Sew Un-sew Sew Snow

Well I think the title says it all this week.  It’s been one of those type weeks that it makes you scratch your head and wonder if it was worth getting out of bed for. 

Last week I sewn all my smaller squares together to make the HST’s that I needed for the Merry Mayhem mystery aka the Anvil blocks, when I ran into a major snag and had to un-sew all the blocks which incidentally came out to be 70 of those little buggers.  What a PITA!!   Come this past Wednesday I managed to un-stitch the last group while at quilt group.  Yeah!!   So now I have gotten most of these are all re-chained and they are waiting to be clipped & trimmed.   But I do have two of the Anvils pieced up.  This particular piece is my first “Start the New Year Scrappy” project.  Once I get to the point of quilting I’m going to tie it.  I just have to have it completed by 12/31/14.  So I’m still okay with the timeline on this one.  LOL.

Friday I spent the day cutting out my Gift-A-Month project.  This is a wonderful scrappy project called “Pop Stars” .  This table runner  pattern is free from Stitchintree.com.  Nice thing about this pattern is it offers the instructions on 3 different size runners and one table topper; so that you can make it to meet your particular  needs. 

Since I’m using what is on hand, I’ll be using some WoW fabric as the background.  I pulled out my stash of 2.5” squares.  The colors are sure to jump out at ya once this comes together.  I have to say that it is interesting to look at while I’m piecing it.  So far I have pairs sewn together and the flying geese done.

Also this week I decided to design a bag for a friend as a special  gift.  This will be an OOAK, so there was a lot of figuring it out as I go.  I could visualize what I wanted but at times it also meant that I was once again un-stitching in order to get it right as my steps were slightly jumbled up in my head.  I don’t even have a sketch of it any where about me.  LOL -Yes I’m completely winging it.  I have to claim that I’m right pleased with it too. It may have taking me a bit of time since there isn’t a raw to be seen anywhere on this puppy.  I did all kinds of flips, folds or what ever it took to accomplish such a feats.  Seams are either 2or 3deep and seams that I thought would be stressed more (i.e. handles attachment to the bag) was sewn, backstitched & sewn again for strength.  There are a variety size pockets on the outside to stash things and the handles are extra long so as to  be able to carry with tall items inside the main pocket. 

In the evenings I spend time doing something by hand while someone else controls the remote.  This could mean hand work in some form albeit hand quilting, crocheting, cross stitch, cutting… what ever catches my fancy or a change in pace.  I started the brass name bookmarker on Jan. 31st. This was a gift from Ms.D two years ago and somehow it was shifted out of site.  Any ways this is made by Bucilla and is the violet monogram.  It’s neat to see with the tri-lingual directions.  I have gotten down to the last 2 1/2 rows on the bottom.  So tonight I will finish and then I’ll start the orange accent lines.  

Or I could pick up my hand quilting on “Autumn’s Trail”.  I have started the quilting in the center. 

 

Can you see it?  Really it’s got some done.  Actually the right leaf is done & about 2/3rds is done on the left one.  Still can’t see it … well I guess I could turn it over for ya.

Is that better?  LOL.  Yes …. it’s those tiny stitches yet again.  Did you really except those 1/4” stitches?  They look sooooo big to me.  Like grand canyon stitches!!!  {{shrugs}}  It’s challenge for me to purposely make large stitches.  Maybe some day I’ll get there but until then I guess I’ll keep doing those 10 spi on average.

Remember the pictures of the snow from last week, well in less than 24 hours we got around 12” of new snow.  We went from seeing robins in the neighbors apple tree to see the cardinals across the river. 

  

Robin w/apple … note the loops of fence                                 Same loops on fence                   

This next pictures shows Ms. Honey sitting in the window.  Now keep in mind that is the picnic table in the background – which was down to an inch or two the day before.

