Sister's Choice Quilts

A Good Day's Work

Yesterday I got in a good day of sewing. It was a cold drizzly day, just perfect for staying in. I did two 30-minute sessions using the Pomodoro Technique (explained in yesterday's post) and got the seven rows of my Hourglass quilt sewn together. Tomorrow, I aim to connect those rows and get this top off my design wall.

I am just itching to get the Snowman Gatherings (Designer Mystery 2015) up on the design wall and finished. This is block 8, "Clocktower". It was easy to make, but goodness, those pieces are tiny.

Speaking of tiny, this is the Moda Blockheads block of the week. I made the six-inch size, which is made up of 1" finished half-square triangles -36 of them. This one took a minute to make, I tell you, even though I used triangle papers to piece them. It has to be one of the cutest blocks ever though.

I am pleased with what I was able to get done! Those Blockheads blocks are making me super happy. I did find a bit more of the Harvest Road fabric. Sue S. was kind enough to sell me a layer cake she had leftover from a project. I'm still hoping to find more of those navy, sage, and brown tone on tones, so if anyone has any they can part with, do let me know.

Hourglass Blocks Finished and the Pomodoro Technique

I finished all my Hourglass blocks! Now to sew them together and add a couple of borders. I am a person who really enjoys piecing individual blocks, but when it comes to sewing the blocks into rows, adding borders etc, my interest is not so keen. Most of the time I can manage to get my blocks sewn together (mainly because I want to free up my design wall). Often, however, my top then gets folded up, and set aside and I don't get around to attaching the borders. 

I have a plan to tackle that flaw in my focus. 

Have you heard of the Pomodoro Technique? The Pomodoro Technique is a popular time management method dreamed up by Italian Francesco Cirillo. It was designed not only to get things finished and keep users on task, but to help them figure out how much they can accomplish in small increments of time.

So here's how it works.

1).  Select a task.
2). Set a timer for 25-30 minutes.
3). When the timer rings, take a break for 3-5 minutes.
4). Repeat.
5). Continue to do multiple sessions if desired.

My idea is to start with a 30-minute session, take a break, then move on to something else. Slow and steady wins the race, and the project will be done in the end. This technique is supposed to be particularly great for those projects one finds tedious. The idea is to break a task up into short manageable increments that you tackle without interruption or distraction.

I will be adding a checkbox on my daily calendar for my Pomodoro sessions to get this Hourglass project completed.

 

 

 

Trip to Trader Joe's

My husband and I took an excursion yesterday. We traveled about an hour to the nearest Target and the nearest Trader Joe's. Our home is in the Sierra Foothills and the nearest town with any sort of traditional shopping is Modesto, about 50 miles from us. Trader Joe's never disappoints, and we came home with all sorts of yummy fixings to have for upcoming meals. They also have amazing flowers and houseplants. I picked up my traditional January white orchid, priced at TJ's for $17.99. The same plant, only not as nice, was $36 at my local SaveMart. Jeesh. Look at all those stems with buds!

Meanwhile, my January Book of the Month Club order was delivered and I have started one of the books, a thriller called First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston. Lots of buzz on Instagram about this one. It is Reese's January book club selection. The plot setup is that Evie Porter has everything a girl could wish for: a gorgeous boyfriend, fabulous friends, and an amazing house. Only problem is, Evie Porter doesn't exist. She's been sent by a mysterious boss to learn everything about the small town and her boyfriend, who is her "mark". Lots of cat-and-mouse antics and a fast-paced plot. So far, about 50 pages in, it has my attention.

This second book, The Villa by Rachel Hawkins has been on my shelf for a while. I am trying to read those books that I bought a year or more ago which are currently gathering dust. How about that cover, isn't it beautiful? The plot setup for this one is a dual-timeline story of a villa in Italy. In 1974 a villa in Orvieto Italy was rented by a famous rock star, who in turn invited a group of druggie musician friends, one of whom was murdered there. In the present day, a pair of long-time besties rent the same villa and plan to spend the summer there each working on their current novels. Emily, who typically writes cozy mysteries, starts researching the events of the 70s and comes to believe there is more to the story than has been revealed. Instead of writing her typical novel, she switches gears and begins a work that could reveal exactly what occurred at the villa all those years before. It's freezing cold here right now, so a book set in the summer at a villa in Italy may be just what I need to warm my bones. This book is free right now on Kindle Unlimited. 

