I SPY WIT' ME LITTLE EYE

Ship's Log  11.23.2013

Ahoy Mateys! It be time fer me I SPY WIT' ME LITTLE EYE post. Today, I will be sharin' wit' ye about 3 books that I have recently finished readin'.....I highly recommend all three!

GALLIMORE

By Michelle Griep

Description:

Jessica Neale's faith is lost the day of her husband's death, and with it, her belief in love. In a journey to find peace, she encounters a gentle, green-eyed stranger who leads her to the ruins of the medieval castle, Gallimore. On his way to battle, Colwyn Haukswyrth, knight of Gallimore, comes face to face with a storm the likes of which he's never seen, and a woman in the midst of it who claims to live centuries in the future. The Lady Jessica of Neale is an irksome, provoking bit of woman to be sure. And she's about to turn his beliefs on end. The product of a family rooted in pain and evil, Colwyn has focused on naught but himself-until Jessica. To a mysterious prophecy stitched on a tapestry, through the invasion of Gallimore itself, Colwyn and Jessica are bound together by a lesson in forgiveness and love-a bond that might be strong enough to survive the grave.

My Review:

I would have never guessed that this was Michelle Griep’s debut novel. It is a wonderfully written adventure that rivals her later works. I was captivated by the descriptions in this story…not only the characters, but the surroundings. I could totally picture myself back in the times of castles and knights, caught up in the romance and excitement, the danger and intrigue.

I love the pluckiness of the heroine of this story, Jessica, she is strong and takes nothing from no one. And  the knight, Colwyn, is a character I won’t soon forget. These two characters are linked together…past, present, future…and finding out where it all ends is a great ride. 

This is indeed a love story, but it is more than that, it is a lesson in forgiveness and redemption.  While reading Gallimore, I found myself laughing, gasping, tearful and surprised at times.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves medieval times, romance and soul touching stories. 

You can purchase your own copy of Gallimore  HERE

CHOSEN ONES

By Eileen Hinkle Rife

Description: 

A couple in crisis. A child taken captive. Life in Chennai, India, is complicated. While Maggie and Gavin Munsfield adjust to a new baby, missionary friends, Dan and Yvonne Pratt, experience the heartbreak of infertility and miscarriage. When their lives intersect with a young girl caught up in the horrors of sex trafficking, each of them will receive a precious gift. But will they find it in their hearts to accept an outcome so different than what they expected and hoped for?

My Review:

When I first picked up Chosen Ones and read the back cover, I was intrigued as to how someone could write about such an awful subject without frightening off the reader. 

Sex trafficking , infertility and miscarriage….all in one book. To me, it seemed like it would be too much to cover in just one book and therefore would lose some of the importance. I was wrong.  Eileen did a wonderful job tying everything together, in a way that has the reader enthralled as to what will happen next. This book is by no means for the faint of heart, for it deals with some really tough issues and Eileen does not sugar coat any of the details. There were times while reading that I got so angry…..what that child and others like her went through…and some are still going through it as I type. Heartbreaking, just heartbreaking.

Dan and Yvonne Pratt  took it upon themselves to help a young girl that was sold into sex trafficking. Things didn’t quite go as they expected, yet in the end God brought healing and joy.  

In life, we need to realize that our will and God’s will isn’t always the same. 

For me, this story not only opened my eyes to the horrors of sex trafficking, but it also reminded me how God is always with us, even under the most horrific circumstances. It may take awhile to understand God’s answers to our prayers, but as long as we put our trust in Him, in time, things will always work out. 

I applaud Eileen for writing this story. 

You can purchase your own copy HERE

TRANQUIL MOMENTS

By Eileen RIfe

Description:

Are you struggling for inner peace and purpose? Is your devotional life stale and stagnant? Do you long for refreshment from the Living Water? If so, then this book is for you. Pour a cool, refreshing glass of your favorite beverage, pull up a comfy chair, put your feet up, and enjoy Tranquil Moments: Spiritual Refreshment from the Island of Maui. Thirty-one devotionals, one for each day of the month, take you on a spiritual journey. View God's promise in a rainbow spreading across a Maui mountaintop, His peace in a cascading waterfall and His faithfulness in a colorful sunrise. Savor a tranquil moment as the God of the universe fills you up with His never-ending love, peace, and purpose.

