Evie's Quilt

Little Evie had a birthday this past week ("I'M FOUR NOW!!!). Our phone conversation with her was held at a rather high it's-my-birthday-today decibel level. So I finished her requested Giraffe Quilt - just big blocks and tied with embroidery thread at 3-inch intervals. The blue fabric is Minkee plush (as requested), something I've never sewn with before. Minkee is a very soft fleece-like velour with little poufy bumps. Ummmm, don't iron Minkee because the poufy bumps iron out and they don't come back. Who knew?? Anyway, it wasn't at all bad to work with and I'd sew with it again.

It should be nice and cuddlely for the brand-new four-year old. --cds

Saturday At The Movies

Though I may be the only person in the world who has NOT read the book, Mother and I are off to the movies today to see "The Help." James wants to join us as well even after hearing that this is a chick-flik and no cars will be exploding and no firefights with assault weapons will occur. I guess we'll let him sit with us. I suspect he wants to go solely for the movie popcorn, fountain soda, and giant boxes of candy. The AMC at Downtown Disney also has a bar in the lobby, so if he gets too bored I guess he can go have a beer. --cds

Fear Not The King

Sounds like the title of some sort of trashy historical romance novel, doesn't it (I could SO write one of those). But, no, I am here to report that I have overcome my fear of quilting a king-sized bed cover. This is actually the second quilt I've made for our king bed - the first I made about 8 years ago and hand-quilted the whole thing. Tedious, but good practice. I wanted to test whether or not I could machine quilt such a monstrosity on my trusty Bernina and am happy to report success.

It's just a simple grid pattern, but by using the walking-foot and starting in the middle I had no problems at all.

This was good to know because James wants me to start on his T-shirt quilt consisting of his collection of ratty, I mean, old Earnhardt T-shirts that I was not permitted to throw away. And there are a lot of them. Ugh. Help me. --cds

Technical Difficulties

I spent an inordinate amount of time yesterday trying to update my online access to my old Vermont library. Probably I should first say that these days I consume books in a dizzying variety of ways: normal, page-turning books when I'm being lazy on the porch or before going to sleep (not mutually exclusive); audiobooks on CD borrowed from the local library (Lakeland has two branches, both great); downloading books from the library to my iPod; or downloading right to my computer. I like being read to while I sew. By the way, someone should invent a sewing machine that supports CDs and DVDs (and clocks). I don't really get the appeal of the Kindle-thing because I like to multi-task.

Anyway, typical for me, I like to read in series and my current favorite is the Artemis Fowl collection.



I found these in the Young Adult section (where the Harry Potters are shelved). Who knew I had a taste for fantasy/fiction? Artemis is a kid who befriends leprechauns, fairies and demons, but the books are smart, funny and kind of believeable (I know...). It doesn't hurt to have Nathaniel Parker reading in your ear, either; he reads most of the Fowl series on audio.

I started perusing the Young Adult section more after reading Carl Hiassen's Scat, Hoot and Flush:


These have a strong environmental theme, take place in Florida and are written for kids, but not dumbed-down if you know what I mean. Hiassen's novels for adults are good too - funny and violent - typical stupid Florida criminal stories.

Also different for me are James Herriot's memoirs about being a vet in England in the 1930's/40's:
I listened to all of these via iPod and loved the narrator because he had such a great Yorkshire accent. Almost made me wish I had a backyard full of sheep, horses and cows. Ha-ha. Just kidding.

And of course, I will always love murder mysteries:
Cara Black writes about Aimee Leduc who is a detective in Paris. I have ploughed through all of Martha Grimes' Richard Jury series:
Also, Elizabeth George's Detective Lynley books; even though I think Lynley himself is annoying, I love his Sergeant Barbara Havers who tends to break the rules and beats up suspects a lot. Always fun.
Also fun are Tim Dorsey's books about Serge Storm, a Florida psycho who only murders really really bad other guys. Off-the-wall type black humor, but often depicts stupid Florida criminals whom I have read about in real life.

So, what started out as a rant against my computer troubles has led to book reviews! Fun-fun-fun on a Friday. --cds

Babies and Beach Girls

Well, the baby is now a toddler at 14 months old. Ruthanne really goes places on those long legs. Playing in the swingset tower, 12 months old.
Helping out in the kitchen, at 11 months old.
Isabella and Evie splashed about in the Pacific Ocean in July. Evie and her dark-haired cousin Olivia. Evie held that pose throughout this series of shots. I think she's fashion run-way bound. So there you have it. Gratuitous granddaughter photos on a Thursday. I'm binding the baby quilt today. --cds

Distractions

1. The sky this morning is so interesting. Yesterday's storm is exiting to the east and leaving flat swirly lavender/peach clouds in its wake. And already coming in from the west are piles of tall white ice cream cone clouds that will be today's thunderstorms. I never get tired of skywatching here in Florida.

2. I'm hand-quilting parts of the baby quilt and that reminds me how much I love hand-stitching. On my desert island, my survival kit would have to include needle, thread and cloth. And Cheetos.

3. I am working furiously behind the scenes on a plan to get all my children here in October for a visit. Vermonters and Utah-ers (??) in Florida. At the same time. Granddaughters all over the place. I'll do it, never fear.

4. I like list-making. It helps me to focus, which I've been having trouble doing lately. I know that the answer to that is more exercise and I am considering early morning swimming. I'll keep you posted. I've never been a good lap swimmer (tho I would dearly love to learn how to do one of those cool underwater flip turns).

5. Enough list-making. Time for more coffee. And it is thundering already.

--cds

Must Finish Quilt Today

Because the baby has arrived! A new little cousin in NJ is already one day old and his quilt is not quite finished.

I'm making a more modern style than my usual, involving panels and patchwork and lots of white. So this is my focus for the weekend. That and making some sort of cookies or dessert. How can I keep up my strength for sewing without taking cookie breaks? --cds

Crazy Art

Part crazy quilting, part color therapy, I don't really know what these are, but I had fun making them. These are about 6" x 8", stretched over an artist's canvas.

I can't be done - there are lots more colors to play with.

I added a transfer from an old travel postcard to this one.

It sort of started with my ribbon-dyeing experiment. These were pieces of white silk and satin ribbons, cotton twill, lace, and polyester brocade that I mooshed together into the same turquoise dyepot. How fun to see the various shades of blue that came out.

I'm feeling orange-ish this week, I think. --cds