Improv-Designed Tops

With three projects needing design wall space, I've had to prioritize what I'm working on - get one finished so I can put up the next one!

So my latest quilt top finish is this 67" X 73" piece begun during a February QuiltCon workshop with Ashelyn Downs. I'm afraid it didn't turn out as the Large Scale Minimal Improv design it was meant to be, but I'm happy with it. 

It includes Painter's Palette solids - Cloud, Waterfall, Lapis and Oyster - the latter being the one that's my new favorite neutral. Though, now I'm out of it! 

The little color pops are Kumquat. I wouldn't be nearly as pleased with this quilt design if it didn't include those happy bits. 

Linens are these four pieces. 

Denim pieces are denim yardage (the darker blue), and legs from hub's blue jeans.

 

As much as I'm really looking forward to quilting this, my next big task is to find stashed fabrics from which to piece a backing! No small task, given my dwindling fabric piles.

I finished appliquéing leaves and the stem for my 20" X 20" pillow top. This piece is the result of my five-lesson Organic Improv Appliqué workshop with Jo Avery through The Threadhouse Academy. I always like Jo's designs, and this was no exception. She's a great teacher!

After putting a piece of batting behind the piece, I thread-basted the layers on my Bernina 770 using stitch #21 which I think is actually a tack stitch. 

Now I've begun hand quilting with a variety of colors of Wonderfil Spagetti, a 12-weight perle cotton. The pattern I'm stitching is what Jo calls "improv plaid."

Book Recommendations

Back in 2009, I read several books written by Kimberly Stuart. At the time, Kimberly lived local to me (in Des Moines, Iowa), and was a young mother with a couple toddlers. She wrote several very funny - like laugh out loud! - books about juggling a home and motherhood. I met Kimberly! See how young I looked.

Kimberly hosted a giveaway of her books. I won! Winners were asked to travel with two books and give them away.

Kimberly delivered her books to my house, and I took them with me on one of several trips to Sydney, Australia where I gave them away to young mothers while in Sydney's CBD (Central Business District).

I'm mentioning my past relationship with Kimbrerly because I just read Heart Land which she wrote and published in 2018. 

Heart Land is a story about Grace, a young woman originally from Iowa who, after graduating at the top of her class from F.I.T. (Fashion Institute of Technology, New York) has spent six years, working hard to earn her way to the position of designer at a renown fashion company.

When circumstances force her to return to Iowa and her grandmother, Gigi's home in Sliver Creek (fictional city), Grace remembers why she was anxious to leave. As typical in Midwest small towns, everyone knows everyone and their business, including Tucker, the fella she left behind who has become a successful contractor. 

Gigi has recently begun sewing clothes to sell at a community market, so when Grace makes a few alterations to Gigi's beautiful fabrics, they both realize Gigi may be able to capitalize on her skills and make enough money to return to New York. Thus begins a series of events that make Grace realize her hometown has more to offer than she thought.

As you might expect, this is a sweet story of love, and discovering what's most important. I admire how Kimberly weaves faith and prayer into Heart Land which is very much a reflection of the Heartland I miss. I need to catch up reading all of Kimberly's books!

Linda's score: 4.2/5.0

Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center begins in Austin, Texas where Cassie is a firefighter/EMT. She loves her job, yet an unfortunate incident during an awards ceremony, and her mother's unexpected request for Cassie to move to Massachusetts to help her out, finds Cassie reluctantly relocating. Her new job in a Boston fire station comes with being in a facility that's unaccustomed to accommodating a female, and a captain whose prejudice towards female firefighters apparent. 

As Cassie proves her worth, both physically and while on the job, her heart is leading her to feelings she wants to deny - an unwanted relationship with her mother, and a man. Maintaining distance and professionalism while on the job is critical, and while it earns her the respect she deserves, it doesn't come without conflict, and false accusations. Cassie must face unfair treatment, and learn a lesson about forgiveness.  

Linda's score: 4.3/5.0

Go as a River by Shelley Read is one of those stories that has me fondly remembering several Barbara Kingsolver books I read years ago. 

In Go as a River, its 1948 and 17 year-old Torie is the only female on the Nash family farm in Iola, Colorado, which is known for its sweet peaches. Her family - a gruff dad, a rowdy younger brother, and an uncle who returned from war without a leg - leave her feeling alone.

