Peace Sign Quilt

Here is a quilt that I was asked to make for Christmas.  It is for a co-worker's 10 year old daughter as a surprise Christmas present (he said that he was feeling generous this year!).  Her favorite colors are light blue and purple and she love peace symbols!

Here is a close up of one of the blocks:

I love the way this came out!  I know that any 10 year old will love it too!

Wanted - Shelley Shepard Gray

Summary from Good Reads: For a split second, Katie feels certain she's about to receive everything she's ever wanted. . .

Twenty-year-old Katie Brenneman has always quietly fancied Jonathan Lundy. So when the brokenhearted widower asks her to help him take care of his two young girls, Katie knows it will be a trying time—yet she cannot pass up a golden opportunity to get to know this man better.

Just as she's settling into her new life, a message arrives from Katie's past, threatening to expose her darkest secrets. During her Rumspringa, her running-around years, she experimented with activities forbidden in the Amish way of life. Frightened by how far she'd strayed from her values, Katie ran back home, vowing to cut all ties with the outside world. Now her transgressions are coming back to haunt her, just as Jonathan seems willing to welcome her into his heart.

Will the past destroy Katie's chances for love? Or will Katie allow herself to accept God's love, forgive her past, and receive everything she's ever wanted?

All Katie ever wanted was to be loved.  Her secrets about her rumpsinga came back to haunt her.  She feels that she needs to be forgiven for the things she did during that time.  She made new English friends that she misled and ran off on them after telling them the truth of who she really was.

Then an opportunity arises for her to help out Jonathan Lundy's family.  His wife died a while ago and his sister Winnie was helping him.  Winnie decided to pursue a dream and she headed to Indiana to meet a man that she had been communicating with for a while.  Katie is asked to help out with his two daughters in Winnie's absence.  Katie has had feelings for Jonathan and this was her chance to prove that she could be a good wife and mother to his girls.

I really enjoyed this story since Katie finally found love, the kind of love that she had always dreamed of.  It shows us to follow our hearts and God and things work out for a reason.  I am looking forward for reading the final book in this series, Forgiven.

Hump Day Inspiration #24

Happy Hump Day everyone!  Today's challenge over at Inktegrity has become a monthly favorite among challenge seekers.  It is ANYTHING GOES!  Come check us out over at Inktegrity's Design Team Challenge.

Here is my card:

This is my first time using the tractor.  I love it because it has so many trailer options.  Plus the sentiments make perfectly!  Joni has always had a way with words!

Supplies:
Stamps: Inktegrity - Fall Tractor
Paper: PTI Kraft, Basic Black, 2 Unknown DP
Ink: Copics
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Papertrey Ink Rickrack Border Die

Squigglefly Challenge #76

Happy Monday everyone!  The challenge this week over at Squigglefly is Thank You / Give Thanks.

Here is my card:

I thought that this little turkey was just perfect for giving thanks at Thanksgiving.  I stamped out the background using Papertry Ink's Background Basics: Botanicals and Daily Designs.

Supplies:
Stamps: Squigglefly - Thanksgiving Turkey: Gobble, Gobble, Gobble, Papertrey Ink - Background Basics: Botanicals, Papertrey Ink - Daily Designs
Paper: PTI Kraft, GP White, More Mustard, Really Rust
Ink: PTI Burnt Umber, PTI Vintage Cream
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Circle Nestabilities (Classic & Scalloped)

Hump Day Inspiration #23

Hello and happy Wednesday!

It's time for another challenge from Inktegrity!  This week's challenge is a sketch challenge.  Here it is:

Here is my card:

This Slusser is just too cute!  Be sure check him out along with a few more new additions to Slusser's family over at the Inktegrity store.

Supplies:
Stamps: Inktegrity - Hot Cocoa Slusser
Paper: PTI White, Gina K Luxury White, GP White, Tempting Turquoise, Basic Black, Unknown DP
Ink: Cat's Eye Chalk - Surf, Copics
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Papertrey Ink Fillable Frame #9 Die, Buttons

Say Hello to Simba!

Well, as you may have read in my post earlier last week, we had to put our dog, Rusty, down on October 29th.  Now I have some good news to share.

Meet Simba!

