Monday, February 28, 2011

WIP Month Wrap Up

All in all I think that work in progress month was a great motivation for me to finish some projects that have just been piling up for literally years. The best news is that now that I have cleared some space from my cutting table I can get started on some new projects (without the guilty conscience of knowing that I have other work to be completed). Here is a little recap of what I was able to accomplish in February in the WIP department.

As a reminder of how this month started this is what my table looked like at the beginning of February.


And here are the finished projects from the month:

Mom's table runner. I will be making more of these in the near future!

Nick's Quilt. Ah, I can't even tell you how good it feels to have this baby finished. I love love love how it turned out and even more than that I love being able to USE it!

Ladybugs Quilt. I still feel guilty that I didn't get around to making it when Sweetpea was still in a crib so I'm sure very soon there will be a single bed sized quilt for her as well. I really love how this quilt turned out, it is so bright and cheery. Perfect from my outgoing Ladybug. This was my first time machine quilting anything of this size on my home machine and not only did a learn a lot but I had so much fun doing it!


Nursing Covers. These had been sitting for a little while half finished and I just couldn't get myself motivated enough to actually finish them up!

Valentines Aprons for the Girls.

Here is my cutting/assembling space now. Thanks to Nick for putting up some much needed shelving! I still have some work to do but I would say it is a vast improvement.

And a big thanks goes out to my great friend Stephanie who also completed a major overhaul on the appearance and functionality this blog!


Friday, February 25, 2011

This Moment


{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. Hosted by Soulemama

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Ladybugs Quilt :: It's Finished!!!

I am so happy that Ladybug's quilt is finally finished! I absolutely love how it turned out. I used a simple Yellow Brick Road quilt pattern and fabric that I purchased almost 3 years ago, so my apologies I don't know the designer!

View from the front
I had enough of the boarder left over to piece the backing fabric and make it just a little more interesting than solid purple hearts.
A simple pieced back

I came to a bit of a stand still on this quilt when I couldn't find a single piece of fabric in my stash that worked with this quilt. Not one! Somehow when purchasing the fabric all that time ago I didn't think to purchase enough for binding... So I put it aside for a bit and got to work cleaning off my WIP table. Lo and behold I found just enough scraps from this project to make a pieced binding and I think it worked out for the best. Not only could I use up scraps but a crazy patchwork binding is much more in line with Ladybug's personality than something straight and simple.


Showing the pieced binding made up of scraps from the project


Wednesday, February 23, 2011

WWW Wednesdays and a Quilting Update Tomorrow

WWW Wednesdays is hosted at Should Be Reading. To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…


• What are you currently reading?

Virgin River by Robyn Carr, Hunted by P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast,

• What did you recently finish reading?

The Red Thread by Ann Hood, The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

• What do you think you’ll read next?

The Union Quilters by Jennifer Chiaverini


What about you? What is on your bookshelf right now? Please leave a comment or a link to your own WWW Wednesday, I would love to hear from you!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Seek Me With all your Heart

Seek Me With all your Heart by Beth Wiseman



Seek Me With All Your Heart is the first book in Beth Wiseman’s “A Land of Canaan” series. We are taken to a new Amish settlement in Colorado where families from larger Amish communities in Ohio and Pennsylvania have settled to find land at lower prices and sometimes to start a new life free from the burdens and tragedies they have left behind. The most prominent story line is that of Emily and David, two young adults who because of hardships in their pasts are convinced that they will be unable to find and keep love, despite a strong desire to do so. It is through their friendship that Emily and David are able to reconcile and heal the hurts of their pasts.

My Thoughts:

I read a lot of Amish fiction, but have never read anything written by Beth Wiseman so it took me a little time to become used to her writing style. There were some things in this book that made me question its authenticity at first and at times I found the voices she gave to her characters to be a little modern to really connect with them as Amish. I'm not saying that she did anything wrong here, it really was a lovely story, it was just not what I expected out of the gate. Once I got used to her style I thoroughly enjoyed the book and devoured it over the course of two days. There were enough plot twists and interesting characters to hold my attention and I was really happy with the story that developed around Martha (the grumpy English neighbor).

