Sister's Choice Quilts

Mission Accomplished

Well, no, it isn't finished, but I am making great progress on attaching the lattice on my Hill Country Baskets blocks.  A reader commented on my last post that she could not see that fussy cutting the striped fabric for the lattice was worth all the trouble, but I could not disagree more.  What would be the point of a striped lattice that was all wibble wobbly?  It would completely detract from the integrity of the quilt in my opinion.  I love the look of the fussy cut stripes and think it is worth every extra minute of effort to get it right.  What do you think?  Pointless exercise or worth it?

On Saturday I had the entire day to sew, and got so much done!  My student came over to work on her new project and we stitched away companionably.  I have decided that since she is a captive audience while she is sewing with me down in the studio, I should introduce her to the joys of audio books, in an effort to show her there is entertainment to be had beyond video games (her obsession).  My first choice of book may not be high literature, but I thought it was a pretty sure bet to interest her.  Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer.  Being An Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jackie" Faber, Ship's Boy. "Life as a ship's boy aboard HMS Dolphin is a dream come true for Jacky Faber. Gone are the days of scavenging for food and fighting for survival on the streets of eighteenth-century London. Instead, Jacky is becoming a skilled and respected sailor as the crew pursues pirates on the high seas.  There's only one problem: Jacky is a girl".

I knew we were in for an educational experience when I told my student that the book was set in the time of Napoleon.  "Oh, cool, during World War One", was her response.

Okaaaaaay.  The good news is, she loves the story and didn't want to leave to go home.  She stayed for six hours and finished all her blocks.  "When can I come again next?"  she kept asking me.  I think my plan is working.

 

Good Read

Since I haven't been doing much on the sewing front, I thought I would share a book recommendation with you today.  This is one of the best books I have read in some time, and I have read some good ones this year.  This is a book that has stayed with me long after I finished it.

The book had me laughing at times, and certainly crying as well.  The subject matter is a difficult one, and not often explored in novels. 

Here is a description from an Amazon.com reviewer:

"Before Louisa met Will, her plans didn't reach beyond their tiny English town. Will, when he wasn't closing multimillion-dollar deals, blew off steam scaling mountains, leaping from planes, and enjoying exquisite women--until an accident left him paralyzed and seriously depressed. When his mother hires Lou to keep his spirits up, he meets her awkward overtures with caustic contempt, but she's tenacious and oddly endearing. Their fondness grows into something deeper, gaining urgency when she realizes his determination to end his life, and her efforts to convince him of its value throw her own bland ambitions into question. Plumbing morally complex depths with comedy and compassion, Jojo Moyes elevates the story of Lou and Will from what could have been a maudlin weepie into a tragic love story, with a catharsis that will wring out your heart and leave you feeling fearless".

Ok fine.  You think you know where this book is going but you couldn't be more wrong.  With each chapter you see the situation from different points of view, and by the end you may see that there are no right answers to this complex moral situation.

I chose this book for my book club this month and can't wait for the discussion.  There are sure to be a number of differing opinions on the subject, which should make things pretty lively.

It's a Pinwheel Party!

I finished all the half square triangles for my pinwheel blocks.  Woo hoo, it's a pinwheel party.  A plethora of pinwheels.

Plenty of trimming on these little guys, but so worth it to have them all come out a perfect 3 1/2 inches square.  I am using my Precision Trimmer for the job.  It really didn't take too long.

You know what makes a slightly tedious task a bit more bearable?  I like to listen to audio books.  I have a subscription to Audible.com, and each month I get a new credit for a book I can download to my iPod.  The latest selection I have been enjoying has been quite enthralling.  It is called "State of Wonder" by Ann Patchett. 

I thought this book was positively awesome.  It is set in the Amazon, a place full of truly mind boggling mysteries.  Also way too full of snakes and bugs and very strange indiginous people.  A doctor who works for a pharmaceutical company is sent to the Amazon to check on the progress of a drug study and disappears, presumed dead.  His office mate follows the trail in an effort to get some answers, and gets way more than she bargained for.  The descriptions are poetic, the characters well conceived, and the plot wildly fantastical.  I loved it!

Summer Book Recommendations

I know a lot of you are avid readers, as am I.  Since I haven't done a book recommendation post in awhile, I thought it was time I share a few books that I have enjoyed recently with you all.