Here is his story:

On Saturday, October 30th, we received a call from my MIL saying that one of my hubby's cousins had a 6 month old black lab that needed a home.  She is moving out of her house and into an apartment in December and could not take him.  Simba needed a home or he was going to end up in a shelter.  So hubby and I talked about it everyday until last Tuesday when we went down to meet him.  OMG, we fell in love!  He is gorgeous, gentile and lovable.  We decided to take him for weekend as a trial run and would return him on Sunday.  We are leaving for Walt Disney World on Monday, November 15th so we thought that it might be easier on the dog to go back with them until we were back from our trip.  So on Friday, we went to get him and it was decided that we should just keep him since 2 of the owner's kids were crying and upset that Simba was leaving.

There is some significance to his name with us.  When Rusty was a puppy, for the first two years of his life, he had a stuffed Simba from the Disney Store that he carried around and sucked on his neck all the time.  Simba was constantly having surgeries to be repaired so Rusty could play with him longer.  Well one day, the repair was too much for me to do so we had to toss Simba and Rusty had to become a big boy.  If this is not a message from Rusty, then I don't know what is!

So we had fun with him all weekend.  Here's proof:

Simba has had a rough life for being only 6 months old.  We are his third home.  His first owner abused him for the first 2 months of his life until my hubby's cousin rescued him from them.  He stayed with her for 4 months until she left because her husband was beating her, the kids and the dog.  He was also confined in a crate that was way too small for him for 23 hours a day and was muzzled.

So, we decided that we are going to spoil him rotten and finally give him a home that he deserves.  So am I doing it right???

He is a great addition to our family!  Thank you Rusty for sending Simba to us!!!

When Strawberries Bloom - Linda Byler

Summary from FSB Media: New love and even more questions enter Lizzie Glick's life in When Strawberries Bloom, the second novel in this series written by an Amish writer and based on true life experiences.

Lizzie's dream of teaching school has finally come true. She loves the brand-new school building, the sound of the children singing, and the independence she has in the classroom. Even the occasionally unruly boys can't ruin the excitement she feels each morning when she starts the school day.

But at home things are in turmoil again. What do Dat's sudden health problems mean for the future of their farm? And what about Lizzie's future? Emma and Mandy are so certain that Joshua and John are their perfect matches, but Lizzie doesn't know what to think about Stephen and how he might fit into her life.

What will Lizzie decide? Will she continue to teach school? Or will she give up that dream so that her wish for marriage and a family can come true?

Stephen says he loves her, but Lizzie isn't sure he really understands her. Can she hope to find anyone within her Amish community who loves her bright mind, her ever-active imagination, her competitive spirit and her stormy humor?

This is the second book in the Lizzie Searches for Love series.  Lizzie becomes a school teacher like she has always wanted.  Her sister Emma becomes a member of the church and gets married.  This has Lizzie questioning love, life and faith.  Since Lizzie is a little older in this book than in Running Around (And Such), this book focuses on becoming a young woman.  She questions God's will, the meaning of scriptures and the true meaning of love.

I love the attention to details that Ms. Byler provided in this book.  She described the wedding and Amish customs with precise details.  I think I have learned more about the Amish community by reading her books.  I am looking forward to reading the third and final book in this series called Big Decisions which is scheduled to be released in March 2011.

A special thanks to FSB Media for allowing me to review this book before it is released!

Hump Day Inspiration #22

Happy Hump Day!  This week's challenge over at Inktegrity is a recipe challenge.  It is to use ribbon and/or flowers.

Here is my card:

I made these flowers using a digital cutting file from Darcy's Designs called Bitty Bloom.  I love making my own flowers this way, they will always match your card!

Supplies:
Stamps: Inktegrity - Doll, Papertrey Ink - Mixed Messages (Sentiment)
Paper: PTI White, Gina K Luxury White, Basic Black, SU Summer Picnic Dp
Ink: Archival Jet Black, Copics
Accessories: Cricut, Darcy's Designs - Bitty Bloom, Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, Brads

Squigglefly Challenge #74

This week's challenge over at Squigglefly is Music to Your Ears!

Here's my card:

I thought this moose was absolutely adorable!  I am using this card to send as a Thank You card to my husband's counsin since we now own their black lab, Simba.  I will be posting pictures soon along with his story!!!

Supplies:
Stamps: Squigglefly - Moose-ical Genius, My Favorite Things - Essential Sentiments
Paper: PTI White, GP White, Basic Black, Bo Bunny DP
Ink: Archival Jet Black
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Blending Stumps, Baby Oil

Running Around (and Such) - Linda Byler

Summary from Good Reads: A romance novel by an Amish writer, based on true experiences!