When Torie meets and is attracted to a young man, Wil, on Iola's main street, she follows her heart in spite of rumors and lies about him. When he disappears, Torie (now calling herself Victoria) comes to recognize that she's more on her own more than ever before. She must flee into the mountains to survive. However, self-sufficiency proves more than she can manage, so she's forced into a decision that breaks her heart. 

As she's trying to reconcile herself to a life alone, Iola citizens learn that a reservoir is to be built. The town will be flooded. Victoria is the first person to sell out. She must save her peach trees and forge a new life on her own. 

I love how the author described the beauty of this area, and what this young woman endured to make a life for herself. Really, a sweet story. 

Linda's score: 4.4/5.0

Has spring sprung where you are? Spring is looking good around here. Even the medians at major intersections are full of color.

I'm grateful for such lovely views. Linda

Floating Pyramid Quilt Finish

It isn't often anymore that I have a reason to make a baby quilt, unless it's for charity, like Children's Home Society of Florida. So when my good friend in Central Florida MQG, Courtney (I rode home from QuiltCon with her in 2023 and 2024) told me last fall that she was expecting their first baby in May, I knew I'd be making a a quilt. 

In March I made Floating Pyramid, a pattern in the book "Modern Baby." 

It was the perfect design to use solids scarps scraps, and my neutral print stash. 

Each triangle shape in the pyramid is cut from made fabric - scraps sewn together and then cut into a triangle shape. While the book provides a triangle template, my Hex 'n more Ruler work well with a strip of blue tape to mark one triangle side. 

Also, the pattern called for specific yardage of four prints for background triangles. But it worked much better for me to cut a wide variety of low volume prints - including a baby print, and floral designs.

My limited stash forced me to come up with a creatively-pieced backing.

From a koala print, purchased in Australia when my grandsons were toddlers, I cut a single triangle, slightly smaller than the one on the quilt front. Then I pieced other prints around it. Across the top is a piece of Project Linus fabric that says "Security is a thumb and a blanket." 

Batting is Quilter's Dream 100% cotton, Select loft. 

From the start, I had a simple quilting plan: spiral quilting starting in the center of the pyramid to fill the pyramid. 

Then, around the pyramid I quilted an old, familiar, unbroken quilting design: a snail trail. 

I bound the quilt with scraps of low volume prints.

I have quilted this snail trail design on dozens of baby quilts. This is the quilting viewed from the back. 

I created a label using MacBook Pages, and printed it on EQ Printables. The graphic I'm sharing here has been edited to remove personal information. 

Anne, a Central Florida MQG member, was my quilt-holder for these pictures which were taken in Oxford near where our chapter meets for workshops and sew-ins. 

Floating Pyramid finished at 48½" X 54½". 

I wrapped the quilt and gifted it to Courtney at the conclusion of Saturday's Central Florida MQG meeting. Courtney and her husband are expecting their baby girl's arrival in May. I hope they get lots of use from this quilt. Linda

Travel, and Hancock's of Paducah

We made a trip to Kansas City last week, sharing a great time with my sister and her husband in Olathe, and most of our time with my dad who turned 94 years old on Sunday, April 7. Sunday afternoon, at Dad's assisted living facility, 24 members of our family gathered to celebrate. Dad likes the apple crisp they serve, so we requested it, and had salted caramel ice cream on the side. I took lots of pictures, but decline to publicly share them. Suffice it to say we had a wonderful day, and Dad did too (though we would have enjoyed seeing the Iowa Hawkeye women win the championship basketball game.) I loved getting to see my siblings, their families, and our daughter, son-in-law, and two teenaged grandsons. 

We spent as much time driving to and from Kansas City as we did being in Kansas City! This time though, while enroute, we arrived in Paducah, Kentucky in time for me to visit Hancock's of Paducah, just down the road from the Drury Inn we stayed in.

I've visited this store several times before, but this is the first time I was there when it was nearly empty of customers, yet very well stocked. My goodness! They're definitely prepared for QuiltWeek, April 24-27! 

I’ve never seen so many fabric bolts in one place!

For solids, it’s a Kona-lover's dream, with all colors stocked. Moda Bella solids too. 

"The back room" was full of pre-cuts - charms, layer cakes, jelly rolls - and all manner of bundles and kits. I have never cared for these, but I could sure imagine quilters going crazy here!

My purchase was one yard of Kona Cheddar, a color I love (and cannot get in Painter’s Palette solid); a rotary blade; one 12-weight Aurifil thread; and two packs of sewing machine needles. 