Moda Blockheads 5 Switch Up and Search for Fabric

Moda Blockheads 5 started back up with 30 blocks to go in the sew-along. And I have decided to change up the fabric I have been using. My palette had been rust and black, but even though I had a great selection of fabric, I think it was too limiting in terms of how often I would use a quilt with those colors. 

When rummaging in my sewing closet I rediscovered a fat quarter bundle of an older Lella Boutique collection called Harvest Road. I absolutely love the navy, brown, sage, and light blue colors in this group. The background is an eggshell color, and I had several pieces in my stash that will work perfectly.

These colors would coordinate beautifully in my main bedroom and would make a quilt I would use and cherish for years. 

My problem is, I do not think I have enough fabric to make 30 more blocks. It was a popular collection around 4 years ago, so of course finding any for sale online is like searching for hen's teeth. 

The main fabric is the navy floral. The other pieces that work best for my blocks are the ones to the right.

Do any of you have any of this fabric that you would be willing to sell me? If you happen to have a fat quarter bundle, I'd be willing to purchase the whole thing if you are of a mind to part with it. I'd like to use the floral for the border, but only have a yard and a half of it, and I would probably need at least that much more if anyone has it. 

Please do let me know if you have any of this fabric you would be willing to part with and what your price would be. Thanks, friends!

 

 

Runners Up for the Best Books of 2023

I read so many great books in 2023 I was hard-pressed to keep my "Best Of" list short. These additional 12 books were absolutely excellent reads. They also offer a bit more diversity than my "Best Of" list, which consists totally of historical fiction! 

The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle by Jennifer Ryan. This is a reliable author for me, having previously enjoyed "The Chilbury Ladies Choir" and "The Kitchen Front", also by her. It is a sweet story of friendship between women in an English village who come together to remake wedding dresses for those who think they may have to do without due to the deprivations of WW2.

The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry. Also set during WW2, this book is about two young sisters who have been evacuated to the Cotswolds. Older sister Hazel entertains little Flora with made-up stories of Whisperwood, a fantasyland. Tragically Flora goes missing and is thought to have drowned. Years later, Hazel discovers a book of stories exactly like those she told her sister when they were children. Could Flora be alive? A spellbinding story of love and hope.

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano. This was a beautifully written contemporary family drama with some comparisons to "Little Women". It is the story of the four Padavano sisters and the broken young man who becomes close to the family. The cast of characters seemed so real, and even when some of them made poor choices, the reader sticks with them. The themes of the book are family expectations, depression, love, and loyalty.

The Connelly's of County Down by Tracey Lange. Another contemporary family drama that had me completely engrossed. At the age of 30 Tara Connelly is released from prison and goes back to her family home to start over. Family members holding deep secrets are a roadblock to Tara's plan to move on. The resurrection of a long-lost love interest and complicated family dynamics made this a compelling read. 

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer. Some years past, a hugely popular children's author quit writing books under strange circumstances. His hoards of followers have been waiting for a new book for a long while. Suddenly the reclusive author comes out of seclusion with a new book and a competition. He will host four of his fans on his private Clock Island for a game. Whoever wins, will be given the rights to the new book, which is sure to make a fortune. The competitors are compelling and deserving, especially Lucy Hart who is a struggling preschool teacher whose goal is to be able to foster/adopt one of her students. This was a sweet book, about found family, facing your fears, and making dreams come true.

Boy's Life by Robert McCammon. On the surface, this coming-of-age novel appears to be a mystery, but it is far deeper than that. The novel has gotten rave reviews for the way the world is seen through the eyes of a 12-year-old boy. Cory Mackenson is growing up in the 1960s in a town called Zephyr, Alabama. One day Cory accompanies his dad on his milk route when they witness an event that appears to be a murder. The townsfolk seem able to put the matter behind them, but Cory and his Dad want to learn more. Themes are good vs evil, ignorance vs tolerance, innocence and growing up, and much more. A truly wonderful book.

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. Basically, the book is about a college that trains young people to ride dragons to do combat with a neighboring empire that threatens their own. Not only do you need to watch out for the unpredictable dragons, but you better keep an eye on the other students who might want to do you in.  Dragons are very cranky it turns out. Lots of action, good character development, and the plot MOVES. First book in a series.