It isn't that Lizzie doesn't want to stay Amish. It's just that there is so much to figure out.  Like why can't she let her hair a little looser on top?  And why can't she wear shoes with a little bit more of a heel?

And will she ever really just know for a fact who she is going to marry like her next-older sister, Emma, does?  And how does it happen that her just-younger sister, Mandy, is going on a date before Lizzie ever has a real one?  So does it matter at all if she eats one more whoopie pie? Amos seems to like her a lot when she pounds out the ping-pong games. He even asks her to be his partner in doubles. But then he asks Ruthie if he can take her home!  It has been this way Lizzie's whole life.

She has too hot a temper. She hates housework and dislikes babies. She loves driving fast horses but is petrified of going away from home for a week to work as a maud (maid).  Now that Lizzie is running around, will she scare off the Amish boys with her hi-jinks manners?  She has certainly attracted the attention of the egg-truck driver. A scary thrill runs through her every time the worldly man comes to pick up an order, each time extending his stay a little longer. How long will she keep this a secret from Emma-and from Mamm and Datt?  What will become of Lizzie? Is she too spirited, too innocent, and almost too uninhibited for a young Amish woman?  Told with disarming humor!

Lizzie is the second of six children in an Amish family.  Her older sister, Emma, is the perfect Amish child.  She loves to cook, clean, sew and do anything domestic that Mam wishes.  Lizzie longs for "fancy" things such as high heel shoes and shorter dresses with ruffles.  She is always feeling that Emma is her parent's favorite.  She is a typical teenager dealing with her appearance and her weight while her sisters do not.  Once Lizzie turns 16, she starts going to Sunday signings with Emma and meeting new friends and boys.

I really enjoyed this book!  It is juvenille fiction instead of adult fiction but it was still fun to read.  I found it to be easy to read and it went by very quickly for me.  It reminded me of the Little House on the Prairie books which I loved as a child.  I enjoyed more details of everyday Amish living from an author who is Amish herself.  I am looking forward to starting When Strawberries Bloom tonight.  I am hoping that this book gets more into Lizzie and her "boy problems."

A special thanks to FSB Media and Good Books Publishing for allowing me to review this book for them.

Hump Day Inspiration #21

Happy Wednesday to everyone!  This week's challenge over at Inktegrity is a sketch challenge.  Here it is:

Here is my card:

Supplies:
Stamps: Inktegrity - Mouse, Papertrey Ink - Daily Designs Sentiments
Paper: PTI White, Gina K Luxury White, Lovely Lilac, Pixie Pink, Lovely Lilac DP
Ink: Archival Jet Black, Copics
Accessories: SU Ticket Corner Punch, Ribbon

Hidden - Shelley Shepard Gray

Summary from Good Reads: When Anna decides it's time to leave her abusive boyfriend, she doesn't know where to turn. Rob has completely won over her parents, and the entire community, with his good looks and smooth charm. Only Anna has seen his dark side. Desperate, she runs to the only place she's ever felt completely safe -- the Amish Brenneman Bed and Breakfast, where Anna met life-long friend Katie Brenneman. The family welcomes her in, and with few questions asked allows her to stay, dressed in Plain clothing, and help around the inn.

Katie's older brother Henry is the only one who doesn't take too kindly to the intrusion. He tries to ignore Anna, knowing no good would ever come from caring for an Englisher like her. But as he gets to know Anna, he discovers her good heart and is surprised with her readiness to accept their lifestyle.

The more time Anna spends with the Amish, the more she feels she's found a true home. But how can she deny the life she left behind? And will her chance for happiness be stolen away by the man from her past?

Anna runs to Amish country to hide from her abusive boyfriend.  She lives at an inn that her friend Katie's family runs.  She does her fair share of chores, cooking and cleaning to earn her keep.  She even dresses Plain so that she is not noticed.  While she is there she creates a bond with Henry, Katie's older brother.  She also learns more about herself, her priorities and her faith.

I really enjoyed reading this book!  I read Grace last week and I had to start the series from the beginning so that I could learn more about all the great characters.  I really love Shelley Shepard Gray's style of writing.  I find that I read it quickly but still feel the depth of each and every character.  The next book in the series is Wanted followed by Forgiven.  I would highly recommend this series to anyone who loves Amish fiction!