While in Kansas City, I had my most-anticipated, favorite food - a pork tenderloin from Hy-Vee Market Grill. Only $8 for this deliciousnes which was thick and huge - far larger than the bun. I am proud to say I ate it all, and was contentedly stuffed the rest of the day. 

We left KC early Monday morning, so we were on the road during the eclipse. We thought we might get to see it, and apparently so did LOTS of others!

It might not be able apparent from this picture, but as we headed south on I-555 (in Arkansas) everyone was going north, from Memphis (Tennessee) toward the path of the total eclipse. Their side of the interstate looked like hurricane evacuation, while we had southbound lanes almost to ourselves! By the time we were in the eclipse it was pouring-down rain. My friend Elizabeth remarked, “Maybe next time.” My response was, “Ha! If I make it to 92!” 

An abundance of car-riding time meant hand-piecing time.

I took along 28 Glitter blocks prepped-for-hand-piecing and stitched them all. 

That means I have pieced all 152 blocks needed for my Glitter quilt. You know what I'll be doing next!

Book Recommendation

I finished one book while on the road, The Seven Year Slip by Ashley

Clementine has her dream job as a book publicist, and is living in an apartment bequeathed to her by the aunt she adored and traveled with extensively. Her aunt always said her apartment was a place where time slipped, so Clementine is only slightly taken aback when one evening she returns to her apartment to find all her aunt's things in place (things Clementine had donated after her aunt's death), and a strange man, Iwan. He tells her that her aunt said he could stay in the apartment until he finds a place of his own. Clementine realizes she has stepped back seven years in time. 

As Clementine comes to know and like Iwan, she remembers her aunt telling her to never fall in love in the apartment. But love has a will of its own. For the sake of her job, Clementine realizes she must meet and win over the different, future Iwan - now known as James, and reconcile James with the Iwan she knew in the past.   

Linda's score: 3.8/5.0

My last blog post, about March fabric-tracking prompted a comment from Becky Pitt who mentioned that Karen Brown did a YouTube video inventory of her fabric stash. If you're interested, you can view this 13-minute video here. Karen Brown's fabric stash total is... 

Wowsa!

I am certain I have less than one fourth of the stash she does. I don't have any fabric precuts, bundles, or kits. She mentions not counting leftover fabric/fabric she has cut into. When I take into account how little of my stash has NOT been cut into - I estimate that at less than 5% of my stash - she makes me feel good about what I've been doing! Whoo-hoo! Maybe I AM on my way to using up my stash! Linda

End of March

With Easter on the last day of the month, this end of March review sort of snuck up on me.

This month was moderately productive, with no new fabric purchases. Outgoing yardage was 7.14 yards  (yay!) and that number includes a completely finished, albeit small, quilt I have yet to share. I'll do so after it's gifted.

Other than the finished quilt, all other outgoing fabrics were used to make blocks. Some people who fabric track don't count yardage as "out" until a quilt top is finished. But that's not me. I consider the fabric "out"  or used when it's cut and pieced into its intended purpose, even if that's just a block. For example, my Glitter quilt blocks (not yet pieced into a quilt top) are in my March count.

However, the exception is if I'm making an improv quilt. I do not count ANY yardage until an improv quilt top is assembled. That's because with improv, it's all about making changes as you go. My friend Debbie at A Quilter's Table has been fabric-tracking for several years, and she suggested how to calculate yardage used in an improv quilt: Multiply the quilt top dimensions by 25 percent (to allow fabric for seams). So that's what I've been doing. 

As I've been anxiously waiting for a few remaining blocks to arrive from quilters who are participating in my Modern Potholder Group quilt project (due date is April 12), I've passed time by working on a project begun in a QuiltCon workshop: Large Scale Minimal Improv. I've simply been cutting and piecing more components, and arranging - rearranging and rearranging - them on my design wall. None of this fabric has yet been counted as outgoing. By the way, components are made not only with quilting cotton, but denim (from hub's blue jeans), and linen.

Being the circle/round-shape-lover that I am, I used my Classic Curves ruler to make several inset circle blocks. The light blue fabric at the bottom left, and beige fabric top left, are both linen. 

As is the nature of improv, I find it brain-taxing to work out what to do next. But I will persevere! 

