Evening Edition: Free Kindle Book!

Can you tell I have too much time on my hands this evening? And no sewing in those hands either ----I’m on the couch, under a quilt, playing with my new kindle fire.

I just found this freebie and wanted to pass it on. And just for curiosity’s sake I checked --- I haven’t posted any freebies since Monday.

I figure I can stay here in my recliner and edit down the photos on my laptop from yesterday’s pineapple blossom workshop so those will be ready to go tomorrow.

Here’s this evening’s download for me:

Soul and Shadow by Susan J. McLeod is free today from the Amazon Kindle store, and has received an average user rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars based on 31 customer reviews.

Category: Mystery

Book Description:

In ancient Egypt, a young priestess of the goddess Hathor is laid to rest in a beautiful tomb with everything she needs for her journey into the afterlife…

Three thousand years later, archaeologist Ursula Allingham discovers the mummy of Amisihathor and is confronted by a mystery. Is the man buried with the priestess really her husband? Or was she actually in love with a scribe called Kamenwati and separated from him in life as well as death?

To answer these questions, Dame Ursula turns to Egyptology student and artist Lily Evans, who reluctantly agrees to help. Lily learns that she is psychically linked to Amisihathor and experiences a strange, unsettling phenomenon—the memories and emotions of the Egyptian woman. Luckily, Lily has her beloved pet Cleocatra and her irrepressible friend Katy to keep her grounded in reality. Or so she hopes.

Dealing with the challenges of falling in love with Ursula’s grandson Kent, the reappearance of her ex-fiance Stephen and the demands of her mother and her boss Professor Briggs, Lily soon realizes she has taken on much more than she bargained for.

I usually don’t go for strange “phenomenon” kind of things ---- but I do admit to loving the Indiana Jones movies, and the Mummy movies too – so am I game for this? Yep!

Just be sure to double check it’s still free before clicking to purchase ---

Have a good night!

iPhone-o-Gram! She is Home!

Jason is here. He and DH spent the afternoon golfing. There will be steaks on the grill tonight that they are in charge of.

As for me, though I am somewhat better--I think an easy bowl of oatmeal may have better luck not causing more tummy distress. I'm typing this from the comfort of my couch. :)

I do have ONE thing to share though---I finished this nearly insane block before packing up my car this morning! 9 more blocks to go!

This one is kind of a hodge podge in the center, and so is the block drawing. I tried to get close enough to the original quilt using a magnifying glass but still couldn't really tell what was what so it is what it is!

Here's hoping for a better tomorrow!

Bonnie

IPhone-o-Gram! Hello George!

I'm posting from the top of the first lighthouse built in America commissioned by George Washington himself.

I'm alone with this incredible view of the "newer" lighthouse from the top of the "old" one--the new one being built in the 1800s ;-)

I could sit up here and watch the ships in the Chesapeake Bay for hours.

PS--the old one is the brick one. I'm at the very top--the newer one is the black and white one--

Schedule it in?!

How can life be so busy that there is no way to even schedule down time in to be SICK? I don’t like to get sick.No one does, I know. And I’d much rather choose a head cold/chest thing ---even bronchitis, over this gripping nausea.

Thank heavens for ginger ale and crackers!

I honestly can’t say it was the sushi. I also had fresh salad from the salad bar. I had fruit. I had soup. I had broccoli tempura –it could have come from the silverware or the water glass ---

I didn’t eat any RAW sushi –just the cooked kind, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t come in contact with anything raw. There are too many variables.

All I know is that it doesn’t hit me often that I feel sick enough to want to stop doing ---if you are sick to your tummy, sitting at the machine doesn’t appeal. It takes too much concentration to think about threading a needle and doing handwork. All you can do is want to be in bed sleeping it off, trying to find a comfortable spot of respite.

The whole thing brings to mind this video clip from “Ferris Beuhler” LOL! Just change the words to “Let My Bonnie Go!!”

I was going to edit down all the workshop photos and post those this morning --- but I don’t even want to stare at a monitor that long to get them edited down, so how about some pre-sushi scenery?!

