By Trina O’Quinn for the NABBW How does needlework and quilting bring me Joy? In several ways: Tactiley — the feel of the cloth and thread in my hand and fingers brings me a sense of calm. Audibly — the sound of the pop of the cloth as the needle pierces the material from the other side. Audibly –the sound of the swish of the thread as it is pulled through to the top side of the piece where the picture is being created. Visually — watching the different stitches build the picture. These small steps are a process of creation that brings me great joy. When I quiet... Read More

By Trina O’Quinn for the NABBW I ended my last blog stating that I was going to use the following prompts to set my year of Joy. I hope that they helped you in January and February as they have me. Prompt #1: “What are you most proud of from 2022? Both my daughter (56 years old) and I were with my mother when she took her last breath here on earth. When I put her in the hospital in late December 2021, I was afraid that she would die alone before my daughter and eldest granddaughter (25) would be able to get to California from Washington State. They made it and were able to spend some... Read More

Recalling Favorite Fictional Reads of the 60s: Charlotte\’s Web, The Boxcar Children — And the Much Less Popular “Maida Series” By Anne Holmes NABBW’s Baby Boomer Expert I just read that it\’s been 60 years since E. B. White published Charlotte\’s Web. Hard to believe that wonderful classic is that old. But reading about this got me thinking about some of the other books I read back in grade school – or as they call it now, “middle school.” Charlotte, and a mystery series by Gertrude Chandler Warner called “The Boxcar Children”... Read More