 

Is the snow a bit deep around here?  Well you tell me…

Here are some pictures from the front of the house.  That second picture shows the snow is butt deep on a 5’3”  me.   Even the cats have an opinion.  It appears to have caused a disturbance at “Red neck Kitty Condo”. 

 

It appears to have caused a disturbance at the “Red neck Kitty Condo”.  The debate was getting a little rowdy.

  

  

And then Nosy takes up of cuddle time with Mr. S while he is at his ‘puter.

I do some house cleaning for a neighbor who works at Wolverine boots and she has her furry baby –Kasey.  He likes to talk to me when I come in.   I just happen to have the camera with me one day. 

Kasey tells all

For dinner tonight I made a new recipe out of my new cookbook that I talked about here.  I even got Mr. S to eat it.  Shocker!!!  I made this:

 

 

Now why would this be such a shocker you might ask?  Well you see Mr. S only eat rice when it is white covered in butter, sugar & cinnamon.  That is it. To him there is no other way to eat it. Wait for it… I even got some feedback from him.  “More Lemon sauce next time Please.”   Well shut my mouth & call me Lemons!!!! {{completely stunned into silence for a few minutes}} WOW!!

As I was writing this post up, I have been informed that I have won a “Traveling Stash” box so for my American followers … here’s a hint…. watch for more on that in near future. 

I have another book finished this weekend so that review will be coming soon too.  Now that is all said & done… I have gingerbread calling my name.  Until next time…

Toodles,
Tricia

Book Worm Wednesday

Welcome to Book Worm Wednesday once again.  Glad to have you back.  This week I have three books for you.  “Relentless Heart”,  “Prepared for a Purpose”,   and “Where Monsters Dwell”.  Three different genres that allowed me to feed my need for the written word in the past two weeks. 

How is someone like me capable of do this?   How does a one start an affair with “a single word”?

Well those of you that are true bibliophiles understand  how one can read more than one book at the same time.   I do it without missing a beat and this apparent skill set is something that I have since developed since upper elementary grades.  I could read anywhere at a drop of the preverbal hat.  Under the covers, on the bus with my knees wedged in the seat in front of me, hanging upside down on the monkey bars, walking to school nose deep and in natural kudzu vine caves in Tennessee just to name a few examples.  I learn quickly where the library was in whatever area that we landed in our many moves that I was subjected to all my life.  To me books were the constant in my life as I was forever the “new kid” in school.  I  grew up with taunts of “brainiac”, “bookworm”, “freak”  and more by many a peer.  Some how I was always to blame for killing the book report grading curve.  When assigned those,  I took what suppose to be 3 pages and turn it into 10 or 15without batting a lash.  Even in my college composition classes.  I was even known to do illustrations.  LOL.  By the time high school came around, things didn’t get any better for the rest of my peers when it came to time for the do Shakespeare.  The groans would roll across the rooms only to get to me with a “Sweeeettt” .   Why ?  Because I would read the complete works every summer  starting in middle school just because.  Remember when you had those required summer reading list?  My mother would look at it, hand it back to me saying “well … that will take you a month to read”

When asked what I read over the summer,  I would most often reply “all of them & more”.  It use to puzzle teachers and librarians alike.  Kids don’t read for enjoyment.  They don’t read all the books on that list.  In fact if teachers got students to even read one book they counted that as a success.  Many asked me and my parents what was “wrong” with me.  If I was a savant or something to that effect throughout my school years.  I was always found to be “too quiet” for my own good, socially stunted in their opinion.  I thought I was a well read child.  Go Figure … Right? {{shrugs}} 

I never really thought about it being unusual or different.  If you asked me to read out loud,  I would stutter and stumble with every word.  It had sent me to remedial classes time and time again.  Believe it or not - this has caused many phone calls to my parents and required meetings in more schools then I care to think about. The problem wasn’t that I couldn’t read… I had the opposite problem.  The problem was my vocal word speed couldn’t keep up with my written word speed.   But now that I think about it… I remember phones calls/meetings because I always had a high reading level.  Which led to many questions and pop quizzes by school personal as they thought I was just checking out books to hand in in a few days.  Example would be 7th grade and reading Margaret Mitchell's “Gone With The Wind” in 3 days or when I read  Stephen King’s “The Stand” the following month or two in a weekend.  As a child, punishment to me was taking my books away and forcing me to watch TV.  The anger that it would cause me…. LOL!