I have never read anything quite like this book.  The first words in one of the Amazon reviews I looked at says "Marriage can be a real killer".  Um yes it can if you have a relationship like Nick and Amy Dunn, two of the most disfunctional literary characters I have ever encountered.  Talk about a page turner!  Things flip back and forth in this book so fast you won't know what hit you.  This is probably my big hit of the summer, and the reviewers on Amazon think so too.  Over 1200 reviews!

"Andy Barber has been an assistant district attorney in his suburban Massachusetts county for more than twenty years. He is respected in his community, tenacious in the courtroom, and happy at home with his wife, Laurie, and son, Jacob. But when a shocking crime shatters their New England town, Andy is blindsided by what happens next: His fourteen-year-old son is charged with the murder of a fellow student.

Award-winning author William Landay has written the consummate novel of an embattled family in crisis—a suspenseful, character-driven mystery that is also a spellbinding tale of guilt, betrayal, and the terrifying speed at which our lives can spin out of control."  (copied off of amazon.com)

This book was a combination of a legal thriller and a family drama--the courtroom scenes were well done and the characters are very masterfully drawn.  You will be caught up in this story!

For me, this book was literary fiction at its best.  The author writes about glamorous New York City in 1938, with a cast of characters impossibly fascinating and flawed.  The writing style reminded me a bit of F. Scott Fitzgerald, as well as Henry James.  You will feel like you know these people by the end of the book and think of them often in the days to come, wistfully wondering why on earth they made the decisions they did.  I just immersed myself in the author's writing and lost hours at a time.  I enjoyed this book as an audio book, and the narration was supurbly done.

This author, Tana French, has been my discovery of the summer!  I started with her first book, In the Woods, and haven't stopped.   Her novels are police procedurals, set in Dublin, Ireland.  This woman knows how to create atmosphere and characters, that is for sure.  "With Tana French, you can expect humour, pathos and well-observed social commentary, but above all, a cracking story that keeps you guessing until the end".  The writing style is so well done, and believe me, you will be hooked from the get go.  Like Elizabeth George, the point of view of the main character shifts from book to book.  Someone who is a minor character in one book turns out to be the protagonist in a subsequent book.  Her books contain humor, dead on social commentary, and crystal clear characterization.  I have really enjoyed this series of books and cannot wait for the next one.

The subject of this non-fiction book is a troubled young woman who decides the only way to get a grip on her messed up life is to take off on a solo hiking trip on the Pacific Trail from the Mojave Desert to Washington State.  No experience hiking, her pack is over stuffed and weighs 70 pounds, her boots are too small--the list goes on.  Somehow despite it all, she succeeds in her journey, both the physical and spiritual.  I would have enjoyed this book more if the author had not been so totally self absorbed and annoying.

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Hope you enjoyed my book recommendations!  Happy reading!

 

Hour A Day Check In

Ok, so it isn't a complete quilt.  But, hey.  I have been diligently going down to the studio and putting in my hour a day.  Maybe even more!  The baby is a trial, the way she is refusing to take a nice two hour nap twice a day, but I am making it work.  Thank goodness for the baby monitor, which allows me to run down there and steel a few minutes while she is taking her cat naps.

As you see, I am working on the Kiss Me blocks AND the Dresden Plate blocks.  The thing I love about Fig Tree fabrics is that you get such a total Look when you use them.  Everything kind of blends with everything else.  If you use these two quilts in the same room they will play beautifully together.

Next week I am going on a little trip with my kids to Lake Tahoe.  I won't take my sewing machine, as there is no room in the car, what with the high chair, the portacrib, the diapers, the baby toys.... I will however, be taking some hand sewing projects.  Birdie Stitches is making a long awaited reappearance, and I may just try to applique my Dresden blocks to their backgrounds.  Don't worry about me, I plan to keep busy.  I may get in some reading by the pool as well.

If you are looking for some fun summer reading, I have some recommendations for you.  I recently finished a wonderful book called Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter, by Tom Franklin.  Really a great read.  Kept me right on the edge of my seat.  Two Southern men who were boyhood friends grow up and become estranged, and then find out as adults they have more in common than they ever could have imagined.

I am also reading a series called "Bloody Jack" that my sisters recommended to me.  It is technically young adult fiction, but I am enjoying every bit of it.  A young orphan on the streets of London finds a job as a "ships boy" on a British Naval ship that is going on a mission for a couple of years.  Great story, and by the way, the boy is really a girl....

