Modern Mystery Quilt Finish

I hoped to complete my Summer Camp Modern Mystery Quiltalong quilt before the end of 2023, and I did. Whoo-hoo!

We didn't have a family Christmas gathering. I immersed myself in quilting and sewing. In about two-and-a-half days I quilted this  54" X 86½" quilt. 

As I often do, I walking foot quilted first, to stabilize the solid Poseidon blue-colored spaces. Then I free motion quilted different designs in each.  

The top is quilted with Aurifil 50-weight, color #4093, in the blue areas.

Lastly, I walking foot quilted a plaid design over all the pieced blocks using a pale gray thread.

The quilt finished at 54" X 86½" which is much taller and skinnier than any quilt I've ever made. 

The most exciting part of this quilt is the back! It came out so well that I will likely admire the quilt from this side. This is the backing that was a winner in the recent "Use It: Quilt Back Challenge" sponsored by the MQG. See winning quilt backs here. In February I'll receive a Hobbs queen-sized batting as my prize. But to get this quilt done now, I batted it with Quilter's Dream Request (lowest loft), 100% cotton.  

I consistently used a 40-weight gray-colored thread in the bobbin.

Our special Christmas dinner was pizza! Hubs always makes the best pizza, and this one is my absolute favorite. Compared to a regular pizza, this one has no meat, and is a little more expensive to make because of pricey ingredients: Brie; Monterey Jack; pesto (my homemade); green onion; zucchini; fresh mushrooms; and red bell pepper. It also takes more time to prepare, which is why we probably won't eat it again until there's another special occasion. 

With time on my hands, I've been listening to books while I make. Here are two more excellent titles to recommend.

Book Recommendations

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty begins with Alice returning to consciousness after falling during a spin class. She thinks she's pregnant with her first baby - hers and Nick's little "sultana" - and they're the throes of fixing up their first home. Alice doesn't remember what's happened over the past ten years. 

The thrust of the story is that Alice is trying to come to grips with the fact that her mum looks strange, and is remarried; her sister has gained weight and is stand-offish; her next door neighbor won't speak to her; her house looks fantastic - and there's a pool?!; Dominic is sending her flowers; and Nick isn't speaking to her. 

While the story is improbable, it does take an in-depth look at the emotional aspects of infertility, and the challenges of raising children.

Since Ms. Moriarty is Australian, the book is narrated by an Australian... and you know how much I enjoy listening to that accent.

Linda's score: 4.1/5.0

Keep Quiet by Lisa Scottoline begins with a dad, Jake, wanting to make a connection with his teenaged son, Ryan. Jake is the parent who drives to pick up Ryan after seeing a movie. When Ryan asks if he can drive them home at the wheel of Jake's Audi, Jake agrees, even though Ryan has only a learner's permit. That was the first of several impossible split-second decisions.

The story unfolds as Jake and Ryan pile lie upon lie. The burden becomes too much for Ryan who breaks down and confesses everything to his mom, a Pennsylvania judge. As always (in these stories), things are not what they seem. After being blackmailed, Jake plays detective to figure out why. When the blackmailer is murdered and detectives come calling, it's apparent that the whole event is much more than it seems.

I could not stop listening to this story! It really captured my imagination as I tried to work out what was really going on.

Linda's score: 4.3/5.0

 

Linda

Christmas Presents

After seeing my friend Debbie's (A Quilter's Table) version of an "On-the-Go Project Bag," (Debbie's blog posts here and another here.) I had to make a couple of them too. From an online store selling used books, I bought Svetlana Sotak's, That Handmade Touch which has these instructions. My book came from a Goodwill store in Austin, Texas! 

I used denim, and a canvas-weight print for each. Handles are ¾"-wide leather from Sew Hungry Hippie.  

The denim on the bottom was made that way - embellished with tiny metal studs. I bought the denim in November, 2006, when we went to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Fabric there was very inexpensive... at that time, anyway. 

Hopefully, my line dance instructor, and my hair stylist will make good use of these. 

Next, I sewed these Half Zip Fabric Wallets, following a YouTube tutorial by Sewing Times. 

Instructions are free, and the video is nicely-done, but no where could I find which measurement was vertical and which was horizontal - essential information when making this wallet from a directional print like those Tula Pink elephants. I had to stop the video and use a ruler against the computer screen to determine which measurement was which. I also asked the question in the comments, and though Nancy (of Sewing Times) replied, at that point I had already finished making the wallets. So, if you make a wallet, check comments to verify measurements! You can thank me later. 😁

I was happy to finish each wallet with a little charm, found at Hobby Lobby. 

