My absence for the past 11 days was due mostly to being away... driving to and from Texas to visit our Austin family. As always, it was nice to see them in person, and spend time just catching up. I was able to read aloud to 10 year-old Luke the book The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson. It's a wonderful Christmas story for children ages 8 and up.
We took along a few of our unused Christmas decorations to help make their home festive.
Always, a must-stop was Salt Lick in Driftwood, my favorite place for Texas barbecue. Pulled pork and banana bread pudding for me. Surprisingly, it was quite chilly (and rainy) in Austin, so this open pit provided welcome warmth.
If you're in the US and haven't yet visited a Buc-ee's, it's a must-not-be-missed place! Of course, we came home with Buc-ee's Pecan Pralines, and Praline Pecans - yes, there IS a difference.
I remember making this purchase in the late 1990s, while at an American Quilter's Society spring show in Paducah. I'm glad I hung onto it.
The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez is about Josh, a ruggedly handsome firefighter who's just relocated to town because his Marine Corps buddy, Brandon, is getting married; Josh is his best man. Brandon is marrying Sloane who's best friend is Kristen; Kristen is maid of honor.
More than two decades ago, Prom Mom (by Laura Lippman) was Amber Glass, a Baltimore high-schooler who gave birth on prom night, and was convicted of killing her baby, though she had no recollection of it. She's now a successful New Orleans art dealer. The prom night "Cad Dad" was Joe Simpson who is now a successful commercial real estate married to a beautiful and skilled plastic surgeon, Meredith.
QuiltCon received 2,269 entries, and accepted 460 quilt for the show - a 20% acceptance rate. I let out a big "whew!" when I learned two got in. I'm looking forward to going to my eighth QuiltCon, and meeting-up with quilter-friends. I'm registered for one all day workshop with Libs Elliott of Canada. I plan to get together as many Pot Luck makers as possible. for a group picture.
In other last week's new was the announcement of the Pantone Color of the Year (COTY), for 2025. Mocha Mousse. All I can say is "ICK!" Friends who know me aren't surprised by my "ick."
I've heard a couple people mention how much the color is like the coffee-colored pantyhose we used to wear. Anyone else besides me remember L'Eggs?
Knowing we'd be on the road for at least 33 hours - our travel time ended up being much longer, due to an Interstate 10 accident that had us "parked" for more than an hour - I needed a hand project. I looked through my few hand work WIPs and determined they were too large or cumbersome, or too tedious for working on in the car. My almost last-minute decision was to begin a new project!
Digging through a box of notions, I came across this template -a Half Hexagon to make "Inner City" units.
From scrap bins of solids, I cut out half hexagons - three values of one color. Then I grabbed a ring of Superior thread bobbins won in a giveaway, a needle, and scissors, and I had a delightful hand piecing project for passenger time. When I got home, I was anxious to press the 23 blocks I'd pieced, to see how they looked together. I'm gonna love this!
It's the precision that makes this a satisfying hand piecing project. On the back, just look at that pretty Y-seam twirl!
I have a question... do you have a suggestion for the "perfect" marking tool to use with this template?
The template slots are very narrow and very deep, so it was difficult to make a number two pencil work. The lead kept breaking. (You can see the pencil lead rubbings along the slots.)
The same thing happened with a mechanical pencil. I had to extend the lead so far - for the depth of the slot - that the skinny lead tip repeatedly broke. I need something with a long, skinny end. Ideas?
Book Recommendations
Josh and Kristen meet, and their attraction is undeniable. But Kristen won't allow herself to fall for Josh. Kristen, who runs an online pet supply business, needs someone to build custom dog stairs, so Josh begins working for her, out of her garage. She does everything to resist him, including wearing hair curlers. Her longterm boyfriend will soon be returning home from military duty, so she and Josh must remain friends. But when things change with Kristen's boyfriend, she lets herself go. Friends with benefits is their reality.
When Josh recognizes the depth of his feelings, Kristen withdraws, refusing to let him get close, nor explain why she's resisting. (I thought this part was repetitively frustrating.)
I really wanted to like this book because: 1) several friends liked it; and 2) the plot isn't too bad. But I just couldn't handle the language and casual sex. I guess that's what younger authors and younger readers (than me) are looking for in books. This is book #1 in The Friend Zone series that I will not continue to read.
Linda's score: 3.8/5.0
Amber returns to Baltimore to sell her step-father's tacky house. With her inheritance, she decides to open an art gallery. It's inevitable that she and Joe meet again. Even though they've been able to move past their prom, an attraction remains. Amber is sympathetic towards Joe, and determines to help him any way she can. When the pandemic plays havoc with Joe's investments, and he's dug himself into a corner, relationship-wise, will Amber be able to help in out, as she did with they were in high school?
Linda's score: 4.1/5.0
QuiltCon Quilt Submissions
As many of you already know, last Wednesday, December 4, QuiltCon sent congratulations/rejection emails for every quilt that had been submitted to QuiltCon 2025 - Phoenix. My three emails arrived while we were on the road to Texas.
