End of April

I used up more stashed fabric in April than I took in. The 8.14 yards I took in were:

• one-yard of Kona from Hancock's of Paducah (when I visited that store), and
• fabric that was on sale from Linda's Electric Quilt in McKinney, Texas.

From Linda's, I bought in advance of need but I now have a wideback (orange-yellow swirl) so I can sandwich my 152-block Glitter Quilt (when I get the blocks joined), and aqua Grunge yardage to back the Like Totally Quilt (the Seattle MQG's BOM I'm participating in) when it's a quilt top. 

Fabric used-up was for piecing the blue ("Minimal, Ha!" - That just might become its name!) quilt top and backing; making the Vetch Pillow; and piecing BOM blocks for a total of 10.69 yards of fabric used. So my net fabric used-up was 2.54 yards. I'm still headed the right direction!

Did you know that Jeni Baker of In Color Order is hosting a Quilt Along to make a "Plus Quilt"? It just started. The Plus Quilt Along Week 1 post was about selecting fabrics. 

I decided to join so I can make a quilt to donate to Children's Home Society of Florida when Big Cypress Quilters hosts its annual baby shower in October. I often keep boys in mind, when I make a child's quilt.

If you want to join the Along, it's not too late. Plus Quilt Along Week 2 instructions about cutting were just released this morning. You can also find info on Jeni's Instagram account: @jenib320 

This past week I have been helping my quilty-friend in Oregon, Martha at QuilttotheEdge.blogspot,com make her first Kawandi! I gave her instructions, and she really took off, stitching her first round in just a couple days. She plans to make several place mats.

Martha's Kawandi start

While there are several positive outcomes from sharing something new with a quilter - particularly with a quilter who's also a friend! - one aspect is that the teacher often learns from the student. Martha did that for me when she shared a picture of how she's keeping herself organized, using a 12" X 18" Omnigrid Foldaway Cutting and Pressing Station as a work surface while she's stitching. And it's a storage spot when she isn't work on it. I love it! 

Using Martha's idea, I'm stitching along with her to make my 14th Kawandi.

Mine uses solids-only scraps in colors that coordinate with an Anna Maria Horner print on the back. 

Book Recommendations

From Hoopla, I checked-out a “boxed set” that are the first four books (11 hours) in the Lexy Baker Cozy Mysteries by Leighann Dobbs. These mysteries are about Lexy who owns the local bakery, and manages to regularly find a dead body.

She lives in her grandmother’s house because Nans has moved into a retirement home. There, Nans is a member of the Ladies Detective Club, a group of four women who solve cases using their iPads, decoding skills, and occasional car trips.

In book one, Lexy meets the handsome detective Jake, who happens to be her backyard neighbor. As their relationship develops, Lexy has as "in" on cases, but she has to keep her sleuthing from Jake who reminds her that what she’s doing is dangerous.

All the books are little too-o sweet and predictable, like a Hallmark story. Even the outcome of the Las Vegas baking competition, in book three, is foreseeable. My favorite parts are the recipes given at the end. I jotted down two of them to try: Black Bean Brownies, and Biscotti.

Linda’s score: 3.6/5.0

The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff follows the path of a teenaged girl who's fleeing a fort on the St. James River where the harsh winter has left people diseased, starving, and resorting to cannibalism to survive.

The girl, who's a servant, is sure she's being pursued, so must depend on the few possessions she's stolen - new boots, a hatchet, knife, flint, two cloaks, gloves, and a veil - and her wiles to plunge into the wilderness and escape. The entire book follows her course, as she's starving, freezing, resourceful, and unfortunate.  

For my tastes, this story was too esoteric, soley aimed at observing the great outdoors and the whims of nature. I kept anticipating the moment the girl's situation would improve or resolve, but the end was more of the same, though with some insightful reflections on life and how we choose to live it.

Linda's score: 3.7/5.0

In April, of the seven books I listened to, I gave these a score of 4.0 or higher:

• Go As a River, Shelly Read, 4.4
• Things You Save in a Fire, Katherine Center, 4.3
• Heart Land, Kimberly Stuart, 4.2

Saturday, April 27 at 8:37 in the evening, we stepped outside and looked to the skies over our house to see another Falcon 9 rocket launch at Cape Canaveral. 

It was a good view, but within seconds it had traveled quickly away from our location. It's still remarkable to get to see. 

I'm prepping for an upcoming quilt retreat, so lots of rotary cutting is happening here. Linda