This is a week for finishing things...Read book three in the Cousins O'Dwyer Trilogy series, "Blood Magick." Loved the trilogy and was so sad when it ended, I kept stretching it out to savor it to the end. Romance, magic, time travel, good versus evil and happy endings....loved it all!

Finally finished three rag quilts as Christmas presents. Not my favorite quilt to make, not very creative, heavy to sew and lots of lint! I'm in the process of making other presents, stay tuned, can't spoil any surprises. My sister has shown me how to make coiled fabric baskets and I'm hooked. So much fun and easy to make. Will post pictures soon.

I just finished reading the book, Walking Home: A Pilgrimage from Humbled to Healed by Sonia Choquette. I have been a fan of hers for a couple of years and had the opportunity to hear her in person and loved her spirit and her message. But, nothing prepared me for this book and her experience. An absolutely amazing 800 kilometer walking journey over the Pyrenees and across northern Spain. (the legendary Camino de Santiago)

Final entry in the show, "Star Gazing" based on the pattern "Space Crystal, Too" featured in Marci Baker's ABC 3-D Tumbling Blocks and More!" book, original design by Sara Nephew.

This wall-hanging was created for the 2014 BVQ Quilt Challenge, "The Wonder of Color." The Color chosen was "steel blue" and the pattern is "Camper Party" by MH Designs.

Spent the weekend at the BVQ Guild Quilt Show, lots of fun and it was very exciting to see my quilts hung and people actually looking at them...Maybe next time, I will have them judged, okay, maybe not...This is the Labyrinth Walk Quilt designed by Christopher Florence, the Guilty Quilter.

Quilt Of Valor

I wanted to make a Quilt of Valor for my brother, Vince, who served as a Marine in the Vietnam War. Since he is celebrating his 60th Birthday, it seemed apropos to present it to him at his party. 

Books...Books...Books..

I've been challenged by a friend to list the 10 books which have been unforgettable to me, or greatly influenced my life. Since, this is not easily answered by a librarian, you may want to pull up a chair, make a cup of tea and settle in...

1. Thumbelina...the very first book I checked out of a public library and thus started a wonderful career.
2. The Nancy Drew and later the Sherlock Holmes stories, which are the reason today I am still challenged in Geography. I read them under my desk all through elementary school. I still love a good "who done it"
3. Gone with the Wind. the history, the romance...
4. Wuthering Heights, the reason I traveled to Haworth, England and walked the Moors.
5. Journey to the Center of the Earth...allowed me to escape my world and seek adventure.
6. Angela's Ashes...made me laugh to hear the phrases spoken by my Grandmother and Great Grandmother. Traveled to Limerick and finally understood it all.
7. Dracula...written by Bram Stoker who was believed to be influenced by the stories his mother told him about people being buried alive in Sligo during the cholera epidemic of 1832. Visited the church there where many were buried. (somehow, there is a theme here..loved the book, traveled to the place)
8. Old Souls: compelling evidence from children who remember past lives...made me think about death and reincarnation in a new way.
9. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Pie Society - history, humor (hope to go there some day)
10. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan - intrigued me to do additional research on secret codes and hear Lisa See speak on her writings...fascinating.

Downton Abbey Mystery Quilt

It's been awhile...to bring you up to date...

My "word" for 2014 is "abundance." My purpose in choosing "abundance" is to be thankful every day for the abundance in my life.

Since November I have been working on the Downton Abbey Mystery Quilt Along. I chose the Lady Sybil fabrics for my quilt. My quilt top is finally pieced, ta-dah!

The DA quilt was designed by Ebony Love with a few additions and substitutions by me. I added the appliquéd flowers to the solid blocks and substituted a Lady Dowager fabric for one of Sybil's. It was a challenging process and now the fun begins...should I hand or machine quilt?