Adult craft explosion!

Whether it be paint, paper, dye, stamps, upholstering, applique....whatever medium you prefer, this book of chock full of ideas that will inspire you to try something new to decorate your home and put a personal "stamp" (haha) on it making it unique and one of a kind that suits your personal taste.  Personally, I can't wait to try transferring the provided patterns and creating my own delftware.  And drawing with chocolate?  Yep, I'm in!  From edibles to chairs to clothing and cards, this book contains something for the most veteran crafter down to the person who may make one item a year or less.  Directions are very clear.  Colorful examples are provided to give you an idea what you may want your finished product to look like.  Probably the most helpful information is the difficulty level of each projects.  

The sturdy paperback opens with ideas for supplies and ends with a recommended list of resources where you may find everything you need for your projects. A handy index makes it simple to locate a project you need.  A variety of patterns are also within the pages along with an appendix with extra information on craft supplies along with the author's preferences when selecting supplies.  A few of the required supplies are unfamiliar to me but I will admit I am a crafter only in certain seasons of my life.

I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and am in no way obligated to write a positive one. Two thumbs up Christine Schmidt and Yellow Owl Workshops for offering such a variety of decorator craft ideas and making it clear and easy enough even for this crafter.  Off to find supplies for that delftware!

Heart of the frontier....book 1

Typically, when a series comes up as an option to read, I prefer to wait until all of them are out.  Oh, how I hate waiting for the next release to get "the rest of the story" as Paul Harvey would say.  However, I made an exception with Treasured Grace by Tracie Peterson because she has been a long time favorite of mine. Her writing draws me in and isn't overcomplicated yet she is well researched in her historical fiction writing.  Treasured Grace did not disappoint but did leave me wondering what will be revealed in the upcoming volumes.  The story definitely didn't finish as a neat little package tied up with a bow.

Grace Martindale learned at an early age how to use natural elements to help heal the body.  She is a young widow from a loveless marriage and is headed west with her two younger sisters, planning to join her uncle in Oregon City since their parents are gone and they have run out of options.  When the wagon train splits to go in various directions, Grace still hasn't received any word from her uncle so has little choice but to accept the invitation of a missionary couple to spend the winter with them.  Unfortunately, winter doesn't deal well with the settlers....or the Cayuse Indians who live close by and whose land they are not so willing to share.   Illness spreads and tensions rise making Grace a bit uncertain about her choices and her ability to successfully use the natural herbs to stop the illness from taking more lives.  Being alone on the frontier leaves Grace with few options but will she follow her heart or do what makes sense?

If you love historical fiction, you can't go wrong with Tracie Peterson.  Throw in a bit of romance as well.  I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and was in no way obligated to write a positive one.  Looking forward to the second book in the series that I believe may be released in summer 2017?

Thank you, God, for Grandpa!

Grandpa's have to be just about the most wonderful thing on earth.  God saw fit to allow me to know only one of mine and I wish we had been closer in my childhood but how precious the relationship has been between my father and my children.  How thankful I am for that!

Thank you, God, for Grandpa by Amy Parker reminds us that, whatever we call our grandfather, he is a gift from God.  Grandpas are wise and teach us.  They pass on family traditions and tell us stories of their youth.  They play with us and often provide special treats.  They tell us about Jesus and how to live our lives.  And there is nothing we can do to make them love us less. 

I love the board book format which surprises no one who reads my blog.  I love books that small hands can manage and can feel and touch without any danger of ripping pages.  This volume also has a lightly padded front and back cover with rounded corners which  I love as well.  The brightly colored illustration featuring sweet faced gorillas is destined to be a child's favorite who has just such a Godly wonderful grandfather in his/her life.  Whether Grandpa is near or far, we need to keep these precious people at the forefront of our child's minds and I think this companion to Thank You, God, for Grandma, is a wonderful way to do so.

I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and am in no way obligated to write a positive one.

Let's get packing!

Are you like me and you try to think of every little thing you may need plus extras and then come back from your trip having only worn a little over half the items you took?  Or do you not have a mental or physical list and have to find a store of some sort as soon as or before you reach your destination?  Or maybe you just throw things in your bag and appear as if you slept in your clothes your entire vacation and find it difficult to located anything in your bag.   If you see yourself in any of these descriptions, How to Pack by Hitha Palepu may just offer you some assistance.  Learn what types of bags might be best to fit your needs, tips for packing make-up and toiletry items, tips on the great debate between rolling or folding your items, how to get through security with ease, and much more.  Only 110 pages stands between you and traveling/packing with confidence.

I travel in seasons of my life.  Lately, my suitcase has been my constant companion but I was probably around 35 before I traveled much farther than my grandmother's house in the same state I lived so packing wasn't something I grew up doing or felt confident doing.  However, over the years, I have developed a mental list of must have items I run through right before I zip up my bag.  Rarely do I have to run to the store to get something I truly needs.  Rarely, I will need one of those items that typically aren't needed except special occasions and a couple of those were added to the non-carry-on items right after 9/11.  Even though I now consider myself a pretty efficient packer, I learned several new tips and realized what I might be doing wrong when I roll my clothing (it looks worse than those I fold!). I still need some help putting outfits together but that has been a long-time deficit of mine.

If you know travelers, whether for business or pleasure, I think the perfectly sized hard backed version of How to Pack makes a thoughtful gift.  Even the most seasoned traveler can do so more efficiently.  The book comes with several blank packing lists so you can create your own go-to lists for a number of various types of trips.

I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and am in no way obligated to write a positive one.

Inspiring words to lift your spirits?

Whether you have had a bad day, need help getting motivated, someone has been unkind, or you just need to smile, Karen Salamsohn has published a dozen mini letters that include encouraging words to brighten your day.  I love the format of the book because each page appears to be a little envelope just waiting to be opened.  It is a small gift book size perfect to tuck away in your car, purse, or office desk where it will be waiting when you need just such inspiration or a lift to your spirits.

I think this book could be a nice gift for someone going through some challenging moments but.....   be warned that the book isn't for a Christian audience.  It speaks of karma, Buddhist thinking, and having everything within you to get where you want to be.  In other words, this book was a bit too worldly for me and won't be one I pass along to anyone else.

As I said above, I love the concept and the idea of this book.  I would, personally, rather have seen one that dealt with the same concepts yet pointed people to the Truth.   I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and am in no way obligated to write a positive one.

Book for toddler sibling

I love board books and this new one by Hannah C. Hall definitely caught my attention using elephants, cats, pigs, and a number of other animals to help your older child understand the arrival of a new sibling.  It is only natural for a child that once had 100% of his/her parent's attention to get a bit jealous with the arrival of a baby but Hall will help you reassure your little one that they will always be very special, will be best friends with the new baby someday, teach the baby to play peek-a-boo and be mom and dad's little helper.  Babies are a gift from God and He has joined the hearts of the siblings.  The sweet chalked illustrations by Steve Whitlow beautifully illustrated the simple verse.

As mentioned, the book is a sturdy board book volume holding its own with the smallest of hands as they help turn the pages.  I would recommend God Bless Our Baby for any family expecting a second child who has a toddler or preschooler.  Two thumbs up to Hall and Whitlow for providing a resource to help make the transition from only child to having a sibling a bit simpler and hopefully more positive experience.

I did receive this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and was in no way obligated to write a positive one.