This is not the ocean! This is the Chesapeake Bay! And if you look closely you will see cargo ships waiting their turn to go through the channel ---OVER the tunnel that goes UNDER the water carrying cars from one side to the other while ships pass above. The whole thing is fascinating to me. This is part of First Landing State Park

These pics were taken on Tuesday afternoon, the day where the sun shone brightly, but temps were still cold and the wind biting!

From here, we drove to the other edge of the park, where the cypress swamp sat still and dark ---trees dripping with moss, standing ancient and knob-kneed. Is there anything eerier than the reflection of cypress trees in black swamp water? I love how the sun is beginning to set in this picture…

A glance toward the sky showed the tree tops, black, twisted and winter-bare silhouetted against a late afternoon March sky. This picture reminds me of an ink blotch painting –the kind where you drop the ink on the page and blow through the straw to spread it around with your breath.

While it was very windy on the beaches, it was still and motionless in the swamp. Look at the texture of the trees in this photo…and the mirrored reflection in the water ---at first glance you might think this a basically colorless photo, until you really look, really see ---

Anyone know what kind of plant this is? I love odd foliage and funky fruit/berry/seed things. I just thought this looked really interesting.

And just for fun, a man made funny! Virginia Beach has “bad language” warning signs posted down the main strip! I should use this sign for the next mystery along with the “No whining” rule! LOL! Evidently they want to keep it a “Family Safe” zone – and there are things that kids should not have to hear out and about on the streets. I thought this was great, there were these signs all over the place.

It’s supposed to be a lovely day today ---Temps around 70. If I’m feeling up to it, there are some things I’d like to see before leaving town. There are light houses, museums, and other historical attractions calling my name.

It’s a 5 hour drive home – and Jason is heading up today from Columbia, SC to spend some family time this weekend, so I’ll want to be home by dinner time to see him. I won’t have long to dawdle in Virginia Beach, but I want to see more of it than I have so far, and the weather will be cooperating. Now if I can only get the tummy to behave too!

Pics of the workshop to come after I’m back home in my own digs – and maybe a few iphone-o-Grams of the sights on my journey as I go ----

iPhone-o-gram!! Bad Sushi!

This is me typing on my phone from beneath the comfy quilts---nursing a sick tummy. :-((

More than you wanted to know I'm sure!

All I know is that 2 hours after my sushi dinner last night, my stomach was on the rampage and I wished I could hurry up and die! Food poisoning maybe?

Made it through the workshop today and had a great time---came back and slept 3 hours. I still feel pretty yuck so am laying low until my drive home tomorrow.

This is me and King Neptune saying Beware Of Sushi!!

And giant turtles that look like they could land on your head.

A Stay at Barclay Cottage!

From the first time I stayed in a Bed & Breakfast sometime around 1992 I thought that I would love to own one one day. I imagined that it would be the perfect place to showcase quilts, to fill walls and beds and tables and chairs and any other horizontal or vertical surface with quilts --- and heck once breakfast was done, the rest of the day would be “mine” and I could quilt the rest of the day away ---- for the rest of my life.

Funny how we get smarter with age, isn’t it? I know that running a B&B has to be much like running a dairy – and there is so much work that goes on behind the scenes.

This is my first time as a guest at Barclay Cottage, just as it is my first time in Virginia Beach, but I have to say that I feel like “one of the family” here. It’s been fun to chat with other guests at breakfast and getting the story of who they are, where they are from ---and everyone is so open and nice with each other. I know some people might not feel comfortable staying in a home with strangers, but this is right up my alley!

My day yesterday began with a morning guild meeting, followed by a lunch out --- a lunch that went late late late because we were having such a good time ---- and the rest of the day was mine to do what I wanted with it. I came home to take pictures!

Barclay Cottage was built as an Inn in 1895. It’s always been an inn, just as it still is one today!

The front hall boasts a beautiful staircase to guest rooms above, and a wonderful second story wrap around porch complete with rocking chairs pointed eastward to the waterfront. The shore is 2 blocks away. You can enjoy everything from that 2nd story balcony without getting sand in your knickers! There was a group doing wedding photos on the balcony yesterday so I didn’t get pics of that --- I’ll try to remember to later.

The upstairs landing is decorated with quilted heirlooms and other collectibles ----I had to look at each and every little thing!

From the dolly in the chair on her own applique quilt – that reminded me of the one my Grannie had ((that I was never allowed to play with!))

