Internet Shopping Suggestions

It just doesn't look like I can be coaxed into the stores to go shopping this year. Friday, I made a quick trip to Joanne's (or the J-store as Gretchen calls it) and Target. I quickly picked up the items on my list and headed home. This was a good thing in one way, but a bad thing in another. I'm not getting my shopping done. I came home and placed an order on Amazon.com and Kohls.com. One site that I like lots (I'm working on an order for this site) is Bookcloseouts.com.   They have remainders or overstocks from publishers. It's a good place to look for books at a reduced price. Anyone have any suggestions of good website to do my holiday shopping? I have lots of adult males to buy gifts for. Any ideas? I seem to buy the same items each year. Please send suggestions!

Thanksgiving Left-Overs, Cajun Style

Our Cajun version of left-over turkey was absolutely perfect for today. It has been gray and rainy all day today (thankfully, we need rain so very badly here in Georgia)  My husband took the turkey carcus and made Gumbo, Turkey gumbo that is. It was absolutely delicious! It will be even better tomorrow. 

Making Some Progress

I completed another quilt top!!!!  For the past year, I've thought that I would like to do the Sassy Sixteen pattern by Divine Inspirations for my niece who turned sixteen last December. I had new fabric Moda's Maypole by April Cornell that would match her bedroom. Did I begin the quilt last Winter? Of course not. Yesterday and today, I pushed with my sewing to get the top complete. I pinned the rows while watching football games with my husband (we are on football overload this weekend). The top is completed and the backing is stitched. I called my favorite long-arm quilter, P.J. and thankfully she will have it quilted for me to get to my niece for Christmas/her birthday. The Sassy Sixteen pattern takes 16 fat quarters which is neat because M.K. is 16. But with the binding, I actually used 17 fabrics. Not to worry! She will turn 17 on December 30th. 

Quilting Fiction - A New One

Marie Bostwick has a winner in her new book, A Single Thread. This title is not a murder mystery like the ones by Terri Thayer. It is a contemporary fiction book with interesting characters - characters who grow through the difficulties life has presented to them. I was pleased to read in the author's note at the end, that the she is considering additional books  set in this quilting community of New Bern.  Ms. Bostwick also has a website with forums and Registered Reading Friends. Check it out at www.mariebostwick.com.

New Quilting Fiction Books

The past couple of weeks I've read some new quilting mysteries. I first heard about author Terri Thayer from Annie Smith's podcast Annie's Quilting Stash. Annie interviewed the author.  I was intrigued after listening to the interview and wanted to read her books. Wild Goose Chase is set at a major quilt show. I liked the second book Old Maid's Puzzle  a bit better than the first. The characters are beginning to develop and form. I had the same feeling with this series that I do in Earlene Fowler's Benni Harper quilt book series. I don't always like the characters or their choices, but I seem to always read the next one when it comes out.

I did enjoy Lover's Knot by Clare O'Donohue (A Someday Quilts Mystery). I have not idea how I found out about this book. I evidently requested it from the library. I don't remember doing that either  and was surprised when I received notification that it was being held for me.  This is another "who-done-it"  mystery. Good escape from reality reading. 

In all three books, the friendships that develop among quilters was a theme. That is definitely true to life and not fiction. Enjoy! Happy Reading!

A New Project

I haven't started a new project in several months. I worked a bit on one of the T-shirt quilts this past week, but today I felt like working on something new. I've wanted to work on a quilt for my godchild. Possibly, I can finish it for the holidays. She turned sixteen this year so I thought the Sassy Sixteen quilt would be appropriate. I have a fat quarter bundle of April Cornell's Maypole fabric line. The colors are wonderful. This morning I was able to cut out the quilt. I even began sewing the blocks. It just felt good to work on whatever I felt like sewing. This afternoon and evening, I worked on hand sewing binding while watching football. I still have three quilts that need the handwork on the binding finished. One is our Christmas quilt. One is a Christmas gift. The last one is possibly for a nephew's new baby.

A new quilt magazine arrived in the mail today. I love quilting magazines. I'm heading upstairs to bed to savor this issue of Quilter's Home. 

Stash Enhancement

It was so much fun!!! Adding fabric to my stash and another project to my list. Yes, I'm headed in the wrong direction, but.... I was helping a friend. That sounds like a good one doesn't it :)  A quilting friend is downsizing her stash. She had a wonderful garage sale on Friday. Actually, this is her second sale. She also had a table at the guild sale in July. Yes, I must confess. I attended all three sales. I couldn't attend the last couple of sales at Sweet Home (I hated missing the last Freaky Friday this weekend ) so this is my consolation prize. I purchased some yardage for backs. The lime green flannel will be cozy on the back of a project. I've been thinking of doing a red and white project. I've resisted in the past,

 but the kit with backing and pattern was too much for me. The pattern is from a American Patchwork & Quilting Calendar from 2004. I actually have the calendar with the directions. But this one is not the only red and white kit that spoke to me. Brenda who blogs as the Quilting Cowgirl met me at the sale. There was another kit with red and neutral fabrics that we both liked. There was fabric for two lap quilts. We purchased this  kit and will split it. It will be fun to work on it together. 

My sewing room has been a wreck. I've not put away projects or newly aquired fabric. Yesterday, I realized that because my room was such a mess I was reluctant to sew. This afternoon I made some progress. I put all the projects and fabric on my sewing table away. I put books and magazines back on the shelf. Much better!!!  I did spend a couple of hours working on one of the T-shirt quilts for this year. I ironed the stablizer on the back of the shirts and then trimmed the shirts.  Next time, I'll begin sewing the frames around the T-shirts. The strips are cut and ready to be sewn. 

Getting Back to Normal

Today was an absolutely gorgeous Fall day here in Georgia. Our son is a senior in high school so we did another college visit. We drove about two hours to central Georgia to tour one of the colleges that he is interested in attending. The drive was beautiful. The leaves are finally beginning to look like Fall.  The college visit was a good one. Our son liked this school. He has already applied to his first choice, but needs a back-up plan just in case. The competition is rather fierce at his fist chocie, UGA in Athens.  I worked on binding for our Christmas quilt while we were driving. I love the handwork sewing down binding. This one is close to being finished. I also worked on it when we got home. My husband loves football especially college football. I put clothes washing and sat with him to watch the Georgia/Florida game. Since we are big LSU fans , it didn't matter to us which team won. LSU lost to both teams this year. Guess we would have liked  for both Georgia and Flordia to lose today, but.....   Anyway, I'm almost finished sewing binding on this quilt. That means we will have our first Christmas quilt this year!!! 

It's been nine weeks since my hip replacement surgery. I'm finally beginning to feel normal again. I always felt good, but thinking and doing complex things was a bit difficult. But that has past and I'm thankfully doing most everything. Since my energy level has improved, I'm hoping to do some sewing and blogging this week .

Take care! Hope to be back soon!