Author name: Melissa Dunworth

First the Blocks: This month I decided I needed a quilting challenge, something new for me (haha), so I decided to do a Feathered Star.  I will tell you all about the 2 tools I used to make the block in a future post (and if you want a tute, let me know, I will have to make a 3rd block, but hey, 3rd time’s a charm!).  I found a Feathered Star in the Block Library on EQ7 and then I edited the block to make it more my own. I also picked the Quilt Blocks line by Ellen Luckett Baker in an effort to modernize it a bit.

This is my first attempt…

This is my second attempt (much happier with this one!)

Both Stars Together

I’m thinking of turning them in to pillows – but I would love your suggestions too! Wait…it would help if you knew the measurements – 15″ x 15″.

Next the Books: I have received so many touching emails since I spoke of my husband’s deployment. Most about Anne and how she is handling everything.  She is still struggling, but each day she gets a little bit better.  I have been blessed with 2 wonderful book suggestions. The first from my Twitter friend @PhotinaH. She sent us the most wonderful book Hero Dad by Melinda Langdo. If you or your spouse is in the army and you have young children, I highly recommend this book. Anne is only 2.5 and after only 1 week of reading this book, she had the whole thing 100% memorized. She has even “read it” to her daddy on the phone in Afghanistan. She requests this book at least once per day – last night we “read” it without even holding the book. We were in the dark on her bed after she woke from a nightmare and we said it out loud together. She fell to sleep afterwards.

The second book was recommended by my wonderful friend Brandy who writes Bella Bea Quilts, it is called Lily Hates Goodbyes by Jerilyn Marler. The cool thing is that there are two versions of this book, one specific to the Navy and one for all Military.  This book is absolutely wonderful and we have been reading it at least 3 times a week. There are all kinds of suggestions on how to handle the different emotions your child is going through and also different activities you can do, like making a “Memories for Daddy box” – we have done this, I will show you ours on a different post.

These books are both geared towards younger children, I would say 7 and younger, and they are worth every penny. Whenever Anne has nightmares (which is almost nightly), she always requests one or both of these books, she finds a lot of comfort in the, I think they help her feel connected to her daddy and also like she is not alone.

Now for the Blueberries: Anne has a thing for berries. Especially blueberries. My parents have a thing for indulging her…last weekend we went to Ojai to visit my aunts and we learned that one of my Aunts has blueberry plants on her deck!  Needless to say…Anne fell in love.  My parents got up with her on Sunday so I could get some sleep (sleep has been scarce for me since my hubs left) and ran a few errands. They went to a friend’s house to pick up the mail and they went to OSH, Orchard Supply Hardware.  Anne saw a blueberry bush and the next thing I know they come home and she is telling me they bought a “berry pant”!

How was your weekend?

Today I’m linking up with Jenna at SewHappyGeek for Manic Monday and Connie at Quilting by the River for Linky Party Tuesday.