She tackled some issues that are not often seen in Amish fiction and I appreciated this very much. I think that she wrote about these difficult subjects in a very realistic and sensitive way. Emily's character was beautifully developed and Wiseman did an excellent job of portraying the emotions that one would feel after a traumatic attack.

I was pretty excited to find out that Seek Me With All Your Heart is somewhat of a continuation of Wiseman’s earlier Daughters of the Promise series. I look forward to the next book in the Land of Canaan series and will definitely be picking up her earlier books.


I would give this book 4*s/5 and look forward to reading more from Beth Wiseman!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Monday, February 21, 2011

The Red Thread

The Red Thread by Ann Hood



From Goodreads: “In China there is a belief that people who are destined to be together are connected by an invisible red thread. Who is at the end of your red thread?”


After losing her infant daughter in a freak accident, Maya Lange opens The Red Thread, an adoption agency that specializes in placing baby girls from China with American families. Maya finds some comfort in her work, until a group of six couples share their personal stories of their desire for a child. Their painful and courageous journey toward adoption forces her to confront the lost daughter of her past. Brilliantly braiding together the stories of Chinese birth mothers who give up their daughters, Ann Hood writes a moving and beautifully told novel of fate and the red thread that binds these characters’ lives. Heartrending and wise, The Red Thread is a stirring portrait of unforgettable love and yearning for a baby.

My Thoughts: I really loved this book. I listened to it as an audio book and I think that was the perfect medium for this novel. I was able to listen slowly and really devour the story. Hood does a beautiful job of writing emotion into this book. I loved how interspersed in the story of the families waiting for babies are the stories of those mothers who gave up their daughters. She writes of the desperation felt by a girl who had a baby out of wedlock. The helplessness of a mother forced to give her baby up because she was an invaluable girl, and the grief felt by a father who give his baby up after her mother was killed in a car accident. The stories are heart wrenching and raw.

When Hood writes of the families in America waiting to adopt she tells of the desperation, despair and longing that these mothers who cannot conceive (or who are afraid to conceive). From their initial excitement to start the adoption process, the anxiety and cold feet felt by some at the news of getting their baby, and the excitement of travelling to China to pick up their daughter. I did not always like the families in America, at times they were selfish, insensitive, and made terrible choices but this is what makes them human and believable. Hood did a wonderful job bringing her characters to life and I highly recommend this book!


I give it 5/5!

Friday, February 18, 2011

Right Now

Right now I am loving:


The rising temperatures :: I know it won't last but at least its a sign that spring is coming

Baby toddlers who finally slept through the night last night

The sounds of laughter as the girls play together this morning

The sun that is rising as I drink my morning tea :: As opposed to the darkness that we have gotten so used to

Left over veggie stir fry for lunch today

This is for the Everythingmom.com book club!

The review books that came in the mail this week



What about you? What are you loving today?

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Where is the next Giveaway?

I just wanted to pass on this great giveaway being offered at Historically Obsessed. Head on over there to try to win yourself a free copy of Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran

The Heretic’s Daughter by Kathleen Kent

Book Review: The Heretic’s Daughter by Kathleen Kent



The Heretic’s Daughter tells the story of Sarah Carrier the daughter one of the first women to be charged, tried and hung for practicing witchcraft in Salem 1692. In the first half of the novel Kent helps to set the stage for the social context that would allow for the witch trials to occur. She describes the Church’s role as a governing body to be feared and obeyed, as well as the great fear that New Englanders had about Native American raids, smallpox and witchcraft. Her painstaking attention to detail may have made some feel as though the beginning of the book dragged but it is what drew me in. Kent transported you to the time and it was hard to not feel as though you were living in the fear and fervor of17th century New England. In the second half of the novel Kent describes the witch trials. The circumstances behind arrests, what happened in the makeshift court room and what happened to the prisoners after they were tried and convicted.