Book Recommendations

Somehow or another, I managed to listen to 11 audiobooks in March. More surprising was that only two of them had a score of less than 4.0. So, what follows are two more book reviews, and a recap of the best of March. 

The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger is his newest book, released last fall. Mr. Krueger has a penchant for setting his stories in Minnesota and Iowa, which I appreciate. It's very easy to envision the fictional places - rural countryside and small towns - his characters inhabit.

This story begins on Decoration Day (Memorial Day) weekend. A body has been found, snagged on driftwood in the Alabaster River. At first, it seems like a suicide. But when the victim is identified as a landholding bully who most people despised, Sheriff Brody Dern and his deputies have to investigate further. 

As the plot unfolds, prejudices against the Japanese (WWII is fresh in everyone's minds), and native Americans who once owned the land become apparent. Townspeople are divided, and while laws are meant to bring justice, there are always those who want to take justice and retribution into their own hands. 

This thought-provoking book is about coming of age, and recalling old-fashioned beliefs and attitudes.

Linda's score: 4.4/5.0

Everyone is Watching by Heather Gudenkauf is a new book (released in March) I've been anticipating. I was on a wait list for it's release, and was the first person to check it out though my Boundless library app. Heather is an Iowa author I follow on Instagram @heathergudenkauf (and she follows me back!) because I've enjoyed every book she has ever written. If you haven't read any of her books, I highly recommend The Overnight Guest.

The premise of Everyone is Watching is that five contestants (one is from Calico, Iowa) are flown to California to live for two weeks in a posh, wine country home and appear on the program "One Lucky Winner." During a series of live-streamed challenges, participants find clues, and win/lose competitions, with the viewing public voting people out, until the last person wins $10 million. 

Behind the scenes, Cat is orchestrating the show, deciding what and when the challenges will be. Fern, Cat's assistant is the show's host, keeping everyone on schedule and monitoring social media attention. "One Lucky Winner" doesn't happen quite as planned, and becomes reality-viewing when contestants get hurt. Yet when Fern learns that 16 million people have been watching, the show has to go on. 

Linda's score: 4.2/5.0

March Reading Recap - I gave these nine titles a score of 4.0 or better.

1. The Irish Boarding House, Sandy Taylor - 4.5
2. The River We Remember, William Kent Krueger - 4.4
3. The Secret Book of Flora Lea, Patti Callahan Henry - 4.3
4. The Teacher, Frieda McFadden - 4.2
5. Only the Beautiful, Susan Meissner - 4.2
6. The Fury, Alex Michaelides - 4.2
7. Everyone is Watching, Heather Gudenkauf - 4.2
8. The House Keeper, Valerie Keogh - 4.0
9. Kookaburra Cottage, Maya Linnell - 4.0

Happy book-listening!

And I hope your Easter was lovely. I celebrated the Holy day with worship, and time spent in devotional reflections about Jesus' sacrifice for us. Often, it seems more easy to abide in the heaviness of Good Friday, feeling sad and unworthy. So it washes over me anew on Easter, when I am reminded that Jesus conquered death, for us all. For me! My otherwise eternal condemnation now has the promise of a new life and eternity with Him. Amen. Linda

Aimlessly Playing

For the past week, I've been using my Bernina 440QE (QE stands for Quilter's Edition) because my Bernina 770QE computer screen finally came up with a "needs service" message.

My Bernina 440QE was award to me for "Best of Show" at the 2012 Machine Quilter's Showcase in Overland Park, Kansas

The last time the 770 was serviced was June 2022! Nineteen months in between servicing means that my weekly cleaning routine has paid off! Every Friday I brush out and vacuum the bobbin case area, and then drip Bernina oil on the bobbin case base and in the red spot next to the feed dogs. When it costs $139 plus tax to have the 770 serviced, I can be diligent about cleaning it myself!

Since finishing Prudence (last blog post), I have touched a couple more projects, neither of which are near to being finished.

I'm feeling good about having 122 Glitter quilt blocks completed pieced. Each unfinished block is 4" X 10".

The remaining 30 blocks are cut, machine-pieced, and ready for hand-sewing. I'm coming down the home stretch! I keep prepped blocks in this zipper(s) pouch (10 zippers, to be exact!) at the ready to grab and go. 

The most sewing fun I did this week was spent with Jo Avery's on-demand Organic Pieced Appliqué lessons. After QuiltCon, I purchased the workshop series from The Thread House UK using a discount code given to students in Jo's Improv Tiny Piecing QuiltCon  workshop. Jo is a natural as an instructor, so it was an easy decision to buy her online lessons and give this project a go. 

