Modern Mystery Quilt Finish

I hoped to complete my Summer Camp Modern Mystery Quiltalong quilt before the end of 2023, and I did. Whoo-hoo!

We didn't have a family Christmas gathering. I immersed myself in quilting and sewing. In about two-and-a-half days I quilted this  54" X 86½" quilt. 

As I often do, I walking foot quilted first, to stabilize the solid Poseidon blue-colored spaces. Then I free motion quilted different designs in each.  

The top is quilted with Aurifil 50-weight, color #4093, in the blue areas.

Lastly, I walking foot quilted a plaid design over all the pieced blocks using a pale gray thread.

The quilt finished at 54" X 86½" which is much taller and skinnier than any quilt I've ever made. 

The most exciting part of this quilt is the back! It came out so well that I will likely admire the quilt from this side. This is the backing that was a winner in the recent "Use It: Quilt Back Challenge" sponsored by the MQG. See winning quilt backs here. In February I'll receive a Hobbs queen-sized batting as my prize. But to get this quilt done now, I batted it with Quilter's Dream Request (lowest loft), 100% cotton.  

I consistently used a 40-weight gray-colored thread in the bobbin.

Our special Christmas dinner was pizza! Hubs always makes the best pizza, and this one is my absolute favorite. Compared to a regular pizza, this one has no meat, and is a little more expensive to make because of pricey ingredients: Brie; Monterey Jack; pesto (my homemade); green onion; zucchini; fresh mushrooms; and red bell pepper. It also takes more time to prepare, which is why we probably won't eat it again until there's another special occasion. 

With time on my hands, I've been listening to books while I make. Here are two more excellent titles to recommend.

Book Recommendations

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty begins with Alice returning to consciousness after falling during a spin class. She thinks she's pregnant with her first baby - hers and Nick's little "sultana" - and they're the throes of fixing up their first home. Alice doesn't remember what's happened over the past ten years. 

The thrust of the story is that Alice is trying to come to grips with the fact that her mum looks strange, and is remarried; her sister has gained weight and is stand-offish; her next door neighbor won't speak to her; her house looks fantastic - and there's a pool?!; Dominic is sending her flowers; and Nick isn't speaking to her. 

While the story is improbable, it does take an in-depth look at the emotional aspects of infertility, and the challenges of raising children.

Since Ms. Moriarty is Australian, the book is narrated by an Australian... and you know how much I enjoy listening to that accent.

Linda's score: 4.1/5.0

Keep Quiet by Lisa Scottoline begins with a dad, Jake, wanting to make a connection with his teenaged son, Ryan. Jake is the parent who drives to pick up Ryan after seeing a movie. When Ryan asks if he can drive them home at the wheel of Jake's Audi, Jake agrees, even though Ryan has only a learner's permit. That was the first of several impossible split-second decisions.

The story unfolds as Jake and Ryan pile lie upon lie. The burden becomes too much for Ryan who breaks down and confesses everything to his mom, a Pennsylvania judge. As always (in these stories), things are not what they seem. After being blackmailed, Jake plays detective to figure out why. When the blackmailer is murdered and detectives come calling, it's apparent that the whole event is much more than it seems.

I could not stop listening to this story! It really captured my imagination as I tried to work out what was really going on.

Linda's score: 4.3/5.0

 

Linda