The Blended Blog: September 2014

About Quilts of Love: Quilts tell stories of love and loss, hope and faith, tradition and new beginnings. The Quilts of Love series focuses on the women who quilted all of these things into their family histories. A new book releases each month and features contemporary and historical romances as well as women's fiction and the occasional light mystery. You will be drawn into the endearing characters of this series and be touched by their stories.

About the book:

A quilt holds the secret to a killer still at large---and who his next victim will be.

Following an attack that killed her mother and stole her ability to speak, 21-year-old Sophia Montgomery has no choice but to accept her estranged grandmother's offer to return to their family home. Although detective Julian Frazier is working hard on the case, Sophia unknowingly frustrates him because her inability to speak thwarts her eyewitness evidence. The fact that Julian is undeniably attracted to Sophia doesn't help either, so Julian hides his feelings as concern for a trauma victim and focuses instead on finding the killer.

Little do they know, the clues to solving the case may be right in front of them, displayed in Sophia's mother's "special" quilt design. Who will realize the secret Sophia's unwittingly been hiding in plain sight? When the truth comes to light, will Sophia find her voice again? Or will the murderer---still at large---silence her forever?

Learn more about this book and the series at the Quilts of Love website.

About the Author:

Robin Caroll is the author of 22 published novels. When she isn't writing, Robin spends time with her husband of 20-plus years, her three beautiful daughters and two handsome grandsons, and their character-filled pets at home in Little Rock, Arkansas. She gives back to the writing community by serving as conference director for ACFW. Her books have been named finalists in such contests as the Carol Award, HOLT Medallion, Daphne du Maurier, RT Reviewer's Choice Award, Bookseller's Best, and Book of the Year.

Connect with Robin: website, Facebook, Twitter

Hook, line and sinker....that is what I call Hidden in the Stars. It starts out with the hook and you keep wanting to turn the page. You just can't put it down or read it fast enough. Robin Caroll gets her readers right off the first word. The first words are Beep. Beep. Beep. and look out you are caught. Why? because you want to know what is beeping? right. Well who wouldn't. It's filled with suspense you just want to keep on reading. Hidden in the Stars is a very wonderful addition to the quilts of love series.

Don't miss the newest Quilts of Love book, Hidden in the Stars by Robin Caroll. September's QOL release is a wonderful combination of mystery, romance, and family love bound together by a quilt and the story it tells.

Hidden in the Stars Robin Carroll Quilts of Love

Enter to win a "Night on the Town" (a $200 Visa cash card!) and RSVP for the "Fall into Fall" Quilts of Love Facebook party on 10/7.
One winner will receive:

A $200 Visa cash card (The perfect accessory for a "night on the town"!)
A Grand Design by Amber Stockton
Hidden in the Stars by Robin Caroll

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 7.

Winner will be announced at the October 7th author chat party with Amber Stockton and Robin Caroll! RSVP for an evening of book chat, quilting tips and tricks, prizes, and more!

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on October 7th!

A copy of this book was provided for in exchange for my review and hosting this tour by...

day 2 RUSH HOUR blog hop

Wednesday, September 24

Stitchin’ By The Lake

Buzzing and Bumbling

Lixie Makes It

Everyone Deserves a Quilt

Living With Purpose

Madly Mid Mod

Coral Canyon Quilting

Monday, September 22, 2014

RUSH Hour BH featuring me and.....

Let the Show begin! Today is the first day for the Rush Hour blog hop and it is my day to post. First, I'd like to say thanks to Carol for being such a wonderful cheerleader and keeping in touch with everyone and keepin' us on task in our Hour of Rush. ;P I'd like to say thanks to Madm Samm for getting all the sponsors and ideas to make this blog hop and others like it happen. I'm sure you'll want to be sure to visit all the bloggers participating in this Rush Hour blog hop. It is sew much fun to hop around and see what everyone has created. You'll find some cool ideas and hopefully inspiration. Be sure to visit everyone because many do their own giveaways as well. A giveaway isn't required, but just an added bonus. Sorry I'm not having a giveaway this time. Enough blabbing let's get on with what I created in my HOUR of RUSH.....

Just for those busy grab-n-go meals when you are setting in rush hour traffic....

Rush Hour bib. One you can keep in the car. For all you business gals that eat-on-the-GO. OR you soccer moms that are in the car from 3-8 daily. Here you go

One bath towel makes two nice size bibs..