My Review:

Looking for peace and tranquility? Look no further. Eileen has compiled 31 days worth of devotions that will give you a break from your every day life. Eileen has a way of writing that truly puts a smile on your face. I can actually hear her voice as I read this book. 

These devotions make you think and at times makes you laugh. Definitely makes you want to go to Maui! 

You will find thought provoking devotions that will bring you closer to God. 

Step into paradise and let God’s peace wash over you. 

You can get your own copy HERE

So, there ye have them, Mateys! I hope ye head over and get yer own copies of these books!

Thanks fer comin' aboard! God bless.

Wow! Don't pass this up!!!

Ship's Log    11.19.2013

Ahoy Mateys! Ye best be headin' over to CBD.com to get yer copy of  A Heart Deceived by Michelle Griep! For one day only, it will be at the low price of just $0.79! That's right, so get over there before time runs out!

From the Author:

I hear voices. Loud. Incessant. And very real. Which basically gives me two options: choke back massive amounts of Prozac or write fiction. I chose the latter. Way cheaper. I've been writing since I discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. I seek to glorify God in all that I write...except for that graffiti phase I went through as a teenager. Oops. Did I say that out loud?

Publisher's Description

Miri Brayden teeters on a razor's edge between placating and enraging her brother, whom she depends upon for support. Yet if his anger is unleashed, so is his madness. Miri must keep his descent into lunacy a secret, or he'll be committed to an asylum-and she'll be sent to the poorhouse. Ethan Goodwin has been on the run all of his life-from family, from the law ... from God. After a heart-changing encounter with the gritty Reverend John Newton, Ethan would like nothing more than to become a man of integrity-an impossible feat for an opium addict charged with murder. When Ethan shows up on Miri's doorstep, her balancing act falls to pieces. Both Ethan and Miri are caught in a web of lies and deceit-fallacies that land Ethan in prison and Miri in the asylum with her brother. Only the truth will set them free.

My Review:

After reading Michelle’s previous book Undercurrent, I was expecting nothing less than a great read. Well, I was not disappointed. Michelle has definitely stepped it up a bit with this new release. A bit on the darker side, but so intriguing and well written. There is so much going on in A Heart Deceived, you may ask “Will I get lost?” The answer is no! Michelle does an excellent job bringing all the different aspects together and making a perfectly harmonious story…..Murder, addictions, insanity, uncertainty, heartbreak…..add to that, forgiveness, love, compassion and heroism. You will also get a close up look at what went on inside Asylums in those days….so sad. 

Best of all, Michelle brings the power of God into her story in a way that will give you goosebumps. I truly think the story ended too soon. I would love to see a sequel to this book.  I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a story that stirs the soul and makes your heart pound. 

Get your copy HERE

That is all, Mateys!   God bless.

WE HAVE OUR WINNERS!!!!!

Ship's Log   11.18.2013

Congratulations to all of the winners from our Handmade for Christmas blog post!!!

You will be contacted soon, Mateys!

The winner of two dolls with 4 outfits a piece, or one doll with up to eight outfits to one person via PDF, or JPEG their choice is:

DEBRA SMITH!

The winner of Mrs. Claus Lovey Blanket is:

DEBRA SMITH!

 (Wow, that's two for her)

The winner of  Fingerless Gloves  is:

LADETTE!

The winner of two ornaments is:

CAROL!

The winner of two gorgeous bows  is:

BECKY!

The winner of  a 3 inch dreamcatcher  is:

DEBRA SMITH!

(That is 3 for her!)

The winner of two custom made cards is:

DIANA MONTGOMERY!

