I'm a winner

This post is cross-posted here and on my book blog. Please visit!

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I created this blog hoping to exercise my craftiness. Somehow my true favorite took over, and it's starting to morph into a book blog! I can't complain because I've been rewarded for what I love.

Thanks to Color Online, I received this great book. I can't begin to express how much I LOVE this book.


And I neglected to mention that MotherReader awarded me this beautiful book. In fact I received it from the author herself.


I guess that I better get busy reading and writing reviews.

Review: Sport of the Gods

by Paul Lawrence Dunbar
1409963004 Paperback: 132 pages



This post has been moved to my book blog. Please visit!

Review: Hell-Heaven

From
Unaccustomed Earth: Stories (2009)
by Jhumpa Lahiri


0307278255 Paperback: 352 pages

This post has been moved to my book blog. Please visit!

Color Me Brown book challenge

I never intended for this to be a book blog, but I love books - I almost wish that I had become a librarian. The books I've reviewed so far have been how to books because I intended this to be a book about things I make.

I just stumbled upon the Color Me Brown book challenge, and it called my name. As a mother of four beautiful daughters, I want them to develop a love of reading. I also want to instill positive self images. So this particular challenge has personal value for me. I'm not yet sure which books I'll be reviewing in August, but I'm looking forward to whatever they will be.

BIP Blog Post Bingo

I've spent the last few days participating in the blog improvement project at Sophisticated Dorkiness.

I created a couple of review posts, a short list post, a resource and opinion post with poll, and a personal post with links (I had hoped that this would cover the long post too, but I couldn't find anything else to talk about on the subject).

Bloggiesta completion list

Here is my initial to do list along with what I actually accomplished.

• Write some book reviews. There are some kids fiction books with quilting as a theme that my kids and I have enjoyed. I didn't get around to getting this done. I did set up some template posts that are ready for me to fill in with the reviews.


• Write backup posts for a rainy day. I only got one of these done.


• Write that great post idea from three months back. It was great to me. We'll see what you think.


• Create template posts for your future reads (ie: title, images, linking, tags, etc,) so you can open up, write review and post without being bogged down with technicalities. I did some of these for future book reviews and for a landing page.


• Learn what a favicon is and maybe add one. I learned about this from Trish. Turns out I had looked at this a while back, but I didn't remember what it was called. This ate about 45 minutes of my time since the most talked about hosting site was down for maintenance when I tried to do mine. I went in search of other sites,but never found what I liked.


• Install those plugins that you’ve been meaning to do. I decided that I want a related posts widget on my block. I spent about 45 minutes researching and trying out code, but couldn't get any of them to work.
  
• Create landing pages (for example - an about me for Twitter readers page) or any other pages you might have. I've made a template for a landing page for the distant day when I get a big hit from a referring page. I spent way too much time on it for the simple results that I settled on. But I got great information from these two posts at Problogger.


• Go get a gravatar. I have to learn what this is, too This took me about 20 minutes. I'm not yet sure where I will use it since blogger already using this image for me. Learned this from Trish, too.


• Work on any specialized projects that you may have going. Think I'm going to turn this into a series post. I know what series of posts I plan to do, but I didn't to work on them.


• I also used website grader to run a report on possible changes to improve my search engine results. Thanks to Bookish Ruth for teaching me this.
  
• I also want to add myself to a directory. Got this idea from Infant Bibliophile.

In all, I think that I spent a good 10 hours on this. And in true challenge fashion, I did a lot of it through the night while my family slept.

Bloggiesta to do list

I've decided to participate in Maw Books Bloggiesta, "a blogging marathon with a fiesta flair.” Based on her suggestions, here is my initial to do list for this weekend.

• Write some book reviews. There are some kids fiction books with quilting as a theme that my kids and I have enjoyed.


• Write backup posts for a rainy day.


• Write that great post idea from three months back. It was great to me. We'll see what you think.


• Create template posts for your future reads (ie: title, images, linking, tags, etc,) so you can open up, write review and post without being bogged down with technicalities


• Learn what a favicon is and maybe add one


• install those plugins that you’ve been meaning to do. I want to try that related posts plugin


• create landing pages (for example - an about me for Twitter readers page) or any other pages you might have.
  
• Go get a gravatar. I have to learn what this is, too
  
• Work on any specialized projects that you may have going. Think I'm going to turn this into a series post.

This list is looking long for 48 hours. We'll see what I get done and how long it takes.

Read with Kids challenge

Reading for the 48 hour book challenge has me on a roll. I'm now particpating in the 2009 Read With Kids Challange. I didn't intend for this to be a book blog, but I am a sucker for a book. The challenge dosen't end until June 30. You ought to do it too!

From their site:
"Read and Win a Disney Vacation!
For a second year, Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) and US Airways are working together to help children nationwide discover the joy of reading. Starting April, adults are invited to join the 2009 Read with Kids Challenge and help collectively log 5 million minutes spent reading with kids. You’ll have the chance of winning a family vacation to the Walt Disney World Resort® and more great prizes. Get on board! Visit www.RIF.org/readwithkids today."

I'm done: 48 hour book challenge

I completed something! Here is my summation.

Number of books (re-) read: 8

Number of pages read: 847

Hours spent reading/reviewing: 16

My comments: This was cool to do. It gave me a reason to add posts to a new blog. It refreshed my memory of what resources I have at hand. I wish I could have done more, but life got in the way this time. Next time, I might focus more on fiction books. And next time, I WILL get my kids to participate.

I'm in: 48 Hour Book challenge

I’ve decided to participate in the 48 hour book challenge. So I think that I will reread and write reviews on some of those craft books I purchased.

I also hope to get my daughters to each read at least one book and write a review. I know that school just let out, but they’ll thank me for it later.

I'm starting Saturday morning. Why don’t you join in?

Sewing Machine Meme

I'm participating in the Sew Mama Sew meme on machines I have two machines to tell about.

What brand and model do you have? Singer 5838C

How long have you had it? 12+ years

How much does that machine cost (approximately)? It was a gift, so I don't know.

What types of things do you sew? quilts, kids' clothes

How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get? I only get to touch it every other week or so. But when I first got it, I used it almost daily.

Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does she have a name? It has sentimental value since it was my first.

What features does your machine have that work well for you? It has several stitches, but I rarely utilize them

Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine? just not finding time to use it.

Would you recommend the machine to others? Why? It's very reliable although heavy. I don't take her to class or anything.

What brand and model do you have? Janome 3125

How long have you had it? almost 2 years

How much does that machine cost (approximately)? About $80 (I think).

What types of things do you sew? quilts, kids' clothes

How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get? I only get to touch it every other week or so. This one travels with me. My girl scout troop uses it once a month to make quilts. I take it to class or to quilting bee. I've taken it on a flight with me so that I could sew at night after meetings.

Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does she have a name? I like the convenience of being able to take it along.

What features does your machine have that work well for you? It has a few features, but I typically only use a straight stitch.

Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine? I don't like that I can't shift my needle position.

Would you recommend the machine to others? Why? It's convenient and light weight.