The Second Mrs. Astor by Shanna Abe. This is a well-researched novel about John Jacob Astor and Madeleine Force and their scandalous romance and disastrous honeymoon aboard the Titanic. Very moving and rich in detail of the Gilded Age in New York. If you enjoy books by Marie Benedict or Jennifer Chiaverini, you will like this one. 

Charm City Rocks by Matthew Norman. Billy Perkins is a single dad who lives above a record store in Baltimore. He is a happy man who doesn't wish for much more than to spend time with his teenage son and teach piano. His peaceful life comes to a halt when his son Caleb pulls some strings and manages to bring Billy's longtime adolescent crush back into his life. This is none other than reclusive, "retired", rock star drummer Margot Hammer. If you enjoy middle age romance, quirky characters you will root for, and second chances to reinvent your life, you will enjoy this book as much as I did.

Murder in the Family by Cara Hunter. The wonder of this book is the way it is set up. The narrative is done in a mixed media style using tv scripts, emails, text messages, interviews, and newspaper clippings. The premise is that a tv producer is making a documentary about an unsolved murder that happened in his family when he was a kid. He gathers an "A" team of detectives, journalists, and forensic experts together to try to solve the crime, which has been a cold case for decades. The reader learns the facts along with the experts and tries to solve the case along with them. It was pretty brilliant.

Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom. Crow Mary is based on a real-life character, an indigenous Crow woman named Goes First. The book begins in 1863 where we get a close look at the life Goes First lives with her tribe as the daughter of a Chief. In 1872 our main character is married off to a white fur trader named Abe Farwell. He renames her "Mary" and they embark on a journey to Saskatchewan, Canada. Mary comes to love her husband but is conflicted between wanting to retain her own culture and becoming a part of his world. A real event called The Cypress Hills Massacre takes place in 1873, and Mary commits a heroic act that results in her saving the lives of a number of native women who have been abducted and abused by white men. This act of bravery and the subsequent fight to see justice served will take a toll on Mary and her marriage for years to come. If you are interested in historical fiction, the conflicts between cultures, and the suppression of indigenous people, put this book on your "to-be-read" list. 

Don't Forget to Write by Sara Goodman Confino is a romance, but has deeper themes than that label would suggest.  It is set in the early 1960's, and our main character is a feisty 20-year-old gal who wants to live life for herself and not according to her parent's expectations. After an "incident" with the son of the local rabbi, her parents send Marilyn away for the summer to stay with her Aunt Ada, who is not the stern old lady her parents believe her to be. Will Marilyn conform and adopt the life her parents want for her, or will she embrace the unknown and embark on her own path? Aunt Ada is the mentor Marilyn needs in her life right now. The quirky characters in this book will stay with you, and the ending is so, so satisfying. If you want something "light", but also substantive, this could be the book for you.

I read so many good books this past year and wholeheartedly recommend my "Best Of" and "Runners Up" selections to you!

 

A Happy Ending

Are you ready to have your heart feel happy? 

This past October, my nephew suffered a cardiac arrest while walking his friend's dog one evening.  A passerby saw him fall and called 911. The paramedic team in the above photo arrived quickly, performed CPR, and transported him to the nearest hospital. 

Without any doubt, those people in the picture above saved his life. 

That's my nephew, Evan, in green. His recovery has been remarkable, despite several broken ribs suffered during the CPR performance. Did you know that broken ribs are said to be a sign that CPR was performed correctly? I guess you have to do it like you mean business. 

At any rate, after spending some time in intensive care and recovery, Evan now has a pacemaker with a defibrillator and has regained most of his strength and energy. He has even returned to work!

First responders are heroes, and the fact that my nephew is standing with his rescuers is nothing short of a miracle. These individuals are committed to frontline service, preserving life, and dedicating themselves to safeguarding citizens in critical moments. They certainly have earned the gratitude of my nephew, his family, and friends. 

This situation could have had an entirely different outcome, and the fact that it had a happy ending is largely due to the courage, skill, and compassionate care of the team you see above. 

I also believe in the transformative power of prayer and am so grateful to all of you who offered your support, hope, and spiritual connection throughout Evan's ordeal. 