The winner of a gorgeous pair of earrings is:

DEBBIE LYNN COSTELLO!

The winner of a gorgeous painting (not the painting pictured) is:

CARYL MCADOO!

 

Congrats to all the winners! 

I wish to thank all of the ladies who participated in this blog. It has been a pleasure doing this with you and I look forward to doing this again sometime! (Mayhaps CHRISTMAS IN JULY!!)

God bless!

GIVEAWAYS GALORE!!!!!!!

Ship's Log   11.16.2013

GIVEAWAYS ARE OVER...WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON MONDAY!!!
YE CAN STILL CHECK OUT EACH PORT AND VISIT EACH SITE.

Ahoy Mateys! Today I wish to introduce you to some great ladies and the wonderful handmade items that they make. They each have either a shop, website, Pinterest or Facebook page where they showcase/sell their items.  Everything they make is high quality and gorgeous. This holiday season, why not consider purchasing handmade items for your gift giving.  Let me take you on a trip to 9 unique ports. Each port will feature samples of what these ladies create. Take a look at what each lady has to offer and try to visit their sites to see all of their items. At the end of each port, you will see what each lady has generously offered to give away to a commenter on this blog. 9 ports means 9 giveaways!!!!! More details about the contest/rules at the end of the blog. So, come aboard while we sail to some wonderful ports! Enjoy your tour!

     

FIRST PORT

Karen's Custom Made Treasures
BY  KAREN MARTIN

 

            

Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved paper dolls, and I really enjoyed making them, even if they were just glorified stick figures. Now that I'm older, I still enjoy drawing them, starting by making sets of me and my friends, but I want to share this with others. I use a person's picture to create a paper doll of themselves. Every doll is hand-drawn, and the outfits 100% unique to that one doll. Even if two dolls are given the same outfit, it's still going to be different because it's redrawn for each. Each set is emailed in PDF format, but can also be mailed using good quality cardstock and made into a nice booklet. 

   

Just imagine having a paper doll made in the image of family members. Here are some samples of Karen's work.

  Paper doll made in Karen's image                                    Lady Pirate

  Belle Modern Dress                 Elven Princess                   Got to love this!

             

Karen has graciously offered to give away two dolls with 4 outfits a piece, or one doll with up to eight outfits to one person via PDF, or JPEG their choice.   

YOU CAN FIND ALL OF KAREN'S ITEMS HERE:   Karen's Custom Made Treasures

You can also contact her at:     kcmtreasures[at]gmail.com

    

SECOND PORT

BLANKIES BY JACKIE

    BY  JACKIE RAMSDELL

I am the proud mommy of two beautiful girls. I love to crochet and create my own patterns. I am always looking for new projects. I love making blankets but I do make other things as well. I do custom items as well, so if you want different colors or something I do not have in my shop, just ask and I will try my best to create it.

       Minion Lovey

                            Minnie Mouse Lovey                                          

       Fingerless Gloves

                   Owl Baby Blanket                                         

                                              Dog Sweaters                  

  

Jackie has graciously offered to give away this:


Mrs. Claus Lovey Blanket 

YOU CAN FIND ALL OF JACKIE'S ITEMS HERE:  BlankiesbyJackie

Head over and 'like' Jackie's Facebook page. When she gets 500 likes, someone will be given a free lovey blanket of their choice from her shop!

 

THIRD PORT

ROG BOUTIQUE

BY  AMANDA GREGORY ROG

                                                 

                                                                       

I am a stay-at-home mom of three children, ages 10, 8, and 6.  I taught myself to crochet while in college, though I didn't do much with it for a few years.  I found that I loved making hats and then moved onto other things.  I love trying new patterns!  I'm always up for trying new items and love trying out new color combinations.  You can also find me on facebook and get a first look at items that will be coming to my shop soon.                 

