Thursday, August 31, 2006

What I'm reading

I finished piecing the 9 patch top so I can start September and a new quilt with a clear conscience! It will join my other finished tops and age on the shelf for a while.

I haven't posted my reading list recently but I've still been reading plenty. Here are the most recent ones.

Knitting: A Novel Anne Bartlett
I like reading novels where the characters have the same interests that I do. In this case its knitting and I liked this book OK - but the beginning was better than the end.

Lover's Knot Emilie Richards
On a similar note but this time with quilting. I've mentioned before that I like series where I can get to know a group of characters. This Shenandoah Album series is really light reading but I enjoy them.

Duchess: A Novel of Sarah Churchill Susan Holloway Scott
If you like historical fiction then I'd recommend this one.

Beautiful Lies Lisa Unger
This was a good mystery, it looks like it was her first but she's got another book coming out in January 2007 so I'll add her to my list of authors.

Motive John Lescroart
Another good mystery with recurring characters. I like all of his books.

The Things We Do for Love Kristin Hannah
I also enjoyed this book - it was about family relationships AND it was on the bargain table which is always a plus!

and last but not least a book recommended by Sam

The Girls Who Went Away: The Hidden History of Women Who Surrendered Children for Adoption in the Decades Before Roe v. Wade Ann Fessler
Very interesting and sad - I read this in the car a couple weekends ago on the way to the wedding shower for Becky. Keith and I had some really intense discussions about the topic as I'd read a bit and then feel the need to discuss and he just happened to be trapped in the car with me for 10+ hours.

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Quilt Pink and Judy's 1 hour Quilt

August is almost over and that means I can get ready to start a new quilt. I'll probably run right to the bookstore too and buy a bunch of quilt books just to make up for the month without any. I don't think I will challenge myself to not buy books again however not starting a new project was good for me.


I've been wanting to do both Judy's 1 hour quilt and make a quilt for Quilt Pink. Since I've got limited time in September for quilting I'm going to combine both and make the 1 hour quilt out of my pink fat quarters and donate it. I'll have to buy some of one of the pink fabrics for a border but I already have the fat quarters and background so it will be mostly from stash. Now if I can just finish piecing the Nine patch top before I start my 1 hour Pink Quilt I'll feel like I actually accomplished something with my August Challenge.


Monday, August 28, 2006

Home from Seattle

I didn't get any quilting or piecing done today but I did work on some quilt related activities. I worked with some members of my bee group showing them how to resize and upload pictures to the guild's picturetrail account and then we met up with other members of our group.

They treated me to lunch and gave me a gift certificate for a quilt shop in Minneapolis as a goodbye present. Although I'm not moving yet I will only be able to attend one more meeting before leaving so it was really nice to see them all.

We had a great time in Seattle and did lots of walking around the city. On Saturday, Keith and I took a walk on the Elliott Bay Trail. In this picture we were heading back to the city - it was beautiful!

Friday, August 25, 2006

Is anyone still looking for Judy

She requested that everyone help get her new blog address out there so if anyone is still uninformed, Judy's old blog Sunshine Quilts is no longer active and you can find her now at Judy's Blog.

http://judylaquidara.blogspot.com

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Churchmouse Yarns & Teas

This is really stupid but I didn't even think to check to weather in Seattle before leaving Atlanta - it's August so I packed shorts. The first thing I had to do this morning was buy a sweatshirt. I'd worn jeans on the plane but didn't think to pack a jacket or sweatshirt - did I mention it's AUGUST?! This probably indicates how unprepared I am to live in Minneapolis!!

I've had a wonderful day - walking all over downtown Seattle, taking a ferry to Bainbridge Island and walking around there, and visiting Churchmouse Yarns & Teas.

I'd visited Seattle last summer for the first time and found this yarn shop - they were SO helpful and encouraging that I decided I could teach myself to knit. I bought a great book and some yarn and have been knitting (very simple things that don't have to fit) ever since. I wanted to visit them again this year and get yarn for a hat and scarf. They spent time helping me find simple patterns and yarn. I love this place!

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

No progress

I haven't made any progress on any of my quilting projects over the last couple days. Yesterday I did a 15 mile hike which took most of my day and today I did a quick 4 miles on the treadmill in between doing laundry and getting ready for another trip.

This time we're off to Seattle until Sunday night. Keith will be working most of the trip but I'll get to explore the city.

Patti commented on my posts about hiking. She was wondering whether I was walking or hiking when I'd post a 5 or 10 mile hike. I've got to do a ton of miles to prepare for the Breast Cancer Walk in October and although most of the training walks are supposed to be *easy* miles I prefer to be out on the trail rather than walking on a treadmill or even around my neighborhood. Most of the trails we're hiking are rated moderately difficult and I'm hoping that by working harder now the 60 miles will be easier in October.

