American Heroes Quilts Past & Present

American Heroes Quilts Past & Present is full of history and quilts.
400 color and black and white images included along with in depth stories of quilts patterns named for, or associated with, famous Americans.  55 American heroes in all including Benjamin Franklin, Davy Crocket, George Custer, Carrie Nation, Charles Lindbergh, and Rosa Parks.   Four chapters that begin with the year 1776 and end with the year 2000.  Famous Americans from every year in between.

This is another quilt book that would have made a great addition to our history while I was homeschooling.  So much interesting history including some heroes who are all but forgotten today such as Isaac Hull, Tad Lincoln, Jacob Coxey, and Allen B. Dumont.

Did you know that the Scottie Dog quilt block is believed to have been named for Franklin D Roosevelt's Scottie, Fala?  However, the pattern became popular in the 1930's and Fala wasn't born until 1940.  Fala's popularity certainly helped the Scottie Dog block become a staple in the quilting lexicon.

Included in the back of the book is a Sampler Quilt Projects Supplement.  This includes 4 sampler quilts and the templates for making 25 blocks.  They will need to be enlarged to make 10 inch squares as they are in the sampler quilts shown.

I'm up to Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in my reading and can't wait to read through the entire book.  I love the rich history, but even more with quilting involved with it.  I see lots of blocks throughout the book that I have fallen in love with and want to give a try at making. There are over 100 quilts pictured in the book and close-up photography of all 112 patterns.

About the author:
Don Beld had a passion for history, which led him to explore all facets of commemorative quilt making. He co-authored Civil War Quilts. He is the curator of the New England Quilt Museum, and founded the Home of the Brave Quilt Project. He also curated a quilt collection commemorating the events of September 11, 2001, and other terrorist attacks. His lectures have helped many people realize that quilters are the folk-art-historians of their time.

So, again, this is a book that anyone who loves history will like, and if you are a quilter, or love quilts, even more so.  I give it an A++ for sure!



Disclosure:  I rec'd this book in exchange for my honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way, however, this post contains affiliate links.

Frugal Friday With Marsha--Thinking of Gardening

This past week the major conversations with my middle daughter have been all about gardening.  Her asking questions, her telling me what she is learning (such as planting Marigolds around to help keep bugs away).
For 2 years she came here for a day and helped me get a garden going (never very successful).  Last year I planted NOTHING, not one thing.   Last year she ended up with a great set up that I wish I had a picture of.  She took pallets and laid them down and covered them with potted plants.

Here is a picture of her starter plants:

I have told her all week how much I really want to get some things going for a garden this year.  You know, it may be on the frugal side as far as growing your own food, but getting started is not really cheap at all.   I know one year we spent over $200 on boards to surround, dirt, plants, seeds, etc.  We had a very abundant garden that year but when I attempted to keep track of what I would have spent for the food at the store, I didn't even get up to $100.
I also know that you can find many ways to garden very frugally, and very cheaply.  (I have picked out some books from amazon to share at the end of this post that I would love to have myself and then actually learn from)

I am currently reading devotions from a book called The Power of Proverbs by John Schroeppel.  Last nights Proverb was 12:11-- He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment.
Personally, I am taking this as a sign---a message from God, that I am indeed to get a garden going this year.

My middle daughter is here and has brought me dirt and some seeds to start.   We are about to get to work on that.  I will save out and buy at least tomato plants, bell pepper plants, and plant peas.  Off I go!

Here are the books I would like to have to learn from:

Relax Those Muscles With the Live Infinitely Massage Stick Roller

Aaaahhhhhh  is what I say every time I use the Live Infinitely Massage Stick Roller!
I couldn't wait to get mine in.   I have major trouble with sore shoulder and neck muscles when I sit here at the computer too long, or if I sit and sew for too long.

This thing does a wonderful job!  It's so easy to use too.
Of course you don't have to use it yourself, you can have someone else use it on you---if you are lucky enough to have someone who will  :)
I use mine several times a day, and not just on my shoulders.  I have found it feels oh so good on my leg muscles as well.

It comes with a pamphlet with illustrations of how to do each part of your body plus basic instructions.  That's not all though.  Each order also comes with a link to download a free 20 page ebook with illustrations and important information on muscles.

Additional information:
These 18" muscle roller sticks features a stiff stainless steel inner core and 7 independent squeak free ABS plastic rollers which are strong enough to handle any amount of pressure you want. Guaranteed to NEVER break!

Live Infinitely massage rollers incorporate soft rubber handgrips, which are contoured to fit perfectly into your hands for maximum comfort!

Use pre workout to stretch your muscles, increase flexibility, promote blood circulation and reduce post workout soreness. Proven to reduce shin splints, stretch IT bands and reduce likeliness of a pulled muscle. Enjoy post workout as a deep tissue massager that can break apart tender lactic acid build-ups (muscle knots) to provide quick and lasting relief.

Every purchase is backed with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.

Live Infinitely massage sticks are the highest quality muscles rollers available which are guaranteed to meet and exceed your expectations.

Get yours today!!


Disclosure:  I rec'd this product in exchange for my honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way and any opinions are my own.  Post contains affiliate links.

WIP Wednesday---Some Progress

Well, I am having trouble staying on task to keep my sewing and crafts going as they should.
My schedule is a little out of whack based on my schedule.  I did get in some work though.

I babysat out of town for the weekend with 3 grandchildren and took along the yo-yo's.  I've not shared a picture of those for awhile.  I'm sure not going to have as many as I would like at the rate I'm going to put in the boutique at the Wichita quilt show in June.

Brown is the color this month for the soscrappy blog challenge so I worked 2 days on pulling out any hexagons with brown and making some.  That's given me a bit of a jump on the hexagons, but I will want to work with the little squares too.  Isn't it too bad that we need sleep??

I finished tieing the second of my quilts for charity and have the wrap around binding pinned.  Tomorrow I will get it finished up and ready to be given to the charity at quilt guild on Monday.

UFO's:

Rectangle quilt
challenge wall hanging
Hexagon quilt
Emerald Island Fusique table runner
Five and Dime quilt
Brown half square triangle table runner
3 sets of doll blanket, pillows and rug--plus more to sell
Hexagon flower table runner
Wall hanging for quilt guild
yo-yo's that need to be made into projects
black and white rail fence quilt
Arkansas Crossroads scrap quilt
T-shirt latchhook rug
Rainbow colored locker hook rug
T-shirt toothbrush rug
Charming Stars quilt

2016 Finishes:
Smaller pink 4 patch quilt for charity


I still haven't been able to locate any other WIP Wednesday type linkies to replace Freshly Pieced, but I am linking up with the following blogs: