Book of the Month - March 2015: The Invention of Wings

I made a promise to myself (aka New Year's Resolution) to read at least one good book each month and blog about it.

This month, I chose The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd.  I'd loved this author's first best-selling novel, The Secret Life of Bees, and I generally enjoy Oprah's book choices, so when I saw a large print edition at the library, I decided to make it my book of the month for March 2015.

The book is one of those rare reads that will leave a haunting, lasting impression -- like Gone With the Wind or Dr. Zhivago or The Thorn Birds, to name a few.

The book is historical fiction, based on the story of two real-life abolitionists and suffragettes, Sarah and Angelina Grimke.   According to historical accounts, Sarah was given a 10-year-old slave girl, Hetty aka Handful, as a present for her 11th birthday.  The two became friends, and Sarah taught Hetty to read.  The real Hetty was punished so severely, she died shortly after her beating.  But in the fictionalized account, Hetty/Handful lives another 35 years. 

The book is written in sections -- slices of time between 1803 and 1838, and it is set mostly in Charleston, South Carolina.  First person narratives alternate between Sarah and Handful.   Although their lives appear on the surface to be vastly different, the author manages to find striking parallels as she weaves common threads through the tapestry of the book.   Both were enslaved in some way by societal restrictions.  Both suffered abuse.  Handful and her mother, a gifted seamstress slave named Charlotte, were physically and verbally abused. Sarah suffered emotional abuse which caused the eloquent abolitionist to stutter as a child. 

As a sewist, I was intrigued by the vivid descriptions of the clothes and household linens hand sewn by Charlotte, and later Handful, and by the story quilt constructed by Charlotte, which combined African legends and her real life events.  Little black triangles sewn on Charlotte's and Handful's quilts symbolized the urge to fly away.

Both Sarah and Handful are on a lifelong quest for freedom and equality.  Both find their voices, and their metaphorical wings, but they put themselves in great danger to do so.

I found this to be a captivating read, and I would highly recommend it.

The Invention of Wings
Sue Monk Kidd
Viking (2014)
ISBN-10:  0670024783
ISBN-13:  978-0670029780

TTFN
LeAnn

Green, Green, It's Green They Say

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Hand Carved Leprechaun by ClaudesWoodCarving

 

It's Shameless Commerce Tuesday, so I've decided to showcase some GREEN items from my Etsy shop, Pasque Flower Creations.   I currently have 24 key fobs listed in my shop, and I'll be making more before craft fair season next Fall.  Key fobs are handy little inexpensive gifts.  Here are two of my favorite green ones:

 

Golf Cart Key Fob



 

Green ZigZag Key Fob

 

It's time to start filling out my early bird registration form for the Silver Hawk Fine Arts and Craft Show next October.  Last year was my first time vending at this show.  It was a very good experience, AND I got to meet my Etsy teammate Edi and her mom in person!! 

 

The show is a fundraiser for Lincoln Southwest High School Theatre, and SWHS's school colors are green, black and white:

 

Green, Black and White Key Fob

 

School colors key fobs are fun little teacher gifts, graduation gifts, or gifts for young teens ready to make the big leap into high school -- or getting their first driver's license. 







 

T minus 29 days until the end of tax season ... and counting!

 

TTFN

LeAnn

 

Treasury Thanks

Each week I devote my Sunday post to extending a big THANK YOU to the curators of Etsy treasuries who've featured items from my Etsy shops, Pasque Flower Creations and Aunt Pheba's Vintage, over the past week.  This week's treasuries trended toward Spring-y themes.  In my part of the Midwest, Spring has sprung!!

Marcia from ImagineThatBaby featured my green roses baby bib in her treasury, Etsy Finds 2015 - Spring Green and Yellow .  These adorable crochet baby booties in soft yellow would be perfect for Baby's first Easter.

Katie R of TweetandHootPaper featured one of the beautifully-crafted coral and cream Acoma pottery pieces from my vintage shop, Aunt Pheba's Vintage, in her treasury, Coral and Cream.  Several of the guys in our family (big and small) have Spring birthdays, and this whimsical mustache birthday card from Katie's shop made me smile.

Sheena Ingram of GoldiesNaturalGems featured my tomatoes and herbs oven mitt in her treasury, Farm Living Is the Life for Me -- A TEMPT Team Treasury

Sheena crafts incredible jewelry pieces.  This chrysoprase coco necklace is one of my favorites.

