Catch-up

I seldom allow so much time to pass between blog posts. Time has gotten away from me. Truth be told, I felt the need to post if for no other reason than to catch up on writing book recommendations! 😊  I continue to listen to audiobooks while golf-carting to and from various activities, while piecing at the sewing machine, and doing handwork.

But first... 

Last Saturday, November 2, I spent six hours in a virtual "Speed Date With Improv" workshop with Krista Hennebury @poppyprint who lives on Bowen Island, British Columbia, Canada. Her workshop was great!

Though I've participated in improv workshops with several instructors - Maria Shell, Cindy Grisdella, Irene Roderick - it didn't hurt a bit to learn another teacher's perspective. And I did learn some new things. 

Krista taught us how to improv-piece eight different shapes, each based on using three fabric colors cut from 5" X 5" charm squares. My fabrics were Painter's Palette black and oyster; and Kaufman Kona 2021 Color of the Year, "Horizon."

Our project was meant to be about 20" X 20". Naturally I went bigger. It wasn't until Thursday that I completed my 36" X 48" design.

I went a little off-piste by allowing my blocks to go more wonky.

This is the whole 36" X 48" quilt top. Improv still doesn't come naturally to me, but I think I'm getting a little better at it - trusting myself more than I used to. Now to piece a backing from print stash.

Krista honored me by reposting my quilt top photo to her Instagram stories.

On Tuesday, Big Cypress Quilters hosted its annual baby shower for Children's Home Society of Florida. This year our members donated 121 items that included 40 quilts. Along with toys, clothing, diapers, and cash, the total value of our contributions came to more than $5,000. Pretty impressive when you understand that we're just one of 29 chapters of Quilting Guild of The Villages. 

We played a couple baby shower games, and enjoyed cake and fruit snacks. 

Thirty-seven of our Big Cypress members attended the shower, and posed with our contributions. Such a great group of quilters!

Peg Loom Weaving

When not at my sewing machine, I continued to twine fabric, and finally made enough to finish warping 24 pegs on my peg loom. I decided to use-up a leftover spool of cotton cord, and alternated pegs of cotton cord with pegs of with fabric twine. 

I started the weft two evenings ago, weaving the unprinted side of collected selvedges onto the pegs. 

If all goes well, that big ball of selvedges will fill a 60" length of warp, and I'll end up with a 24" X 60" floor runner. 

Book Recommendations 

I was on a wait list for Sandwich by Catherine Newman, I can't fathom why there's a waitlist.

The story takes place on a family's one week-long annual trip to Cape Code. Mom, Rocky, is thrilled to have her two grown children with she and her husband - a daughter, and son with his girlfriend. Mom's parents join them for a couple days. 

The book is filled with every emotional and physical entanglement possible - abortion; gay relationship; co-habitating; unwanted pregnancy; menopause; and female libido, along with swearing. Meant to be humorous, the story falls flat with its boldness about private topics.

Linda's score: 2.5/5.0

What Divides Us is Book #2 in the Kilteegan Bridge series by Jean Grainger, and takes place in Ireland in 1963.

Eli and Lena, who we met in book one, are happily living with their three children in the beautiful country house left to them in trust by Malachy. When a letter arrives stating they must immediately vacate the house because it was bequeathed to a former Nazi, Lena's is distraught. The news and her reaction are negatively impacting her relationship with Eli. She must find the man who knows the truth, and fight for the home that's been entrusted to her for her oldest son. 

Narrator Siobhan Waring has the perfect voices and accents for the characters she brings to life in this series. Start with book #1: The Trouble With Secrets. Book #3 is: More Harm Than Good.

Linda's score: 4.4/5.0

I did it again! 🙈 I picked a book from a series and listened to it out of order. Sheesh.

Just for the Summer is book #3 in the "Part of Your World" series by Abby Jimenez. However, the story stood alone pretty well. It was only toward the end that I got one little inkling that I might have missed something. 

This delightful tale takes place in Minnesota. Though they don't know each other Emma texts Justine when she realizes they each have the same problem - every person they date moves on to another person who becomes their soul mate.

Emma and her girlfriend Maddy are traveling nurses who take six-week assignments in new locations. Their next stop is Hawaii... until Justin asks Emma to come to Minneapolis so they can "scientifically" test on each other their theories about people they date moving on to their soul mates. So Emma and Maddy move into the Minneapolis area, and live in a house on an island - accessible only by an open air pontoon boat. Emma and Justin plan the rules for their summer fling, and then intend to move on. But Justin's thoughtfulness and charm are more than Emma could imagine. And Justin has never met anyone like Emma. The unexpected arrival of Emma's neglectful mother, and a revelation about the family Emma didn't know she has, conspire to set her life askew. She's forced to face how her upbringing has taught her to run, and deny what her heart tells her.

Loved this book! It made me smile. It made me mad. It made me appreciate people who are decent.

Linda's score: 4.5/5.0

Movie Time

On Friday, my Bible study friend, Jody, and I saw the movie The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. If you have 10 to 14 year-old kids in your life, it's a must-see. They'll love it as much as the adults who accompany them. You'll laugh. You'll cry (because it was beautiful; not because it was sad). I cried when reading the book aloud (author Barbara Robinson) to my kids when they were young! It's that good.

If, like me, you're a fan of The Chosen (next Wednesday my online Bible study group begins a study on Season 4) you'll appreciate knowing that producer/director Dallas Jenkins also produced/directed The Chosen. You might also recognize the pastor of Emmanuel church as The Chosen Roman officer, Gaius, played by actor Kirk B.R. Woller!

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever trailer is below.

Hope you enjoy seeing the movie as much as I did! Linda