To the cute bears and pillows on top of another vintage quilt adorning the lid of a blanket trunk --

A collection of vintage books is on display --- don’t you love the cover of “Kiddie Farmers” ?

I peeked into the unoccupied rooms which are left open for guests to share in the other room’s décor themes…..blue and yellow are lovely for a beachy themed home!

The wall at the top of the stairs is a perfect spot for a family bow-tie quilt, and another applique hanging over the end railing ---

Another view of the cute bow ties. I like this….the ties are all solids, and the backgrounds are prints!

A downstairs bedroom has a nautical theme….I do love blue and white!

How about some rosy pinked softness? This time of day the light was coming through windows so things are a bit backlit, but I think you can get the idea! Each room also has it’s own attached bath.

And the best part of a Bed and Breakfast? BREAKFAST! Melon drizzed with raspberry sauce and artfully sliced strawberries –nut bread--- and the main dish of scrambled eggs, banana pecan pancakes and bacon. YUMMY!

This is my sweet little room on the ground floor. Come in and take a peek!

I’ve made myself right at home and unpacked my suitcase,putting my things in the antique dresser drawers. The door to my bathroom is right there --- and look over here:

A cute little empty secretary desk! But you know me – it doesn’t stay empty for long!

Yep, I’m ready to sew!! Let’s see if I can get some more of those Nearly Insane blocks done!

Today is a Pineapple Blossom workshop. I’ve got tonight to sew --- and I head home on Thursday!

iPhone -o-Gram!

A very cold afternoon beach walk!

And a short one too. It looks sunny and lovely but best seen from the warm comfort of a toasty car!

iPhone-o-Gram! Lol!!!!

Our meeting location was moved due to elections today---

Ladies are arriving, guild buzz and humm is amping up!

I just hit the ladies room before the meeting starts and totally cracked up!!

Happy day, indeed!

A Bit of Tuesday Sew & Share!

I’m writing this “Yesterday” Morning as stories of road conditions in Virginia force me to make a later start on my road trip to Virginia Beach – It’s snowing and blowing just “that far north” of me – and I need to leave later so it will give the roads a time to settle.

That means I’ll be going straight into a Lecture and a late night settling in, followed by a morning guild meeting with no time in between to upload anything to the blog, so consider this my interim effort to get something in the queue!

I love getting the pictures of quilts you have sent me in my email. They brighten my day and help me know I’m not the only crazy one about using up those beautiful scraps! And they cheered my spirits and put some sunshine into my day, and I hope they will yours too!

There is no way I can post ALL the images of quilts that I get ---and it does take quite a bit of time to edit images down when they come in as huge files, and sometimes there just isn’t time to do that on a regular basis. But don't stop sending them! I keep them on hand for opportunities just like THIS to share them.

This “Happily Scrappily Irish” came from Kallie! I love the mint green border with that purple inner border..NICE!

She writes:

Dear Bonnie
I am sure that you get many emails - but I just wanted to thank you for your fabulous leaders-and-enders book, in particular the Irish Chain pattern.

I am only a newcomer to quilting. I took it up two years ago when I found myself as an expat-wife in Singapore with a lot of extra time on my hands. I started making small quilts, designing as I went along, but after a string of less than successful results, I knew it was time for a pattern.

After completing this top, I am more confident to keep creating and now have a long list of projects that I want to try. This quilt is going to be a wedding gift for my sister-in-law.
So, thank you for your inspiration and guidance :)

Kind regards, Kallie

Didn’t she do a fabulous job? I love Irish chains, but the whole “make a panel 5 strips wide and sub-cut” thing I found SO boring! So making the Irish Chain from simple 4 patches was a much easier way to go for me, easier to handle and much more fun!

Next up is Terry’s Double Delight!

I love seeing quilts in different color plans, and this one just sings! Double Delight is found in the MYSTERY QUILTS TAB at the top of the blog. Did you know there are several previously released mysteries up there? Check it out! Terry is a woman of few words, her email just said DOUBLE DELIGHT in the subject line, and then in the body of the email was the picture, but no words. But as they say, a picture is worth a 1,000 – right!? :cD Great job, Terry!

