I love a Mystery - Book Review

One of my alltime favorite types of book is a mystery, particularly a fast moving story with lots of clues, misdirection and red herrings.   I am a member of NetGalley so sometimes I get to read a book digitally before it is published.  The books are provided to me free of charge and I in turn give an honest review.

The book I just finished  - almost breathlessly - is Lowcounty Boneyard by Susan M. Boyer.  The protagonist in the book is a female detective named Liz Talbot.  I had previously read Lowcounty Bombshell, so this was an easy choice.

I love Ms. Boyer's style of writing; it immediately draws me into the story. In this tale, Liz is hired to look for a 23 year old heiress who has vanished without a trace.  Kent Heyward's case has been given up on by the police, but her parents are hoping that she can be found.  The police line is that she got tired of her overbearing parents and orchestrated her own disappearance.

During the investigation, Liz discovers many of the "fine old family's" secrets.  But are any of those tied to Kent's disappearance?  Liz has one unusual secret of her own:  she has a ghost who helps protect her from harm - and it is a very good thing.  Someone doesn't want Liz to continue her investigation.  But who and why?

I give this book a full five stars.   The characters were well defined and became quite real to me. The sub-plots were well used to carry the story forward.  And best of all, I wasn't sure until right at the end what had happened and why.

You can pre-purchase this book in either paperback or a Kindle edition on Amazon.  A Nook edition is also available for pre-order at Barnes and Noble.


My blog is http://blog.geneblack.com
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger" - I can not reply.

Sewed!

For a while now I have been seeing people make different types of boxy bags.  They look like shave kits to me.  So I found a tutorial and tried to follow it.   Some of you know that I don't follow patterns or tutorials very well. This was no exception.
She has a nice how-to video on YouTube - so I watched it -at least twice!  Then I started making the bag.  Of course I decided to use the serger so my finished seams would be nice.  I ran over that plastic zipper and broke a needle.  #%#@....okay needle replaced and all the bits of the broken needle found and discarded.   (This is where I lost my concentration)  So I went again. WHAM!  Yes the other needle in the serger broke this time. Okay, so now there are two new needles in the serger.  And onward I go.  I slowed down and went over the zipper oh so carefully. Whew, made it.
This is the point where I realize that I sewed the sides before I folded it to make the box.  I now have a big zipper pouch.   ARRRRRGGGH!
I box the corners anyway and make it work.  Well kinda.  I have a tall skinny boxy bag.

I take it and put my stuff in it...I don't like it.

So take two.  I pull up the directions and go one step at a time.   It works.

But I really did like the green zipper better..sigh!   It is a bit small but I am out of the home dec fabric and the fusible fleece so perhaps another day I can make a bigger one. For now this one is functional.
I was also part of a warp exchange on Ravelry.  The warp is the collection of threads that you weave on to create cloth on a loom.  When you weave the quilting explanations of lengthwise and crosswise fabric are sooooo much more clear.
Here is the warp I received on my loom.

Collage showing front and back of the loom. 

I have been weaving on it and just having a lot of fun.  Here is another collage showing the fabric so far - with some close ups.

I love the freedom of Saori weaving.

My blog is http://blog.geneblack.com
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger" - I can not reply.

Fun with Fiber

This past Saturday I went to a Saori Kai - a Kai is a time of sharing. We did some weaving, some sharing of techniques and just had a good time in general.  I made a few new friends, too.

I took my loom and wove on the piece I have had on it for a while now.  Today I see that I am nearing the end of the warp. The warp at the threads that run the length of the fabric.  So far i have over six yards of fabric.  I am not sure if it will reach seven yards but that would be great.

 There is a little drawing on the picture collage showing the cloth that is still wrapped on the cloth beam.
I showed you my coat that I made - but now I have a photo of me modeling it at the Kai.

(although not a great photo - I screen captured it from a video) 

One day last week I did some more yarn dyeing.  You can dye wool with drink mix (like KoolAid) and with food coloring.  Here is my yarn.

I also sewed a new shave kit from my travel bag but at the moment I don't have a photo of it.  I will try to have that tomorrow - there is a story of the mess I made.
I hope you are staying warm if you are in the "deep freeze" area much of the USA is experiencing

My blog is http://blog.geneblack.com
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger" - I can not reply.

