Sister's Choice Quilts

A Great Tip

Do you struggle to get your quilting books to lie flat? Me too. I have been known to use all sorts of objects to hold my pattern books open while I read the sewing directions. For some reason, the Sampler Spree book seems to be especially stubborn about staying open.

I took matters into my own hands this week and took it to a little hole-in-the-wall photocopy shop in my town. "Can you put a spiral binding on this book for me?" I asked the proprietor. He was a bit flustered at first but said he thought he could do that. He requested that I return in two hours, so I left the book with him. I was hoping he wouldn't ruin the book and also that it wouldn't cost more than I paid for the book to have him put a spiral binding on it! 

I returned in two hours to find that he had done an excellent job and also that he only charged me $5.

Now my book lies perfectly flat while I sew! No more flopping shut, losing my place, or having to weigh it down with heavy objects.

I plan to return to him next week with several other quilting books that I have purchased recently and have him fix those up for me as well. 

The Cute Cuts Ruler Set

I have to share a new trim tool that I discovered recently. This little set of 5 Cute Cuts rulers is just what you need when trimming hourglass units. The sizes in the set range from 2.5 inches up to 6.5 inches. The rulers are sold individually as well, and there is a large selection of sizes to choose from. The rulers all feature a nonskid back to prevent slipping. They are designed by Lori Holt and put out by Riley Blake. 

When I make hourglass units I like to size them bigger and then trim them down to the correct size. Sometimes finding that exact center spot can be challenging, but not with these rulers. You can't miss the center point with that big dot to help you line it up. And the diagonal lines help you get your block seams perfectly square.

And there you go!

Four Star Summer Reads

If you are looking for a lighter, engaging summer read, I have some recommendations for you. I found the following books entertaining and rated them all 4 to 4.5 stars.

People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry is a "friends to lovers" contemporary romance. Poppy and Alex have been best friends for 12 years. Even though they are total opposites, their cherished friendship has endured. Poppy is a travel writer and each summer has taken Alex with her on a vacation sponsored by the magazine she works for. Except that two years ago the two friends had a falling out and haven't spoken since. Poppy misses Alex dreadfully and finagles to convince him into going on one more vacation with her. The book chapters go from the present-day vacation (which is a disaster) to flashbacks to previous vacations taken in happier times. This book has a "When Harry Met Sally" vibe and was adorable.

I loved The Guncle by Steven Rowley. Our main character is Patrick, or Gay Uncle Patrick (GUP) as his family refers to him. When his sister-in-law dies of cancer, and his brother puts himself into re-hab for pill addiction, Patrick is asked to take over the care of his young niece and nephew, aged 6 and 9. Patrick is a former television star who has taken early retirement to live in Palm Springs and enjoy his wealth and a lavish lifestyle. To say that Patrick is not equipped to take on the care of two recently bereaved kids is an understatement. But he is a good guy and steps up to assume the role of "Guncle" and do his best for the children. Great secondary characters, hysterically funny dialog. and if you don't find yourself loving Patrick by the end of this book, there is something wrong with you. Patrick is the "Auntie Mame" you always wanted.

The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary is another opposites attract contemporary romance. Suddenly needing a place to live after a bad breakup, Tiffy answers an ad to "flatshare" a London apartment with Leon. The problem is, there is only one bed. No problem, Leon works the nightshift as a hospice nurse, and Tiffy works days as a DIY book editor. They will share the bed, but never at the same time. In fact, they will never even be in the flat at the same time. They start getting acquainted by leaving notes for each other throughout the flat, and through their notes, they come to know each other and become friends without ever meeting in person. This is a romance, so you know they will meet up at some point, and when they do the story takes off. Amusing dialog and well-drawn secondary characters. You will want to be in Tiffy and Leon's circle of friends. Charming, funny, and endearing. 

How Lucky by Will Leitch was a very different sort of book. Our main character, Daniel, is unlike any you will have met before. I got strong "Rear Window" vibes from this book. Daniel is confined to a wheelchair due to a condition called Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), which in some ways is similar to Lou Gehrig's Disease.  Daniel has a work-from-home computer job for a small airline company where he fields text and email complaints from irate passengers. Despite his serious disability (he is unable to speak and only has the use of his left hand), he has a life complete with friends and interests. One morning before his daytime caretaker arrives, Daniel is on his front porch and witnesses the abduction of a young woman in his neighborhood. As the search for the missing woman ramps up, Daniel is able to communicate what he saw to his best friend and also to his caregiver Marjan. The police don't take him seriously, which causes Daniel to take things into his own hands with his computer. The book is a thriller, but ultimately extremely heartwarming and inspirational. You will be glad to get to know Daniel, and I promise you won't soon forget him. 

