I met my friend Ginny in Ames today at the quilt shop Quilting Connection. I have not been in a big shop for a long time and just needed something new to be inspired.
They have recently remodeled and it’s so bright and easy to shop.
I loved Connie’s Tula Pink quilt so much that I bought her new jelly roll as well as yardage. It’s going to be fun to work with something out of my comfort zone. I’ll keep you posted on what I’m doing.
This quilt is ready for binding – maybe tomorrow. The 16 patch blocks are made with a jelly roll and when I show you the finished quilt, I’ll give you the directions. You’ve got a jelly roll wanting to go to work, right?
After shopping we went to the Mongolian Buffet – yum!
Since I got to thinking about my past crocheting life, I dug out this wool afghan. I actually made two of these – one for me and one for mom. It is beautiful but I’m never going to use a wool blanket! Too itchy!
I asked my sister Becky if she took Mom’s Afghan to the thrift store – oh my, that’s a funny story I’ll tell you some time! I’m laughing myself right now just thinking about it!
UPS is bringing our quilts home tomorrow from Beyond the Battlefield – it won’t be long now till that book is available!
I had a great time away from home today with Ginny but the next few days are going to be below zero and Reed and I have an adventure planned for Saturday. And by the way, the thrush has moved on and we are thankful we got to see him.
I haven’t gotten many book titles from you readers this month – did everybody quit reading?
A cold night tonight – everybody is locked in the warm barn!
Love your jelly roll quilt! And I can’t wait to see your new book!
Just got a book, haven’t started yet so no review but it looks good. “Then She Was Gone” by Lisa Jewell. Stay warm!
FYI every time I click on read more get a error note and RELOAD does nothing..have to go to comments to get and read remainder of blog.
Love your blog and click every ad I see..hope that helps.
Merry Christmas hope you have wonderful holidays with family and frinds.
Nikki M – it all helps, thank you! Is the blog working now?
The same thing happens to me when I click on read more.
I’m just coming to the end of “Becoming” by Michelle Obama. Have enjoyed it very much. Amazing what life is like, living in the White House! My daughter has the audio, with Michelle narrating.
I just bought that book for my mom as she wanted it for a Christmas gift! I wish I had gotten the audio now that I realize it is Michelle narrating it.
Does buying a book count?? Or I should say I bought 4 paperback books to save for after Christmas to read. They are a quilting/mystery series about a lady in a retirement home. Author is Carol Dean Jones. I need to finish sewing some holiday gifts so my evenings before nodding off can only handle a few pages of a magazine right now. Going to be cold all weekend here so I will be in till Sunday, then it’s church and a holiday concert at a local college. Glad you found some inspiration today. Good food, good company and good shopping.
Kathy, I hope you enjoy them! I have read all of Carol Dean Jones’ Quilting Cozys, and it is a great series.
Fiona- I actually kept them in the Barnes and nobles bag and set them aside in another room or I would be tempted to start them! I see there are four more coming out. Looking forward to some relaxing reading in January.
Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain
I am reading a series called The Morland Dynasty by Cynthia Harrod-Eagle which follows the Morland family starting in 1434 up to the 1930’s. This is a historical novel series. I am finding it very interesting but there are 35 books in the series.
Another series I really enjoyed is the Irish Country Dr. series by Patrick Taylor. They are quit comical and easy reading.
Have you read the Mitford series? https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/mitford/ they are listed there in order. I love series when the books are good and I’ve re-read this series! I can’t wait to see what you will be sewing next! When you are quilting straight lines across your quilt, do you always start on the left? Just asking because of the thread tails…I go across one way and come back the other, never starting and stopping at each end, just moving down the side the necessary amount, because I feel like I am wasting thread and channel locks work great in either direction.
I am reading “Outlander” and it is a great series. I love your blog and your quilts.
I’m reading “Becoming” by Michele Obama. Very interesting reading. Also last week I went on a Holiday tour of houses in Washington, DC and one was next door to where the Obamas are living. It’s on a side street that is blocked off at both ends by the Secret Service and normally you would not be allowed down the street without sufficient ID. A very nice neighborhood and a very nice house.