Sew Unusual

On Tuesday,  I decided to use some of my woven fabrics and make something. I had tried on a jacket a friend made from this basic pattern back in January.  The fit and feel were fine.  So I had asked for sizing details since I suspected she had changed it a bit.   I am glad I kept those details.
Now this is certainly not a traditional jacket at all, but I am only traditional in some things.

So after some careful measuring I prepared the woven cloth for cutting.  To do that you mark your cutting line and sew a straight line on each side of it.  Since I am larger than the average Japanese person the pattern was designed for, I had to increase it a bit.  This meant sewing panels of hand woven fabric together.  One of the panels I split down the middle to make the front lapels match.

So what does it look like?  I had to take a picture on a hanger as I had no one to take a photo of me in it.  But I think I look like a "rock star/superhero" in it - just so you know.

If you see those "threads" hanging on the two lower points, 

that is a bit of the fringe where I tied off the fabric warp 

when I was finishing those pieces

There are a number of weaving techniques that I used in these fabrics.  I did not use a consistent color palette but several colors repeat throughout the piece.  This type of clothing has been called wearable art.  I like that idea.
Would you wear something artistic but unconventional?

My blog is http://blog.geneblack.com
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger" - I can not reply.

Spinning -and -Four Day ONLY Sale

I have been spinning on my new spinning wheel. I named her Meg.  Here is the current yarn I am spinning. The roving is called "Bermuda" and it is by Ashland Bay.  I love this colorway.

For only four days, Craftsy is offering  a number of free eGuides - or how-to booklets in PDF format.

Photography
eGuide: Understanding Exposure for Better Photos Now: Beginner Photography Tutorials
Cake Decorating
eGuide: Not-So-Basic Buttercream Decorating Ideas
Food & Cooking
eGuide: Delicious Doughnut Recipes You Can Make at Home
Paper Crafts
eGuide: 6+ Stash-Busting Paper Craft Projects
Drawing
eGuide: Drawing the Human Face: A Primer
Painting
eGuide: Beginner's Guide to the World of Watercolor
Gardening
eGuide: Success With Container Gardening
Woodworking
eGuide: Woodturning Basics for Beginners

I am a Craftsy affiliate and may receive a small stipend if you register and download one of these eGuides.

My blog is http://blog.geneblack.com
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger" - I can not reply.

Craftsy Sale

Just a quick post to tell you that Craftsy is having a 50% off sale on classes.
I am an affiliate and may receive a small compensation if you click through my link.



Craftsy 50% off sale ends at midnight 2/16/2015

My blog is http://blog.geneblack.com
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger" - I can not reply.

Bricks. Cobblestones and Pebbles - Quilt top Finished

I have shown you part of my quilt top from Gyleen's Bricks. Cobblestones and Pebbles.  You can make this quilt from all scraps or you can do a color coordinated one.  But Gyleen Fitzgerald planned it to use up lots of scraps.  The piece are 2 1/2" squares, 3 1/2" squares and some rectangular pieces but nothing is over 7"  by 3" in the entire quilt..  I used scraps, odd fat quarters, some layer cake squares, parts of a jelly roll and a little off white yardage for some extra contrast.  Here is my completed quilt top.  I LOVE it.

Gyleen is writing a book  Bricks, Cobblestones and Pebbles...A Path to Modern Quilts. 
I am thinking that this is a book that I will be wanting to have in my quilting library.

In other news, I got a spinning wheel that I have been looking at for months and months.  I finally decided that I just needed to bite the bullet and spend the money.  I am so happy that I did.

This is my wheel.  I have named her Meg after a character in one of my favorite children's books. I am considering painting the circle part of the wheel which is made of MDF. The "swoosh" that crosses the center is a lovely wood. so I am thinking an off white/buff color and maybe add some type of design over that.
Here is some yarn I spun on the bobbin of the wheel

And finally the yarn after I did a chain ply and washed it.  It is ready to use in my weaving.

We are in for some very cold weather - by Alabama standards.  I plan to stay in and stay warm as much as possible. I will be drinking hot tea and thinking warm thoughts.

My blog is http://blog.geneblack.com
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger" - I can not reply.

February Update

This month has been interesting.  So far I have worked on a quilt top that is nearing completion.  I have done more on it since the last post, but I have not take any pictures.   When I get more I will be sure to share them here.

I had my taxes prepared and got a nice surprise there.  Since I had a few dollars to spend, I decided to get a warping frame for my loom.  This allows me to make my own warps (the basis of the woven cloth) My warping board has two legs, so it is leaned against a wall for use.