                                         

                       Victoria Set                                                    Flower Headband

                           Beard Hat                                                         Hat Band

                              

                      

The hat band fits over baseball caps to keep ears and the back of the neck warm.  Perfect for runners, hunters, or anyone who is out in the cold! The beard hat is just plain fun!!

Amanda has graciously offered to give away this:

Fingerless Gloves from her Victoria Set (winner can choose colors and size)

YOU CAN FIND ALL OF AMANDA'S ITEMS AT THESE PLACES:  

 rogboutique[at]gmail.com       https://www.etsy.com/shop/RogBoutique

and on Facebook 

    

FOURTH PORT

THE WHIMSICAL HANDMADE

 BY  SARAH MCBRIDE

I love arts and crafts, and am always trying out new projects. Right now I have Christmas ornaments and jewelry in my shop. I tend to make things that are fun, colorful, and simple. Whimsical, really :) The stuffed Christmas ornaments I've been making have a very country, rustic look. I created the patterns myself and love experimenting with different fabrics. In the future I plan on trying a lot of different types of ornaments, plus other fun ideas!

Sarah has graciously offered to give one commenter the choice of two ornaments from her shop. 

YOU CAN FIND ALL OF SARAH'S ITEMS HERE:  TheWhimsicalHandmade

You can also find them on Sarah's Facebook page 

You can get to know Sarah more by visiting her blog  MyThoughtsExactly

Over on her Facebook page, Sarah is having a promotion. When she gets 100 likes on her page, she will give someone an ornament of their choice from her shop!



 

FIFTH PORT

BROOKLYNNE'S BOWS

BY  CAROL SIMMONS

 

                        

My name is Carol, I am the owner of Brooklynne's Bows that started January of 2012. I started making hair bows for my daughter Brooklynne because I couldn't find any well made, reasonably priced hair bows that matched her outfits. Shortly after I was talked into making them for others to buy. My business picked up pretty rapidly and I have since made hundreds of bows and have shipped as far as Spain and the Philippines. I love to make hair bows to match outfits which I offer to my customers...It is really the reason I started. I am married to my best friend and we have 3 beautiful children together. My family is the most important aspect of my life. They are the reason I do what I do.

   Adorable assortment of specialty bows                 

Cloth bows

                                                          

     Personalized Bows                                                 Bows made to match outfits

                     

                                                                   

               

Carol has graciously offered to give away these two gorgeous bows to one commenter:

                                             

YOU CAN FIND ALL OF CAROL'S ITEMS HERE:    Brooklynne's Bows

    

SIXTH PORT

NATIVE DREAMS

BY BECKY RESMAN

         

My name is Rebecca Resman, but all my loved ones call me Becky.   I am 35 years old and have always found peace in creating beautiful things.  I am married to the man of my dreams and we just recently adopted two children (my niece and nephew).  Becoming parents has opened our life to new experiences and challenges!  We are enjoying helping our children find the happiness they deserve!  I am part Cherokee Indian, and have a deep interest in the Native American culture and traditions.  The dreamcatcher was not a traditional aspect of the Cherokee culture, but in modern years the dreamcatcher has become a recognizable symbol of Native American culture as a whole.  I began making them when I was 18 years old, and have continued throughout the years.  Making dreamcatchers is a peaceful experience for me.  It makes me feel good to know that I am creating something that brings good feelings to others.  Over the years, my dreamcatchers have evolved from being very basic and simple to the more intricate and decorative ones of today.  I strive to make each one unique and better than the one before.  I put a piece of my heart into each one I make.  My dreamcatchers are packed with love, prayers and warm thoughts!

       Pleasant dreams to one and all.....these gorgeous dream catchers made by Becky will have you dreaming wonderful dreams! Take a look at the details and all the vibrant colors!                       

Becky has graciously offered to give away a 3 inch dreamcatcher to one commenter.  The winner can choose between black or white leather.   