After making wallets, I made a 10½" W X 8" H purse organizer to coordinate with the elephant print wallet. This Purse Organizer pattern is also by Sotak Patterns. The mesh pockets are sized to hold a cell phone.

Since I didn't have a snap the pattern called for, I made a buttonhole and sewed a clear button in that spot. 

The organizer and wallet makes a useable combo. 

Lastly, I made six Bowl Buddies - AKA Bowl Cozies. I couldn't find the original pattern I followed when first making these in 2013. So I made a version that's a combo of YouTube videos. I also wrote-up a little description of what a bowl buddy is and how to use it... so people who opened the gift when I wasn't around, would know what to do with it! 

I thought it was appropriate to send the Florida fabric bowl buddy to my virtual Bible study leader in Iowa. The bowl buddy made with peace symbol print fabric went to my "Peace, Love and Ukulele Club" leader, Mary. 

In 2021, I made Mary a ukulele pillow. Blogged here. Mary recently sent me a picture of ukuleles she and her husband have hanging in their music room, and I love seeing how they've displayed the ukulele pillow - the colorful one in the middle.  

My favorite part of giving presents, especially quilts, is seeing gifted items in action, used - and hopefully loved - by the recipient.

Red Letter Day

I must say! Today is a red-letter day. I learned I am one of eight winners in the recent quilt back challenge, sponsored by the Modern Quilt Guild and Hobbs (batting). In February, I'll receive a queen-sized batt from Hobbs. 

In October, MQG members were invited to register, and then over a four-week period respond to suggestions and prompts to piece a quilt back from blocks, parts and bits already in our sewing stash. It was the "Use It: Quilt Back Challenge."

My 60" X 92½" backing used:

1. blocks begun in a workshop or an along - See pieced strips from making a few Dreamlines shapes?
2. discarded ideas for a new quilt design - See three pieces that are shades of blue with a curved end? 
3. leftovers from other quilts - See the middle-right, white background with pairs of navy blue "sticks?" Those were leftover from making Polka Dots and Moonbeams, a quilt accepted into the QC 2024 Scrap Challenge. A row of 6" blocks (lower middle) remained from the Summer Modern Mystery QAL.
4. and, all manner of leftover parts of solid fat quarters. I intentionally tried to keep the largest fabric chunks along the outside edges. 

Anyway, the whole challenge made me pull out long-forgotten orphan blocks and parts. And now that I know how many more of these I have left, you can be sure I will be piecing more backings. "Use" is sort of my mantra these days. 

In today's weekly email about the Satisfaction QAL, Amy Friend @duringquiettime mentioned my quilt back. She's also encouraging quilters to piece their backings. 

Speaking of Satisfaction, this is week 12 of the along, to make the last 18" block. I've completed mine. This is "Rosette." Both prints are by Alison Glass, and I'll just say this made a bright block!

Choosing fabrics for this along was challenging, as I often found that fabric combos I liked weren't do-able because I didn't have enough of one the fabrics. Nonetheless, I'm glad I participated. I couldn't wait to arrange and piece the top, so here it is at 55" X 73." 

Putting my money where my mouth is, I'll be digging into my orphan block bins to see what kind of quilt back I can piece. 

By the way, now that the along is over, if you like the pattern you can buy it from Amy here. 

As I mentioned in my last blog post, I watched a Youtube video to learn how to twine - a finger-twirling thing you do with scrap strips to make twine. I followed the Handmade Home video that suggested cutting and twining ¾"-wide strips. I made 3⅓ yards of twine and wound it onto an empty Aurifil cone. 

Then, I cut 2"-wide strips from my scrap bins, and turned out 12 yards of twine! It's colorful and pretty! And I must tell you, twining is a quick thing to do.

To use it, I'm considering whether to: 1) try zig-zag stitching this together flat, so as to create two rectangles for a bag; 2) try zig-zag stitching to make a bowl (and what would I do with a bowl?); 3) or, weave it on my peg loom to make a table runner. That would look nice with my multi-colored Fiestaware.

Since setting aside twining, I've been working on the improv curves design begun in Cindy Grisdela's workshop. I am really pleased with the addition of "cogs" (those gear-looking bits) and skinny insert strips that give the quarter curves more interest. However, I am not pleased with the mushiness of the overall design. This needs more work! I've happily used up almost a whole yard of Kona Crush that Candi, in St. Augustine, gifted to me.

