Through the Season

I'm going through an Advent Bible study that's keeping me focused on remembering the arrival of Jesus this Christmas, but also not feeling the holiday spirit. My Dad's death knocked me off-kilter, and I've discovered that I'm completely susceptible and empathetic to the emotional challenges others are facing. Friends who have recently lost someone (two people), or received unexpected and difficult health news (three people), or who are coping with a difficult situation weigh heavily on my heart, thereby impacting my desire to sew. Add to the emotional weight, the physical discomfort of an out-of-nowhere flu (cold?) that left me achey, shivery, and listless... it's been a low period. 

Still, my sewing room and stack of WIPs and UFOs beckon.

My Posh Penelope quilt top is finished and has been pin-basted. 

It's awaiting quilting inspiration.

A two-day spurt of energy had me sewing two garments. This is a Ceilo top made with "Eye Candy" fabric by Rashida Coleman for Ruby Star Society. 

This plaid linen sewed nicely into McCall's M7831 jumper pattern. I lined it with white muslin, and added side seam pockets. I've found it useful to have side pockets for a cell phone and iPods.  

Diamond painting dabbling continues. No doubt you're tired of seeing this one, and wondering if I'll ever finish.  

Round loom knitting - well, any form of knitting, really - has been most appealing. I am still enamored of Tiny Dolls, and though I always give them away (the local police department will take them in their squad cars, in case kids need comforting), I like making them so I can enjoy them first. The one on the loom will wear an orange cap. 

And I always continue to knit dishcloths - see the yellow-orange square at the top. A small pile of dish cloths is at the ready when I need a thank-you, or to send an "I'm thinking of you." 

Tuesday, while at Big Cypress Quilters for "open sew," a friend, Sandy, brought me a few skeins of donated yarn, and got me started knitting a child-sized afghan. Happily, among my Mother's crochet hooks and knitting needles, I found the size 13 circular needles called for in the pattern. Interestingly, I learned that I knit "continental style," throwing the yarn from my left hand (I'm right-handed). Since my friend knits "American style," we had to watch a YouTube video to see how to purl stitch in the continental style!

Our days haven't been typical for December, as we're seeing progress on having our previously screen-in lanai, enclosed. Last week a young man spent an entire day grinding the lanai's concrete floor to remove paint we'd had put on a dozen years ago. The paint needed to be removed so tile can be installed next week. 

Yesterday, windows that had been ordered seven weeks ago were installed. Progress. We still have a paint contractor to come in, and then have blinds installed. 

Around town, it's looking like Christmas with frequent sitings of UPS delivery vehicles. It always make me smile to see a person dressed in the brown UPS uniform, driving a golf cart with a wagon full of parcels in the back.

I pulled up in my golf cart behind this one. Seems to me it would sort of be a fun job in this temperate climate.

Likewise, all the rec centers are decked out. I thought Big Cypress was looking especially pretty when I walked in on Tuesday. 

Gorgeous flower beds for December, wouldn't you agree? 

Whether you're celebrating Christmas or Hanukkah, or in some other way, it's a special time of year, and I hope you're finding it meaningful and enjoyable. Linda

Round Loom Knitting

Since learning how to round loom knit in April, I haven't had an empty loom. Whether it's a 24- or 36-peg round loom, or a long loom, I've enjoyed making items that I can give away. Most hats and dolls have gone to charities, but every now and then I find a child with whom I'm acquainted, to gift them to. 

As when making quilts and giving them away, nothing beats seeing a picture of a recipient to whom knitted items have been given. Lately I've received several pictures that simply warm my heart. 

My friend Jody recently visited her grandchildren in Wisconsin, and then sent pictures of her two grandchildren with the dolls I'd sent along with her. 

This young fella named his Comfort Doll "Hen." 

And this young lady named her Cupcake Doll, "Cupcake." 😁 Both dolls were knit on a 24-peg loom.

Then, what really touched me, was the lovely thank-you notes I received from each of them. These warmed my Nana-heart, and makes me miss having young grandchildren. Mine are now ages 11 through 16.

A hat I round loom knit with scarlet and gray yarn was destined for my cousin's granddaughter in Ohio. While an Ohio State University football game was on TV, I received this photo of her. Too darned cute!

This sort of feedback is all it takes to keep me going, making more round loom knitted items to give away. 

The latest is a hat seen in a Herrschner's catalog - a two-color design I'd never seen. I wondered if I could create it by round loom knitting. 

I think I did okay.  My new pom-pom maker was fun to use, to make the top pom. 