Well things hasn’t change much in my life when it comes to books.  I still spend my nights with either my e-reader or a book in hand with what I believe is my 5th book light in about 3 years.  I have to admit that moving into this century’s technologically was freeing in a way when when I finally got my Sony e-reader this past year.  I mean the person who came up with that… huzzah!!  Instead of packing a half of bag of books for road trips, I can download  them & take up lot less rooms.  Bonus!! 

So there it is, how I progressed in my continuous love affair with the written word. All it took was a single word.  Well now that I have rambled on about me and possibly more than you wanted to know;  how about those book reviews. {{wink!!}}

First up is “Where Monsters Dwell” by Jorgen Brekke.  Published February 11th 2014 by Minotaur Books.

 

Description

A brutal murder in Norway, a murder in Virginia—both connected to sixteenth century palimpsest of a serial murderer's confession
A murder at the Edgar Allan Poe Museum in Richmond, Virginia, bears a close resemblance to one in Trondheim, Norway. The corpse of the museum curator in Virginia is found flayed in his office by the cleaning staff; the corpse of an archivist at the library in Norway, is found inside a locked vault used to store delicate and rare books. Richmond homicide detective Felicia Stone and Trondheim police inspector Odd Singsaker find themselves working on similar murder cases, committed the same way, but half a world away. And both murders are somehow connected to a sixteenth century palimpsest book—The Book of John—which appears to be a journal of a serial murderer back in 1529 Norway, a book bound in human skin.

This review comes to me as an ARC through NetGallery for my honest opinion. The following is my own statements and doesn’t reflect on to those associated with the making of the book.  The description was provided by NetGallery.

Wow!! This book was gripping from the very beginning.  This author is Scandinavian and has the ability to pull you into the grisly scene with the finest description that was beyond impressive with his knowledge of police procedure, human anatomy and historical facts.  He teases you with all little details that has you using all of your sensor organs as you read.  If you are a big fan of police crimes, the truly grisly personas like Jack the Ripper & Hannibal,  and a mix of homeland & foreign settings this book will have you in it’s grips.  But be cautioned - it will have you guessing until the end.  But not only that, it will cause your breathe to catch in suspense; riveted to the smooth transition between the 16th century and the present, and those around you will be rivaling for your attention as you try to read this book in one sitting.  I’m very happy to see this book  has come to us in the English form.  Without any doubts I gave this 5 out of 5 stars and would give it more if I could.

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Next we have “Rebellious Heart” by Jody Hedlund. Published September 15th 2013 by Bethany House Publishers.

Description

When Susanna's heart for the poor and Ben's disillusionment with British rule cross paths, the two find themselves bound in a dangerous fight for justice.

Because she's a woman, higher learning was always closed to Susanna Smith. But her quick mind and quicker tongue never back down from a challenge. And she's determined to marry well, so she'll be able to continue her work with the less fortunate.
Growing up with little to his name, poor country lawyer Benjamin Ross dreams of impacting the world for the better. When introduced to the Smiths he's taken by Susanna's intelligence and independent spirit, but her parents refuse to see him as a suitor for their daughter.
When the life of a runaway indentured servant is threatened, Susanna is forced to choose between justice and mercy, and Ben becomes her unlikely advisor. But drawing closer to this man of principle and intellect lands her in a dangerous, secret world of rebellion and revolution against everything she once held dear.

This review comes to me as an ARC through NetGallery for my honest opinion. The following is my own statements and doesn’t reflect on to those associated with the making of the book.  The description was provided by NetGallery.