Are We There Yet? by Kathleen West is a very timely book. Our main character, Alice Sullivan, feels pretty smug about the perfection of her own two children. She has a circle of mom friends whose parenting skills she has judged and found lacking. That is, until her own children come under fire. Her second-grade daughter is struggling with reading and her middle school son is accused of bullying another boy through social media. In addition, suddenly things start going sour for Alice at work, and her mother drops a bombshell of a family secret. The issues that Alice has to face seemed very realistic in today's world, and watching her come to grips with her problems and attempt to navigate them seemed honest and compelling. If you have ever had a parenting problem, you will definitely relate to this book!

I thoroughly enjoyed each of these 4 Star rated books and hope you might as well! Let me know if you have read them, or if they sound good to you.

Week Six Red Sampler Blocks

It has been like pulling teeth, but I managed to finish the Week Six Red Sampler blocks. Aren't the two six-inch blocks adorable? I especially low the one that looks like 4 Xs. I had fun making both the smaller blocks on Sunday afternoon when I got home from my dad's.

Here's a closer look at the two six-inch blocks.

My father is doing great. He doesn't eat much, but since my sisters and I have been looking after him and preparing his meals, he has gained at least 10 pounds. Which means he weighs 150 pounds instead of 140. He is pretty frail, but we are building him up! No matter how full he is, he always can be counted on to enjoy a small dessert. His favorite is one of those Drumstick ice cream cones.

Big week coming up. Drumroll......Miss Eva turns 10 tomorrow! I can't believe how the time has flown. Our girl is double digits. It seems like yesterday that I got a ticket while I was following Sara and Ryan to the hospital. I was so excited to get there, and things kept holding me up. First the darn cop with his ticket, then a stupid cow was standing in the road and I had to stop and wait for it to move. I live out in the country, but that is ridiculous. Can't those farmers keep track of their stock?

I got to spend the night at the hospital waiting for Eva's birth, which didn't happen until around noon the next day. Hurry up and wait, right? As you can see, I only had eyes for Eva. 

Poor Sara, she looks done in. She had a time of it. Eva was born "sunny side up" instead of in the normal head-down position, which makes things difficult for Mama. It sure surprised everyone, even the doctor.

Eva is growing up to be such a lovely young lady.

One Quilt Block

This one quilt block is the only one I have managed to make this week. But here it is. The block is Butter Churn from Lori Holt's Farm Girl Vintage book. It is the 12-inch block from Week Six of Lori's Red Sampler Sew Along. I didn't have her exact fabrics but came as close as I could with what I had on hand. It's kind of a busy little thing. The idea was to mix tones of red. That fabric with the hangers on it is about as cute as it gets.

I am enjoying the sew along a lot, but have fallen far behind. I've decided not to worry about it one bit.

We had Eva over for a sleepover on Tuesday night and we made shish kebabs. You can't see it very well in the picture but she is holding up a skewer of peppers that she had just assembled. She is pretending to take a bite. She is wearing her fox nightshirt and the veggies kind of blend in. (We had just gotten home from the pool and she changed into her sleep shirt from her wet swimsuit).

And here is my husband seasoning the meat. He is doing very well after his recent health issues, thank goodness. We had a very nice family time with our granddaughter that night. The kebabs were delicious and so easy. 

When we make shish kebab, we always put all the same item on a skewer, we never mix them up. In photos, they show a slice of onion, a tomato, a mushroom, a pepper, the meat, etc all on one skewer and it looks so pretty. We have found that the different items all take different lengths of time to cook, so our skewers are all meat, all onion, all peppers, etc. How do you do it?

Hope you are having a great week!

Some Five Star Book Recommendations

It has been too long since I have done any book reviews. Not that I haven't been reading, though. I read 12 books in May, 9 books in June, and another whopping 12 books so far in July. So get out your pen and paper and let's get started with the best of them.

The Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian was great historical fiction. Set in Boston, 1662, our main character is Mary Deerfield, a young woman who has not made a great match in marriage. She lives a privileged comfortable life, but her husband is a wretch. Some things happen and Mary falls under the suspicion of witchcraft. The story is compelling and twisty and I enjoyed it very much. 5 stars

The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin was such a sweet book. Set during WW2, our main character Grace perseveres through hardship, blackouts, and bombings with the help of friends, storytelling, and a very special bookshop. If you love books about bookstores, you will love this one too. 5 stars

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir is absolutely, without a doubt the best book I have read all year.  Our main character Ryland Grace (love that name) wakes up on a spaceship millions of miles from Earth, after being asleep for a very long time, with only two corpses for company. He can't even remember his name when he wakes up, much less what mission he is on. Turns out, he recalls when his memory returns, that he has been sent on a mission to save not only his planet, but the entire universe. He gets to the star system which is his destination, and guess what? He's not the only one who's been sent from a galaxy far far away to set things right. So so good. The audio version is outstanding, and in fact, I recommend it over the written book. Do give this one a try. 10 stars out of 5.

Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau was a real winner for me. Our main character, Mary Jane is a fourteen-year-old girl who has been hired to be a childminder for an eccentric psychiatrist and his wife for an entire summer in 1970. It turns out the doctor has invited the country's most famous rock star and his superstar wife to live with them for the summer while the rock star gets treatment for drug addiction. This crazy household could not be more different from the restrictive, unaffectionate home Mary Jane comes from. Both liberating and eye-opening, Mary Jane is exposed to situations way outside her experience and comfort zone. The wisdom, maturity, and good sense she exhibits will make this book one of the best coming-of-age books you have read. Audio version is superb. 5 stars.

