Friday, January 19, 2024

Movin' Slowly

I don't know if it's from the colder temperatures here in Central Florida (37F Wednesday morning), or the fact that we haven't yet turned on our furnace so I'm wearing more clothes than usual, but I haven't had a lot of urge to do. Yet I'm plodding away on a couple things. 

One side of the improv quilt now has those "tentacles" pieced into it. I can't say it was either easy nor fun to put them all together. That's also why I haven't made more progress.

It's been a much easier to sit in my favorite aqua chair, and listen to a book or watch Suits while I EPP toward a finish on my Prudence quilt. Such progress there! Most papers have been removed.

It will take only one more trip across the quilt center to join the last two sections. Then it's a quilt center!

Next comes choosing fabric for a background, and then hand appliquéing each side of the EPP quilt center to that background. The pattern says the quilt will finish at 65" X 65", but that depends on the width of the border I choose to add.

In Other News
An Instagrammer tagged me after finishing her 2023 temperature quilt top. Claire @claire.hall.9634340 lives in the UK, and said she saw my temperature quilt on my blog here, and using Wrights Quarter Circle Block Template she made her quilt similar to mine. Those cooler colors look great, don't they? 
Needing a few more filler blocks to complete the quilt top, Claire even made color key blocks (on the far right) as I did with mine. Thanks, Claire, for letting me share this picture of your beautiful quilt top! 

If you're inclined to make your own temperature quilt, and you're a member of the Modern Quilt Guild, you can watch a webinar about it - The Highs and Lows of Temperature Quilts. It's presented with lots of pictures in a panel format by Jo Avery, Karen Foster, and me. 

Book Recommendations
Hemlock by Kiersten Modglin is about Maggie who has just bought her dream home at 40 Hemlock Drive, in her old hometown. Though the house doesn't look like much - it needs lots of TLC - she's happy about a new beginning since losing her job and breaking-up with long-time boyfriend, Nick.

Just as Maggie is trying to unlock the front door, a man steps onto her porch to offer help. She's shocked to see Tucker again after 13 years, and even more surprised to learn he lives next door. She's also maintaining a distant relationship with her lifelong friend, Clayton, even though he's broken her heart. 

Mysterious occurrences happen in Maggie's house - lights flickering, doors open - and she begins to wonder about the history of the house. She doesn't want to be alone, and she doesn't believe in ghosts. 

Though I liked the story, and some of it was unexpected, the plot moved at a slow pace until the last third of the book. By then I had figured out who-done-it. Still, the storyline is different than I've encountered before.

Linda's score: 3.9/4.0

I'm excited that on Saturday I'll be in a virtual workshop with members of the Jacksonville MQG. Due to a last-minute cancellation, and my name first on a waiting list of "outsiders," (I'm a member of the Central Florida MQG) I get to take Timna Tarr's four hour Map Making workshop. Here's Timna's map.
Map quilt made by Timna Tarr

Though the map-making project is meant to be only 8" X 8", those who know me won't be surprise that I want to make something larger. I've got my map selected, fabric scraps ready, and I'm looking forward to participating. Linda

11 comments:

  1. I love all the colors and patterns in your Prudence quilt - labor of love that, with all the hand piecing, paper removing, etc. I've spent the past couple weeks trying to bring order to years of scraps tossed into one corner of the sewing room. Doesn't look much better yet, but the end is in sight. I shall have strips and strings and squares to last the rest of my lifetime. Now to find time to actually use some of my stash fabrics! Your map quilt class looks interesting. Enjoy!

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  2. Your EPP project is looking terrific. I admire all the work you've done so far, and now you are very close. Have fun in the map making class. It sounds appealing. And yes, we expect you'll go larger!

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  3. Pamela Dempsey in Northeast TexasJanuary 20, 2024 at 8:18 AM

    I have felt the same way, several things I can work on but nah, too cold or tired. We are at 19 this morning. Much rather have the cold though than the summer heat! Claire’s temperature quilt is very pretty 🤩. Ohh, you’re going to have so much fun with that map tutorial. I love Timna, her fabric and patterns are awesome!

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    1. Sure understand how the cold can slow you down. Hot chocolate isn't even enough to warm-up on the inside. It's supposed to be 39F here overnight (Saturday night), so it might just be that we turn on the heat! However, that seems silly too, as the high on Wednesday is supposed to be 80F. Sheesh.

      Timna's map workshop was great! I am having fun working on a map of my neighborhood, enlarged to about 28"W X 22"H. :-) I'll share it in my next blog post. Stay warm in Northeast Texas!

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  4. I continue to love your Prudence quilt, but also to think "better you than me"!

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  5. All projects looking good. I understand the procrastination on piecing those tentacles but it's going to be so wonderful with them included. Prudence is lovely. And I love Claire's color palette for her temp quilt. Stay warm.

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  6. So funny! I just happened on your blog as I’ve made one Kawandi quilt and was interested in them. I was in Timna Tarr’s class on making map quilts today too! Jan- Jacksonville

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    1. Hi Jan! How nice to meet you here! The workshop was great, wasn't it? Glad you found Kawandi info on my blog. I've made 13 of them thus far, and no doubt have more in my future beause they're addictive and very satisfying to make. Thanks for visiting!

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  7. Love the improv quilt, but can see how it would be best worked on in small doses!

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    1. Definitely that improv quilt - which is still on the design wall - makes me want to work on it only “in small doses.” In fact, I haven't touched it for a week now. Since taking that virtual workshop with Timna Tarr on Saturday, I've been working on my map quilt, which has been lotsa fun. I'll begin quilting that one today.

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  8. Hi Linda!!! Great idea--use the colder weather to do some hand stitching! Beautiful works!!! It's probably warmed up there now, as it has here.

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