Jo first went through fabric color options and choices. Then she explained how to make each of four different improv blocks. When the background was pieced - mine will be a 20" X 20" pillow - I made bias tape, and improv-cut vetch leaves.

I wasn't familiar with vetch, which has several beneficial qualities - adds nitrogen to the soil; is good ground cover; reduces rain run-off; and such. In her video, Jo showed an actual vetch stem, so students would have an idea of the leaf shape to cut. 

Have you seen vetch? I'm pretty sure I first heard of "crown vetch" as a kid, when my Dad mentioned it. Before retirement, he worked in agricultural sales. As I recall, crown vetch was considered a nuisance in soybean and corn fields. 

Anyway...I'm looking forward to the next step which is hand appliqué. Yay! Typically, I prefer the back-basted appliqué method, but needleturn appliqué is good too. At QuiltCon 2023 in Atlanta, I purchased a small collection of 80-weight Aurifil thread and I'm glad I did! Eighty-weight thread is perfect for hand appliqué. I'm using color 1231 on a cute wooden spool.

Book Recommendations I've come across a rash of good books lately! I recommend adding all three of these titles to your reading list. 

Kookaburra Cottage by Maya Linnell takes place along the Southwest coast of Australia, in Limestone Coast Wine Country where April lives in a small house on the grounds of her family's Lacewing Estate winery. Her dad wants her to take over the business, but she's determined to forge her own path, helping where she can, raising vegetables, and opening a bed and breakfast.

Connor, a winemaker from the UK, arrives as part of a two-year program that sends winemakers from other countries to share and learn. April and Conner meet. She's fresh off a break-up with a cheating boyfriend. Conner has left bad memories of his former life back in the UK. Their commonalities, including an inability to cook, have them spending work and social time together 

With a title that includes a kookaburra, and the delightful voice of the Aussie narrator, how can you go wrong? The book is a charming "Hallmark" type of story - people who misunderstand one another, a very cool neighbor boy, a wonderful dog, and a sense of life lived in Australia wine country. 

Linda's score: 4.0/5.0

The Fury by Alex Michaelides is interesting because of the way the story is told. It's presented as an objective, first-person account of what happened to a famous American movie star (Lana), her second husband, and the star's best girlfriend (Kate) a British actress.

From her first husband, Lana inherited an entire Greek island with a beautifully restored house, guest house, and pool where Lana likes to escape from London. She invites two friends to join her, her husband, and her son over Easter weekend. 

High winds - locally known as "the fury" - keep them on the island. Too much alcohol makes for loose tongues that reveal grudges and harbored ill-feelings. Illicit love, revenge, and a playwright's script are laid bare in one long night of unexpected revelations for each person on the island.

I liked this book because the plot was presented in a unique way, narrated by Elliot who is Lana's friend.

Linda's score: 4.2/5.0

The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry is yet another WWII story... but don't turn away! While I'm nearly overfull of WWII fiction, this one is different

Sisters Hazel and Flora are part of British "Operation Pied Piper" - the evacuation of children from London due to fears of German bombings and invasion. As difficult as it is for the sisters to leave their mother, they enjoy life in a rural village, living in a charming cottage with Bridie and Henry. When they miss their mother, Hazel makes up stories about a special place for her and Flora: "Whisperwood" and  "The River of Stars."

Years later, while working for a bookseller, Hazel comes across a book about a place called Whisperwood. She's taken aback. Only Flora knew about that place, and since Flora's disappearance at the age of six, it's been more than two decades since Hazel has thought about Whisperwood. In spite of resistance from her fiancé, Hazel is determined to discover how the author knows about their special place, and whether Flora herself might still be alive. 

When an author uses real places in a story - places I can look up and view pictures of on Google Maps - I'm always more appreciative of the story. Such is the case with this good work of fiction, based on the real Operation Pied Piper.  

Linda's score: 4.3/5.0

Taking a cue from my quilter-blogger-reader-friend Cindy at Live A Colorful Life, I'm keeping track of 2024 favorite reads with a "Book Bracket." A bracket template is easy to find with a Google search, and catching up to March is easy too. My Jan/Feb favorite book was Scrublands by Chris Hammer.

I hope you are being blessed by this Holy Week. Linda