Here is a sample of what I created at the Favorite Things crop this weekend. A 4x4 chunky page book. This is a swap that I will send out. Thinking of entering it in our county fair this week.

Treasuring Emma

Treasuring Emma: A Middlefield Family Novel

By Kathleen Fuller

Yet another book I am reviewing for Booksneeze. If it is Amish, I read it! This one especially caught my eye when I read it was set in Middlefield, OH. I was recently in that area and so want to go back and explore.

The book starts with a death in the Shetler family. Emma is left with her grandmother. She tended to her sick mother and takes care of her grandmother. So much responsibility for her. Keeping up with the house, chores, etc is a challenge.

Neighbor and friend Adam was living the English life in Michigan. Emma's grandmother wrote Adam a letter stating she was worried about his mother. Adam heads for home to find out what is going on. He is not welcomed back with open arms from his father. Since Adam was shunned, some people are not wanting to be around him.

Emma's sister Clara and husband Peter are down on their luck. Peter has been out of a job for awhile and hasn't been able to find anything. Clara is upset that he hasn't found work yet. She takes it upon herself to come up with a business plan.

In the meantime, Peter's cousin Mark comes for an upexpected visit. He stays with them but has another motive. Clara has her eye on Mark from the start. Things with her and Peter have been rather tense. Clara and Mark come up with a plan to have Mark get intersted in Emma. They also start Clara's business plan.

Adam and Emma have been close and when Adam up and left, Emma was heartbroken. Adam sees how Emma's place is rundown and needing a lot of work. He tends to her horse Dill. Will Adam and Emma mend their relationship? Will Mark get in the way?

A good book to start this series off. I will be anxious to read the next books in this series.

Confirmation Card for our Niece

Here is a confirmation card I made for our niece Emily. The girl image is from Cricut Inspired Heart cartridge. The stamped words are from Close To My Heart. The flower was crocheted by a friend. The background paper is Bo Bunny. Don't know about the ribbon on the bottom.

Being a big fan of Amish books, I have never read a book by Ruth Reid before.

This takes place in Michigan. Judith's family is having a barn raising. She likes to entertain the young ones with stories she made up. Judith's brother, Samuel, is given a nail and is told help would be given to him for pounding it in place. At lunch time, Samuel is missing. Judith spies him up on the barn roof pounding a board. Judith runs toward the barn and calls out to Samuel. Samuel jerked with arms flailing. He then disappeared. He is found alive. An English man told Judith to have faith and that his steps are ordered by God. He then disappeared.

In the hospital, it is found that Samuel can't walk. Being that Judith's parents are at the hospital sitting with Samuel, Levi and Andrew help with the daily chores. Judith has her eye on Levi and hopes that they one day get married. Martha, Judith's sister, seems jealous of Judith because she is of courting age. Martha isn't yet. Martha gets rather friendly with Levi. Andrew, the bishops son, is not yet married. His true love died years ago.

Judith likes to take walks down by the river. The big English man appears to Judith on several occasions. He tells Judith that he brother will walk again. Judith is very excited to hear that and tells her family and friends that a stranger tells her that Samuel will walk. Could he be an angel sent from God? Of course, no one believes Judith's story! No one except, Andrew. Andrew befriends Judith. Andrew helps Judith make Levi jealous by kissing Judith in Levis sight.

The bishop does not like his son hanging around with Judith who tells stories. His son should be married by now and have a chance at one day being bishop. If he remains, single, that won't happen. The bishop talks to Judith's parents and decides to send her off to relatives in Ohio.

Will Judith get shunned for her tales? Will she ever marry? Will her brother ever walk again? Will Martha ever stop being jealous of her sister?

You will have to read the book to find out these answers and more.

Make Take Murder

Make Take Murder

by

Joanna Campbell Slan

Happy to have won a copy of this book before it is officially released! I am an avid scrapbooker and paper crafter. If you are the same, you MUST read this series of books!!

This is the fourth book in her Scrap n Craft mystery series. Without giving the whole story away, I will fill you in.

Kiki Lowenstein is the main character. She is part owner of a scrapbook store, widowed and has a teenage daughter.

Kiki starts out by diving in the store dumpster looking for her paycheck. No such luck for that. What she finds instead will leave your hair on end.

That certain item leads to the mystery of the whole book. Kiki always somehow finds herself solving a crime.

It is the busiest time of year for the store. She finds herself working way too hard by working extra hours, watching dogs and trying to make ends meet for her and her daughter.

Will Kiki's hard work pay off? Will she run out of steam? Will she solve the mystery? Will Kiki ever get ahead? Which man will Kiki end up with?

The story certainly doesn't end the way you expect it would! A real page turner and makes you want to read the next book in the series even sooner!

Please check it out! It is well worth reading!!!!!!!!!!!

Toilet Paper Mini Album

It was a challenge for me to make this toilet paper mini album for a paper art group I belong to. I had never done one before. It took me awhile to complete it. I was so scared to do the binding. Actually figured out how to bind it with my Bind-It-All machine. Now I want to do more of these albums. LOL!

Lilly's Wedding Quilt

"Lilly's Wedding Quilt"

By Kelly Long

This has been my second book I have read by Kelly Long. Like the other book I read, both start out with weddings of not so willing people.

Jacob Wyse starts the book out by being in a heap of trouble. Lilly Lapp just so happens to come along and rescue Jacob in more than one way. Lilly has liked Jacob for quite awhile now. They end up in quite a bind and the outcome is that Jacob and Lilly are going to be married. This so happens at the love of Jacob's life, Sarah's wedding reception.

Lilly's mom isn't to pleased to hear the news of her daughters upcoming wedding. Lilly's mom sure has been depressed since Lilly's dad died. She just hasn't been herself. She sleeps alot and doesn't keep up with chores around the house etc. It is pretty hard to believe that Amish people suffer from depression but it does happen. I can so relate to a family member being depressed. It is not fun at all!

Lilly is the Amish children school teacher. She loves her job! Between teaching and helping care for her mom and the house, she keeps busy.

Lilly and Jacob both have a fear of something. Lilly teaches Jacob to overcome her fear and Jacob works with Lilly on his.

Lilly sure wants her husband to love her with his whole heart. She hopes that he can get over Sarah once and for all.

Will Jacob and Lilly really come together as man and wife should? Lilly's hurried wedding ended up to not having a traditional wedding quilt to start her marriage. Will their love ever be binded together?

This was a very good read that I finished in no time!