The warp threads are wrapped around the pegs at the sides in a zigzag fashion. Some of the neat features of this board are the cone holders for up to five small cones of thread (top center) and on the top bar there are hooks that allow the threads to pull neatly off the cones without tangling.

Of course, I used it the first chance I got.  I did not take a picture while it was on the board (oops) but here is my first warp.

In this picture it is tied and chained (think giant crochet chain) in preparation to go on the loom.
With the Saori loom, putting the warp thru the mechanism (reed and heddles) can be done at a table. This is very nice for my back - no leaning over the loom to do it.
Here is the warp wound onto the warp beam ready to weave.

While the colors are not completely true in this photo, it is a pretty good representation.  There are three (or more) shades of purple, three blues, a cream and a silver thread used in this warp.   I did start weaving it last night, but again - no pictures yet.

Today - and based on the usual schedule of UPS - more likely tonight - I am getting a spinning wheel delivered.  It will look like this one.

I bought the unfinished version because it was a considerable savings.  I have the Danish Oil wood finish and sandpaper here waiting for it.  I will finish the pieces before I assemble it.  I am truly excited to get a nice spinning wheel.

My blog is http://blog.geneblack.com
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger" - I can not reply.

Mystery Quilt Update

While making the Gyleen's  Bricks, Cobblestones and Pebbles quilt,  I goofed and filled in blanks that were to be filled later. Ha ha.  Many of you know I don't follow patterns well.
So I had to improvise to make it work.  Of course, I could have used the seam ripper and risked ripping up some of the pieces.  I didn't like that idea since I was already behind.

So here is where I went with it

The corners are supposed to have two of the blocks (that in mine are white/red) butted against one another.  It does frame the corners better that way, but --well this is mine and I like it.  
Some company, okay, Apple Computers,  uses the catchphrase "Think different!"   Apparently, I do.


My blog is http://blog.geneblack.com
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger" - I can not reply.

It is a Mystery Quilt

Perhaps now it is not so much a mystery.  One of my blogging friends, Susan,  is doing this Facebook group mystery quilt - Gyleen's Bricks, Cobblestones and Pebbles. I was interested and got started on it.  I would send you there but the clues have been removed as each new one is posted.  The good news is that the quilt will be in Gyleen's book that should be out this fall.

You may have seen my earlier "mess" as I was starting on this.  There is still a bag of scraps and bits but now I have this!

It is much more square than the photo implies.  I hung it on my vertical blinds to take the picture as it is quite rainy here today.

I have the next clue and I need to do a LOT of 2 1/2" squares to make the next part.

So far I am loving it.  Honestly I could quit now and make a lovely table topper out of this. But I will carry on and make a quilt.

My blog is http://blog.geneblack.com
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger" - I can not reply.

Step By Step Free Motion Quilting -Review

The new free motion quilting book by Christina Cameli is now available.  I was so pleased to get an autographed copy.  I have been following Christina's blog for quite a while.  I have seen her grow in her skills and bloom as a teacher/author.   So it is with pleasure that I share this review with you.

This is not a "how to" book at all. If you need a how-to book, then get Christina's first book "First Steps to Free Motion Quilting."  This book is a pattern book that teaches you to use nine simple shapes to create a myriad of designs.  There are pages and pages of designs.  One page shows how it is sewn and the next page is a full page of the design.

I like that Christina says that you can make the designs your own by modifying them.  She encourages creative play.

I really wanted to quilt the spindle design. So, as suggested, I tried drawing it first. My sketches were not good and the more I did it, the worse it got.  So I decided that particular one was not for me.  But I still liked the idea.  So I kept drawing but morphed it into a circle rather than a spindle shape. After all, I love doing pebbles.

My circles look much nicer.   So I took a sample block to the machine and started playing.

The inspiration from the book and my variation

I really started too close to the edge of the fabric, but you get the idea.  It works!
Then I said, what if I stacked them as pebbles instead of lines?

I like it!  My lines are not perfect but it is a fun way to cover a quilt. You could do this in any scale to suit your quilt.

I love a book that inspires you to branch off and find  your own creativity this way. Even though the book is filled with designs, Christina says it only scratches the surface of what you can do with the nine simple shapes.

This book is a great resource for any free motion quilter's library.  I am so glad that it is in mine.



My blog is http://blog.geneblack.com
Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible unless otherwise stated. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger" - I can not reply.