As the suggested training miles have increased I have started doing some of them on the treadmill just because I don't always have time to drive out to a trail. Days like today, I'm lucky to log any miles at all so I just bite the bullet and jump on the treadmill no matter how much I hate it!

Monday, August 21, 2006

We're back from the Bridal Shower

Becky's in the middle with Chris on her right. Adam is on the left ignoring us all as usual!


The drive was a pain but we enjoyed seeing Chris and Becky. They got lots of presents mainly for the kitchen - someone's going to have to start cooking more!

I don't think I've shared a picture of the kids so I pulled this one from the trip we took to Virginia in June to introduce Becky to my family. Adam was able to get off work and came with us too.

We got back in time yesterday to do a 5 mile hike and then I started piecing the blocks together for the nine patch quilt.

Saturday, August 19, 2006

Another UFO


I was looking for a backing for another quilt yesterday and came across this blue that was perfect for some nine patch blocks that have been sitting around forever. After a 10 mile hike yesterday afternoon I got the blue cut and laid out the blocks for a small donation quilt.

We're off to Kingsland, GA for a bridal shower for Becky. Keith is coming along for the 5 and 1/2 hour drive and we'll take the kids out to dinner tonight before heading back in the morning.

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Donation Quilts


August is the month we turn in quilts for our guild's community service project and donation quilts will be collected at this month's meeting and given to the local Ronald McDonald House. I turned mine in early since I'll miss the meeting next week.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Hexagon Flowers

I'm making progress on my 3 tasks. Last night I got the binding made and machine stitched down on the wedding quilt. I even had the label made so I sewed it into the corner as I was putting the binding on. Now I just have to hand stitch them down.

Since I can't show a picture of that quilt I'll show one of my other UFO's I'm working on. I love making Hexagon flowers as a take along project but will NEVER make a traditional grandmother's flower garden quilt.

I had intended to set these flowers with an alternate block that would create a chain but then I saw a strippie quilt in one of the Australian magazines and decided to go with that setting. I don't have much of the pink and cream fabric so it will be a lap size donation quilt and I probably have enough flowers already made. I need to make the leaves and then stitch it all down.

Sunday, August 13, 2006

Finished the first task


The borders are on the blue/green scrap quilt. This is a donation quilt that was pieced from 2.5 inch strips. I'm not sure it doesn't have too many light fabrics but I worked with what I had left. I think the first one I made from my Red/Purple strips turned out better - the rail fence pattern is more defined in that version.

This is another UFO and I don't even remember what I had originally planned to use these strips for but when my Mom needed some blue and green 2.5 inch strips for a quilt for her sister's grandson, we picked over the best strips and used them for that quilt first. I'm slowly gathering some strips in sizes I commonly use so the unused strips went into the bin with my other 2.5 inch strips.

The top will go on the shelf to age a while since I have a few waiting in line for quilting.

I was going to crop more of my mess out of this picture but I noticed Chesty was watching me from the bottom left corner so I left him in.

What I'm reading

Covenant by Naomi Ragen
In view of the situation in the Middle East this book is especially poignant. I haven't read any of the other books by this author but I will look for and read some of her previous ones now.

Looking for Peyton Place by Barbara Delinsky
I like books by Delinsky - she writes about relationships. In this book it's the relationship and resentments between 3 sisters that interested me. With my Mom getting older and having some health issues I saw some parallels between the sisters in this book and my relationship with my 3 sisters.

The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver
The plot is somewhat odd but I like books by Kingsolver - I didn't realize until I wrote this post that this book is from 1998 - I'm not sure how I missed it when it first came out.

The Courts of Love: The Story of Eleanor of Aquitaine by Jean Plaidy
I like historical fiction - this is one of many written by Plaidy and I enjoyed it.

Saturday, August 12, 2006

Priorities

My to do list

The next couple weeks are going to be busy with a overnight trip for a wedding shower, a 5 day trip to Seattle, and miles to hike to continue my preparation for the Breast Cancer 3 day walk.

My quilting goals during that time are to:
  1. bind and label the wedding quilt
  2. load my aunt's top on the longarm and start quilting it
  3. put borders on the scrappy blue and green rail fence that I worked on last week at Mom's

I didn't get started today because I needed to walk 13 miles to keep up with my training. I didn't feel well enough to be out on the trail so I broke down and did all 13 miles on the treadmill - 10 this afternoon and the final 3 after dinner. I think as the training miles increase I'll have to do more of them here at home.

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Flying

I head back home in the morning and hopefully the delay for screening at the airport won't be too bad. I fly back to Atlanta through the Newport News/ Williamsburg airport which is pretty small (although it's gotten really busy in the last year or so) and I'm planning to carry on only my book and purse. Of course just because I'm not carrying on a ton of baggage that has to be screened doesn't mean everyone else won't!