And then we have Margaret F who has been a very very busy girl!

This is Margaret’s Happy Scrappy Houses! She writes:

Hi Bonnie,
A friend told me about your site. What fun! I am a lover of scraps, as well.

I made a smaller version of the Weed Whacker quilt which was great fun.

Just finished the crookedy houses. Love that pattern. We were snowed in

for a few days, so I started making houses. My 8 year old granddaughter hiked over through the snow and I asked her if she wanted to make a house, too. She did. We were joking around about using 2-inch ANYthing to make these houses, and working out of the scrap pile under my cutting table.

It only took me a week to have my own wonderful fun quilt. I used slightly larger side triangles so that I could trim the blocks to 10 1/2 inches unfinished.

The sashing makes it a lot easier to work with the not-quite-bias edges. Such fun!

She also sent a picture of the back of the quilt --- take a peek!

I love seeing the left over house blocks on the back…terrific, don’t you think?

And that’s not all…check out her Weed Whacker:

Whooowhoooo! Tons of color fun, and you see those border units? Those are the bonus units you get from behind the triangle corners in the quilt center. Great job Margaret!

Amy’s been busy too! She sent in a photo of her Hopscotch Butterscotch that is found in Adventures With Leaders & Enders.

She writes:

Hey Bonnie,
I know that you are traveling today, but I did want to send you this picture of the Hopscotch quilt that I gave to my cousin.

I don't know if you remember, but I did tell you the little story when I was making it in October. My cousin is a huge environmentalist, she rides her bike to work and had compostable paper bowls for her outdoor wedding.

Anyway, I gave her a little note telling her how this quilt was made from scraps that other people would probably throw away, and that it was even made in a way that eliminates wasted thread (it was a leader/ender). The green and brown sashing was to remind her of the woods here in MN/WI (she now lives in Utah, lots more sand, not so many trees!).

Have a great trip!
Amy

Amy, I love this quilt! I am really drawn to that olive green sashing! Thanks for sharing this quilt --- I’m sure it is being loved and used!

Carol O. sent in a picture of here Little Monkey! Look at this fun piano key border!

She writes:

Hi Bonnie,

I just finished this cute little monkeys quilt, inspired by your website,
and was looking for a new idea for the NEXT baby quilt -- there is always another baby on the way.

(I just stitched this one in the ditch, rather boring, I guess, but the fabrics are quite busy) And I found the new Story-Time Stars pattern.

I'm not sure I have enough novelty prints for the middle of the quilt, but I'm sure I can come up with something! I have some cute appliqué patterns for African animals. Could put them in the middle of
some blocks. Or maybe I'll go back to Boxy Stars. I'll let you know!

I like the checkerboard sashing. I have lots of black material to use in
something. Maybe I'll actually do some variation of Orca Bay. Poof! But I'm off to Thailand and Indonesia again the end of Feb, so will have to organize some appliqué to take along.

Blessings,
Carol

Carol is another busy traveling quilter who finds time to search for wonderful fabrics in far away place, and I’ve been gifted some of her indonesian plaids….ohh – wonderful! I hope you are having a great time Carol!

And Lastly, but not Leastly --- because I need to set this off and hit the road is Sergeant Robin!

Robin was in one of my Love Shack classes – and this is her finished creation! Would you look at what she did to enlarge this? Mine stops with the zig-zag string border…but wow!! She kept going!

She writes:

Bonnie,

I had to thank you again for a wonderful day of quilting! Both my mom and I had a wonderful time and the trip back home went so quickly with both of us gushing over what we learned and how much fun we had.

I've attached a picture of my "Love Shack" wall hanging on my design board. I was inspired by your comments in class to use orphan blocks for the second border and I used a piece of the "scrap" batik from Fabric Fanatics for the final border.

I was going to build this into a lap-size quilt for a children's charity, but my husband said "I like that. We should hang it on the wall." He's NEVER said that...so I guess the crazier the better for him.

I have the perfect empty wall space in our living room for it to live once it's quilted (I'm learning longarming at my LQS so this is a great size project for that).

And my "Orca Bay" top is done, too! Those pictures are posting in the Yahoo groups folder.