You don't need much for supplies: a bath towel, bias tape and Velcro. As mentioned before 1 towel makes two.

I made my own bias tape.

For my second project it got started, but we aren't completely finished.

what is it? you ask. it is a mat for my sewing machine to set on. Then it will keep at hand my necessary tools for sewing.

I have been wanting one; sew I decided now was as good a time as any. ;P I also will make a sewing machine cover to match it

I have to finish the pockets and binding

this is what the pocket fabric and machine cover fabric looks like. I fell in love with it and knew I needed to make the cover with this fabric so I also decided to make the pocket of my mat with it.

The back of the mat I used a grippy dotted fabric that is used on children's feet jammies.

Now my sewing machine will stay in place and not move on me. ;P

**Added note: I really appreciated all your nice comments on my mat. It is my own made up patter from several pieces I came across. Sew I thought I'd add the links for those that really need to have it.
The mat idea came from a tutorial from The Painted Quilt
The paper piece pattern I found at Charise Creates
My machine cover idea will be my inspiration knock off coming from Scrap Basket Sewing by Bev Shenefield it is a pdf so I don't have a direct link. (oh I found the link to the cover pattern I'll be using. Of course it will be my version, but I'm using this pattern.) Could check out Pinterest for some ideas too

Be sure to visit others on the blog hop today

Tuesday, September 23

Just Let Me Quilt

I piece 2-Mary

Marjorie’s Bush Corner

Quilt in a not-Shell

The Slow Quilter

The Blended Blog (you are here)

Quilting Bias

Hidden in the Starts by Robin Caroll

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Hidden in the Stars Abingdon Press (September 16, 2014) by Robin Caroll

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born and raised in Louisiana, Robin Caroll is a southerner through and through. Her passion has always been to tell stories to entertain others. Robin’s mother, bless her heart, is a genealogist who instilled in Robin the deep love of family and pride of heritage—two aspects Robin weaves into each of her books.

When she isn’t writing, Robin spends time with her husband of twenty-plus years, her 3 beautiful daughters, 2 precious grandsons, and their character-filled pets at home—in the South, where else?

ABOUT THE BOOK

Following an attack that killed her mother and stole her ability to speak, 21-year-old Sophia Montgomery has no choice but to accept her estranged grandmother’s offer to return to their family home. Although detective Julian Frazier is working hard on the case, Sophia unknowingly frustrates him because her inability to speak thwarts her eyewitness evidence. The fact that Julian is undeniably attracted to Sophia doesn’t help either, so Julian hides his feelings as concern for a trauma victim and focuses instead on finding the killer.

Little do they know, the clues to solving the case may be right in front of them, displayed in Sophia’s mother’s “special” quilt design. Who will realize the secret Sophia’s unwittingly been hiding in plain sight? When the truth comes to light, will Sophia find her voice again? Or will the murderer—still at large—silence her forever?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Hidden in the Stars, go HERE.

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Every Boy needs a Hero DVD with Giveaway

One man's broken relationship with his family fills him with the determination to make a difference in his town, and to win back the son he left behind. Reaching out through the game they both love, he deliberately forms a baseball team designed to involve both fathers and sons in a common effort. His actions begin to have a powerful effect, reaching so far as to turn the heart of a father in prison, and transform a town. After all, every boy needs a HERO.

Genre: Family/Sports/Drama
Comp titles: Home Run, Courageous, The Perfect Game
Run Time: 94 mins
Industry Rating: Not Rated

I so enjoyed this movie. It is right on the button for a family movie. Restoring broken relationships is the central theme all the way around. Baseball is the game and it is a no hitter movie in my book. Awesome movie and no complaints on this end. Good for any age group to watch. Wonderful news is I have be given permission to give one of my followers a chance to win a copy of this DVD.
Visit the official web site here.

Ready to win a copy...Tell me in a comment why you'd like to win this movie. Be sure to leave a way for me to contact you. I'll draw a winner on Oct. 4th. US residents only please.

Bonus entries after the first is completed.
+1 - follow my blog email (in side bar)
+1 - follow my blog gfc (in side bar)
+1 - watch the trailer and tell me in comment
+1 - visit here and tell me what person in the cast you are looking forward to seeing in this movie
+1 (daily) posting about this giveaway and linking it back to my page. twitter, FB, any giveaway linky, etc.