then I lightly shaded in some folds and it's much better.

Welcome to Tangled Thursday.  A few of my local and online friends have joined me in an occasional Zentangle challenge.  We'll take turns choosing a theme  and them post our drawings in about 2 weeks time.  All are welcome to join in the fun.  If you are new to Zentangles, then visit the website for a complete explanation and all sorts of online resources.  I'm also a big fan of TanglePatterns.com.

 Our previous challenge was from Elaine to use String 109.  I finally have some photos to share.  This was a fun colour pen to use.  Tangles used: Hypnotic, Angel Fish, Zedbra, Bunzo, Fence, Banner and Echoist.

This same string looks totally different on this tile.  Tangles used: Citrus, Knightsbridge, Cadent, Cartz, Paradox and Keeko.

Have you been tangling with negative space this week.  Mister Linky is waiting below for a link to your post.  Any current post is welcome as well as links to earlier posts that show negative space.

Isolation by Denise R. Stephenson & Contest

Set in the future, people start dying from what appear to be common illnesses, yet they fail to respond to the usual treatments.  Various illness strains have began to combine with other strains forming super bacterias. In almost all cases, once you contract one of these illnesses, there is no cure.  Agribusiness plays a big role in the spread as soon most crops have been identified as disease vectors.

The human response to limiting the spread is slow.  First are laws to prevent people from touching their faces.  Not an easy thing to implement and many older people find this difficult.  Then there are the babies, how do you stop your infant from putting his or her fingers in his or her mouth. But it has to be done, it's required by law.

Throughout the novel, we follow the lives of several people.  Gary had never known a life with touch, but he was curious about the past.  He chose to go into nursing as that seemed right with his urge to nurture people.  Cathy grew up before all this happened and was used to hugging and touching.  Her daughter Maggie was young when the illnesses began, and her grandson Pele had never known a touch from another person.  Trevor had finally found his place in the world.   His OCD, combined with his rigid belief in adherence to rules, earned him a top position as an Enforcer.  Important for survival but feared by much of the population.  And finally, we have the scientist/professor.  He used to work with food and drugs.  These people typify some of the responses to this unfolding disaster, some fall apart and others thrive.  I can't say I loved all these characters, but they all seemed appropriate and probable.

Scattered among the chapters are images of newspaper articles taken from the world press as events unfold.  These  provide some of the science behind what has happened and the spread of the diseases  and curtailment of daily life.  They read like true news stories, which made the book seem all the more real.  More than once I had the urge to use hand sanitizer.

Just before the mid point of the book, I was thinking that I had enough of the build up of the disease,  I wanted the author to get on with the story.  I took a break and when I came back and continued reading, that's exactly what happened.  The author had timed it perfectly, I'd had my saturation of disease and now was ready to continue with the living.

Yes, the book is fiction, though it is based on much truth and science.  I did get hints that if blame were to be laid for these outbreaks, it would be on those who value money over food quality and safety.  I did enjoy this book but at the same time it has left a bit of chill making me question some of my food choices. (not a bad thing at all).  This would make a great book club selection.

Thanks to author Denise R. Stephenson and Virtual Author Book Tours for my review copy.

For those in the United States, a Rafflecopter giveaway for 5 print copies.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Needlework Tuesday - Crocheted Shells

It's a short post today.  I have been spending much of my time reading and needlework has taken a back seat.  Usually it's the other way round.  I did get started on my ninth pattern block for the Red Heart Crochet Along.  Shells with Front and Back Post Stitches.  This one is addictive. I don't want to put it down.  I still have a few repeats to go, but I do think I am right on with tension this time.

One more block after this and then I'm on to assembly. yippee.

 Needlework Tuesday is a regular weekly post where I share the progress of my various needlework projects over the past week. I enjoy the encouragement that I receive from my readers and in return visit their blogs and cheer them on with theirs. You are welcome to grab the cute little mouse and create your own Needlework Tuesday post. Leave a comment with a link and I'll be sure to visit with you.

 You might be asking what I was reading that kept me away from stitching.  First, it was Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep. This book includes an awesome recipe for a peanut butter and pumpkin sandwich.  Next up was Saints in the Shadows by Alana Cash featuring a tea drinking psychic and her fabric designer neighbour Maud.    Now I'm on to Isolation by Denise R. Stephenson which considers a world where bacteria has gone rampant and it every where.  Makes me want to grab some anti-bacterial wipes.


Do you find books pulling you away from your needlework, or is it the other way around?  Leave me a comment and let me know.  Mister Linky is waiting below and this week, you can leave a link to either your needlework post or to your favourite book review.

Saints in the Shadows by Alana Cash

After her father's untimely death in New Orleans, Maud travels to New York city to continue her studies in fabric design.  She doesn't make it to the classroom, and instead finds herself working as a barrista during the day and as a waiter in a very exclusive restaurant on weekends.  This second, well paying job, allows her to rent an apartment in a converted house.  Maud is un-nerved by her new neighbour Lina and her alter ego Madame Budska, who works as a psychic.

For as long as she can remember, Maud has had dreams that seem to be sending her messages, prophetic messages.  While Maud ties to ignore these, Madame Budska encourages her to pay attention to the meanings hidden within.

I loved this book.  I felt quite comfortable with Maud and wanted to join her at Lina's for tea.  If Lina were my neighbour, I know that I'd be confiding in her almost from that first meeting.

As much as I loved the story, there was a section near the beginning where the writing was a bit choppy.  It was only a short section and it didn't interfere with the story telling.

