Thursday 27 June 2013

Week 5 of free SYNC Audio Books


June 27 – July 3, 2013

Rotters by Daniel Kraus, read by Kirby Heyborne (Listening Library)

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, read by Jim Weiss (Listening Library) this is one I have been waiting for

Tuesday 25 June 2013

Needlework Tuesday: One block at a Time

 
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.
How is it that summer, vacation time, arrives and I am as busy as ever.  I really was looking forward to some quiet reading time, more work on my sister's afghan and completion of a bunch of quilt blocks for the class I am taking.  Not happening.  School is winding up for the year and daughter has lots of summer plans which somehow involve me taking her shopping for all sorts of thing.  hmmm.  my nephew, from New Zealand, arrived on Friday, two weeks sooner than expected.  A good surprise, but it did mean rushing on my part to get the bedroom ready for him.  he arrived safely and we're having a great time. And of course, there are always family events requiring out of town visiting.  Long car rides do give lots of opportunity for reading, big bonus.
 
I did manage to get a bit of sewing.  These blocks are small, finishing at 4 1/2 inches.  I do need to pay more attention to the pressing as it has a big impact on how well they go together.  As noted before, these blocks are all from Judy Martin's book : Knockout blocks and Sampler Quilts.
Fifty more of these little cuties to go.  My plan is to make a bunch each month so that by the time the class is finished, I'll have enough  put together my quilt top.






The afghan for my sister is coming along nicely.  I have completed the first long strip.  I didn't cut the yarn as I'm not sure if the length is correct.  Now I am working on the alternate strip which is made of 12 squares sewn together.  Once I know how long that is, then I'll know how long to make the other strips.  These squares are 5 inches a side.  Have 3 made and 33 to go.  Pattern correction , start with a centre chain 3 to make the circle not 8 as stated.

Currently on my blog, I have two contests, first "A Royal Baby Name Game" where you could win a copy of  If the Shoe Fits by Megan Mulry, and second, A viewers choice, where you get to vote for your favourite quilt and help the make to win a fabric prize.

How is your stitching coming along?

Marie at Daisy's Book Journal has been working on the painting projects that she told us about a few weeks ago.

Tami at Just One More Thing has been busy, first with a quilt top and then with fabric purchases.  She's looking for feedback on the 3 fabrics she has selected for her first full size quilt.
 


Monday 24 June 2013

A Royal Baby Name Game

It's Monday and time for some fun.  You must leave a comment with both a boy and girl name to be entered.  If you are a 'no reply' blogger, be sure to include your contact information.  Contest closes July 1, 013 - Canada Day.  I'll use Random.org to select the winner.
 
It’s time to play A Royal Pain Baby Name Game! To celebrate Megan Mulry’s upcoming July release, If the Shoe Fits, Sourcebooks would like to know what you think the name of Will & Kate’s new addition will be! Comment below with your boy name and girl name prediction! We will pick one winner who will receive a print copy of Megan’s first book A Royal Pain!  (Canada and USA only please)
 
 
Coming July 2ndIf the Shoe Fits by Megan Mulry
 
The only thing worse than being in the spotlight is being kept in the dark...
With paparazzi nipping at his heels, Devon Heyworth, rakish brother of the Duke of Northrop, spends his whole life hiding his intelligence and flaunting his playboy persona. Fast cars and faster women give the tabloids plenty to talk about.
American entrepreneur Sarah James is singularly unimpressed with "The Earl" when she meets him at a wedding. But she's made quite an impression on him. When he pursues her all the way across the pond, he discovers that Miss James has no intention of being won over by glitz and glamor—she's got real issues to deal with, and the last thing she needs is larger-than-life royalty mucking about her business...
 
 
 
 
Thanks to Sourcebooks for sponsoring this regal contest.

Friday 21 June 2013

National Aboriginal Day 2013 - Canada


In  celebration of  National Aboriginal Day, June 21, I am sharing some of books by aboriginal authors that I have enjoyed.  Included are board books for the youngest, children's stories, a graphic novel, and more.

Cradle Me by Debbie Slier

Him Standing by Richard Wagamese

Baseball Bats for Christmas by Michael Arvaarluk Kusegak

The Life of Helen Betty Osborne by David Alexander Robertson and Madison Blackstone

Blueberry Rapids by Rene Andre Meshake




Extra Indians  by Eric Gansworth


Motorcycles and Sweet Grass by Drew Hayden Taylor

Crazy Dave by Basil Johnston

There are many more books and additional posts on my blog.  Take your time visiting and enjoy some of Canada's rich aboriginal heritage.


Thursday 20 June 2013

Week 4 of free SYNC Audio Books


June 20 – June 26, 2013

Once by Morris Gleitzman, read by Morris Gleitzman (Bolinda Audio)

Letter From Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr., read by Dion Graham (christianaudio)

Tuesday 18 June 2013

Needlework Tuesday - The Mystery Unveiled

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 have a special treat for you today.  At my local guild, we had quilt designer Sherri Hissy from Border Creek Station and her husband Ron, as our year end guests.  This was the perfect combination, as 21 of us had just finished piecing our tops from  her latest mystery, "Quilter's Celebration". Before I get to those tops, I want to share one of Sherri's quilt.
 
 Sherri had started this lovely basket quilt for her daughter, but it was a long time in the making.  By the time it was completed, her daughter didn't like pink anymore.  What to do?  Wait for a granddaughter of course.  Yes, granddaughter has arrived and this quilt will grace her bed at an appropriate time.

 
 
Each month we received at least one clue and then went home to sew.  The next month, we were instructed to bring one baggie of pieces to guild in order to be entered for a prize.  We never got a really good view of the fabrics the other members were working with.  it was quite a surprise for all of use at this unveiling. 
 
Time for a viewers choice.  I have added a number below each quilt.  View them all, and then leave a comment telling me the numbers of which two quilts you like the best.  The two quilters with the most votes will win some sort of fabric prize from me.  They don't know I am doing this, so it will be a surprise for them at our September meeting.  Voting will be open till some point in September 2013.   Try not to let the little squares of paper pinned to each quilt to distract you from their beauty, those were our numbers for voting.

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This final quilt, is the original pieced by the designer Sherri Hissy.

 
It was such fun to view these oh so different quilts.  Some of the members have decided to do Sherri's next mystery and it will be interesting to see how they progress through them next season.

What have you been stitching this past week?

Tami, at Just One More Thing, has been working on a few projects.  She has also posted a lovely photo  of her great-grandmother relaxing and  hand quilting.

Saturday 15 June 2013

Robin in the Hood 2013, Elmira, Ontario

Last weekend, my daughter participated for the first time in the Robin in the Hood Festival in Elmira, Ontario.  She had the role of Lady Milicent and wrote and acted in the "Crime and Punishment" scene.  Little did she know her fate that day.

Daughter and Hubby
 
Daughter, no I didn't make her costume though I did offer to make her an appropriate dress. 
This one came from the supplies of the event.



Always time to sneak in a few more pages. 
Most of the performers did an amazing job of staying in character for the entire day.

Red Tailed Hawk, part of the Raptor display.  All the birds shown are not suitable for release into the wild.  At a young age they had been accidently imprinted on humans, and now don't view themselves as birds.

For additional information on these, and other birds, visit The Canadian Raptor Conservancy.


Great Horned Owl


Outlaws

 
 

Daughters mini play "Crime and Punishment" . Two of the ladies of the realm are teaching us about the laws and how they towns folk are punished if they break them.

Looking up one of the laws along with the criminal
 
The real jailor who knew nothing about this 'lesson'.

 
oh oh, daughter has been caught, she has been a bad girl.
 
Now the punishment part!