Book Hive Book Club - Whimsical Wings

1.

Book Hive Book Club - Whimsical Wings

I've joined the Facebook Group, The Book Hive Book Club and have agreed to be in the Whimsical Wings sub Book Group. There are 12 members , 12 books, 12 months. I chose the book, "Have You Seen Luis Velez?" (reviewed on my blog here) and since I love flamingos, my journal had to include at least one. Choosing the book to read was easy, the journal not so much. 

Some of the questions running through my head:

• Should the journal be thick? thin? It will have to be mailed with the book.
• How many pages per person to estimate for them to write on? I tend to be succinct.
• What if the pages run out? Should I include two journals?
• Should I include a bookmark? hint...hint. What if someone dog-ears my book or writes in it?
• Vacation is coming up soon, should I mail it before I leave? Get it all ready and wait til I come back? Give it to someone else to mail? 
• I've been told my handwriting is illegibile. I never learned to print (thank you Catholic School education); will they be able to read my scribble? It really would be odd to type my thoughts, print, then cut and glue? 
• What if the other readers don't like the book I've chosen? What if I don't like theirs? 
• These are legitimate questions, right? Am I overthinking all of this????

Decisions, Decisions...

2. I received my September book early, Glory Road by Lauren K. Denton.

Loved it and reviewed it at http://pennyformythoughts-nona.blogspot.com/2019/08/glory-road.html

3. Next book is Holy Envy by Barbara Brown Taylor,  reviewed here...Holy Envy

4. The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins is a delightful read! Reviewed at The Book Charmer. I have throughly enjoyed each book and can't wait to see what is coming next!

#bookhivebookclub #whimisicalwings #whimsicalwingsbookclub

Daddy's Girls

Daddy's Girls by Sarah Flint. (DC Charlotte Stafford Series Book 5) Aria: Amazon Digital Services, LLC, 2019. 287 pages. ****

In this latest psychological thriller, D.C. Charlie Stafford has an odd case on her hands. And it may be her toughest one yet.

Thomas Houghton's wife dies and he blames his daughter, Emma, for her very existence, which he believes, contributed to his wife's death. Drugged, delusional, and broke, Tom believes he has seen his dead wife and she has returned to him. The fact that the woman doesn't seem to know him, doesn't deter him from visiting her.

A burglar who isn't interested in valuables, the subject of Operation Greystream, he visits his victims in the dead of the night, gloved and masked. He targets the elderly, he doesn't hurt them and, if they beg, he won't take anything of real value.

But then 87-year-old Florence Briarly is found by her friend, cold to the touch and neatly tucked into bed. And Charlie realizes this case has taken a sinister, urgent turn. Now this stealthy burglar has had a taste of murder, it's only a matter of time until he craves it again...

This series gets better and better and with more than one main plot; you just want to keep reading until the book is done. Flint's books may be read as a stand-alones; however, you will want to read them all. Flint is able to get into the perpetrator's and the victim's head which creates the tension within the story. In true psychological fiction fashion, there is an unexpected ending (no spoilers here) and I love it when I don't guess the identity of the killer. Full of surprises, I can't wait to see what Flint writes next!

Mummy's Favorite  - Book 1

I received an ecopy for a review.

With a Metropolitan Police career spanning 35 years Sarah Flint has spent her adulthood surrounded by victims, criminals and police officers. She continues to work and lives in London with her partner and has three older daughters. To read more about Sarah's books, https://ariafiction.com/author/sarah-flint

#Daddysgirls #psychologicalthriller

Quilt Labels

September 5, 2019

Quilt Labels

I volunteered to create a mini demo for my Guild's Sew Together Day. Here I am doing what I like to do...teaching!

Why attach a label or sign the back of your quilts?

Jenny Doan (MSQC) https://quiltingtutorials.com/tutorial/personalize-your-quilt-using-quilt-applique-labels

What to include on your label:

• Quilt maker's name- full name, not just "made with love by Nona."
• The quilter - if different from the maker - longarmer
• Name of the quilt
• If using a commercial pattern, the name of the pattern and designer
• The full name of the recipient of the quilt
• Occasion - wedding, graduation
• Year when the quilt is completed
• Location - city, state
• Personal message

How to create a label:

There are many techniques and products to help you create a label that fits your quilt and expresses what you want to say.