Some Worthwhile Links

This has been a very unproductive week around here!  Since I have not done any sewing, I wanted to share links to some various things you all might find of interest or inspiration.

This book by Pam and Nicky Lintott has been out for some months, but it only just came to my attention.  Paulette at SweetP Quilting posted on it this week.  Go check out Paulette's blog and look at the basket quilt from the book cover, that was made out of Rouenneries fabric.  Go ahead, I'll wait.

Amazing, right?  Don't you want to get online and order a layer cake of Rouenneries II and make one?  Me too!

Another tantalizing vision that I spied online is the Floral Antique Flower collection by Lecien.  This is an upcoming group that will be released sometime this summer, according the Lecien rep I spoke to on the phone.  Kristyne at Pretty By Hand showed a photo of the entire bundle, which you need to go look at right now.  Go on.  I'll wait.   She is making things for the company for Market, and obviously needs it in advance of its release so she can make up a quilt or two.  I want that job.

Must. Have. That. Collection.  It is sort of confusing to me, because I have a feeling that Lecien names one or two of their collections "Antique Flower" every year, but I swear, this is a new one.  Shade of silvery green, burgundy, tobacco, charcoal, pink, champagne.  Gorgeous.  I wonder why they can't come up with a name other than "Antique Flower"?  They have another group in pinks and aquas coming out this summer also.  Called Antique Flower.  So good luck ordering the right bundle.  Fat Quarter Shop differentiates the two groups by calling one Floral Antique Flower and the other just Antique Flower.

And here is a link to a Moda Lissa post (first linked by Sherri at A Quilting Life) where she shows how she organizes her charm packs and Schnibbles patterns.  For all of us doing Another Year of Schnibbles, this is such a wonderful idea!

Ok, hope those links give you something fun to ponder!  Have an excellent weekend everyone!

Grandpa Larry update:  Grandpa was transferred to another care facility yesterday.  His insurance won't pay for any more care in his previous skilled nursing facility, so we had to find another place for him to get rehabilitated.  And pay for it ourselves.  He still can't walk, so with luck, the physical therapists will be able to work with him and get him mobile again.  He just can't understand why he can't go home, but in order to do that, he needs to be walking.  He has thoroughly enjoyed all your cards and good wishes.  Thanks so much for contributing to his recuperation with your prayers and messages.

Final Day, Traditional Fat Quarter Quilts Blog Tour-- And Giveaway!

Let me introduce you to "Memory", the quilt I made from Monique Dillard's new book "Traditional Fat Quarter Quilts:  Eleven New Projects from Open Gate Quilts", published by C&T Publishing.

My quilt is not complete--I have ordered border fabric ( for a narrow blue containment border and a wider red print for the outside border), but it hasn't arrived yet.  I think you can get the idea of what this will look like finished from the 48 blocks I have completed and sewn together for the center of the quilt.

This is a picture of the quilt in the book:

Monique's patterns are so accurate and easy to follow.  She gives instructions for making multiple sizes for most of the projects in her book, and when her own fabulous rulers are recommended (for additional accuracy), she shows very clearly how to use them.  She also has a lovely blog where she shares her work and life with her adorable dogs Maple and Tilllie.

It's so funny, many of us who are quilters also have pets in our homes.  Why is it that when we finish a new project, our dogs or cats are so keen to investigate the completed work so thoroughly?

Here is Ozzie, checking for any mis-turned block units.  Can't have that, don't you know?  I am so glad I have him watching out for me.

To celebrate the launch of Monique's new book, Traditional Fat Quarter Quilts, I am doing a giveaway today of both the book and one of her wonderful rulers!  Please leave a comment below for a chance to win one of these two great prizes.  The winner will be announced on Monday.

But wait!  After you leave your comment here, you must go to one more blog to see another one of the projects from the book.  Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie's Quilt Company has also made a project from the book, and it is sure to be amazing as everything she does is!  You will also have one more chance at winning one of these terrific books if you comment on her post today.

Thanks so much for following along with those of us who participated in the blog tour this week.  And very special thanks to Monique for honoring me with the invitation to be part of her book launch.