Still chugging along listening to audiobooks while I'm in the sewing room, power walking, and doing housework (turning up the volume to hear over the vacuum cleaner!), I hit 100 books read in 2023 when I  finished A Fistful of Collars, book #5 in the Chet (the dog) and Bernie series by Spencer Quinn.

In this tail tale, a famous movie star, Thad, has come to town to make a Western film. Bernie's been hired, for big bucks, to make sure the star doesn't get into trouble (drugs, booze). As Bernie's on the set, watching and listening he learns that no one wants to talk about the time Thad lived in the area. As Bernie pursues information, the people he wants to talk with turn up dead.

In the meantime, Suzy, Bernie's girlfriend has relocated; Chet and Bernie are driving another new-to-them Porsche (their third); and Chet has to figure out how to interact with Thad's cat, Brando. 

Linda's score: 4.0/5.0

Reading Gilded Girl by Pamela Kelley, was like watching a Hallmark movie. Too sweet. And very predictable. 

Like her mother who has recently passed away, Eliza has spent her life in service, as a lady's maid,  to a titled English family. One day a letter arrives. Eliza learns she's the illegitimate daughter of an extremely weathly New York businessman. He's just learned about her and wants her to come to New York, meet her grandmother, sisters, and him. 

From the moment she leaves England, she's awed by her new-found entitlement. The family home on Fifth Avenue rivals those of the Astors and Rockefellers. And though her father and grandmother are warm and welcoming, her two sisters are not. During a season of socials, dinners, and balls, where Eliza is in demand, the sisters contrive to ignore Eliza, and ultimately take her out of the picture. But Eliza is resilient, and due to her interest in business and a certain carriage driver, she will manage. 

Can you say, "Cinderella?" 

Linda's score: 3.8/5.0

Linda

Middlin' Activities

With Christmas presents made, wrapped, and ready to be delivered, I'm catching up on my last 2023 obligations. 

Foundation paper-piecing the last two blocks in the FPP Satisfaction QAL with Amy Friend @duringquiettime, "Compass Rose" is block 11 of 12. I wanted purple in this quilt. Though I have a very limited purple print stash, I came across this piece purchased after being in Australia. I remember buying it because it reminds me of the first time I saw blooming Jacaranda trees, in Sydney. The pink print is an old Blueberry Park leftover. If I do say so myself, I think this is a striking block.

I'm also preparing QuiltCon quilts to ship. That means making labels, and making and hand-sewing sleeves for hanging.

For my Feelin' Groovy maximalist quilt, I decided that a plain 'ole muslin sleeve wouldn't cut it. So, I picked a print that's more in keeping with the maximalist style... and hoping Feelin' Groovy attracts a buyer at QuiltCon who will want to hang it in their home or office. 

At our Central Florida MQG annual holiday party last Saturday, December 9, those of us who wanted could participate in a $15-$18 gift swap. My gift was an 8-piece fat quarter bundle of Painter's Palette solids that was snagged by my friend Donna. As we open gifts and/or "stole" each other's presents, I was the last to have a chance to steal this plastic case for storing fabric strips. 

I moved my strips (I've never bought a jelly roll, so my strips are leftover from other projects) from this rectangle bin... 

... to the new, long bin. I love it! Notice the two "bars" on top that hold down the strips? Genius.

Having gotten these strips organized, I thought to do something with them. My latest squirrel interest was prompted by an email/newsletter from Denyse Schmidt. In it, Denise mentions traveling with Amy Butler to Morocco, and teaching fabric twining. Denyse uses jelly rolls.

I promptly cut some of my strips into ¾"-wide pieces and began to make skinny twine. Next I'll try twining with wider fabric strips. Not sure yet what I'll do with it, but I'm thinking "purse." 

By the way, I'm fabric-tracking this too! I figured out that after it's been twined, a length shortens to about 60% of the original length.

Book Recommendations

The Wife Upstairs by Frieda McFadden is the third title I've read by this author, and it's a good one.

The premise is that an extremely handsome, and popular NYT best-selling author, Adam Barnett, meets Sylvia as she's preparing for a job interview. When he learns that she's looking for work, he offers her a lucrative position, including board, as a companion to his invalid wife, Victoria, in their remote Montauk home. 

