The fabric and three quilt tops were given away, to Monica @buttoncounter. This is the quilt top I kept after telling our 21 year-old granddaughter that I would finish a top for her, if she wanted.
Upon a closer look, two of the "borders" are actually pieced sashing. So, my only option was to remove the one border that was one long piece and cut it apart. Then, to make two borders, I redistribute the old fabric and added new reproduction fabric.
The quilt top is mostly hand-piece - very poorly, if I must say so. Lots of twisted seams. I just couldn't bring myself to take it apart and remake it. Where's the "charm" in that? 😊
So much so that after rinsing the top, I gave it another soak and rinse. Better.
I wore disposable gloves to periodically slosh around the quilt. See the fabric's blue dye that came off onto the gloves?!
After a brief dryer tumble, I let it air dry, then pressed and made the changes to the borders.
This is the completed quilt top with light blue reproduction fabric added. Originally I had thought I would machine quilt. However, after seeing how un-flat and "poochy" the quilt top was, I decided I would only be machine-quilting tucks and puckers into it.
I pieced a backing from all the large pieces of blue fabrics I could find in my stash. I'm just not a "blue" person, so I had to use some creativity to pull this together.
Knowing I would be hand quilting, I thread-basted (that took extra time!) the quilt sandwich. It includes a layer of pre-washed muslin behind the quilt top. Monica suggested that muslin would give stability to hand stitches, and the fabrics which are thin. I also used Quilter's Dream Wool to give the quilt loft and warmth.But, I'm big stitch quilting. I am following Jen Kingwell's method of quilting random cross-stitches according to this YouTube video. My X's are about two inches apart, which should take care of any issues with flatness. It will only take me an eternity to complete.
On the back, only a single stitch is visible. I've been quilting mostly in the daylight. There's no telling when I'll finish.
My ruler quilting foot is on my machine. I'm using a Fine Line ruler (the brand with two posts to hang onto) to quilt lines and arcs, and filling in with free motion quilting like circles, ribbon candy, wishbones, and zig-zags in whatever combinations I can think of.
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The story is about Martha Storm, a dowdy middle-aged woman who volunteers at the library. She seems content with her "I'm a nobody; I do everything for everyone else" life until an old book comes into her hands. She reads a hand-written dedication to... herself! Where did the book come from? Who wrote it? Martha recognizes the book's stories as told to her by her grandmother, and stories she told her grandmother who is now deceased. She must revisit her past. Of course, in the process of pursuing information, she learns that not all is as it seems, and she isn't the person she, or others, think she is.
Linda's score: 4.6/5.0
I picked up this book after The Library.... When an author is good, she's good! The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, also by Phaedra Patrick was even better! Seldom does a book actually make me laugh out loud (this one did), and even more rare is a book that brings tears to my eyes (this one did). Narrator James Langton is excellent, but then I always enjoy listening to books that take place in the UK and are narrated in British accents.
We meet Arthur on the first anniversary of his wife's death, when he finally decides to go through her belongings and clean out. He unexpectedly discovers a charm bracelet he's never seen, and after finding a phone number engraved on the elephant charm, is curious enough to pursue learning more. He finds out about his wife's past - things he never knew - and in the process gets out of his routine and the confines of his house to discover more about himself, along with improving his relationships with son and daughter.
Linda's score: 4.8/5.0
I have previously enjoyed books written by Sally Hepworth, and The Mother-In-Law was no exception. The story takes place in Australia, uses a number of Australian idioms, and is narrated in an Australian accent. Win-win-win!
Whether you've had a mother-in-law or been a mother-in-law, you will likely relate to Lucy who marries Diana's son. From the start, though Lucy longs for a close relationship with Diana, there's an edge. However the author writes chapters in first person from Lucy's point of view and Diana's point of view, and both views seem perfectly reasonable. But the rest of the story - family dynamics with Tom, Diana's husband (the couple is extremely wealthy) and their daughter and her husband (their desire for a baby) make for an intriguing story. When Diana dies from what appears to be suicide, and further investigation turns up different truths, you'll be wondering as I did, who could have done it?
Linda's score: 4.6/5.0
For me, 2020 is off to a great start! Linda
Your vintage quilt is going to finish up beautifully, Linda. I admire your patience and persistence in seeing this project through. I’m so glad you listened to your temperature quilt and custom quilted it. Talk about gorgeous! I love, love, love Imogene Church! Thanks for the list. I’m always on the lookout for good listens. I think we are audiobibliophiles!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the book recommendations! I’ll be looking for the P. Patrick one. The Sally Hepworth has been on my list too! Did you know I’d met her? Good luck with all that quilting. Your machine skills are awesome!
ReplyDeleteLove what you are doing with your temperature quilt and I'm so glad you decided to custom quilt it...it deserves it as well as looks fabulous!!! Thanks for the book recommendations. I've never tried audio books, but I think I need to try them!
ReplyDeleteoh wow - I'm impressed with your "x" quilting as well as your ruler work. Both are lovely!!
ReplyDeleteI love how dedicated you are working on that vintage quilt and also that your grand daughter wants it. I've read the "The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper" and liked it a lot. Maybe I should read the "Library of Lost and found" as well as her other books. I haven't read any books by Sally Hepworth though, so thanks for the tip.
ReplyDeleteI love the hand quilting on the vintage quilt. It will make it ever so special for your granddaughter. I enjoy your book reviews too. I'm an avid reader. Love historical fiction and murder mysteries. Don't listen to audio though. Just library books every night in bed and while walking on the treadmill everyday.
ReplyDeleteI love the odea of the quilted X's on the blue antique quilt. And I suspect much easier than attempting to quilt through the extra layer of the muslin. This will become a treasured remembrance for your granddaughter, pieced by her great-great grandmother and quilted by her grandmom. That is so special, and so worth the time and effort you are putting into it. The temperature quilt os looking fabulous as well with your machine quilting. All those luscious oranges make me think about summer mornings on the porch sipping my latte and catching up on blogs.
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