New Projects

Don't ask me why, but when I saw the adorable ponies being made by Jo Avery, I fell in love. They're so darned cute! (I met Jo at QuiltCon in Savannah, and her Scottish accent is as cute as she is.)

Though I don't know a small child who might like one of these, I decided I'd make at least one to donate to the Children's Home of Florida.

"Patchwork Pony" pattern by Jo Avery

Jo's pattern is for sale, with a portion of sales going to a UK organization called Create and Sustain. These ponies are meant to be sewn using only materials you already have at home. The Sew Along begins tomorrow. 

I bought the pattern, and have dug into fabric scraps and leftover batting bits to get started. Though I'm depending on the sharing nature of local friends for felt and yarn to make the eyes, and mane and tail!

If you're interested in joining, here's the link to Jo's post with details.  Though I'm not sure I can keep up because QuiltCon falls during the Sew Along, I'll do my best.

I've previously shared that I've begun designing my quilt for our Central Florida MQG Architectural Challenge. As inspiration, I'm using the picture I took of the Miami Children's Museum, from the balcony of a cruise ship (our one and only cruise in 2019).

I pulled ten colors of Painter's Palette solids. After checking the museum's roof angles against my rotary ruler to work out that they're 60° angles, I started cutting fabrics into those angles. I moved around pieces and could see a possible three-dimensional effect with the placement of lights and darks. 

When one row worked out, I added another row. 

I like where it's headed, though I still don't know what the finish will look like. This is the first time I've intentionally approached designing this way.

Improv Discussion

Yesterday, my friend Maureen (in South Florida MQG) and I had a phone chat about the design method I'm using. She calls it "improv," as she understand improv is creating as you go, whether it's precise or imprecise piecing.

Not to be contrary, but I said I always thought improv meant rotary cutting without a ruler, and using organic pieces to assemble a quilt. 

We had a nice discussion about it, and ended up saying we'd like to know how other quilt makers interpret "improv." Do you have any thoughts about it? 

Nonetheless, I won't be going any farther on my architectural design until I receive an online order of more Painter's Palette "Sky," the lightest blue. 

Speaking of ordering fabric... have you noticed the price of raw cotton? It hit $1.28 today. A record high!

Not to get into a detailed economics lesson, but basically... last May, when we experienced an increase in the price of quilting fabric, by about a $1 a yard or so,  cotton was at about 96 ¢ Can you imagine what retail price $1.28 will translate to?! Fabric prices have the potential to increase by 50%!

My public service announcement to my quilt-loving friends:

If you haven't yet bought quilting cotton fabric needed for a project(s), or you anticipate needing batting, I recommend buying it now. Prices for both products will increase. It's just a matter of "when."

Book Recommendation

You really can't go wrong with any Liane Moriarty book. She's an Australian author who manages to write captivating stories with great insights into a variety of personalities. 

Apples Never Fall is about a family of six, the Delaneys, who live and breathe tennis. Parents Stan and Joy, married nearly 50 years (she's my age) have recently retired from running a tennis club, and are trying to adjust to a newly-quiet lifestyle. Each of their four adult children had the opportunity and potential to achieve tennis greatness, but are now living with various levels of success and struggles, especially in their personal relationships.

When Joy leaves a cryptic text message for her kids, and no one hears from her for days, the family begins to speculate about where she may be. The police are notified. They're recalling that only months ago, a young woman, Savannah, appeared from nowhere on their parent's doorstep. She ingratiated herself, moving in with them, cooking for them, and making the four kids suspicious of her.

I especially enjoyed this book because it's the first time I've read about the pandemic in a work of fiction. I wondered, early-on in 2020, whether authors would ever write about Coronavirus. Liane did. The pandemic isn't mentioned until the last chapters of the book, but the topic works seamlessly into the storyline. Well done, Ms. Moriarty! 

Linda's score: 4.6/5.0

Expecting to be a bit disappointed in any book that followed Apples Never Fall, I was happily surprised to be captivated by Mr. Nobody by Catherine Steadman. 

Dr. Emma Lewis is a preeminent neuropsychiatrist who is invited to look into what happened to a man found wet and wandering on a British beach, seemingly unable to speak. To investigate his case, she must return home to a place where 14 years earlier, an incident occurred that changed her life, and those of her mother and brother. When Emma meets Mr. Nobody, oddly, he reminds her of someone from her past. Unexpectedly, everything that's happened in the past becomes part of the present, and she must determine who's behind the confusing information she's receiving.  Linda's score: 4.4/5.0

In other fun and games - literally - have you tried playing Wordle? I learned about it from a blogger-friend, Cindy.

It's a word game that can be played only once a day, so you can't become too addicted! And it's not an app, but rather available through the Internet.

I learned this morning that Wordle was sold to the New York Times, so I don't know what that might mean for the future of the game. I only know I am enjoying it, and not doing too badly.

Linda