The scarf is one I knit on a long, rectangular-shaped loom, and together, they make a nice combo. 

I only wish I had a reason to wear these myself. Linda

Wednesday Emails

For those of us who enter quilts into QuiltCon, the annual modern quilt show hosted in February by The Modern Quilt Guild (MQG), early December means a little anxiousness about receiving an email for each entry. Did three jurors accept my entry? Or was it "rejected"? - a term that isn't used in the email, but one that quilters have adopted as a hashtag for Instagram posts: #quiltconreject a fabulous online quilt show.

The reason #quiltconreject is a great quilt show is that 1,571 entered quilts were not accepted! Only 470 of the 2,041 quilts entered made it into the show. 

I received four emails Wednesday. Two of my quilts were not accepted; two quilts were accepted. I'm delighted and honored. 

QuiltCon "Rejects"

Party Time! was not accepted. No reason is ever given, so I can only begin to guess what jurors didn't like about this one. 

I made it during two different improv workshops with Cindy Grisdela @cindygrisdelaquilts. The first workshop was in-person, through Quilting Guild of The Villages. The second workshop was online through Central Florida MQG. 

My quilt reflects aspects of both workshops.

In fact, Cindy saw my Instagram posts about this quilt last year. When we were at QuiltCon (Phoenix) last February, Cindy asked if she could include pictures of my quilt in her book!

You'll see Party Time! in FreeHand Curve Quilts: Improv Techniques for Creative Play & Bold Expression.

Alternate Route, also an improv quilt, was not accepted... for the second time. I entered it into QuiltCon previously without success. 

I made Alternate Route during a virtual improv workshop with Irene Roderick @hixonir. It's one of my favorite improv quilts, and earned two ribbons - Honorable Mention and Judges Choice - at the local quilt show in January. 

It's both domestic machine and big stitch hand quilted.

QuiltCon Acceptances

Turnabout is the result of a paint chip challenge organized by my local chapter, Big Cypress Quilters. Mauve and purple were my two blindly-selected paint chips. I could add one more color. While at QuiltCon, my friend Candi pulled out a Painter's Palette color card and pointed at Lemon Ice as my third color. Lemon Ice wasn't even on my radar, but when I found it being sold by the yard at the String & Story vendor booth, I bought it. The color combo has panache, doesn't it?

Besides being machine appliquéd - it will be displayed in the Appliqué category - I thoroughly enjoyed big stitch quilting with perle cotton. 

Infrastructure is a RE-entry that was accepted in the second go-'round. It was a QuiltCon 2025 reject, and means that this is my first time having a reentry accepted. 

I began making this quilt in a minimalism workshop with Ashlyn Downs at QuiltCon 2024. It doesn't look minimal, does it?

It's funny that I could not master minimalism.... instead, adding bits of color (orange), and texture (with linens and denim), and a combo of machine and hand quilting. I couldn't help myself, and kept messing with it!

Infrastructure will be displayed in the Modern Traditionalism category. 

QuiltCon 2026 is in Raleigh, North Carolina starting Thursday, February 19, for four days, ending Sunday, February 22. It's my favorite quilt show. Ever. And I've attended many national shows.

Turnabout and Infrastructure are quilts #18 and #19 of mine that have appeared in nine QuiltCons that I've attended. Where does the time go?!

Since yesterday, I've realized two secrets to achieving QuiltCon acceptance: 

1. Have your friends name your quilts. Turnabout was named by Karen E. @sunrayatplay and Infrastructure was named by Amy Friend @duringquiettime
2. Make sure your friends give your quilt a name that's one word. 

😀  Linda

End of November

Although November was not a normal month, fabric use was decent and no fabric came in. I wasn't in the mood for incoming fabric anyway. 

The largest quantity of fabric used-up was in making 16 Posh Penelope blocks. I've wanted to finish making these for months - they've been weighing on me - and I'm glad to be done piecing them. I didn't find piecing to be enjoyable.

These are on the design wall today, and will be pieced into a 72" X 84" quilt top before day's end.

Other smaller pieces of fabric were used to make two Carissa pouches - a free pattern that was reworked by Becky, a friend in Big Cypress Quilters. 

The beige pouch, on the right, is made with cork (on the bottom) and fabric from a painter's drop cloth. The drop cloth belonged to my friend, Peggy whose dad "designed" the fabric. 😊 When I finished making the pouch, I gave it to my friend so she has a keepsake of her dad who passed away several months ago.