Susan McAnany of McAnany featured my green golf carts key fob in her treasury, Small Green Wonders .  Her kitchen wall art - peppers would add a splash of color to a kitchen.

Rose of RandomCreative featured my gray and yellow baby girl bib in her treasury, Early Spring , where she artfully captured the Nature's seasonal combination of neutrals and soft pastels.  This beaded bracelet in Spring green showcases the vibrant greens of mid-Spring.

If you are in awe of Rose's incredible product photography, as I am, you may want to check out her PDF e-book, Jewelry and Other Small Table Top Object Photography: Tips, Tricks and Advice to Help You Take Stellar Product Photos.

Liz from TheLittleEmptyNest featured one of my prairie sunbonnets in her treasury, Country Love.
This lovely blue and brown necklace is one of my many favorites from Liz's shop.

Lauren Yoder of MyPrettyPaper featured my green and white chevron oven mitt in her treasury, Spring's Best TEMPTing Finds.   I love this exuberant Yay! birthday card from Lauren's shop.

Cassie of CassieVision featured my aqua chevron oven mitt in her treasury, Aqua Mist.  This turquoise and aventurine ankle bracelet would be perfect for barefoot days on the beach.

Iryna Klimove of mymomsshop1 featured my little lambs baby bib in her treasury, New of Color.  This gorgeous and feminine knitted pink shawl is one of the beautifully made accessories you will find in Iryna's shop.

Valerie of NandysNook featured my Nature pillow cover in her treasury, Tempting Home Decor by TEMPT Team .  These adorable crochet mini baskets are so perfect for Easter treats--or May baskets.

Liubov of PhotoMood created a beautiful treasury in shades of purple and blue, Wondering-9 , and she included my lavender and blue baking motif oven mitt.  This incredible photo wall art perfectly captures my tax season escapist fantasy!

And last, but not least, Kathy Read of DixieVintageShop included my brown textured pillow cover in her treasury, Motivation.  I know some pink lovers who might love to sport these vintage Avon pink earrings.

And there you have it!  Another great week for treasuries.  Thanks, again to all the Etsy curators who, in the spirit of mutual cooperation, help promote the items of other Sellers.

Although I have the urge to go outside and play, duty calls.  I have four tax appointments this afternoon.  Last Thursday, one of my coworkers suggested our staff meeting be held outside -- and my boss not only agreed -- he suggested we "talk as we walk" to the UNL Dairy Store.  We held our meeting at their outside café jotting notes between bites of rich, creamy ice cream!  What a nice treat!

There are only 31 days until the end of tax season . . . and counting!  And we have plane tickets to fly to AZ the end of May to visit the three grandsons there.  So, in the not too distant future I WILL have a chance to play outside.

TTFN
LeAnn

From Bump to Baby - Big Win!

No – there are no storks circling over the homes of my kids (that I’m aware of).   I just had to share my BIG WIN in the Bump to Baby Blog Hop!

The hop promoted From Bump to Baby, a delightfully whimsical and colorful fabric line from Moda Fabrics, designed by Gina Martin.   And here is a snapshot of the fabrics included, from an Etsy listing for a charm pack (5” squares of fabric) posted by BresQuilts. 

From Bump to Baby Charm Squares from BresQuilts on ETSY

 

 

Here is a photo of the fat eighths bundle I received in the mail!  A fat eighth is a 9” x 22” piece of fabric.

So much colorful cuteness -- and tied with a bow!!

From Bump to Baby Fabric designed by Gina Martin for MODA Fabrics

 



 

Since it’s Shameless Commerce Tuesday, I must tell you that I plan to make some pretty new baby bibs and maybe some coordinating burp cloths to list in my Etsy shop, Pasque Flower Creations, soon-ish.  (Nothing happens quickly during tax season.  But the end is in sight: T minus 36 days and counting!!)

 

Here's a fabric combo that I plan to use for a future listing:

 

And with new babies come grannies who love to rock babies in rocking chairs!  Here is my newest listing from my vintage shop, Aunt Pheba's Vintage.  It's a 5.5-inch vintage rocking chair pincushion made of a very early molded plastic called Bakelite.  Items made of Bakelite have become collectibles.

I re-covered the original cushion with reproduction fabrics.  There's a little recessed well under the cushion, just the right size for a spool of thread and a thimble.

 

Isn't that cute?

TTFN
LeAnn

 

 

 

 

Treasury Thanks

Each week I devote a post to saying THANK YOU to curators of Etsy treasuries who have featured items from my Etsy shops, Aunt Pheba's Vintage and Pasque Flower Creations, in treasuries over the past week. 