Most of the books about the Salem Witch Trials that I have read basically gave a broad overview, or survey, of the trials. One thing that I really enjoyed about the Heretic’s Daughter is that it really gave an in depth view of what the Carrier family went through as they were charged and tried as witches. From the fear of knowing that they would be arrested, the ridiculous nature of their ‘trials’, the way their confessions were coerced to the conditions of the prison cells in Salem, Kent truly painted a picture of how horrific the trials were. I always appreciate a story with detailed character development and this book lived up to my expectations every step of the way.


I give it 4 *'s out of 5

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

WWW Wednesdays

WWW Wednesdays is hosted at Should Be Reading. To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…



• What are you currently reading?

The Red Thread by Ann Hood (audio book, I am starting to get into this audio book thing!), The Postmistress by Sarah Blake, Virgin River by Robyn Carr, Hunted by P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast,

• What did you recently finish reading?

The Promises She Keeps by Erin Healy (Review)

• What do you think you’ll read next?

An Amish Christmas by Cynthia Keller (not quite the right time but I've had it on hold at the library for months and it finally came in!)


What about you? What is on your bookshelf right now? Please leave a comment or a link to your own WWW Wednesday, I would love to hear from you!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

WIP Month :: Oh YEAH!!!

  
ITS DONE!!!! I cant even believe it. I started this quilt so long ago, in a different town, before I had my two beautiful girls and I may or may not have been married (as my last post explained I have no idea when I started it). This was the sewing project that I started when I decided to take up sewing again. Nick's aunt taught me how to make a log cabin block and I went from there. I quilted it on my mom's friend's long arm and finished it up with a mock binding.



Now this is one more big project off my WIP table, and Nick can finally have a quilt big enough to keep his feet warm in front of the fireplace! February has been a good month.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Happy LOVE day!


The finished product, only the 3 in the top right corner were Ladybug's, you will see why if you read on.
We are not huge Valentine's Day celebrators over here. Nick and I have always just gotten a card, and maybe a few chocolates if the cravings were there but that's it. Once, when we first moved in together, I came home from University to 2 dozen white roses (with a spotlight on them) and a candle lit home made dinner... but that was then and our current reality is that Nick is working overtime tonight and the girls and I are having a quiet day around the house.
Absolute concentration required

Our special treat for the day is sugar cookies. I baked them yesterday and today we are decorating some for eating and some to share with daddy when he gets home from his very long day at work.


We decided to put on our aprons as soon as mama realized that Ladybug was doing more eating than decorating

(Icing Disclaimer, we don't do store bought icing around here. Personally I can't stand the taste of it and my butter cream recipe is so much better. That being said yesterday I couldn't find any icing bags at the store and I also thought it would be tricky for the girls to use an icing bag so I broke down and bought them 'cookie icing' in a squeeze bag so they could decorate their cookies without any assistance... they don't like being helped!).
Proud Chef Sweetpea

This is what happens when you are 2, have the attention span of a fly and ran out of decorations!
Are you wondering about those sweet aprons? Don't worry I'll tell you soon. Stay tuned for more information and a giveaway!


What about you? What are you Valentines Day traditions? Did you blog about them? If so feel free to leave a link in the comments section!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

The Promises She Keeps



Promise is a young singer hoping that the fame she so desperately seeks will immortalize her, as she has cystic fibrosis and expects to die young. Portia is a witch and art gallery curator who has searched her whole life for the goddess that will give her immortality and has no regard for the people that will be hurt in pursuit of that goal. And Chase is a man with autism who uses his incredible artistic talent to draw visions of people whom he has not even met yet. At first glance his drawings appear to be of various species of trees and have an eerie ability to foretell the future.