As I always do when making a bag, I add a vinyl pocket to the outside in which to display a Villages ID card. A card always has to be shown to get into a recreation center, so this is a handy spot to keep it.

Must mention that strap had been a drawstring belt through some cargo pants. I unsewed the belt, cut it down, and re-sewed it for the perfect "free" strap. Makes me happy I kept that bit of detritus that could eventually be reused.

The pouch's interior has six fabric slots for cards, and a zipper pocket. 

The other bag will also be given away, and is made with some fun fabric, and faux leather along the bottom.

The project using the least amount of fabric is this vinyl zipper pouch. Though I don't have a pattern for it, I watched an Instagram video by @centerstreetquilts and worked out how to make it. The pattern is called Sunny Side Up pouch. Love how mine turned out, and I plan to make more.

Otherwise, this month was spent crocheting to finish my Crochet Lacy Motif Top. 

I'm ready to wear it, with a camisole underneath to holiday gatherings in December. 

I was surprised at how heavy the top is, probably because it's crocheted with a 60 (cotton)/40 (acrylic) blend yarn, Bernat Softee Cotton. I actually weighed the top, and it came in at 14 ounces! As lacy as it is, I bet it will keep me warm. 

November Book Recommendations

I listened to only six books this month, the first four early-on, before Dad's funeral.

In my personal rating order, based on a high score of 5.5:

1. 4.7 - A Long Way Home, Lynn Austin
2. 4.4 - Open and Shut, David Rosenfelt - Book 1 in the Andy Carpenter series
3. 4.4 - First Degree, David Rosenfelt - Book 2 in the Andy Carpenter series
4. 4.2 - The Day Shelley Woodhouse Woke Up, Laura Pearson
5. 4.1 - Though Waters Roar, Lynn Austin
6. 4.1 - The Last House on Needless Street, Catriona Ward

I like Lynn Austin's books as there is no swearing, and they are peppered with Scripture and Biblical truths. 

The Last House on Needless Street is about multiple personality disorder. Though it was engaging, it was also confusing... A talking cat who reads the Bible and believes in God was a little far-fetched, until the author began to reveal everything from the perspective of the person with this disorder.

 

When I came across the author David Rosenfelt, whose books were just right for my emotional condition, I couldn't help but think how much Dad would have liked them too. The storylines are linear (in chronological order) and written with a sense of humor (irony and self-deprecation), and include a golden retriever named Tara. Turns out 33 books are in this series! It's the Andy Carpenter series, and I intend to listen to every one of them. Linda

Crocheting with Thanksgiving

In September, I happened to see an Instagram post by Debbie @bluebellrighthandworks. She shared pics of a fuchsia-colored Crochet Lacy Motif Top that she'd made. I was smitten. 

After ordering Bernat Softee Cotton Yarn from Herrschners, I got started. It was a great project to work on while sitting with Dad in a rehab center. After spending considerable time trying to work out the stitches and motif, I got pretty good at them after making 65 squares. Each square took 20 to 30 minutes to crochet. 

While going to/from Kansas City for our family gathering and Dad's funeral, I spent car time productively burying starting and ending yarn tails

Upon returning home, I spent several days pinning, steaming and blocking each piece, eight at a time. 

After laying a warm wet towel over blocks, and holding heat over them... 

I left them to to cool and dry for hours, or overnight. 

Sixty-five squares and six half-square triangles - ready to be joined.

I've joined the front.

The back is ready to be joined.

Then, I'll join squares to make two sleeves. Following that is joining the parts and crocheting around the edges. I have no doubt that when wearing this top, I'll be remembering my last days with Dad, and grieving that followed. 

Diamond painting is coming along and I'm about two-thirds done with this palm tree ocean sunset.

Though I'm enjoying working on it while listening to an audiobook, the quality of this kit isn't very good. Not only are many diamonds misshapen, but numerous diamonds have fallen off after being pressed-on, and rolled with a wallpaper roller. I have to glue them back on. That tells me the canvas adhesive isn't the best. Though it's a pretty design, you who diamond paint might want to steer clear of ordering kits from an Etsy shop. 

During my Tuesday morning walk I crossed paths with sandhill cranes. 

They're always seen in pairs, but this time there were four of them! They stroll through yards and across driveways like they're residents. 

Tomorrow, Americans are celebrating Thanksgiving. We will honor tradition with a homemade meal of turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, cranberries, green bean casserole, and pumpkin pie.

Gratefulness is in my heart for God's unfailing love and goodness. I also appreciate the beautiful place we live. This foggy morning photo with our plumbago in the foreground was taken out our front door.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! Linda