Thank you again for all that you do. Your stash system and patterns have really changed the way I quilt over the past few years....definitely for the better. My mom is definitely a "matchy" quilter, but even she is stretching her boundaries with your ideas!

Robin

Oh Gosh, we had SUCH a great time in that workshop – I hope we get to see these ladies again.

Thanks everyone, for allowing me to share your beautiful work with everyone who stops by. Your work inspires me!

In Pieces,

iPhone-o-Gram! Rainy VA!!

A quick couple of glimpses of my drive. It's raining sideways because it is blowing so hard!

I'm hoping for some kind of overhang to pull up to tonight at the guild meeting for unloading bags of quilts and boxes of books!!

I've got about 7 miles left to drive---

Bonnie

Lunch Time Edition! Two Free Kindle Books!

A Cook Book and a Drama!

I’m setting this to go as I head out the door. My departure was delayed this morning due to bad snowy conditions in Virginia ((What a great time for my first trip to Virginia Beach! LOL!)) and so ---I found myself surfing the net waiting for weather to clear a bit!

First off..because it is a cold cold end of winter day ---Soups from Gooseberry Patch!

You know I love their cook books…..they are full of simple, wholesome, delicious recipes and made of “normally on hand” ingredients!

The book description is simply stated:

Soups shares our very best recipes for all kinds of soups! Get cozy with fireside chili, baked potato soup and farmhouse beef stew.

I can get into that! And just downloaded it.

And while the soup is simmering, get into this one:

The Eighth Sea by Nancy Sprowell Geise is free today from the Amazon Kindle store, and has received a perfect 5 out of 5 stars based on 11 customer reviews.

Category: Drama / Historical Fiction

Book Description:

Have You Found Your Eighth Sea?

In the cold, black hold of a sailing ship, a young woman lies dying, tormented that her death will mean nothing. No one will know. No one will care. Only the will to find a purpose for her life keeps breath in her exhausted body.

Far away, a soft Carolina breeze touches a mother’s face as she peers into the night sky, agonizing over the loss of her infant daughter nineteen years before. A haunting vision that will not leave her—it whispers of a living tie, still unbroken, to that baby long ago. Worlds apart and unaware of one another, the mother and daughter fight their lonely battles for survival.

Between them—a man rising to greatness with the new America will bring them together.

In 1769, on the shores of St. Christopher in the West Indies, Weston and Emily Emerson are devastated by the sight of their infant daughter’s blanket floating among the splintered remains of a lifeboat. The voyage that began with promise of a new beginning in America ends in tragedy when a violent storm separates them from their child. Believing their daughter has perished, the heartbroken Emersons continue their voyage to the Colonies, not knowing Brenna was rescued.

Nineteen years later, Brenna, unaware of her true identity, begins an odyssey that will take her far from her dismal existence on St. Christopher. A chance encounter with a mysterious stranger will forever change the course of her life. In the old Roman city of Bath, Nathan begins an unrelenting search for Brenna that sweeps across England, involving romance, murder, and intrigue.

The themes of this story are universal: a long journey; separation and return; uncertainty; searching and finding; the search for understanding God’s will amidst tragedy; and finally, the realization that people can be bound together forever.

The Eighth Sea is a passionate love story involving two unforgettable
characters—Brenna and Nathan. Their story is our story—finding our place in the world, the meaning of our lives, our way home. Brenna’s solution is to set sail beyond the only world she has ever known and into her eighth sea. The story is inspirational, and its romance is deep and enduring.

Struggling to triumph are three major characters: Brenna—determined to find her place in the world yet haunted by the shadows of abandonment and self-doubt; Emily—plagued with grief over the loss of her only child an unable to shake a disturbing sense that something is unresolved; and Nathan—strong and charismatic, discovering that in his search for Brenna, he has found himself. Their story is a tribute to the human experiences of good overcoming evil, the power of persistence, and of love enduring against all odds.

The Eighth Sea is hard to put down, a deep and enduring romance, a plot filled with unexpected twists and the characters hard to get out of one’s mind…an inspiring journey into the unknown. A book club must read!

The Eighth Sea—finding the meaning of our lives, our way home.

And now that those are downloaded, this chickie is out the door! Virginia Beach, here I come --- snow or not!

Remember book prices can change without notice, so double check before clicking that these are still free for you!