Judy posted how much she dislikes flying but luckily I don't mind it. I love to travel and with all my family living some distance and Keith traveling frequently for work I usually fly at least once or twice a month. People always tell me how much they hate the airport in Atlanta but it's been been our *home* airport for the last 4 years and when you're used to flying out of there it doesn't seem so crazy. However, I'm sure the delays out of Atlanta will be bad until the threat level goes back down. Maybe things will settle down before we fly to Seattle on the 23rd.

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Working on another UFO

Thanks for the comments about my Mom. She had her cataract surgery this morning and did fine. She's resting quietly today because she's a little woozy from the medication they gave her and I worked some on another UFO.

I'm not as organized as some other members of our group with my scraps but when I'm cutting for a scrap quilt I do try to think ahead 2 or 3 quilts and cut for more than one at a time. Before leaving home Saturday, I grabbed my blue and green strips that have been waiting to be made into a donation quilt.

The strips I'm using have been picked over a couple times and so far I'm not liking the combination as well as I thought I would. I'm just using a simple 2 rail fence pattern like this one made from the leftovers of a quilt I made for Becky (Chris' fiance).

Monday, August 07, 2006

I'm back in Virginia/What I'm reading

I flew back to Mom's on Saturday and for the last few days I've visited with Mom and my sister.

Ann has been working on a wall-hanging that she wasn't completely happy with so we looked through Mom's books and found some additional applique to add to it. She finished the wall-hanging before she left for home today and seemed to be happy with it now.

Mom has cataract surgery tomorrow so we'll be up and out of the house early. When we get back I hope to get to work on another UFO I brought with me.

The latest books I've read:

Angels Fall by Nora Roberts
Break No Bones: A Temperance Brennan Novel by Kathy Reichs
Vanishing Point by Marcia Muller

I liked the novels by Reichs and Muller and I was disappointed in the Nora Roberts one. I don't expect a lot from Nora Roberts - usually just an light entertaining read but this one was just OK.

Friday, August 04, 2006

Just one more post before I get off the computer


I finally caught up, visited everyone's blogs and just have to post one more picture.

Patti posted several pictures of scrap quilts on her blog, I have many of the same books and loved them all. I also have a quilt made for me by my Mom from one of the patterns she showed. It goes perfectly over the quilt on my guest bed.

By the way, the quilt on this bed is the same color scheme as the wedding quilt that I'm not going to post a picture of - yet.

Challenges

All these challenges going on this month have got me thinking. I'm already on minimal buying for fabric - mainly just backgrounds and borders when needed for a specific project but I read that someone added books to their challenge. Now that's one I can stand to participate in.

Cher and Hanne have also made personal challenges so I'll jump in too. Right now the two hardest things for me are limiting my quilt book purchases and NOT beginning new projects (I've got a set of fat quarters sitting on my cutting table just calling my name).

So my personal challenge for August will be to not purchase any quilt books and to not start any new projects. If it goes well I may even extend it into September. I think I'm going to go move those fat quarters - hopefully out of sight will be out of mind.

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Help


I finished quilting the wedding quilt today and it's off the machine and trimmed. Just have to bind it and make a label and that will be one more thing checked off my list.

Next up is a top my Aunt Nancy sent me to quilt. I'm going to quilt feather wreaths in the plain blocks but I'm not sure what to do in the borders. I'm thinking about feathers - I'd like to quilt half the feather in the dark and half in the light in two of them but there are 4 borders. What would I put in the other two? Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Another 10 miles and progress on Chris' quilt

To respond to recent comments about my hiking, I'm still preparing for the Breast Cancer 3 day walk in October so regardless of the weather I feel I have to be out there *training*. It's tough with the heat and humidity but I drink LOTS of water.

Keith has been out of town since Monday morning and was waiting for me today when I got in from another 10 mile hike. He took me to dinner at one of my favorite places - PF Chang's - and because it was unexpected it was especially nice!

I've only got about 1/4 of the quilting left on the Wedding Quilt - this pantograph is taking a little longer than usual but I like how it's looking.

I won't post a picture of the quilt so it will be somewhat of a surprise but Chris does know the color scheme - scrappy red/beige - and the pattern - double 4 patch - so I'll post my EQ5 drawing of the quilt. You'll have to image the quilt as scrappy and the lights ranging from cream to tan. I like quilts without borders and this one doesn't have one. To see this in green - check out Mom's version that I quilted for her a month or so ago.

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Yesterday

Yesterday I loaded Chris' wedding quilt on the longarm and started quilting it. It's a scrappy red/beige double four patch - the reds were from Mom's stash and the beiges from mine. I'm using a pantograph called Rhapsody - its the pantograph I decided not to use on the Butterfly quilt.

I washed and dried 4 of the 9 donation quilts that will go to both project Linus and the Ronald McDonald House this month.

I also shipped Mom's 2 quilts back to her along with another quilt pattern and some books.

And finally, I had a wonderful 2 hour massage!

Today I'll work some on Chris' wedding quilt and do a 10 mile hike.