TABLE RUNNER
One of the upcoming Triangle Modern Quilt Guild's projects is a table-runner swap so I began piecing for same. Not going so well. Making table runners is not new to me, I have several that I use seasonally and I have gifted several to relatives and friends. So I thought "what could be bad?"
First I began to seek out men's shirts with the smallest plaids, in long-sleeved, 100 % cotton at the local thrift shops. I can see why most NC men are walking about in tees and chinos, all the BEST shirts are in the thrift shops. With a half-dozen in hand I cut off the sleeves and began cutting strips from 1" - 2.5" to do string piecing for blocks. This idea inspired by a blog-site using squares and doing really bold colors but I thought the 'menswear' look would fit a fall-Thanksgiving table scape. And chose to sew rectangles instead of squares because I had a baggie full of used dryer-sheets that I often use for underlay or backing for applique. Beside the 6x9 inch proportion works well to make "diamonds" out of the pieced blocks. See photo at right. So what don't I like?
The scrappy color scheme is actually beginning to look good, bright and bold. What happened to the browns and pumpkin schemed shirts I bought? Apparently there is something compelling in my vision that requires more color than should be allowed. At any rate the runner (or some work?) is in progress but for what is another question.
MADISON'S BIRTHDAY QUILT
Madison's is the first of the birthday quilts, the oldest daughter of my nephew Tyler. Later this month she will celebrate her 13th birthday and at the moment this quilt is boxed and ready for shipment. Will send it to my Mother as she can decide when and if she's invited to a party and can deliver it to the young lady then. I feel somewhat proud as I was piecing this work some two years back at a quilt fest and it took ages to finish it. Last Fall I was determined to get it off the table before our packing, storing and house-clean up before selling. Now the next one up is her younger sister, Emily, born 2003 and whose towel I already have. But few four-patches have been produced to date and no idea of what fabrics I will use as most have gone to storage. Bummer. But I anticipate it will be ready within the next two years.
And my latest recreation - reading romance novels.
VIRGINIA BROWN... do not bother looking for the amazon book list because this is a pseudonym, one of five that this best-selling romance novelist uses. How did I find her? None other than DH found "Dixie Divas" and said I would love it. And he was right, it's a hoot. But learning more about the author is another learning curve. I obtained an education by Google-ling the author's bio. And the strange trivia fact uncovered is that every Wednesday night she watches Fox's "The O.C." (Orange County?), TV show. Why would a novelist care to watch a tv sitcom aimed at an audience of girls 13-20?
Beyond that I also learned there is a coding system for romance novels. Boy have I been out of date. Who know the difference between a HR rating and a RS? Well now you will, see what I found:
• Traditional Regency (RG) -- comedy of manners
• Category Romance -- series like Harlequin and Silhouette
• Historical Romance (HR)
• Romantic Suspense (RS)
• Contemporary Romance (CR)
• Gothics (GO) -- woman in peril
• Paranormal Romance (FR) – any supernatural element mixed with romance
In the case that you seek more explanation, find this and other trivia at: http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/virginia-brown/drop-dead-divas.htm
DH tells me the sequel "Drop Dead Divas" is already in the Kindle archive but I want to wait a few days before starting another 'dixie belle' novel.
Back to work, bb
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