I received two "congratulations!" for which I am extremely grateful.
Acceptances were Benched, my entry in the Transparency Challenge, and Pot Luck the group/bee quilt I put together using blocks made by 15 improv-making/hand-quilting friends, five of whom are local makers.
My one "we're sorry" email was for Infrastructure, a quilt I started in a minimalism workshop at QuiltCon 2024, and finished in a NOT minimalism style.
In other last week's new was the announcement of the Pantone Color of the Year (COTY), for 2025. Mocha Mousse. All I can say is "ICK!" Friends who know me aren't surprised by my "ick."
I've heard a couple people mention how much the color is like the coffee-colored pantyhose we used to wear. Anyone else besides me remember L'Eggs?
You will not find me participating in any quilt challenges that use Moche Mousse. No ifs, ands, or buts.
I have felt this way about brown in quilts since I made Bars in 2017. I began Bars in a QuiltCon color workshop with Tara Faughnan who told us, "It's okay to have an 'ick' color." 
This is the back of Bars.
Thankfully, the Kaufman Kona COTY, Nocturn, is more tolerable.
Linda
Perhaps a Pigma Micron fine liner might fit your template slots? They are available in black and many other colors. Beautiful slow stitch project, love the solids!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for this suggestion! I have a couple of fine line Micron Pigma pens in my notions box, and will give one a try. I'm only hesitant to use one because the marks are permanent. But then, those pencil marks are fairly permanent too. Anyway, I'll give it a go. Thanks!
DeleteI totally agree with icky brown. I appreciate brown outside of quilts in a limited fashion. But not in my quilts. Certain shades of orange will never appear in my quilts either. Thank goodness for Nocturne!!
ReplyDeleteYay Anonymous! I'm glad I'm not alone in disliking brown in quilts. Like you, I can take brown in a limited way, or if someone boldly mixes yellow with brown (or some similar bright color), but otherwise, I think brown makes a quilt boring. I know a lot of people who don't like orange. No doubt you'd faint to see the 22"-long mandarin orange wall in my living room! :-) I certainly understand people's color preferences, and will never judge someone who favors colors I don't like. Happily, in quiltmaking, we have a wonderful rainbow of colors to choose from. You're right. Yay for colors like Nocturne!
DeleteAnd that Joe Namath panty hose commercial - was it for L'Eggs?
ReplyDeleteHey Anonymous! I looked it up... the Joe Namath iconic pantyhose commercial from 1974 was for Beautymist brand nylons. I watched it again. He had beautiful legs!
DeleteSO funny about Mocha Mousse. I beg to differ. haha. But whatever! Glad you found a new handwork project for the road!
ReplyDeleteLove the handwork project. You might want to try pop pencils. They have a sharp lead and as it wears down, you pop off the bottom and push it in the top of the “pencil” and a new lead moves to the bottom. My kids loved them 25 years ago-only see them in gift shops now. I hope you remember them!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous as always, and I love the brown in your ick quilt.
ReplyDeleteLinda--I have a question about Superior Thread bobbins. I have used them for years and they worked beautifully in my machine. I just reordered and the ones I received were plastic bobbins---not the paper-like ones I've always had. I'm finding that the new ones fit tightly in my machine and are catching as I stitch. Any suggestions about this change?
ReplyDeleteHi Pat Mac! I hope you read this because I can't reply to you by email. Your email address shows as "no commenter." Anyway, I'm sorry to say I don't know anything about your concerns with Superior thread bobbins. That's because I've never used any pre-wound bobbins in my sewing machines - cardboard bobbins, or plastic. I use only bobbins made for my Berninas. I'm sorry I can't suggest any fix for the tight plastic ones you're trying to use. Maybe you can contact Superior about it?
DeleteThank you for your reply--I will be contacting Superior. These bobbins have always worked well in my Janome so have been frustrated with the change. Enjoy reading your blog.
DeleteI think there is a time and place for brown. But I like the Kona COTY much better. I'm so happy you got two quilts juried into QuiltCon--very deserving!
ReplyDeleteSo nice you could have a road trip to visit your loved ones, Linda!!! You've got me pretty interested in visiting Buc-ees someday!?! Cute half-hexies! I have no idea what would fit in those deep slots. I wonder if anyone else does. Super congrats on your Quilt Con acceptances! All three are worthy though, I think! But we get to enjoy them here on your blog. As for brown, it happens to be my maiden name so I have some family fondness for it. It's also well used in Japanese fabrics and kimonos which are some of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteYour road trip piece is beautiful! And I won't be doing any "mocha" projects either!
ReplyDeleteGlad you got to visit your son even if it's a long haul there and back. The older I get, long road trips are hard on my aching hips. I feel the same way about the Pantone Color of the Year. Ick! But I'm considering the Kona color as a good addition to a quilt with purple and orange prints I've been gathering. We'll see if that quilt gets made anytime soon with all the others in the wings.
ReplyDelete