Malibu Rising is another outstanding book from author Taylor Jenkins Reid. Set in Malibu, California, the plot is about four famous celebrity siblings who are known for throwing a fabulous summer party each year. The action in the book takes place in one 24 hour period in 1983 (with flashbacks to set up the story). Each of the siblings is in some sort of crisis situation, and it all comes to a head at the family's out-of-control party. You can't go wrong with a book by this author. She is a must-buy for me and never disappoints. 5 stars. 

Falling by T.J. Newman was a wild ride for sure. It was the best thriller I have read all year, maybe the best going back a few years. If you enjoy a book that is a plot-driven page-turner, with every single chapter a cliff hanger, give this book a try. Basic plot: plane is hijacked. Terrorists are holding the pilot's family hostage and say they will kill them if the pilot doesn't crash the plane. Terrific character descriptions, gripping story. I devoured this book in two sittings. The author is a former flight attendant and wrote the book while flying red eyes back and forth across the country. Let me just say, it feels very authentic. White knuckle reading all the way. IMPORTANT NOTE:  DO NOT READ THE PROLOGUE.  It is not necessary and spoils everything. DO NOT READ THE PROLOGUE. 5 stars.

Stay tuned for some reviews of a selection of terrific 4-star books!

Easing Back Into Things

Well hello there. I am easing back into things. Rejoining the land of the living. Call it what you will, but I have been out of commission and am struggling to get back to normal.

The doctor says my eyes are healing perfectly and all is well. I had some sort of allergic reaction to something and my right eyelid swelled up pretty spectacularly. My vision was never constant. Sometimes super blurry, other times just ok. None of the "I can see the individual leaves on the trees" stuff that many cataract patients claim. The main thing I noticed besides not being able to see very well at all was that my world had suddenly gotten super bright. Too bright. Dracula at dawn bright. Wearing sunglasses indoors bright.

Day by day things are getting better. With luck and time, I will be able to see great again. I am counting on it. I'll keep you posted.

I am SO anxious to get back into my sewing room. My big summer plans and goals have gone right out the window. I even had an email this weekend from a lovely lady in North Carolina who quilts for me, asking if I was still sewing. Now that hurt.

Even while I was laid up, I managed to do a bit of shopping. Here are two new Halloween-themed bundles I picked up. No idea what I will do with them. 

Pumpkins and Blossoms by Fig Tree

Kitty Corn by Urban Chiks.

 

Hope you are all well. Looking forward to sharing more with you this week.

 

A Little Setback

Sorry readers. I've had a little setback from my recent eye surgery. I am not able to see well enough to sew or even type very effectively.

With luck, I will be back in business in a day or so.

Sampler Spree Week 4

Oooeee, this block was trickier than I first thought. I love the look of the half-square rectangle units. You hardly ever see those in quilt blocks. The challenge of course was to get all the points to line up. I think it is a cool block. It is from Susan Ache's book "Sampler Spree". It is #11 "Lacy Lattice Work", a name that doesn't make sense to me, but it's a great block.

These are my five orange themed blocks that I made yesterday when I had a couple of free hours. None of my eyeglasses work anymore, so it was kind of a challenge to sew. 

Instagram @samplerspreeqal has tons of great photos of people's blocks. I am doing a maple leaf setting using Cider and Persimmon by Basic Grey. I am pretty much copying Vanessa at Lella Boutique's vision, but I don't always do the same blocks she chooses. 

Did any of you experience your glasses being worthless after cataract surgery? I used to wear 2.50 strength "readers" for reading and other close work. The drugstore glasses that just magnify worked fine for me. Now they are way too strong. I have been experimenting with 2.00 and 1.50, but neither one is quite right. I think my eyes still have some healing to do before things settle down. 

I guess I knew I wasn't going to get a dramatic vision correction with this surgery, especially since my vision is not that bad. I do need magnifying lenses to read though, and to do any sort of sewing or other close work. Hoping I have a happy outcome eventually. My world is sure a lot brighter, which is a wonderful result of the surgery. I was looking at life through a golden veil for years. It is a pleasant change to have things looking bright and clean and not dark and dingy.

Serendipity Catch Up

I had some time last week to catch up on the Serendipity Sew Along. You may notice that I didn't play by the rules and substituted different blocks for two of the rows. What on earth gets into me sometimes?...

There is just one last row of blocks to make for this quilt. My motivation is strong to get going on it and wrap the project up. There will be plain white rows separating the larger block rows, and a white border finished with a wider border in the largest grey floral print.

I am using Corey Yoder's collection "Apricot & Ash" and following her progress with this project on her blog.

My second eye surgery is tomorrow and I am excited to get that over with as well. Thanks for all your good wishes and encouragement.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!