At first the stories of these three individuals seemed so disconnected, and in truth I had a hard time believing in, or being drawn into, their connections once they were revealed. I found the ending rather abrupt and would have preferred a little more time being spent tying up those loose ends. I read one reviewer who referred to this book as “Christian Science-Fiction” and for lack of a better term this is the genre I would place it in as well. The story line was a little supernatural for me to really get engaged. For the most part I found it to be a fairly enjoyable read, but I see myself forgetting the plot and characters quickly. There were some broader themes in the novel, such as the idea of what immortality really is (is it being remembered, living forever, or heaven) that made me think. However, there was too much emphasis on the supernatural elements, and not enough exploration of these themes for me to really have loved this book. I felt it to be a good read, but not an excellent read.

 
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

One Lovely Blog Award


I am honoured to be chosen to receive this award. In accordance with accepting this award I would like to thank Jessie D from Reader Between the Covers. I greatly appreciate it. Thank you!


And Now, here is what to do when receiving this award:


1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.

2. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you've newly discovered.

3. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.


15 Lucky Bloggers
















Congratulations to the 15 lucky bloggers receiving this award from me Hands and Home! Please go check them out. When passing this award along please send to 15 other bloggers not on this list.

Friday, February 11, 2011

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. Hosted by Soulemama





Quiet
 

Thursday, February 10, 2011

The White Queen by Phililppa Gregory


The White Queen is the first in Gregory’s series chronicling the War of Roses (or Cousins War) in which the Lancasters and the Yorks endlessly found each other, and eventually themselves in pursuit of the throne. In the White Queen we are first introduced to the widowed Elizabeth Woodville and follow her controversial marriage to Kind Edward IV and their struggle to maintain control of England through to the eventual rise of Richard III (also of the house of York).

Gregory weaves her story through major gaps in historical knowledge and I think that she does an excellent job of marrying sometimes difficult to follow historical timelines and facts with fiction. At the centre of Gregory’s White Queen is the idea of powerful and ruthless women, family loyalties (or lack there of) and the question of whether wealth and power are enough to grant happiness.

I found the first third of the book to read a little like a history textbook as we were introduced to characters, battles, loyalties, and rivalries but once I got through this section I found that the story really took over. I quite enjoyed the way Gregory told this story but I can see how some would find the amount of historical details to be tiresome. As a history major the amount of historical details is part of what pulled me in. I don’t know if the White Queen is for everyone, but for those with a strong interest in historical fiction I think it’s a good read.


All in all I give it 3.5/5

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

WWW Wednesdays


WWW Wednesdays is hosted at Should Be Reading. To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…


• What are you currently reading?

The Red Thread by Ann Hood (audio book, I think that I'm going to have to actually check out the book from the library as I am really enjoying the story but am making zero progress on the audio book front), The Postmistress by Sarah Blake, Hunted by P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast, The Promises She Keeps by Erin Healy (Review) ... wow I didn't realize I had that many on the go! (I guess that 1 on the bedside table, 1 e-book, 1 ongoing audio and 1 review book add up!)

• What did you recently finish reading?

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin, The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Ken (review to come next week)

• What do you think you’ll read next?

The Thorn by Beverly Lewis, Virgin River by Robyn Carr (I'm looking forward to reading something a little lighter)


What about you? What is on your bookshelf right now? Please leave a comment or a link to your own WWW Wednesday, I would love to hear from you!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

WIP Month :: Progress

I don't have much to report as completed on the WIP challenge but I have been making progress and that is good enough for me. I suppose I did finish up those nursing covers that were sitting on my table, but as they were already 3/4 of the way complete that doesn't feel like a huge accomplishment.

I finally started working this this quilt again. It is my longest standing WIP, in fact it was one of my first blog posts. I started it so long ago I don't even really remember when I started it, according to my blog post I started it before Nick and I were married but I don't remember it being that long ago. In any event its been a few years at least. The worst part is that all that I need to do to finish it up is trim the backing and make a mock binding.