• Hand or machine embroider - I don't machine embroider so this isn't an option for me.
• Hand write - see information about fabric pens below
• Ink Jet printer- June Tailor Sew-In Colorfast Fabric Sheets for Ink Jet Printers – (make sure they are Washable!) 100% cotton in white or cream – can be purchased at JoAnn, Amazon
• Custom Quilt Labels:
• Etsy - https://www.etsy.com/market/custom_quilt_labels
• Spoonflower - https://support.spoonflower.com/hc/en-us/articles/204471590-How-To-Create-a-Quilt-Label-at-Spoonflower

I visited local stores; Jo-Ann, Michael's and Walmart to test fabric markers. Many quilters use Micron markers and I have in the past, but I began to notice that over time and multiple washings, the back writing faded to a grayish purple. So, I didn't include these pens in my sample. ALL lables should be heat set before washing. 

  

I wrote on fabric and two wrote easily and darkly. The Tulip Fabric Marker bled a little, but was still acceptable.

The Pentel Gel Roller for fabric wrote smoothly and cleanly.

 I attached them to quilted fabric squares to similate quilt backs. Each time I added them to a load of laundry, I indicated it on the label, these were each washed 4 times. Both maintained their color throughout the washing and drying. My personal preference is the Pentel Gel Roller for fabric purchased at Walmart.

This label was created in Word and signed using the Pentel Gel Roller 3 years ago. It's helpful to iron freezer paper to the back of your label to facilitate writing on fabric. 

I often make my labels on the computer using June Tailor Sew-In Colorfast Fabric Sheets for Ink Jet Printers. They are available in cream and white. Make sure they are "Washable" and you follow the instructions to make them color fast. (if not, all of your work will disappear in the wash)

I created this label on my inkjet printer and hand sewed it to the back of my Teal MugRug Swap. After following the manufacturer's instruction, I ironed it to Steam a Seam lite and then ironed it to the back to be sewn.

Other examples of inkjet labels.

Helpful Websites:
National Quilters Circle - https://www.nationalquilterscircle.com/article/include-quilt-labels/#

AQS - http://www.aqsblog.com/a-comprehensive-guide-to-quilt-labels

Printing on Fabric using Freezer Paper with FREE download

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfzTXlkQr5o&t=189

Most popular position for labels:

In the right or left bottom corner, with two sides of the label under the binding.

Google Search terms: quilt labels, custom quilt labels

#quiltlabels

2019 Monthly Color Challenge - September

September - Lilac (Lavendar)

Pulling different shades of purple for this month's block...

I don't have as many lilacs, but I do love dots.

I am using fat quarters for these blocks, so cutting this one is close. Check out Jen's Blog for this month's block.

 

After cutting the pieces, the next step is to create half square triangles. I use my Chako chalk roller marker to draw the line. It works great on the fabric, brushes off when sewn.

A little dark for lilac, however, it turned out perfect!

Only a few more months to go!

Check out the other bloggers and leave a comment!

Patterns By Jen
One Quilting Circle
mary mack's blog
Quilts by Joanne

#2019monthlycolorchallenge #septembersblock #lilacseptemberblock

Glory Road

Glory Road by Lauren K. Denton. New York: Thomas Nelson, 2019. 353 pages. Discussion Questions. ****

Told in the alternating voices of Gus, Jessie and Evan, three strong-willed Southern women, this multi-generational story is an easy read. Gus, the grandmother, almost seventy, hard-worker and master baker wants so much for her daughter and granddaughter. Jessie moved home ten years ago after a failed marriage to rural Perry, Alabama in a home next door to her mother on Glory Road. At peace with her life now, Jessie wants nothing more than to work at her plant business and share her knowledge with her customers. Evan, fourteen years old, starting high school is pushing her boundaries and seeing her mother and grandmother in a new light. When Jessie's high school boyfriend, Ben, moves into his parent’s house on Glory Road with his teenage son, Nick, all three women question what they want and need from life.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Denton has a way of writing that quietly, slowly, draws you into the story. Somewhat predictable, however, I wanted to keep reading. Jessie's advice for choosing who to marry spoke to me, "I think you marry the one who, when everything else is stripped away - money, job, arguments, disagreements--he's still the one you'd want to sit with on the porch and...just...do nothing. Or do anything!" (pg. 313) In this cell phone, fast-paced world, wise words indeed.

