March to April Reading

Today I attended the Germantown UMC book club.

I was pleased to hear that the April book is very short-

Because I'm reading Louise Penny mysteries and don't want to stop.

Just finished The Cruelest Month yesterday.

I like to read books in order but I have read some of these out of order.

This photo is from my sewing blog.

My last post here was intended for Sing.Read.Sew.Travel.Teach.

So this is for Vicki and other Wannabereading blog readers.

This basket was super fast to make.

Now my smocked eggs have a holiday place to be displayed.

I'm posting this photo to remember a funny statement from this little boy.

Joey reported that Ava's little brother said, "I'm not a Bubby, I'm a Kenton."

One of his nicknames has been 'Bubby' at home.

Not any more, I guess!

Why this photo?

We are looking forward to seeing these guys soon.

This photo was taken on Liam's recital day.

Wish I had that Star Trek transporter and could be beamed up to NYC for recitals and such.

What are you reading?

 

Wool Appliqué-Embroidery Sampler

This sampler started on February 1st with 30 circles of wool felt.

I whipped them to a fat quarter of quilting cotton because I did not have a large piece of wool.

I used all kinds of thread for the embroidery including pearl cotton from DMC.

After the embroidery was done I used the pearl cotton to quilt the backing and batting to the sample.

I bought variegated Elaganza pearl cotton from a local vendor.

I love using variegated thread!

The quilting was finished yesterday.

I basted the quilt sandwich along the top, bottom, sides and across the middle.

Then I made big stitches vertically from basting threads to basting threads.

I trimmed the backing and batting 1/4 inch beyond the big stitches.

Below is how I trimmed the back by flipping the edges of the top out of the way.

I used this needle for the big stitches.

The large eye was easy to thread.

The sharp point helped me stitch through all the layers  

I put triangles on the corners to use later when hanging the sampler.

Mini clips are holding everything in place.

The front fabric was trimmed to 7/8 inch all around.

The corner triangles are made from 5 inch squares of solid cotton 

that sort of match the wool circles on the front.

For me it is not a finish until it has a label.

Yes, the stitches show on the back.

I don't care since this will be hanging on the wall and won't show.

I folded the front around to the back and whipped it down like quilt binding.

I made sure to stitch through all the layers except the front.

Ta-Da! It is finished!

So much fun.

Now it will live on the wall in my sewing room to remind me of stitches I can do.

Each circle is one day of the stitch along.

Day #1 is on the top right.

The numbers go right to left until the last day on the far left at the bottom.

 

Reading recently

Martin and I really enjoy the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich.

I laugh out loud while reading them.

This one was so funny.

Checked out from the local library.

The Germantown UMC book club is reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

in the month of March. The list of books we read is varied and not what I would have predicted.

Last month I led the discussion of The Sweetness of Water. I used the questions suggested by

professors Beers & Probst in Disrupted Thinking. The questions are perfect for discussing any book.

I am currently hooked on Louise Penny with Inspector Gamache and the quirky town of Three Pines.

The library has most of the recent books. I may have to buy the older titles.

In other news, Emily's painting is on the cover of the magazine Witness below.

It is the deflated beach ball. Her paintings are getting more recognition and exposure.

The six year old grands are busy with after school activities.

David has advanced in violin and is playing different pieces these days.

Ava is learning to post as her pony canters.

Liam sent a short video of his group's commercial for friendship bracelets.

They are working on projects to learn how businesses work.

I love that they do hands-on activities in his school.

It is spring break here.

Martin and I have a break as Joey & family travel to Atlanta.

What are you reading today?