End of December

December was a less-than-satisfactory fabric-using month. Not feeling like quiltmaking or sewing contributed greatly to the problem. 

The not-quite 5 yards of fabric used were for:

1. a back and binding on Posh Penelope (see previous post)
2. a sleeve on Infrastructure, a quilt that has arrived in Austin for QuiltCon judging, and
3. bias edges on two vinyl zipper pouches 

My only other December accomplishment was to listen to a lot of books! Twelve of them in December.

Book Recommendations

Though to make it clear, several of the Andy Carpenter books by David Rosenfelt, are only six to seven hours long. As you can see below, I listened to seven of them, which are available to me on both my public library platforms - Hoopla and Cloudi.

I'm hooked on the Andy Carpenter series because of the stories, but also because of the great narrator, Grover Gardner, who reads funny lines in a well-delivered deadpan voice. 

I've gotta ask... have you ever read a book where you found a mistake? A spot in a story that jumped out as wrong? 

I've found two of them in David Rosenfelt books.

1. The first was in the book Sudden Death, when the body of a shooting victim is found in a closet. Early-on, it's determined that the victim was shot in the head. Later, as the investigation is unfolding, it's mentioned that he was shot in the chest. At first I thought, "Ah ha! That's a clue to who did it!" I even rewound the book to confirm I'd heard two different statements. These contradictory factors never reappeared in the story, so I concluded that the book editor never picked up on the mistake. 
2. The second time I found an error was in New Tricks. I stopped the book and played the part for hubs. He agreed that it was incorrect. Laurie, Andy's girlfriend, is shot in her "carotid artery" which is located in her leg. Oops. Everyone's carotid artery is found in the neck.

But I'm forgiving when it comes to this stuff. A good story, especially those with details about things I don't know about, override mistakes. In fact, they're sort of fun to find... like catching spelling or grammatical errors. (I know. I'm weird like that.)

These are my book scores, with 5.0 being the highest possible score.

• 4.4 - Bury the Lead, #3 Andy Carpenter Series, David Rosenfelt
• 4.4 - Sudden Death, #4 Andy Carpenter Series, David Rosenfelt
• 4.4 - Dead Center, #5 Andy Carpenter Series, David Rosenfelt
• 4.4 - Play Dead, #6 Andy Carpenter series, David Rosenfelt
• 4.4 - New Tricks, #7 Andy Carpenter Series, David Rosenfelt
• 4.4 - Dog Tags, #8 Andy Carpenter Series, David Rosenfelt
• 4.4 - One Dog Night, #9 Andy Carpenter Series, David Rosenfelt

• 4.4 - Don't Open Your Eyes,  Liv Constantine
• 4.3 - Forget Me Not, Stacy Willingham
• 4.3 - Before the King: Joanna's Story, Heather Kaufman
• 4.2 - The Correspondent, Virginia Evans
• 4.2 - What Lies in the Woods,  Kate Alice Marshall

The other, non-Andy Carpenter books were fairly good.

I enjoyed the psychological thriller Don't Open Your Eyes, about a wife and mother, Annabelle, whose dreams often predict what will happen in the future. While I don't believe that's possible, the story makes her condition very convincing. The book takes an unexpected turn at the end.

Forget Me Not is another psychological thriller that tells the story of Claire Campbell whose older sister Natalie went missing two decades before. The last Claire knew, Natalie was spending time at a remote island farm and vineyard in South Carolina. On a whim Claire visits that place, and ends up taking a summer job picking grapes. The longer she stays, the more sure she is that people are hiding something about Natalie. 

Before the King is a fictional story about Joanna of the Bible who meets Jesus, questions what He's teaching, and becomes a believer. She financially supports his ministry and becomes an integral part of His story on resurrection day. The author gives Joanna a sister with epilepsy, and how that condition is hidden and denied. 

 

What Lies in The Woods is about lies, lies, and more lies. I was shocked when I learned who was lying about the body that's secretly been lying in the woods for years. Who knew what... who found it... who put it there. This is one of those stories that makes you wonder how the author's mind worked out such a series of events. Does she write from the ending backward?

I don't understand the rave reviews The Correspondent has received. It's a story about a woman, Sybil, who pens letters every day, and the people she encounters and gets to know better through correspondence. Sybil is a very opinionated, somewhat unloveable character who didn't earn my respect or sympathy. But the interwoven stories of the people she corresponds with are interesting.

As I look to Thursday and the start of a new year, I am grateful for the past year of being able to indulge in my favorite activities. I'm also sad about the experiences 2025 brought, specifically, the death of my Dad. I know I'm not the only person to have had a rough 2025. Several friends (two of them are bloggers) have also lost someone dear. Other friends (one is a blogger) have experienced severe health concerns.

All these things remind me to appreciate how good I have it - how God doesn't give me more than I can handle, and if He does, He helps ensure I can handle it. Linda

Posh Penelope Finish

No doubt, Posh Penelope will be my last finish for 2025.

Making this one was a long slog. It's a quilt that 'bout did me in because I quickly learned that the eleventy-billion steps needed to make one block involved more focused attention than I was willing to give. It was definitely not suitable for working on while on a quilt retreat. 

Setting a goal of making eight blocks a month was the only way to make myself reach the finish line. 

I recommend this Posh Penelope Sew Kind of Wonderful pattern only to makers who are strongly self-motivated and committed to a finish.

Posh Penelope, 69" X 81½"

It's certainly pretty. I captured this picture when the quilt top was on the ironing table, and daylight was shining through it. Misaligned seams don't even show!

My go-to method of basting is still with 1" safety pins. Though I occasionally use homemade basting spray (recipe on this blog's home page), I don't like having to put old sheets on the floor around the basting table, to protect the floor from overspray. 

My go-to batting remains Quilter's Dream 100% Cotton Request (lowest loft). 

I find it's the least weighty batting for me handle when a large quilt needs to be shoved around under my sewing machine needle. 

Wanting to get the quilting done, I walking foot quilted the whole thing. Down and dirty! The top thread is pale green Wonderfil Konfetti (50-weight), and Wonderfil DecoBob is on the bottom. On my Bernina 770QE I adjusted the tension to 4.0. 

All of the walking foot quilting is on the diagonal. None of the walking foot quilting is near a seam. 

I was desperate to find a piece of fabric for binding that had the right colors and was large enough to cut 230 linear inches at 2¼" wide. (Except for solids, my print stash is getting that low.) I used-up nearly all of this black and white, with aqua, pink and green stripe. My binding method is No Tails Binding: Mitered Corners by Machine, that's a tutorial here on my blog. 

Backing fabric is a wide back, intentionally purchased for Posh Penelope in July from KC Maker Studio (Kansas City). It's a fabulous quilt shop to visit, if you're ever in Kansas City. In fact, they've expanded since I was there!

I like sitting down with a quilt for a couple of evenings, hand stitching binding.

I can't tell you what a relief it is to have this quilt done and dusted.

 

Special thanks to my DH quilt holder.  😀

Linda

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