Anne's 2021 Top Reads

While I wasn't any kind of marathon reader in 2021, I did read some really good books! I had set a goal on Goodreads to read 20 books. I managed to exceed that and read 36. Now mind you, they weren’t all fiction. I actually read and reviewed several non-fiction titles that consisted of devotionals and journals, an Amish cookbook, and a lovely photography book. I only read 28 fiction books in 2021, of which three or four were audio books.

I have found that as much as I love to immerse myself in a good book, when my creative side suffers, I suffer, so I put aside my desire to read many of the popular CF books available to learn the art of slow stitching and beading. My sister is a master craftswoman in anything to do with a needle so through many texts, images, and video chats she helped me along the way to learning a new craft that I absolutely love!! I have a lot to learn but I was pretty pleased with how my first piece turned out and my granddaughter loves it so that’s all that matters, right?!

My husband and I officially moved back to NC just before Christmas after six years in VA. We just couldn't let our little "hobby farm" go over the years so we're back in the same place we fell in love with almost 23 years ago. There is a lot to do to get rid of extraneous items we don’t need so we can start back a couple of the things we enjoyed so much the first 18 years we lived here, like raising chickens and starting our greenhouse back up.

Oh yeah, back to books, right? In no particular order, I’ve listed seven books that I would highly recommend to my friends. One author made the list twice!!! Each book title is a hyperlink to my review on Goodreads, in case you want to see what I thought. J

When Forever Fades (Spencer Family 2) by Andrea Boyd

 

Sword of Trust (Winds of Change 2) by Debbie Lynne Costello

 

Hours to Kill (Homeland Heroes 3) by Susan Sleeman

 

Let It Be Me (A Misty River Romance 2) by Becky Wade

 

Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong

Hope Between the Pages by Pepper D. Basham

The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper D. Basham

Thanks for hanging in here! If you’ve read any of these books, let me know in the comments. If not, share what you read this year and enjoyed. Do you have any recommendations for me?

Have a blessed New Year!!

Looking for...

InSpiRatIoN

Yes. I need inspiration. I am itching to get my hands sticky with glue, and fingertips stained with ink by jumping back into scrapbooking!

My supplies have been packed away for too long.

As I was surfing around the web trying to find some ideas for a memory book that I am going to create in remembrance of my daughter, Amy, I came across these tutorial videos from Unity Stamp Company. Check them out on YouTube here. So far, I really like this one:




Even though this particular video is for Autumn placecards, I love the technique Lesley is using. I am going to try and make a cover for the memory album using this one and maybe even similar colors. Not sure how it will come out as I haven't used much in the way of paints, but it should be fun getting messy!

I also LOVE to browse Courtney Walsh's site here. She is an awesome designer, as well as an author!

What are you working on?

Altered Art is...

~ Collaging, embellishing, enameling, stamping or doing anything else to a book  or other household item to reflect a creative idea, theme or narrative.

Collecting items to create Altered Art has become almost an obsession. I see potential in EVERYTHING! I save tea boxes, yogurt cartons, jelly jars, plastic trays, spaghetti boxes, and cereal boxes. Have I made anything out of these wannabe trash to treasure goodies? Well, no but I'm going to. I will. I promise. I just need more time in my day. I do like to read, you know. And I have two boys that I homeschool, laundry to be done, dishes to be washed, and I like to read. I said that already, didn't I?

I have made one really super cool box, though. If you're on my Facebook then you've already seen it, but you can hang around and ooohhh and aaahhh over the photos again. Be kind. It's my first one.

Pretty, huh? It was so much fun! And I learned alot doing this one. Like what type of glue NOT to use.