Spring is in the air!  And this week's treasuries reflected a longing for Spring -- and an affinity for pink.

Marcia of Imagine That Baby featured my spit happens baby bib in her treasury, Let's Celebrate Spring!  Marcia's shop is chock full of adorable baby gifts.  I love cute and colorful handmade booties, but today I'm featuring a totally practical baby gift -- hand crocheted baby washcloths.

Miss Vintage Wedding featured my black and white chevron oven mitt in her treasury, Spring 9 .
I love this tiny vintage wooden box!  So pretty, and perfect for Mother's Day.

Cassie of CassieVision also featured my black and white chevron oven mitt in her treasury, Black and White Trends.   Cassie's shop includes unique jewelry pieces, magnets, and beaded wonders.  Today I am featuring a beautiful blue lace agate shell necklace.

Karina Scott of LittleMissMadeIt featured my rainbow chevron oven mitt in her treasury, All Things Bright and Beautiful.  (That was one of my favorite hymns as a young girl.)  Here is a pretty bottlecap magnet from Karina's shop.

Natashalh of StalkingTheWildSnark featured my green chevron and dots bunting in her treasury, Imagine Emerald.  Imagine awesome -- and take a look at these beautifully crafted segmented cuff links. 

Mark of MADellingerCarving featured my red floral oven mitt in his treasury, Let Me TEMPT You.  I love this chef wood carving from Mark's shop -- and I can think of two special guys who might see this in a Christmas stocking sometime.

Kellee and Dorian Thomas of MoreTheBuckles featured my March Madness baby bib in their treasury, Motivation TEMPTation Spring Finds.    I love this vintage white enamel floral brooch from their shop.

Jared Solko of BrandNewToMe featured my retro-inspired red linen bow clutch in his throwback treasury, Prom Fun.  Jared's shop features rustic, vintage, and handcrafted items.  Here is a bright and sunny piece from his shop.

Cassie of CassieVision featured my prairie pioneer sunbonnet in her treasury, What Little Girls Are Made Of.  What little girl wouldn't love these pretty flower bobby pins!

Valerie of NandysNook featured my pink prairie sunbonnet in her treasury, Lovely Pinks of TEMPT Team.   These coffee mug cozies with heart buttons are LOVE-ly pinks.

Anna of MyEspresso also featured one of my prairie sunbonnets in her treasury, PINK.  This pretty pink woolen shrug would be perfect for those slightly chilly days of early Spring.

Jessica and Bryan of Feath and Kee created a stunning treasury in pink and black, Pink Motives.  They included my black studs and chains key fob.  This hand dyed flower headband is a pretty shade of pink.

Carita Siren of Carita's Color Space (Sweden) featured my black and tan oven mitt in her treasury, Rustic Earth Colors from the TEMPT Team.  I am of Danish descent, and my hubby is 31/32 Finnish, so perhaps that is why I was drawn to this lovely little Scandinavian plein air. 

Clearwater of ReKollection42 featured my lions baby bib in the fun treasury, My Mixed March Metaphors.  I would be happy to sport this beautiful green Malachite pendant on St. Patrick's Day.

And last, but not least, Becky from kuddlebumz featured my green chevron and dots St. Patrick's Day bunting in her treasury, TEMPT Team: The Lovely and the Fabulous.  I need a little purple to help me get to my Happy Place today -- and this pretty purple and white polka dot infinity scarf could do just that. 

And there you have it!  Another great week of treasuries.  Thanks, again, to all who featured items from my shops this week. 

Think Spring!

TTFN
LeAnn

Awesome Applique

I enjoyed a balmy Saturday afternoon away from the tax office in the company of granddaughter Erin.  We took in the new exhibits at the International Quilt Study Center& Museum on the UNL East Campus in Lincoln, NE.

One of our favorite exhibits was the Hortense Beck Collection.  Hortense did not begin quilting until age 60, but she quickly acquired a love a hand applique, and set to work making beautiful full-sized reproduction quilts.

Here is a close-up of an intricate basket done in Baltimore Album-style applique:

The grid-like hand quilting is typical of that found in original Baltimore Album quilts. 

It's amazing how an afternoon off can recharge my batteries.  The value of  LEISURE is grossly under-rated IMHO.

TTFN
LeAnn

Wordless Wednesday - Pastel Dawn

 

Pastel Dawn 2015