I just read “The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living” by Louise Miller. I saw a second book by her at the library but haven’t read it yet. My husband read “Secrets of the Secret Service”- an eye-opener about what it is like to guard the Presidents. Really cold here tonight.
Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak and The Book Thief also by Markus Zusak. Both books are excellent and the movie version of The Book Thief is also very good.
Love the 16 patch!! I am reading The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans . It’s a sweet Christmas story great for the season.
I do have a jelly roll or two waiting to be made into a quilt. Will you be selling the new books directly or should we order from Amazon? They have a pre-order option.
I won’t have much time to read now until after Christmas.
I see that you were able to get the heading back on the top of the page.
Cold here at least it has finally stopped raining and the ground is freezing so the farmers can drive across the fields. The mud has been awful.
I’ll check in later and click some more ads, it’s time to get up and start the chores.
I also have a jelly roll waiting to be made into a quilt so am interested to see your 16 patch finished! I’ve been so busy trying to get all my Christmas decorations up but I think I’m finally done. So fun to get out the Christmas quilts and wallhangings, there are many Country Threads quilts among them! I still have patterns of yours waiting to be made!! I recently finished “Killers of the Flower Moon” it was our book club book and am now reading “Winter Garden” by Kristin Hannah. I enjoyed “The Great Alone” and “The Nightengale” so much decided to try some of her others. We had terrible storms in central Illinois last weekend and our library sustained damage to floors and drywall from flash flooding. They’re going to be closed until the end of January!! Fortunately I have a stash of books waiting to be read!!! Stay warm!
Love your quilt! I just finished Following Atticus by Tom Ryan which is a beautiful story about a man and his very intuitive yorkie; and The Story of Arthur Truluv which is a heartwarming story about an octogenarian and a trouble teenager.
Love your afghan, it is beautiful. Paula in KY
I am reading SAVING FAITH by David Baldacci, next is THE CASUAL VACANCY by JK Rowling. Does anyone know anything about it? I know it’s not in the Harry Potter genre which I loved, but I like to try different ones:)
Cold here in Central Ohio today, too. The neighborhood is coming in for the 14th annual Christmas party!!
We started it just three months after we moved in. Whew.
Mary, the pinks and greens in your quilt are the line I used for baby quilt for our little expected grand baby.
Heck, the first book listwas so big! Wish I took more time to read. I am reading Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson- it is non-fiction but so interesting. There are many parts on how he combined art, science and engineering and I think quilters do that as well. This darn book weighs 3.8 pounds!
Mary, I love that 16 patch on your quilting machine!! Oh, and your afghan is beautiful!! I love it too….I used to crochet back in the 80s but got rid of all my stuff and now I’d love to get back into it, but can’t remember how to do it. Your afghan looks intimidating but is so wonderful!! Take care, have fun with Reed on Saturday and stay warm!! Love your blog!
Mary…..I miss healthy food like your Mongolian Buffet. There is no Chinese restaurant in my neck of the woods unless we drive into Montana. Your serving made my mouth water!
Saw your new book in a fabric shop Coming Soon section online. Looks so good!
Love your 16 patch fabrics and the picture of Quilt Connection Shop. Hope they sell online.
Sunny, but still showing zero degrees outside up here in Idaho.
So sorry for your friends dog makes my heart aches for it .
I am reading “Polar Express” (my 3 year old grandson is visiting)
Just finished “I Am Pilgrim: A Thriller” – and it really WAS a thriller!
Forgot – the Author is Terry Hayes
Here are a few Christmas books I have enjoyed:
I love The Christmas Pearl, by Dorothea Benton Frank. I read it twice last year.
A Return to Christmas, by Chris Heimerdinger shows two sides of Christmas. A bit of a mystery.
On Strike for Christmas, by Sheila Roberts. How men can help more with Christmas activities! This is my second copy. The first copy was read twice and given away, but i missed it so much that I finally hunted up a second copy and made sure I kept it.
The Christmas in My Heart series by Joe Wheeler, and his Christmas In My Soul series (shorter books) are full of the older stories and very heartwarming to read.