 

My Best Books of 2023

In 2023 I read 146 books. 60 in print, 63 on my Kindle, 23 on audio. I must be choosing my books better because I had a fantastic reading year, with a whopping 24 of them being rated 5 stars, and 56 of them rated 4-4.5 stars. Without a doubt, my preferred genre is historical fiction, and my favorites reflect that. I read a lot of newly published books, but this year I did delve into my backlist, reading books published in years past.

It was hard to pick my favorites, so I have two lists for you. Today I will share my 12 top books of the year. Later this week I will share 12 close runners up. I have tried to keep my synopses brief and encourage you to read more complete reviews on Goodreads or Amazon. I also have more book reviews on my Goodreads account, which you are welcome to follow. 

Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon was my number one book of the year and a perfect read for winter. The story takes place in the winter of 1789 and is based on the actual diaries of Martha Ballard, a midwife in Maine. A despised local man is found frozen in the Kennebec River and 54-year-old Martha becomes involved due to her medical experience and evaluation of the cause of his death. Very atmospheric and suspenseful. 

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett. What can I say? Everyone has been raving about this book since it came out last summer. I listened to the Audible version narrated by Meryl Streep, which was incredible. Set in a Michigan apple orchard during the pandemic, three grown daughters gather at home to help with the harvest. Their mother was a former actress and they beg her to tell them more of her past. This book is all about family and making choices that lead to a meaningful life. Masterful storytelling. 

The Madstone by Elizabeth Crook was a dark horse in my library. If you enjoyed Paulette Jiles "News of the World" or Larry McMurtry's "Lonesome Dove", this book has a similar vibe. I adored this book, which is the story of 19-year-old Benjamin Shreve, an innocent bystander living in the Texas hill country in 1868, who gets involved in a whirlwind adventure not of his own choosing. He witnesses a stagecoach passenger being mistreated by the local sheriff, and when the stagecoach leaves with the man's fortune on board, Benjamin agrees to try to help the man catch up to the stage and his belongings. This is a tale of suspense, jeopardy, and unexpected romance that will keep you turning the pages until the very end. Benjamin's voice is droll, reasonable, and so sympathetic. 

In Memoriam by Alice Winn. This book begins in 1914 at a boys' school in England and focuses on two friends Ellwood and Gaunt. The boys too young to join up to fight in WWI eagerly read the school gazette for news of their older classmates, many of whom were dying in the fighting. Soon our two main characters are themselves joining up and navigating the horrors of the war and discovering their feelings for one another. This novel is a remarkable portrayal of two young men who put their lives on hold to serve their country in the interest of a greater good and suffered terrible consequences as a result. This was a vivid and compelling read. 

The Trackers by Charles Frazier. This is another winner from Charles Frazier, author of "Cold Mountain". It is 1937 and "Val" Welch has been sent to the small town of Dawes, Wyoming to paint a mural in the post office as part of one of FDRs New Deal projects. A wealthy local art patron and rancher, John Long, and his glamorous wife Eve, offer to put Val up on their property. Eve has a shady "past" and an ex-husband who may not be happy about her new marriage. When Eve suddenly disappears, John Long talks Val into playing private eye and going after her. And soon Val has some no-good desperados after him. Great secondary characters and lots of Yellowstone vibes. Great plot, terrific descriptions, and everyone is slightly unreliable. This was so good!

Weyward by Emilia Hart. This book is the story of three women in the Weyward family. Altha (1619), Violet (1942), and Kate (2019). All three share a strange gift and a strong affiliation with birds and insects. Each of the three timelines is compelling and you will turn the pages as fast as you can to find out what happens next. The book is a combination of historical fiction and magical realism, with gothic overtones. All three women have serious challenges to overcome and all seek refuge over the generations at Weyward Cottage. I loved it!

If We Were Villians by M.L. Rio. The setting of this book is a private arts college that specializes in Shakespearean drama. The book is set up in five parts, like the five acts of a Shakespeare play and there are seven main characters who are typical of the characters you would find in a Shakespearean history or tragedy. The book begins with one of the students being released from prison ten years after supposedly murdering one of his cohorts. The lead detective on the case never truly believed the young man was guilty and finagles an interview with him on his release from prison to find out what really happened. The story is a richly layered tale of obsession, passion, and friendship that pulled me in from the start. 