YOU CAN FIND ALL OF BECKY'S ITEMS HERE:   NativeDreamsbyBecky




    

SEVENTH PORT

GRACEFULLY ME

BY JOHNETTE FERGUSON

Me....a 30 something girl that loves the Lord and my family. I homeschool my 16 year old son (the love of my life), work with kids, teens and young adults at my church. In my spare time I devour historical Christian fiction and recently discovered my artistic side. I love to scrapbook, art journal, make cards and ornaments. Most days you will find me covered in ink, paint and glitter with a huge smile on my face.

  Unique Ornaments!!!

         Decorative Clipboards                

YOU WON'T FIND CARDS LIKE THESE IN ANY STORE!

Johnette has graciously offered to give one commenter the choice of two of her available cards or she can make two cards with custom colors and sayings.

YOU CAN FIND ALL OF JOHNETTE'S ITEMS HERE: Gracefullyme

 

EIGHTH PORT

MONTANAMADE  

BY JASMINE AUGUSTINE

                          

Outside of my faith, family, and pets I have 3 great loves: Books/reading, history, and my craftwork. To help with those first two I spend a fair amount of time volunteering at my local Library and even more at the Museum. For the 3rd, my website is my creative outlet, whether it's beadwork, sewing, book reviews, photos, or just tinkering with the site itself. Over the years I have dabbled in many different crafts but beading and sewing have been constants. My trademark is the ability to take what I see in books, movies, and nature, taking those colors, ideas, and themes and translating them into bookmarks, jewelry, and doll clothes. My love of history, Christian Fiction, and old classic movies shines through in the work I do.

Unique Bookmarks

                       Earrings!                                                             Doll clothes

  

                                                        Gorgeous Necklaces

Jasmine has graciously offered to give away this gorgeous pair of earrings to one commenter.

Butterflies in Blue

YOU CAN FIND ALL OF JASMINE'S ITEMS HERE:

Homepage   Store   Facebook   montanamade[at]gmail.com

And you can check out Jasmine's  BLOG as well!

    

NINTH PORT

ARTWORK BY 
KATHLEEN MAHER

 I enjoy painting landscapes, wildlife, and portraits of pets and people. My most recent project involved painting fresco-style florals on a client's kitchen cabinets. I would love to partner with you on your next artistic adventure! 

 He Gently Leads Those with Young                                 Christmas Cardinal

                     Running Wolf                                                 Autumn in New England

Kathleen has graciously offered to give a commenter the choice of either 
the Christmas Cardinal painting or the Autumn in New England painting.

YOU CAN SEE ALL OF KATHLEEN'S PAINTINGS HERE:

Artwork by Kathleen Maher

YOU CAN CONTACT KATHLEEN ABOUT HER PAINTINGS  HERE: 

kathleenleemaher[at]gmail.com

    

When ye visit each shop/page/email from now until December 31st, tell them that 

CHAPPY sent ye and get 10% off your next order! (Not including sale items)

Okay, here are the rules for those who wish to be in the drawings. (THERE WILL BE 9 DRAWINGS, ONE FOR EACH PORT) If you comment below, you will automatically get one entry for EACH drawing. 

Here are ways to get extra entries:

1. Go to each shop/business/page and "LIKE" them.  

2. Follow my blog 

3. Share this post/giveaway on Facebook

4. Tweet about it!

5. Purchase an item from a shop/business/page

6. If ye send a friend to this blog, tell them to mention yer name for extra entries

There ye be havin' the rules, Mateys! Make sure ye tell me what ye be doin' fer yer extra entries! I will be needin' yer NAME and EMAIL address, so I will know how to be contactin' ye if ye win!

This giveaway will run from NOVEMBER 9TH - NOVEMBER 16TH!!!! Winners will be announced on Monday November 18th. That be plenty of time to get in some orders fer yer Christmas shopping! Sorry, Mateys, the giveaways be fer US residents only. (all prizes include shipping!)

  

THANKS FER COMIN' ABOARD, MATEYS! I HOPE YE ENJOYED THE TOUR! 

GOD BLESS AND HAVE A HAPPY HANDMADE HOLIDAY!!!