Do You Read For Pleasure?

My daughter is seriously the queen of reading for pleasure..and goes through books very fast. A couple of years ago, she took over my Kindle Reader and I've been downloading e-books for her routinely. Well, last week I stumbled upon a company that has make my life so much easier...that I wanted to share them with you. The company is BookBub and they send me an email almost every day with the latests great deals on e-books for my Kindle (they also work with Nook, and other readers). They do not cost anything to be a member...nothing, nada, not one red penny! And, they don't hound you with multiple emails about other deals or products. Just their almost daily single email that lists all of the books available that day (and some for longer than a day). They include the photo and writeup on the book...and all you do is click and it takes you right to the Amazon book page for you to download the e-book just like you'd normally do. Don't know just how the other readers work...but they do offer them...so worth checking them out. I just download six more mystery, romance, and fiction books for Sommer's kindle...all free. They also had some for 99cents and 1.99...but, I don't even bother with those. In the past week...I've gotten her over a dozen books...so she will be set for a while! Here's the link for trying BookBub...and I am not getting paid for this...I just seriously think they are a great company and save me tons of time 'remembering' to go look for books...and not having to wonder if Sommer is "out of books". And, these are not "partial book" you get the entire book. Sometimes publishers will offer a book for free for a limited time to help introduce new authors, or promote a sequel by offering the prior book, or just to promote a new book. If you are not aware of this "timely" offers...you miss out. So, this company has a great idea...worth passing on to friends and family that read too! Aren't I a good sales person for them...too bad it's not a paying gig! Ha!  

More Thimble Cases

I'm still working on thimble cases...and really enjoying these little treasures. It is fun to work in such a small scale...and challenging since the main work area is only about one inch tall.   

And while it still takes a few hours to make one...the real work is in thinking up an idea that will fit such a small area. But, designing is fun...as you already know! These are also easy to pick-up and put-down so I can work on them during nap times with Brady. The little dusty rose one has bullion and french knot flowers...like a little garden.  

The green one has berries of seed beads and a trailing vine. My muse is happy working on these...and that's a great stress buster too. And, I've needed that particularly lately!! These two are added to my Etsy shoppe.

Fan Block for Barbara

I'm the last to stitch on Barbara's set of blocks...and my block chosen is her peach/orange fan. Here, I've begun by adding some lace trims...  

Next, some silk ribbon. You know I love roses and how they look on fans...so went with three different types of neutral/medium tones for a romantic look.  

Ended with more embroidery and lots of beads. Ready to mail when Barbara returns home in a couple of weeks.  

Thimble Cases

This weekend I made a thimble case for a friend...with silk ribbon roses on the sides. The case is hard plastic lined, not with cardboard which would be an issue if it got wet. The liner is covered in wool felt, not craft felt. It should last a long, long time!

The inside has a wool covered bead that is secured to the bottom. This will hold the thimble in place and should keep it from rolling around.  

The little closure is a stone bead in pink with a pink elastic band. It was the only little elastic band I had...and wasn't it fortunate that it was pink...just perfect. I had such fun making this little case that I did two more for the Etsy Shoppe.

The first has lilac and roses on the case.

And the next has SRE sunflowers. I have enough plastic liners to create about six more...if I can think of some embroidery ideas for them.
 

CQI Round Robin Updates

Just finished up my round in the 10" Step by Step Round Robin...and the block has been mailed on to the next stitcher. This is my first Step type of robin to participate in, and I'm finding it very limiting. The next person gets to add silk ribbon and more motifs...and it was hard not to put silk ribbon or beading down now. But, the challenge is also part of the fun...so, I'll have to save my SRE work for the block received this month! Also, receive back my Fan blocks...and aren't these so pretty?!!? Yep, they are!

Above stitched by Barbara R.

Above stitched by Colleen A.

Above stitched by Ritva P.

Stitched by NickiLee S.

Stitched by Shelly R.




     

Monogram Monday - F

 

Monogram Mondays - G

No Wonder We're Soooooo Tired!

Looking through the archives a bit today...I came across a video that was made 14 years before I was born (you do the math)...and thought it was interesting and funny even. I liked watching the shuttle of the sewing machine...and had to laugh at the ladies gloves worn while driving. Thought you might enjoy it too...so here's the link:   https://archive.org/details/EasyDoes1940  

Hello...remember me?

Ha, that's what I feel like saying. It seems that it's been forever since I've really posted about anything associated with my needle-art...but honestly, I've actually be really, really busy. These cabochons are for my friend Maureen...and aren't they so pretty, with a couple of really unusual vintage ones. It was a joy to get back to some beading...and I was so happy to work on these for her. And, she sent me some very pretty cabs of my very own as a thanks...and they'll get beaded sometime. Ha!   I've been extra busy with class projects for StitchMAP and for myself...and those are things that I can't really blog details about...but they do take up a lot of my creative time. I also have a special "secret" project to begin...that can't be shared yet either...and that will drive my muse crazy! But, I have two crazy quilt block in the works...and a third being pieced...so more about them in the days/weeks to come for sure! The weather is nice now...and the garden has been mostly planted...so that will take up some time soon as well...and I'll take photos of everything I can that's going on to share with you! Hope y'all are having a great Spring!  

More Snowmen

Seems strange working on snowmen blocks now that the sun is out! But, I just got these done in time for the HGTV group's challenge this month...now, frankly, it will a struggle to keep up as I'm not that energetic to stitch anything that reminds me of cold weather! But, perhaps by July...I'll be begging for the cool and my muse will be energized again! Ha!

Monogram Mondays - H

 

Ready, Set, Go!

Whew! Today was fun and tiring...but the sun was shining and all was great. We hid something over 200 eggs...and the kids found almost all of them. Most were plastic except for 3 dozen or so...and we only "lost" one of those eggs. We're sure to find it after the summer sun gets it good and hot...and we'll step on it! Whew, what a smell that will be! Mom has a huge back yard that is great for hiding eggs.

  For those that left comments yesterday...yes, a large family is a lot of fun. As the oldest of the seven kids...I have three younger sisters and 3 younger brothers. We all have kids, step kids, grand kids, and even some great-nieces and nephews. The little kids (3 and under) hunt near the house...and the older ones hunt everywhere else in the backyard. We hide eggs that will get you a prize, and others that have candy or loose change inside....as well as dyed hard-boiled eggs...also sometimes worthy of a prize.

 Lil Brady found a few eggs...with lot's of help because he of course didn't "get it" at his age. But, he enjoyed walking, and walking, and walking all around the yard. Such freedom!

 Little Ely is old enough to look and pick up a lot on her own. And when we stopped hunting and were counting eggs so we could determine if they had all been found...she helped out. She took the first egg from her basket and placed it on the ground...while announcing loudly "Two!"...so we were sure that she had the most by the time she finished her counting...ha!

 Here's my sweet Aidan counting out hers...37 found...

 Hard to get faces when I'm shooting down...but Clay had quiet a few as well...

 When all were counted, we still were missing seven...and off they went to hunt for those...

 Then we sat in the shade and all the kids could empty out their eggs of candy and change...

Fun was certainly had by all today! Now, it's time for a NAP!