Today’s giveaway has a very special place in my heart.  I am honored to host a pattern giveaway from a new pattern company, Timeless Traditions, by Norma Whaley.

There are few women I know who are more talented than Norma.

Beyond the fact that Norma’s patterns are wonderful, I am happy to share today’s giveaway because of who Norma is.

Norma has been my mother’s dear friend for many years.  Over time, I have watched her work, both works in progress and finished projects, when visiting my mom and dad.  She not only makes her quilts with skill, but with so much heart.  I have learned so much from her, and in the way that she approaches her art.

She is an incredible woman, and a wise and wonderful friend.

As she begins this new venture, I can’t wait to see all the amazing patterns she has ahead of her.

And now for a giveaway!

To enter to win, visit Timeless Traditions and take a look at Norma’s wonderful patterns.

Then come back and leave a comment on this post sharing your very favorite.  If chosen, you will win that pattern!

The Rules:

• Contest closes on Monday, June 10, 2013 at 10:00 pm MDT

• Only one comment per person please.

• Random winners will be announced on Tues, June 11

Also be sure to visit Norma’s blog, Timeless Traditions Quilts.  She is in New York with my mom and several other friends right now, visiting the Country Living fair.  They are going to Purl Soho and other wonderful fabric and quilt shops and museums.  If I could have fit in a suitcase, I would have!  I can’t wait to see photos from their trip.

Now that summer is here and the kids are out of school, and they’ve had a few “do whatever” days, it’s time to get into a summer routine.  Reading, of course, is an important part of our summer.

Luckily for me, my kids love to read, and my job is just to provide them with good books.

Unfortunately, my town doesn’t have a public library, which is a major irritation for me.  To fill the void, our elementary school librarian, who happens to be the most wonderful librarian ever, opens the school library one day a week all summer.  She is always a source of great book recommendations.  Last Christmas she recommended The One and Only Ivan (which later won the Newbery Award,) Three Times Lucky (later won the Newbery Honor,) and Starry River of the Sky which we loved too.  If you are looking for books for your kids summer reading, I highly recommend all three!

She also recommended the book that Ben is reading now:

Bomb: The Race to Build–and Steal–the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon He started reading this book a few months ago, but hadn’t read long before he put it down to read other things.  He is back to it, and I can’t wait for him to finish, since I’d like to read it too.  It’s about the race to build the nuclear weapon during WWII.  It also won the Newbery Honor this year.

Lily is currently reading Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire.  When she was younger, she read books 1-3.  But I felt book 4 was a little dark for her then, so I recommended that she be a little older.  At 11, she is fine to read it now and is absolutely loving it.  As she has talked about the book, I am again stunned by the amazing creativity of J.K. Rowling.

Emma is reading the Fablehaven series.  Ben and Lily have both read it, and my husband read it aloud.  But Emma found it too scary to listen to at the time… so she and I read more tame books in the other room.  She is really enjoying now… and doesn’t find quite so scary as she did a few years ago.

For our read aloud books, we are reading The Princess Bride.  Did you know it was a novel, as well as a movie?  I never did!  I loved the movie, so when Ben said his teacher was reading it in school, and that it was really good, I went in search of the book.  Would it surprise you if I said it is better than the movie?  It surprises me.  How did I never know about the book?!

Waiting in the wings to read aloud, is Splendors and Glooms.  Lily started reading it, but was finding it a little hard to follow, so we will read it together.  She loved another book by the same author, The Night Fairy.  Though I’ve heard a few mixed reviews about the book, several people I’ve talked to loved it.  I’ll be sure to let you know what I think.

A few more on my summer wish list for the kids include some serious fantasy:

• Wee Free Men
• Liesl & Po
• The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making

For my summer reading list, I’ve got humble plans. My list includes:

Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach – My mom really loved this book and has recommended it about 50 times over the past years, it’s time I picked it up.  The trouble is, she always loans it out, has to buy it again, and it gone before I can borrow it from her.

Happy, Happy, Happy: My Life and Legacy as the Duck Commander What can I say?  I’m not a redneck.  I don’t hunt.  But I can’t wait to read this book.