End of January

Did January fly by for you too? 

Ever since moving to Florida, and experiencing "snowbird season," it's been remarkable to observe how busy January and February are. It's because many of the part-time and year-'round clubs and activities save some of their best annual programs and events until everyone is here. That means, all the clubs are meeting, and programs are full steam ahead. For me, most often with two activities every day, I find myself coming and going a lot!

Not much time has been spent in the sewing room, with no sewing at all this week. Still, I'm satisfied with my out-going fabric total for January: 8.13 yards. No fabric came in.

The out fabric total is based on two items: 1) backing and binding Sunny Lanes; and 2) donating 7.2 pounds of tiny scraps for pet beds. 

Here's the finished 52" X 68" Sunny Lanes.

Backing and binding used about 3 yards of January's out yardage total. 

Though I wouldn't have minded making Sunny Lanes larger, it's plenty heavy. Between the seams sewn in 1,968 1½" (unfinished) squares, and Quilter's Dream Blend, a 70/30 (cotton/polyester) batt that's heavier than Quilter's Dream Request Cotton, this quilt is weighty. 

My Sunny Lanes block tutorial is available HERE, in case you'd like to make this. 

This week's creative focus has been on braiding. My rug is now 43" X 51". I'm delighted with it and even more thrilled that I've been able to braid it flat!

After first making a round rug, followed by making two oval rugs, I have learned that the oval shape is more difficult to achieve flatness. Tighter curves on the ends require weaving two strands in a loop to create extra fabric for the perimeter. Anyway... I've learned that lesson!

Do you see what I added? A slash of orange from a knit fabric flat bed sheet; and a bit of light blue from a print flat bed sheet gives it more interest.

I'm repeating both the orange slash, and bit of blue on each opposite side. Those extra bits mean having two braids going at the same time.

As I go, I'm cutting strips and keeping them somewhat organized. I will definitely keep braiding to make the rug as large as possible. 

If you're interested in learning to make Braided Rag Rugs, I highly recommend learning from Ilka White, an Australian who is offering two April dates (evenings, in the US) for a virtual workshop. I learned from Ilka myself, and can't recommend a better instructor. Find more information here.

Book Recommendations

January time spent braiding meant time spent listening to 14 audiobooks. 

In score order (with 5.0 being highest), audiobooks I listened to are: 

The River is Waiting is a somewhat dark story. I suggested it to a friend, only to learn she'd begun it and couldn't finish it because of the difficult subject. Indeed, it's sad. I was also a little frustrated with a couple of the characters. But I appreciate the emotions of a father living with the guilt of a tragic accident, and the insight it gave to life in prision. It is beautifully written.

Count the Night by Stars by Michelle Shocklee is a ficticious story that takes place in Nashbille. It's factually based on the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition, and life at the Maxwell House Hotel (yes, that's where Maxwell House coffee originated). It involves charm and propriety, romance, and disreputable men. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and learned something in the process. Now I want to revisit Nashville (since QuiltCon 2019) to find the sites described!

The Last Witness is a psychological thriller that's intriguing, and whose end I didn't see coming. This story begins with Ellie driving toward home and witnessing the death of a motorist directly in front of her. While the reader sympathizes with her throughout the story, an underlying untold secret explains why Ellie is suffering so much. It's one of those books I occasionally like to listen to. But one phychological thriller after another can become too much. 

Sisters in the Wind is about a young girl, Lucy, and her dad living alone. Knowing he's dying, he marries a woman who he believes will take care of Lucy. That's when Lucy's life takes a drastic turn. Living in foster homes, she tries to find a peaceful life, but corruption in the foster care system makes her life difficult. Then Lucy uncovers the proof needed to change her life forever.

I must give a mention to The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks because his writing style is thoroughly dependable. He always tells a story that's much like a Hallmark movie, with pretty speech and thoughtful insight. This one was especially charming and beautiful, told from the perspective of a husband who, now that their three children are grown and gone, sees his marriage drifting. His efforts to restore romance are sweet. In the end, he caught me unaware.

I really want to keep going with the "Andy Carpenter series" by David Rosenfelt, but... both my library apps - Hoopla, and Cloud Library - let me down. Book #13, Who Let the Dog Out? is available only as an e-book, so I'll have to make time to read it. And neither library app has book #14, Outfoxed. Argh! Since David Rosenfelt has written 33 "Andy Carpenter" books, I likely won't finish the series. 

I hope I've shared a couple titles that pique your interest. Linda