When Sylvia takes the position, she does so with apprehension. The huge, gorgeous house gives her the creeps, yet she's determined to offer her best to Victoria who's partially paralyzed and capable of speaking only one or two words. Victoria leads Sylvia to her journal. In its pages, Sylvia reads how Adam and Victoria met, their idyllic romance, and how the hidden side of Adam began to emerge at their wedding shower. Sylvia comes to understand that her apprehensions were justified, though she's not sure who she should trust.

Very engaging! This was an I-can't-put-it-down read. 

Linda's score: 4.3/5.0

Catching the Wind by Melanie Dobson is another WWII story. While I most often decline reading WWII stories - I have to be in the mood to become sad about a refugee's plight - this one took a different approach. 

Two young German children have escaped the Gestapo, walking and hiding for months through Germany and Belgium, aiming for London. When they're separated, each promises the other that they will find them, 

In present-day London, Quenby Vaughn is a journalist, looking for the next story that will let her keep her job. She's pursuing a lead about a wealthy British family that may have hidden their support for Nazi activities during the war. As she's beginning to chase the story, she's unexpectedly contacted by Daniel Knight, an elderly man whose story intrigues Quenby. He wants her to locate his childhood friend, Brigitte, the young girl he escaped with from Germany more than 70 years ago. In spite of many reasons she believes she should not take on the job, for reasons of her own she wants to help him understand what happened. As she investigates, everything she's ever wanted to know about Mr. Knight's story, and her own, are revealed. 

I enjoyed following Quenby's efforts to uncover the truth, and the unexpected twists the author wrote into the story. 

Linda's score: 4.2/5.0

I've gifted two quilts for Christmas presents.

Crumb-y, the 71" X 85" quilt I pieced into Harvest Moon blocks after making fabric from scraps, now belongs to my excellent and dedicated line dance instructor Helen. I've been dancing with her for ten years now. She said she loves the quilt. 😀

In case you're interested, this is the quilt label I created for Helen's quilt, using my MacBook Pages software.

I typically note as much information as possible, including the recipient's full name, and my name with maiden name. 

Labels are printed on EQ Printables, a paper-backed fabric cut into 8½" X 11" sheets. I print them on my Canon G6020 inkjet print, a wireless printer with refillable liquid ink tanks.

Separately, I fold into the quilt a print-out of instructions for quilt care. Here's my Quilt Care PDF, in case you'd like to use it.

I hope your holiday preparations are coming along smoothly. Linda

'Tis the Season

It's that time of year! Quilt-y stuff, QuiltCon emails, and things to do. 

Tuesday evening Quilting Guild of The Villages hosted a modern maker, Cindy Grisdella, from Reston, Virginia. She gave a program about her quiltmaking journey. I found several similarities in our quiltmaking stories, including that she too began making traditional quilts 40+ years ago. Unlike me, she has evolved into a renown art/contemporary quilter whose style is improvisational. 

Wednesday I was fortunate to take Cindy's "Fearless Curved Piecing" workshop, in person! Locally! Haven't done that since September 2019. And yes, I've already made many quilts with improv-cut curves, but it's good to get reinforcement, and there's always a tidbit to pick up. While Cindy's project was squared blocks on a grid, she allowed us to do what we wanted.

My quilt shapes are rectangles that I plan to puzzle together, rather than set in a grid. My color palette was driven by the yard of Kona Crush recently gifted to me by my friend, Candi @candipursuits. Then I went into my bin of (dwindling) fat quarters, choosing several odd colors that seem to work. Most of these fat quarters are what remain from a box of 100 Benartex Superior Solid fat quarters I won in an Instagram giveaway in 2021. It's nice to again have improv on the design wall. Those darks are charcoal gray, and a deep grape purple. Skinny inserts are aqua.

It was a sad-happy Monday, December 4, when four emails arrived from the MQG. Two emails informed that quilts were NOT accepted into QuiltCon 2024 (Raleigh, NC), and two emails congratulated me on quilts that WERE accepted!

Compare:

QuiltCon 2024 had 2,342 entries; 470 quilts were accepted (20% acceptance)

QuiltCon 2023 had 2,089 entries; 444 quilts were accepted (21%) acceptance)

My two #QuiltConRejects (that Instagram hashtag is a great one to browse!) are Alternate Route and Balance Beam.

Alternate Route was NOT accepted.

Alternate Route, 57" X 67"

I've felt a little disappointed about this one because this quilt marks the first time that making an improv quilt "felt right." It was begun in April in a virtual "Dancing With the Wall" workshop with Irene Roderick who I credit for finally getting through my thick head (my words; not hers!) that to make improv I need to trust my instincts. 