This was a historical romance “loosely” based on the fledging stages of President John Adams & his wife - Abigail pre-Revolutionary War according to the author in a somewhat condensed timeline.  This is the story of opposites attracting after a bit of a bumpy road during a time where you knew your place, what was excepted of you, where your reputation was everything and sometimes secrets are hard to keep. 

You’re transported back to a time when we were still under Monarchy rule, heavy taxes and animosity for the British “red coats” in evident.  The story was well written in it’s glances of the past, smooth reading and making you understand how some decisions were made.  I thought the back was put together well and I’d give it 4.5 stars out of 5.

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Now I bring to you “Prepared for a Purpose: The Inspiring True Story of How One Woman Saved an Atlanta School Under Siege”by Antoinette Tuff,  with Alex Tresniowski. Published January 21st 2014 by Bethany House Publishers. 

Description

True Story of Courage and Compassion in a School Under Siege
As 870 children waited in fear, their elementary school rushed into lockdown mode. As the nation faced yet another Sandy Hook story of tragedy, one woman rewrote the ending.
Yet the story doesn't start with those first steps Michael Hill took into that Atlanta elementary school. It starts with Antoinette Tuff, a woman who faced her own pain, hurt, and rejection, yet held onto grace, faith, and hope. A hope that anchored her in the most high stakes of moments, a grace that allowed her to empathize with a hurting young man, and a faith that gave her the courage to love him back from the brink.
This is more than just the amazing account of tragedy averted. It's the evidence of what we can do when we allow ourselves to be used by God. And it's a story of how God uses "all "of our life experiences--the good and the bad--to prepare us for our own moment of divine purpose

This review comes to me as an ARC through NetGallery for my honest opinion. The following is my own statements and doesn’t reflect on to those associated with the making of the book.  The description was provided by NetGallery.

This book comes out in a time when almost nightly we hear of a school or public place was subjected to yet another shooting.  We try to figure out what makes the shooter do such things and who is responsible.  And often than not, the innocent victims shot before the shooter takes his own life.  This true story give you a slightly different approach as a Ms. Tuff’s day begins just like any other day and takes a dive down hill before noon.  This story plays on many of your emotions as you read it.  At times I found this book difficult to get through with it emotional roller coaster but it’s was refreshing that some one made a difference in this young man’s life - who took the only action he could in his desperate plea for help in a society that failed him in the form of budget cuts, no matter what was happening in her own life that seemly is crumbling around her.  I was glad I  made it completely through the story.   I would give it 4.75 stars out of 5.

Well after such a large posting, I will wrap this up.  If you happen to read any of these books I would love to know what you thought of them.  I’ve loaded the e-reader with my next stack of virtual books and  I have a real book to start tonight.  Until next time …

Toodles,
Tricia

The GYB Winner, ThreadHead & More

Before I go to my list and Mr. Random # Generator ,  I want to Thank all of you who came calling during the GYB party.  I especially would like to say a big “Thank You” to Vicki over at http://vicki-2bagsfull.blogspot.com for all the hard work it took to bring us almost 600 blogs to visit.  I am still working my way through the list as I’m sure many you are too.  So I had 25 comments left before the drawing  so I wrote them out of a sheet of paper giving each of you a number.  I used Mr. #’s to select one lucky winner  and here we go!!!   And the winner is…..

 

From Newfoundland, Canada --

Judy Cooper of Judy Cooper Textile Images!!!!

Congratulations Judy…. be on the look out for an e-mail so that I can get your snail mail to send these lovely bags out to you. 

Now to the quilty news of the week.  When you are in your quilty groove everything but you & machine survive the tunnel vision.  Thie world falls away and strange things have been know to happen without your knowledge.  Case in point, I was in my groove when the slight movement sort of was seen out of the corner of my eye.  I thought nothing of it.  Until later in the evening… when these are found on the camera…. I present “Hang on by a Thread Merry Mayhem Style”.  Why is it he always catches me on bad hair days?  LOL.