 

 

Traditional Fat Quarter Quilts-Day Three

Welcome to Day Three of the blog hop to launch Monique Dillard's new book "Traditional Fat Quarter Quilts".  Today you have TWO sites to visit to see amazing quilts made from patterns in this book, as well as two chances to win the book!  So, without delay, you must go visit Denise at Quilter's Window, and Monique herself at Open Gate Quilts.

I promised to show you a tricky bit in my block construction and give a little tip to make things come out right nearly every time.

See those intersections where the red half square triangles meet?  It is REAL easy to have those be askew.  Much easier to have them be wonky than nicely lined up.  And that kind of wonkiness makes me seriously crazy.

So, what's the trick to making them line up perfectly?  Besides paying attention to where you are stitching I mean?

U-shaped pins.  If you haven't tried these, you must give them a chance. 

Here's how they work.  A picture is worth a thousand words.

Snuggle up your seam intersections so they abut nice and tight.  If you have sewn your HSTs with a proper scant quarter inch seam and pressed your seam allowances in opposite directions, this should happen without a struggle.  Stick your U-pin in place so that the tines hold down each seam allowance.  When you stitch the seam, go slowly (so you don't break your needle stitching over the pin) and try to get the needle to come down right in that "sweet spot" where the stitching lines form an X where they meet.

You will be amazed at how perfectly aligned your finished results will be.  Now, you can certainly achieve this with careful stitching and regular straight pins, but I find the U-pins to be far more consistent.  Besides, those pesky seam allowances are held down nice and secure, so there isn't any of that nasty folding up and mis-stitching underneath.  Don't you just hate that?  When you turn your piece over and the back side shows you a big mess of folded over seam allowances and you have to un-sew and do it again?  Those days are over with U-pins.

 

Another Great Book by Monique Dillard

I am so excited to be participating in a Blog Hop this week to celebrate the launch of a new book by Monique Dillard, the talented quilter, author, and creator of the Fit To Be rulers!  Her previous book "Fat Quarter Winners" was a big success last year, and this new release by C & T Publishing promises to be just as fabulous.

You are invited to follow along this week and see the inspiring projects created from patterns in this book by some of your favorite bloggers!  Here is the schedule:

Monday - Thelma  (Cupcakes n' Daisies)  
Tuesday - Lisa  (Stashmaster)  
Wednesday - Denise   (Quilters Window) and Monique (Open Gate Quilts)  
Thursday - Sherri (A Quilting Life) 
Friday - Carrie  (La Vie En Rosie) and Nicole (Sister's Choice)

Be sure to stop by and comment on everyone's blogs on their scheduled day.  Besides seeing what we all have made from Monique's book, we are giving away prizes!

So, don't wait another minute!  Go see what Thelma made from the book!  Be sure to comment for a chance to win some great prizes.

 

 

 

 

 

Cozy Mystery Recommendation

An author has come to my attention and I am just thrilled to share her books with you.  Louise Penny is an award winning Canadian author who has a series of cozy mystery books about a storybook beautiful village called Three Pines.  The first book in the series, "Still Life", introduces us to the residents of Three Pines, and to Inspector Armand Gamache.  An amazon.com review describes Inspector Gamache as "an elegant, well spoken man who commands his forces with integrity and courage".  Once you meet him, you will be wanting more!  And be warned, you will want to travel to Canada immediately and stay at a B&B full of antiques and be served mouth watering food.

The author, Louise Penny, is an excellent writer.  As lovers of mystery know, a good who-done-it features a good plot, interesting characters and really good writing.  She has that down in spades.  I would say her books will appeal to those who enjoy Ruth Rendell and Elizabeth George.  Penny's books are in the "cozy" genre, but are written to appeal to the intelligent reader who appreciates sophisticated literary mysteries.  Her plots are complex and always involve human emotion and meditations on behaviorial motivation.

In the first book, Still Life, we are introduced to Three Pines and those who live there--recurring personalities who will continue to appear in future books.  You will begin to feel as if you know these characters and that some of them are your friends.  I could hardly put the first in the series down, and am now on the second book "A Fatal Grace".  I believe Ms. Penny has written six books in the Three Pines series to date, and I plan to read them all.

Don't laugh--the plot of "A Fatal Grace" concerns a universally disliked woman who is murdered at a local curling match!  I am completely hooked.

So, pick up one of Louise Penny's books and settle yourself in for a cozy reading experience.