Where did May and half of June go?

Well, Dear Readers, you know I've been reading. Just neglected to post here.

I'm reading through the Three Pines series by Louise Penny.

She is a great writer with an interesting back story.

As she was writing the book below she was caring for her husband who had dementia.

When he died, she thought she would never write about her main character again.

Her husband was the inspiration for Armand Gamache.

One day she sat down and wrote 2 words. The next day she wrote 4 words.

She finished the sentence and was back to writing about Armand.

She found that writing helped her grieve.

Above are two of my recent finishes. Or sort of finishes.

River of the Gods was a book club selection.

I requested it from the local library but it wasn't available until a few days before our meeting.

After discussing it, I decided not to finish it.

I took a bus trip to the big quilt show in Paducah, Kentucky.

It was a day I wrote about in my sewing blog.

Fun but exhausting.

We went to a couple of shows at our favorite theater in Memphis.

Enjoyed music with our Sunday school class at a local park.

I binge watched this Disney TV show.

It brought back memories of former students.

(Not that any of them had super powers.)

We had a full day of visiting and connecting with family and friends.

The IBC was in Jackson and I had to attend at least one session.

I spent a week driving Miss Ava to summer camp activities.

So glad I can do that.

Right now we are watching our garden grow.

I am only an advisor in this project.

Mr. Martin does all the hard work.

I am currently working on this in the sewing room.

See my sewing blog for more photos.

Well, that is mostly what I've been doing the past 6-7 weeks.

Love, Janice

 

Finding memories & making memories

Today I found these treasures while I was unpacking a box - it's only been eleven months since we moved!

Oh, my goodness, junior high was not my favorite.

I walked or rode my bike to school.

In 8th grade I decided to memorize Edgar Allen Poe's poem, "The Raven".

I recited it as I walked to and from school.

In the same box I found my "Man from UNCLE" newsletters and secret instructions. Hahaha.

Ninth grade was so much better than junior high.

I lived two blocks from high school and came home for lunch every day.

My friend and I discussed the latest episode of the show as we walked to school.

The two books below are returning to NYC.

Liam has the other two in the series and he likes to keep sets together. (Like his gran.)

I took this pic in front of our local library.

Flat Chuck, the chick, is part of Missouri Star's anniversary celebration.

Quilters were asked to take selfies with him.

Libraries are some of my favorite places.

All the cousins making music. 

I love this noisy bunch.

In a quiet moment David and Ava were using their reading skills with some vintage Golden Books.

Gran's gang.

The youngest on the highest step.

Liam the helpful leader is near his buddy, Kenton.

The six year olds together.

So much fun.

 

Easter Baskets and Improve Blocks

Once again I posted sewing on writing blog.

Enjoy reading about what's going on in the sewing room.

I finished four more baskets for Easter.

I made them one inch smaller than the original pattern.

I changed the opening for the final turning by cutting the lining in two pieces

Some of the lining fabric I used was directional so that was part of the reason for cutting in two pieces.

With this change I was able to make the turning opening in the bottom of the lining.

After making the lining and outer basket separately, the two are nested with the handle sandwiched between them. A quarter inch seam is sewn around to attach the lining and outside.

Then turn the basket right side out through the hole in the bottom.

I machine sew the opening instead of hand sewing it.

Above is the turned out basket.

Above is how it looks as it is being turned.

The lining is turned but needs to be topstitched around the top.

First I iron the edge to prepare for stitching.

New baskets are finished.

Two have fabric handles and two have woven braid handles.

I think the grandkids will have fun hiding and finding Easter eggs with these baskets.

Below is the first basket with smocked eggs.

Uncommon Threads Quilt Guild's block of the month is improv blocks.

Carmen made kits of scrap fabric in blues and purple.

It's going to interesting to see the finished charity quilt made from these blocks.

The improv blocks made me think of this book. 

When my batik fat quarters come I may use them in a superstrata quilt.

Happy sewing!

 

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?