I'm guessing Alternate Route wasn't accepted because: 1) there were too many entries in the Improv category, so competition was extra-stiff; and 2) it was identifiable as a two-color "Dancing With the Wall" workshop project, several of which have appeared at previous QuiltCons. In any case, I still love it. It's the only quilt I stated on my entry form as "Not for Sale."

Balance Beam was NOT accepted. I entered it in Modern Traditionalism.

Balance Beam, 65½" X 83"

A shock - because it was an, "Aw, what the heck" entry - was having Polka Dots and Moonbeams accepted in the Scrap Challenge category. It's a quilt I finished in 2021 for our Central Florida MQG "Chips and Charms" Challenge, using charm packs, mini charm packs, and yardage. I hand-appliqued those 98 circles (traced from a prescription bottle lid!) onto machine pieced blocks. Blog post about it here  and here (The latter post includes a life lesson learned when submitting a quilt for magazine publication).

Polka Dots and Moonbeams,  52½" X 60½"

My elation ran high when I learned Feelin' Groovy was accepted for display in the Maximalism Exhibit. It won't be judged, and since I will never win a QuiltCon award anyway, that's fine by me. Feelin' Groovy does have a "For Sale" price. 😀

Feelin' Groovy, 67½" X 84"

I'm already super-excited for QuiltCon which is February 22-25, 2024. But I mustn't get ahead of myself! I still have hanging sleeves to make and hand-stitch to the back of these quilts before packing and sending them to Austin, Texas by January 10!

While in Cindy Grisdela's workshop, she shared a quilt that she too just learned was accepted into the Maximalism Exhibit at QuiltCon 2024! It's fun knowing whose quilts will be shown alongside mine. 

Book Recommendations

The Last Remains is the latest book, published in February 2023, in the "Ruth Galloway" series by Elly Griffiths. It's also the last of 15 books - the final episode about Ruth's career as an archeologist, professor, and police liaison that began in 2009 with The Crossing Places. 

Working with DCI Harry Nelson, Ruth is called in on a case that turns out to be more recent; a missing college student. People who knew the missing girl are reinterviewed, including Ruth's druid friend, Cathbad, who is still recovering from a severe case of COVID. When Cathbad unexpectedly goes missing, and his partner Judy comes across his hand-written will, all of his friends and the police search for him. Even Ruth and 12 year-old Katie become involved. 

Elly Griffiths is an entertaining author whose writing I admire, and in this book, does an excellent job of wrapping up character storylines for this series. While I'm sad to leave behind these interesting people and their quaint villages and ancient histories, I'm happy with the outcomes. 

Linda's score, for the entire series: 4.4/5.0

Author Rhys Dylan was recommended to me by a British friend, so I decided to begin with The Engine House, the first book in the "DCI Evan Warlow Crime" series.

The story takes place on the west side of the UK, in Wales in the rugged landscape along the cliffs of the Irish Sea. Cliffside paths run through several villages, like Cardiff. I looked them up on Google maps, and was delight to find they're real places!

At the age of 50, and for unrevealed reasons, Evan Barlow has left a vibrant career as a DCI. Since inheriting his uncle's ramshackle fishing shack, he's spent the last 18 months doing home reno to turn the place into a charming, habitable home for himself and his black lab, Cadi. 

When two bodies are literally unearthed along a cliff path in Cardiff, Evan's eight year-old missing persons case is resurrected. He's is asked to return as a consultant, joining a team of four with newcomer DI Jess Allenby in the lead. Evan is reluctant to return, but remembers his promise to the daughter of the missing couple - that he'll find her parents. Now that their bodies have been identified, it's time to reopen the case. That means returning to the cliffside home of the deceased couple, where a young couple now lives; and revisit the Gower family who farm next door.

Linda's score: 4.1/5.0 

End of November

I've been fabric-tracking all year in a concentrated effort to reduce stash, and have been largely successful. Yet when I received a yard of fabric - unsolicited! - how could I not be happy about that?!

My friend, Candi @candipursuits bought an on-sale bolt of Kona Crush - the 2023 Kona Color of the Year, from Missouri Star. Since I never got around to buying any, she sent me a yard - really thoughtful, isn't she?

Fearful of the color running I washed it in Retayne, and I'm glad I did! The water was definitely pink!

This piece of Crush is now among a collection of solids I'm taking to a "Fearless Curved Piecing" in-person workshop with Cindy Grisdella who will be here December 5-6 at the invitation of Quilting Guild of The Villages.