This quilt is for Nick and I made it extra long as he can never find a blanket to cover his feet when he is laying on the couch. Unfortunately (as with the table runner from last week) the colours no longer match our living room, our old living room was brown/green, our new one is black and white. But I still love this quilt so it doesn't matter (I guess I will just have to make myself a black and white one next!).

I wish that I had a big enough space to lay out quilts... and as you can see I am never working alone!

Monday, February 7, 2011

Its Monday! What are you reading?


It’s Monday! What Are You Reading, is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.



I've had a copy of The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent on hold from the E-Branch at the library since I purchased my Kobo in December and it finally came available last week. I'm right in the middle of it and am really enjoying it!


In honour of WIP Month I am also trying to finish up a book that has been sitting on my night stand for quite some time. Its Hunted, the 5th book in the House of Night series. I'm not enjoying this series as much as I thought I would which is probably why I have been a third of the way through the 5th book since well before Christmas but I feel like I am so invested in the series that I have to finish it.


 
I love to hear from you, please leave a comment or a link to your own It's Monday! What are You Reading? In the comments.

Friday, February 4, 2011

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. Hosted by Soulemama





Thursday, February 3, 2011

In my Kitchen

I have to start this post my saying that I am really not a cooking show kind of girl. I occasionally enjoy watching them but often find that the recipes are either too complicated for my meagre cooking skills, take too much time to prepare, or involve ingredients that I just never have on hand. That being said, I love the new cooking show Kitchen Boss featuring Buddy Valastro from Cake Boss. Maybe its because I love Italian food, or maybe it is because these recipes are not too complicated... or maybe its because my girls will actually eat the food. But whatever the reason I have have great success with cooking recipes from this show.

This is the first recipe I tried from the show and it was amazingly delicious! I cooked for my parents and was a little nervous because in our family I am typically not the cook... and my parents are both really great cooks so I have a little bit to live up to.

Chicken Sorrentino Fusilli
It was one of those dishes that was actually quite simple to make but looked and tasted like I was slaving in the kitchen forever (my kind of dish). It was just so good!

Tonight for dinner: Grilled chicken with Spinich and Mandarin Salad.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

WWW Wednesdays

WWW Wednesdays is hosted at Should Be Reading. To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…


• What are you currently reading?
The Red Thread by Ann Hood (audio book), Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin,
• What did you recently finish reading?
The White Queen by Philippa Gregory.

• What do you think you’ll read next?
The Thorn by Beverly Lewis, Virgin River by Robyn Carr


What about you? What is on your bookshelf right now? Please leave a comment or a link to your own WWW Wednesday, I would love to hear from you!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

WIP Month Update :: Quilted Table Runner

Did you do it? Did you finish up any of your WIPs (works in progress?). I think that I'm going to officially name February as WIP Month over here at Hands and Home. I will check in every week or so with an update on the state of that horrendous work in progress table that I showed you last week. At the end of the month I'll do a big round up post to see just how well I did.


Here is my first finished WIP: The quilted table runner that I planned to start years ago is finally finished and will be making its way to its new home shortly.

This was a super simple pieced table runner, which I machine quilted and hand bound. I had so much fun making this that I think I will make a few more. Usually I do straight line quilting for table runners but I decided to stipple this one. Now, I do not profess to be an expert stippler, in fact this is the first time that I have really stippled anything and I know that I have some issues with tension to work out. I tried to make it as fluid as possible with as few sharp edges as possible. It is by no means perfect, but you know what I discovered? I love to practice!


A note about binding. I think a big reason whyI have so many unfinished projects around here is that I absolutely dread sewing bindings on. I know that a quick fix would be to machine stitch them, but personally I much prefer the look of a hand sewn binding (its those invisible stitches!). Its funny because as I sit down to do the hand sewing I always find myself enjoying this slower, calmer rhythm that is missing so often in our every day family life. Its just a little bit of "all-me" time, and so very relaxing and reinforcing of the fact that I must look for a little more of this calm in our days.



I love to hear from you so please leave a comment. And if you have been working on your WIPs please leave a link to your WIP blog post in the comments section!