  

I have been working on the Merry Mayhem Mystery for several days.  I was clipping along in the chain stitch process in a fair pace when after it was all said and done I hit a snag.  The smaller HST’s needed was all 1/8” short on one side!  NOOOOOOO!!!! Crap!!  Now I’m spending way too much time un-sewing the 70 seams that are done before I can re-sew them.  I’m soooo mad at myself at the moment and it has killed my my time table for the rest of the month. 

 

So today I threw a turkey in the oven for supper since I’m determined to getting all these blocks unstitched & re-stitched so that I can try to salvage some of my goals this month.  The house smells yummy from the oven and I’m just going to do some smashed potatoes with gravy and for me – some cranberry sauce.  Who says that turkey is only for the Holidays?  Not in my house!!  We even have a system of sorts when it comes right down to it.  Mr. S prefers the breast meat where I snarf on the dark meat first before moving the to white meat.  After a few days Mr. S will have eaten all that he cares to and the leftovers are all mine!!! Yeah! I love turning it into my Turkey Curry Wardorf  salad. 

Good thing is that I did find the solid fabric for the “Pop Stars”  Table runner  for this months “Gift-A-Month” challenge along with some scrap batting that is just right.  And since I have been trying to “tame” my scraps into useable pieces I’m a little bit ahead of the game so to speak.  I think I’ll move “Penny Candy” off to next month and for the brass bookmarker, Ill be happy to get that background color done by month’s end.  With a little rearranging, I still might make some of my goals this month. 

So far according to the Feb. Goals list… I have done the 3 B’s on “Autumn’s Trails” and have been doing some of the hand quilting in the center section so far.  Then for my “read”challenge I have read one more book and I’m half way 2 more.  So I’m okay on that side of things.

With winter being never-ending it seems, I had to take photos through the back sliding door.  When I discovered the ducks was visiting,  I grabbed my Minolta QTsi Maxxum that was sitting on the buffet behind me and in a minutes I went through 3 rolls of 35mm film with my 70/300 lens.  Call my old school but to me is nothing more  I love to do then to pick up my camera and burn some film.  I’m one that would rather be on the back side of the camera instead of the front.  I have a plan for these once I get the film developed.  But for faster pictures to share on the spot … I have to grab the Nikon Coolpix L22 Digital.  Those photos are the ones that you my readers get to see more of.  So here are today’s photo choices.

                                                       The Girls after a hard morning of chase!!

  

                                                  We aren’t sure what kind these ones are …Yet.

     

  Just Some Snow Shots

It’s pretty to interesting to see what is going on around us even in the colder weather.  In fact, yesterday I have seen a pair or two of robins up in the neighbors apple tree just outside the dining room window.  I look forward to the days when the hummingbirds will be back at the feeders again.  I love watching them all the time. 

Well it’s around 3:30 EST and that turkey is wanting some attention.  So with that I want to say thank you once again stopping in & poking about.   Of course we all know I love comments. Mid–week ,  I’ll have a couple reviews up for Book Worm Wednesday and maybe I’ll be able to show you some progress pictures on my projects at hand.  Until then…..

Toodles,
Tricia

Goals of February & Exotic Foods

This month I’m all for setting goals to help keep me on track in my somewhat busy schedule.  I  do some house cleaning for a neighbor  that has 2 types of cleaning.  The first is the ‘normal’ day to day stuff… no biggie.  But the second one is the DEEP  cleaning.  As in scrub the thick coat of nicotine off walls and such.  That is my workout routine right now and man I found muscles that I forgot about.  I  go down a few times a week between Mondays & Thursday.  Wednesday is quilt group, Friday evenings is Quilt Chat on Q&N.com. The weekend is just enough time to try and recoup.  This is when I usually drag the sewing machine across the dining table for a marathon if I have something ready.   If not I move on to do some hand work.  This could include drawing lines on HST’s, some cross-stitching (which is pretty new to me), Redwork or some hand quilting . Depending on what mood I’m in.  Variety is important to keep from burning out.  Of course that rule goes out the door if I’m working on a specific project like quilting an “Auntie Quilt” or a swap deadline project. 

