Rainbow Scrap Challenge in Green and Mystery Fabric Pulling!

Barb and I decided to make Whimsical Wishes from the Mystery Quilts Anon Group.  So for this mystery only has the fabric pull clue out so if you want to join in, join in!  Really love mysteries and looking forward to this one.

A year or so ago the same group did Soul Mates and I love the reveal.  All these clues are available and Barb, Becky and I and maybe Dr. Kathy are going to do it and some online sewalongs together.  Here is my fabric pull.

Here is Barb's fabric pull.  She is making a Quilt of Valor with this one and I cannot wait to see how it comes out!

I have also made eight or so of these pillows for this month's Christmas in July but did not get pictures of them all together.  I used the Shabby Fabrics pattern and adjusted for two smaller pillow forms that I had and bought the rest the right size.  Most of these will be given to Coleman's stepkids and daughter for their "happy unbirthday" box this summer.  I will put flashlights (I already bought) and a book and maybe a snack in each of them.  I hope the kids like them.  They were super fun to make!

I did want to show anyone who does not have this handy gadget how it works for making handles.  I have used this far beyond what I paid for it.  You thread the fabric through (they have different sizes so you cut a strip depending on the size you use--this one is 2 inches wide) and then you iron it as it comes out.  Then iron it in half as you see on the top part and viola!  So easy and it looks great.

I did do the Rainbow Scrap Challenge for May at the start of the month but the link was not up yet.  I then forgot to blog or put it up so I made it in under the wire today!  

Big Book Summer Challenge

This summer I will be participating in the Big Book Summer Challenge over at Book by Book for the first time.  This is her tenth year at this and I am glad I found Sue!  We not only have reading in common but CFS/ME too.  Before I show you a few of the big books I have coming up this summer I wanted to show you the mail day that made me cry last week.

One of my high school ASL students, Kira, just finished up her first year at college.  She was involved as an officer in PAH club and I had her for three years as a student.  Her mom was the room mom and did so much for my classroom (she was an ex Math teacher) and we have kept in touch.  Kira made me this "I love you" diamond painting and wrote me two cards and sweet stuff on the back too.  I miss teaching so much and immediately moved stuff and gave it a prominent place on the mantel.

Now on to books.  I got this book cart from Target and Kathy put it together for me.  This color was not my first choice, but it was 50% off!  I also had over 15 dollars worth of Target bucks so this was less than 5 bucks.  Winning!  I wasted no time in filling the cart.  

My sweet granddaughter fell asleep while I was rocking her the other morning.  She is the light of my life.  I save all my energy for this girl--it may not be much energy, but she gets it!

And here are some of the more than 400 page books I will be reading this summer!  I am sure there are more...I plan to start "House of Sky and Breath" tonight.  I came back to edit this post after reading someone else's...she wrote what the books were about or why she wanted to read them and I realized that would be nice to add here.  

I am participating in the Off Your Shelf Reading Challenge on Discord and my partner, Amanda Reading & Writing Life, picked fifteen books for me to add to a spin and start reading (from the TBR I provided her) and "A Column of Fire" was the first pick.  I read book one and two over a decade ago.  Loved them but they are epic and after reading the first two books I took a long break.  I read the prequel the end of 2020 and now and ready for the conclusion.  

I will be reading "Beneath a Scarlet Sky" the end of June and into July for the Up to No Good Bookclub from Booktube.  This is a fun group I stumbled onto who are my people!  We are reading "Young Mungo" this month and then onto that one.  

Booktube (which I only found this past year) has introduced me to the remaining authors and books. So I want to get to them this summer too.  Nevermoor is on the June TBR as is North and South.  The others will find their way in in July or August.

I am also reading "Katherine of Aragon" in May/June (I am three chapters in since the discussion is the end of June) and I am pretty sure it is over 400 pages too.  

Here is my Pile of Possibilities for June...the books under "Upgrade" are all for book groups or my spin from the Off Your Shelf Reading Challenge.  The books above that I am hoping to get to.  I also have some books on my Nook from way back when that fit the June Austen read so hope to read or DNF some of those.  I also have "The Widow" for AJ Dunn's read from the library on audio.  

If you came here for sewing I will write another post here in a few!  If you are a reader or want to join in (and maybe when a prize) head over to Sue's blog and check out the Big Book Summer Challenge and leave me a comment here so I can follow you!  You only need to read one big book to participate !  Happy reading!
 

Ruby Jubilee and Lori Holt Block Progress

Finished up Ruby Jubilee part three I think it was.  Barb's is looking great in green.

Becky's is looking great in purple too!

The UFO # for this month brought up my Lori Holt blocks...I finally came up with a plan to make these blocks to put between those.  I will be making two quilt tops, but no rush.  Hoping to get these blocks made this month.  I started out by using four patches and cut up squares that were already waiting for a use.  If I am not happy with them I may switch them all up for the more modern fabrics.  Not sure yet.

These are all the books I read in April.  I do listen to some or go back and forth or do both at the same time.  Lots of reading happening since I spend a lot of time in bed or with my feet up.  Thankful I can read and it does not seem to tire me the way almost everything else does!