The Square of Sevens by Laura Shepherd-Robinson is a book I am surprised more people aren't talking about. Set in Cornwall in 1730, a young girl known as "Red" accompanies her father throughout the countryside, telling fortunes with an ancient tarot-style method called the Square of Sevens. Her father dies suddenly after entrusting Red's care to a gentleman scholar they meet while traveling. He is a kind man who raises her as a lady in the town of Bath. As she matures, our main character, now known as Rachel, has a lot of questions: Who was her mother? Who were the enemies her father always warned her were looking for them? A series of circumstances causes Red to go into hiding when her guardian dies, and she must support herself by reverting to her fortune-telling to survive and discover her past. Great mystery, major plot twist at the end, very Dickensian in style and atmosphere.

The Meaning of Night and The Glass of Time are two books by Michael Cox. In the first book, "The Meaning of Night", our main character does some pretty dastardly deeds, but he has his reasons. Our main character, Edward Glyver goes from the grubby streets of Victorian London to Evenwood, a beautiful estate that he has been cheated out of inheriting. Edward is passionate in his quest for justice and revenge against his arch-rival, the dastardly evil poet Phoebus Rainford Daunt. There are plenty of betrayals, treachery, and obsession in these pages. I was totally obsessed to find out what would happen. The atmosphere of Victorian England is masterfully portrayed. 

The Glass of Time continues this story of revenge. The narrative continues with a female main character, Esperanza Gorst impersonating herself as a lady's maid to the Baroness Tansor, the previous fiance to the villain Phoebus Daunt from "The Meaning of Night". Our fake maid soon learns that her mistress has many secrets, but how it all relates to her remains to be seen. I don't want to give anything away, but this book ties up all the loose ends left hanging in "The Meaning of Night". The ending is also enormously satisfying. If you enjoy Victorian drama, great prose, and wonderful characterizations, you might love these two books as much as I did.

Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence Ash is another book I am surprised not to be hearing more raves about. The story begins in 1940 England with working-class Londoners Millie and Reginald Thompson sending their 11-year-old daughter Bea to America to live with another family to keep her safe until the war is over. Her temporary family, the Gregorys, live in Boston and have a summer home in Maine. They also have 2 sons near about Bea's age. As she gets close to her lovely American family, it is a struggle for Bea to have her heart and home on two different continents. This is a powerful book, with deep and complicated relationships between characters you will care for. This is a totally fresh WW2 perspective, taking place in America.

I end my 2023 Favorites list with a re-read, that is completely worth your time to re-visit. 

September by Rosamond Pilcher. This is a book you will immerse yourself in and be sorry to let go of when you finish it. Set in September in the Scottish countryside, it is the story of a group of people who gather to celebrate the birthday of a local young woman. As you meander through the book, getting to know the various characters and enjoying the descriptions of their everyday life, you will not immediately be aware of the tension that is building throughout the story. It is a slow-building family saga, full of secrets and issues begging for resolution. I highly recommend this highly satisfying book. If you read it back in the 80's, give it another go!

 

Time to Get Organized for 2024

Happy New Year everyone! I hope yours was safe and healthy. We spent the weekend putting away our Christmas decorations. Every year I swear I will put up half of what I normally do, but somehow I bend to pressure and put it all out again. Well, our house has been "hushed" as they say. Surfaces have been severely decluttered and everything is neat and tidy and C.A.L.M.

Now it's time for me to get organized for 2024. After the last ornament was put away I went up to my abandoned sewing room and took stock. The list above shows the active projects I want to focus on in the new year. I'd like to finish Hourglass and Applesauce, get caught up on a couple of other sew-alongs, and get back to my Snowman Village (Designer Mystery 2015). 

Remember this great project? I think it is the ideal thing to work on in January. I have completed seven blocks and the alternate blocks. Five more blocks to go, assembly and borders, and this could be on my bed in January 2025!

Block eight, let's go! 

I made a start with some starching, so I should get something accomplished today.

We said goodbye to Ahren on Friday, which is always sad. He had a marathon journey home, which took over 24 hours door to door. His British Airways flight was delayed, so he missed his connection to Dublin at Heathrow. They got him on the next flight, and his packages and baggage made it home with him, so all's well that ends well.

Best wishes for an outstanding 2024 to all of you. I am looking forward to sewing, cooking, and reading with you all year long! Speaking of reading, look for my Best Books of 2023 post sometime this week.