I received this book to read as part of The Whimsical Wings, Book Hive Book Club. Based on the description on the back cover, I'm not sure I would have chosen it, so I am glad that I had the opportunity to read it as part of the book swap.

Born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Lauren now lives with her husband and two young daughters in Homewood, just outside Birmingham. In addition to her fiction, she writes a monthly newspaper column about life, faith, and how funny (and hard) it is to be a parent. On any given day, she’d rather be at the beach with her family and a stack of books. Her debut novel, The Hideaway, is USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon Charts bestseller. Her second novel, Hurricane Season, released in April, 2018, and was listed on BookPage's 2018 list of Most Anticipated Fiction.
To learn more about Lauren, visit https://laurenkdenton.com

#beachread #familyrelationships #gloryroad #bookhivebookclub #thewhimisicalwings

What Rose Forgot

What Rose Forgot by Nevada Barr. New York, Minotaur Books, 250 pages. **** Publication Date September 17, 2019.

Sixty-eight year old Rose Dennis wakes up and can't remember where she is and why she is wearing a hospital gown. She's thirsty, confused and is pretty sure she shouldn't be outside in the cool breeze. How did she get here and why do the boys who find her think that she has escaped from a nearby nursing home? Rose soon realizes that her family has admitted her to the Longwood Memory Care Unit. Rose can't remember how and why she got here, she ony know she wants out. Rose enlists the help of her thirteen-year-old granddaughter to help her prove that she is not suffering from dementia and someone is determined to kill her.

This psychological thriller will keep you guessing as to whether there is a sinister reason to keep Rose incapicitated in a secure environment or has Rose had a mental breakdown since the death of her beloved husband.

Barr has crafted a diabolical story that will keep you guessing until the very end. While stretching my credibility at times, I'd like to think that I would be as resourceful as Rose. While being sympathetic to her plight, I was amused by some of her solutions to her problems. A fan of Barr's Anna Pigeon mysteries, I thoroughly enjoyed this standalone novel.


I received an ecopy for a review.

Nevada Barr is an award-winning novelist and New York Times best-selling author.  She has a growing number of Anna Pigeon mysteries to her credit as well as numerous other books, short stories, and articles.  She currently resides in New Orleans with her husband, four magical cats, and two adorable dogs. For more information http://www.nevadabarr.com/homepage.html.

#whatroseforgot  #psychologicalfiction

Westering Women

Westering Women by Sandra Dallas.  New York: St. Martin's Press, 2020. 244pages.
Historical Fiction. ***** Publication Date January 7, 2020.

"If you are an adventurous young woman of high moral character and fine health, are you willing to travel to California in search of a good husband?" The Ministers of the Gospel will escort these eligible women to the gold mines of Goosetown in the California Diggings. It's 1852 and Maggie realizes that this opportunity may be her ticket out of Chicago. How will she convince them to take her with them and that she is a good Christian woman of highest principles when she has a young daughter and no husband?

Maggie soon joins forty-three other women on the perilous 2,000-mile journey west. Limited supplies, possessions, and comforts, the women face challenges that none of them expect. Who among them will survive and what will the future bring when they arrive at their destination?

I read this book on a long airplane ride and laughed and cried. Dallas brings her characters to life and I was drawn into the story from the very beginning. Her book, Prayers for Sale is a favorite of mine, so I couldn't wait to read this one. I was not disappointed and will recommend it to all of my historical fiction lovers. Would I have survived had I chosen to accept the challenge to join this group of women? Probably not, but I would like to think that I have it in me to contribute in some way and to sacrifice everything to start a new life. The friendships forged in this unlikely group of women highlights the ability in all of us to overcome our differences and support each other.

I received an ecopy for a review.

Preorder at Amazon

New York Times best-selling author SANDRA DALLAS, the author of fifteen adult novels, two young reader novels, and two non-fiction books, was dubbed “a quintessential American voice” by Jane Smiley, in Vogue Magazine. Sandra’s novels with their themes of loyalty, friendship, and human dignity have been translated into a dozen foreign languages and have been optioned for films.
Sandra lives in Denver and Georgetown, Colorado, with her husband, Bob. She is the mother of two daughters, Dana, a lawyer in New Orleans, and Povy, a photographer in Golden, Colorado. Visit her at https://www.sandradallas.com


#westeringwomen #historicalfiction