Anyhow, I was thinking about what I wanted to accomplish this month and I’ll share them with you.  These of course are in a random order of listing.  I know that I have so much to work on, as many quilters do; that I could add to this list but I think it’s best if I start on a short list.  But if I list all the things I want to accomplish -- it would very long and daunting.  It would have me conquered before I even started.  These are relatively small  projects with “Autumn Trails”  top being the largest at 23” square.

1.) Make my “Pop Stars Runner” from a free pattern on Stitchintree.com . This is my Gift of the Month for the Seasonal Swaps @ the end of the year.

2.) Start by doing the 3 B’s & hand quilting UFO “Autumn Trails”.

3) Get to the letter “R” in my Brass Cross-stitched Bookmarker that was a gift from Canadian Ms. D 2 years ago - oh my. 

4.)  Finish hand quilting my little table runner “Penny Candy”.

And for my reading goals – finish at least  2 books I’m currently reading. I think I have 5 going at the moment.  LOL. 

It should be interesting to see just how far I get on these. I will keep you updated as I go along.  What about You … do you have any goals that you want to meet this month? 

I have been trying out new recipes from this great book “Thai & South-East Asian Cooking & Far Eastern Classics” by Deh-Ta Hsiung, Becky Johnson and Sallie Morris.   I love exotic foods from around the world.  And these days I’m breaking out of the rut of the Mr. S’s “normal”   mostly bland menu.  I have checked this book out from the library and have had it close to 2 months now.  I’m the only person who has checked it.  LOL.  The hardest thing is finding some of these special ingredients in the slightly bigger towns much less in the little village.  Ingredients like Kaffir Lime Leaves,Tamarind Paste, Lemon Grass,  Dried Shrimp Paste just to name a couple. 

My menu this month will include Pork Belly with 5 Spice (tonight’s dinner), Beef in Oyster Sauce, Omelette Soup with Shrimp, Chicken with Lemon Sauce, Rice in Green Tea with Salmon, and Noodle & Vegetables in Coconut Sauce.   It will have a nice variety to mix in some of the meals that will come up out of packaged based meals.  Like Venison Raisin Curry made with Knorr’s new Rice Sides Thai  Curry Rice, and Chicken Fried Rice as an example.

Then there is the whole Crockpot meals of BBQ Country Pork Ribs, New England Pot Roast & Veggies These are great for the those all day sew-a-thon’s that usually happen during the weekends.  I have been know to also do pots of homemade soups, “Fend for Yourself”  leftovers, and “On Your Own” sandwich nights when I really get into a serious quilting zone.  I know that I can’t be the only one who gets this way.  I heard about it all the time.  And as for house cleaning… well let’s just say I clean the bathroom and he does the dishes beyond those paper plates.  LOL.  But I have to say Mr.S is pretty forgiven with me & my endless quilting “stuff” everywhere and all the time it takes to keep me busy.  He knows that when the occasion calls for it, all the supplies can disappear and the dining table will be covered with table cloth and placemats settings in no time at all befitting the company that is coming. 

Now having rambled on a while,  I think I’ll move over the couch to do some hand quilting on “Autumn Trails” as it has been sandwiched, hooped and the thread have been picked out. 

But let me remind you of the drawing for 2 of my gift bags that I did the tutorial here during the “Grow Your Blog”.  Please be sure to go over and leave a comment for a chance to win on Feb 15th.