It is an interesting selection of clients that visit with Lina or should I say Madame Budska.  They each have very public personas, but as Maud gets to know them, she realises those are mostly facades and don't fully reflect the inner person that is kept well hidden from the public.  Even Lina presents two faces and the reader is left to determine whether there really is a division between the two.

When I was about two thirds through the book, I found myself already hoping that there would be a follow up story.  I want to know where Maud goes from here, how her relationship continues with Lina and what about her love life, will that budding romance find a way to flourish.

Madame Budska is a worldly woman and has her own Facebook page where you can "Like" her and then join her for virtual tea like I did.  If after meeting Maud and Lina, you want to read more of their stories, you can leave a message with Madame Budska and she'll pass it along to author Alana Cash, perhaps via one of those dream messages.  At present, a second book is not in the works, but when I asked Alana, she said she is certainly open to the idea.


Madame Budska's Facebook page.

You can visit with Alana at her blog  4 Years in Brooklyn

Trailer for the Saints in the Shadows

Post by Madame Budska.

Thanks to author Alana Cash for my reveiw copy and for use of the cover image.

You might like Saints in the Shadows if you enjoyed The Restorer: The Graveyard Queen series by Amanda Stevens

Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep & and awesome Peanut Butter Sandwich Recipe

I loved this book.  It's set in a familiar American south, but the population is unusual.  Elementals, dwarves, vampires and giants live along side humans in all segments of society.  Gin is a stone elemental; she can feel the stone and draw power from it.  She is also an assassin.

She's been hired to take out a man who's been embezzling from his company.  When she shows up for the hit, everything goes wrong and sets in motion a series of events that leaves her on the run, her handler/foster father dead and a cop as her partner.  Not her usual day.

Also working along side Gin and Detective Donovan Caine, is her foster brother Finn Lane.  He works as a banker, though has received the same career training as Gin.  He's a good man to 'have your back'.  Complicating the case ,s Mab Monroe.  She is wealthy, an elemental and has her fingers in every pie in town.  Not a woman to be crossed.

I read this book over the course of two days and loved every minute.  I was glad to learn that this series currently has 12 books as well as some short stories to fill in a few story gaps.  Visit author Jennifer Estep's website for a complete list. 

i was intrigued by one of the sandwiches that Gin makes for the boys.  Peanut butter and pumpkin, sounds strange, but  tempting.  I just had to try it.  I didn't think there was anything that could make a peanut butter sandwich taste better, but now I know, it's canned pumpkin.

Peanut Butter Pumpkin Sandwich

Mix equal amounts of peanut butter and canned pumpkin.
Spread on one side of one slice of bread.
Top with slices of banana.
Drizzle with honey and then dust with cinnamon.
Top with another slice of bread or eat open face.


Cover image from Jennifer's website.

Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads.  For more foodie fun, be sure to visit.

Free Audiobooks - SYNC Week 8

Available from July 3 – July 9, 2014






TORN FROM TROY by Patrick Bowman, Narrated by Gerard Doyle (Post Hypnotic Press)

PETER AND THE STARCATCHERS by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, Narrated by Jim Dale (Brilliance Audio)

Jim Dale is an amazing reader.  He really brings all the characters to life.  I could listen to him read anything.

Read my review of Peter and the Starcatchers

Thanks to SYNC for the use of all images.

Needlework Tuesday - Canada Day Stitching

Happy Canada Day to my fellow Canadians both on home soil and abroad.  I hope you are sporting your red and white and having a wonderful day.  Today I am sharing a mixed bag needlework.  Sort of like Canada, we aren't homogenous from shore to shore, but rather a  huge assortment of cultures living together in peace to make up a magnificent country.

I am back at work on my Red Heart Crochet Along.  Block 7 is Back Loop & Front Loop stitch.  I really like the way this turned out.  It is a more smooth surface and would be wonderful in  fabric like application.

Block 8 is Front Post Double Crochet around Single Crochet.  This looks sort of like ribbing, but it is quite firm, no real stretch across the width.

Needlework Tuesday is a regular weekly post where I share the progress of my various needlework projects over the past week. I enjoy the encouragement that I receive from my readers and in return visit their blogs and cheer them on with theirs. You are welcome to grab the cute little mouse and create your own Needlework Tuesday post. Leave a comment with a link and I'll be sure to visit with you.

I had fun playing with my scraps of 1930s fabrics and made nine postcards.  I did add buttons on the ones in the bottom row.  They will need to go in an envelope to go in the mail, but I think the buttons look great.

It's been ages since I started a new quilt, and I just had an itch last night.  I had cut the pieces for this one early last year and had it sitting in baggies waiting.   The pattern is called "Fabric Fusion" by Bill Kerr and Weeks Ringle and is found in the February 2012 issue of American Patchwork & Quilting.  The finished block measures 7 x 8 1/2 inches.  I don't generally use floral fabrics, but had quite a collection of fq's.  I pulled them all out and cut and cut till I had enough pieces for three different quilts.  this is the first one that I am working on.  I need 72 of these blocks.  The photo below shows 16 of the blocks together.

 

It's amazing how much I can accomplish when all the cutting is already done.  Honestly, I started this late yesterday afternoon and already have 17 blocks finished and many more in various stages.

I'll keep this short today, as it's a holiday and I want to get back to spending time with my family.  Have a terrific day.  Mister Linky is waiting below for a link to your recent needlework post or a link to your post showing your version of the "Fabric Fusion" quilt.