Until next time…

Toodles,
Tricia

Book Worm Wednesday

Welcome to Book Worm Wednesday!!!   This week I’m trying something new and do some reviews on a separate day.  This week I have a few of them for you.  I’m going to do this when ever I finish a book as I tend to  do a great deal of reading at night.  I’m starting a new blog over on BookLikes.com under the handle “A Single Word…”.  I am also taking part in a reading challenge just to see how many books  I can read in a year.  My goal is 100 books.  I hope you will follow along as I read my way to my goal.    I also share my reviews on several online book sites, including Goodreads.com.

The first one is geared to children but adults will love it as well.  “Children  Of  The Tipi: Live In The Buffalo Days” by Micheal Oren Fitzgerald.   This book is published by Wisdom Tales in 2013.

 

This review comes to me as an ARC through NetGallery for my honest opinion. The following is my own statements and doesn’t reflect on to those associated with the making of the book.  The description was provided by NetGallery.

Description

What was it like to grow up in the world of the pre-reservation Plains Indians before the coming of the white man? Prior to our modern era of television, video games, and computers how did American Indian children live, learn, and play? In this beautifully illustrated book, award-winning author, Michael Oren Fitzgerald, combines stunning photographs and simple quotations by Indian chiefs and elders to explain to today's youth what life would have been like growing up on the American plains.
Children of the Tipi includes sections on boys and girls at play, camp life, and the important role of parents and grandparents. It features historical sepia photographs of children at work and play, as well as detailed color photographs of their toys, tools, and everyday objects.

I found the photographing to be excellent, the quotes from the Chiefs & Elders full of knowledge and insightful.  I enjoyed this look in to the Native Americans of the Mid-Western regions.  This would be a wonderful addition to my personal library and will be recommend it to my village library also as all age groups can appreciate this book.  I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

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This week I also finished another book from the “Quilts of Love” series. This time it was “Path of Freedom” by Jennifer Hudson Taylor.  It is published by Abingdon Press in 2013.

Description

When Quakers Flora Saferight and Bruce Millikan embark on the Underground Railroad, they agree to put their differences aside to save the lives of a pregnant slave couple. With only her mother’s quilt as a secret guide, the foursome follows the stitches through unknown treachery.

As they embark on their perilous journey, they hope and pray that their path is one of promise where love sustains them, courage builds faith, and forgiveness leads to freedom.

This one I checked out of the library myself.  I thought I would share my opinion on this one with you this week since I was here.  Once again I found this to be a fast read for me with it’s 226 pages.  This series has been especially popular at my little village library.  I was more than happy to recommend  this series.  These books are flying off the shelves as fast as it comes in.  From what I understand , they are so popular that there is a waiting list for each of them at our library and now the word is getting around to other libraries. 

Anyways, this book gave me another spin on the “Underground  Railroad”  then we normally hear of.  This one was about how the Quakers took part in the transporting slaves to the North with  the help of a special wagon and a special quilt to show the way.  It was interesting enough to sending me to my search engine to do some more into the subject.  I love when a good fiction writer does their research bringing to light something I might not have prior  knowledge.  So Thank You Jennifer for sending me on a new trail of education!!  I rather enjoyed the book and gave it 5 our of 5 stars. 

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Now here is one for all my quilting followers.  I had the chance to get a ARC from NetGallery.  “Quilting With A Modern Slant: People, Patterns & Techniques Inspiring the Modern Quilt Community”  By Rachel May from Storey Publishing in Jan. 8, 2014.

 

Description

Modern quilting allows artists the freedom to play with traditions and take liberties with fabrics, patterns, colors, stitching, and the ways in which they all connect. In Quilting with a Modern Slant, Rachel May introduces you to more than 70 modern quilters who have developed their own styles, methods, and aesthetics. Their ideas, their quilts, and their tips, tutorials, and techniques will inspire you to try something new and follow your own creativity wherever it leads.

Now I have to admit this is not my style of quilting.  But as a reviewer’s point of view this book is informative, up to date with all the quilters in the “now”  and full of tips & techniques' that even appealed to me.  Some I have heard of but was introduce to many names I haven’t come across before this.  There was lots of pictures and several patterns are included.  It would be worth it’s weight to any quilter’s book collection. I give it 4.5 stars out of 5. 

Well I hope that you enjoyed this special  edition to my blog.  Let me know what you think as I look forward to learning from your feedback.  Until next time…

Toodles,
Tricia

A Finish In Fabric

A new month has begun and I can actually say that I have a finished project in January. YEAH BABY!!!  Doing the Happy Dance here.  I was cutting it close – real close as in 11:30 pm on Jan. 31st –close.  But I finished  “Dragonflies’ Dance”  lock, stock & barrel.  This is Ms. D’s Auntie Quilt from over on Q&N.com. 

 

                                                                 Finished -- Jan. 31 @ home

I started stenciling the dragonflies’ sometime in Sept., then moved on to hand quilting it in my 27” floor hoop in October , to placing the last stitch on Jan. 31st.  This quilt is a bit larger than a lap quilt, but not quite a twin @ 59 1/2” X 60 1/2” .  I have to say I’m right proud of this accomplishment.  Even though we added an extra border, then there was the holidays when I took the time out for family, the addition of major stress & turmoil with in my house hold,  the month & 1/2 of manic swap sewing, and then the normal day-to-day life things: I was able to finish hand quilting this wonderful quilt in about 4 months.  Whew!  That is making me jittery just thinking about it!

       

          Sept. @ Library                               Oct. @ Library                                 Nov. @ Home

Thank Goodness for really cold snowy days and to living on the private road that is a solid sheet of ice.  I mean what would any “normal” quilter do under these circumstances?   Well in this case, I had no choice; but to find a project in which I was able curl up with.   In this picture you can see some sunlight that managed to peek out in between snowstorms. 

 

                                             At Home With Cold Snow Days of Jan. 2014

I was bundled up pretty good in that picture.  The wind-chills was keeping our temps. down to –25*F at times. We felt the need to add layers, pull out the thick wool socks, use that fireplace that is peeking out behind me, cover up with a lap quilt and still have the need to add that lap project for the warmth.  We even had to turn up the heat up, downside that meant more propane is being used.   The cats went into a semi-hibernation mode themselves.

I find myself deciding on which project  I’m going to pick up next.  When I had to pack up the sewing items again, I did make it a point to hold back some UFO’s to work on.  This is the time I have decided to work on finishing “Autumn Trails”.   You might remember when I started it back in the fall.  I think it’s time for it to come out and be playing with. 

                                                                            “Autumn Trails”

Again this is another one of those hand quilted items.  Just before putting it away I had did a randomly tossed & scattered effect with the leaf stencil.  All that’s left is the 3 B’s … bat, back & bind before heading to the hand hoop.  This is my UFO goal for the month of February as I start machine piecing the Merry Mayhem Mystery from New Year’s Eve.  I’m not even looking at the “Super Bowl Mystery” as I have enough to do without the temptations of another one …Thank You Very Much!!

Next I want to say Thank You to all of you who stopped in during Vickie’s “Grow You Blog” .  I understand that there was close to 600  blogs on that list.  I’m am so slowly going through the list myself since I was tied up with “Dragonflies’ Dance”.  It was very nice of Vickie to put this all together for us for the second year in a row.  What a large undertaken must have been.  I will be responding to all the comments left when I find some additional time so please be patient with me.  I also want to remind you that I’m having a giveaway drawing on the 15th for some of those gift bags that I did the tutorial on here. 

Well my darlings, the urge to get busy is at hand so I must dash off.  Time for a bit of Fleetwood Mac & Stevie Nicks  tossed with some Sara Evans, Garth Brooks, The Supremes and Secret Garden to brighten up the day.   Until next time…

Toodles,
Tricia