About The Crazy Quilter

 My first full-length fiction effort; I hope you enjoy it <3

This started as a short story. It was supposed to be a fun flash told through a few letters. Then I thought it would be good to add backstory to the letters, setting how they were found, probably in an attic, something like that. The next thing I knew, there were 13,000 words. 

But there still wasn't an ending. And while I had hoped to write a mystery, I discovered that I had unexpectedly veered into the Gothic trope territory. So, I paused for some research to make sure where we were going in this story. Turns out, there is such a thing as "cozy gothic," so we are all good :)

Thus, we found our way beyond 22,000 words - a proper novel!

Please tell your Library and Bookshop that The Crazy Quilter is available in the Ingram catalog.

If you enjoy eBooks, Smashwords has this on sale -25% throughout July.

Try Books2Read.com/TheCrazyQuilter if you wish to see other eBook platforms: Kobo, Angus & Robertson, Vivlio, Palace Marketplace, everyone!

For print books, I recommend Bookshop.org, and there is an affiliate link in the sidebar. 

The Crazy Quilter is not yet available on Amazon/Kindle because I am making this available wholesale for Quilt Shops (it is an LQS story, afterall) and Book Clubs. 

If you gather 10 readers, I will be honored to Zoom into your book club and share my behind the scenes research for The Crazy Quilter. And I want to see all your quilts too!

Here is the ABOUT news:

When Dana's great-aunt Angie passes away, she's bequeathed an unexpected inheritance—Angie's New England quilt shop, including her upstairs apartment. But as Dana questions whether the lifestyle of a small-town quilt shop owner will fit her, strange things are happening, leading Dana to wonder if the shop might be haunted by her great-aunt's restless spirit.

What dark secrets did Angie harbor? Why are her most prized quilts mysteriously missing? And could Angie's time in a psychiatric asylum long ago somehow be connected to the supernatural occurrences Dana experiences?

Faced with unearthing her family's hidden history and finding her great-aunt's legacy, Dana embarks on a journey of personal discovery. She is embraced in this quest by a group of local quilters: Edna, Janet, Alice, and Margo. These four women become Dana's allies and friends, offering her a sense of belonging and support as she delves deeper into her great-aunt's past. Through them, she comes to understand the importance of quilting for Aunt Angie and the town.

This charming, haunting tale blends mystery, quilting, and the power of family to uncover the essential meaning of being true to yourself and finding the threads that stitch a heritage.

Collage Quilt Planning

 

I want to try and quilt this vintage travel poster using 

Sandi's method in @Quiltcabana ebook, Fabric Sketch Collage

 

 

I think it's a good candidate for collage quilting, except for the beach(?) background.

I might dumb that down a lot.  Any advice?

 

And what if we changed the sky to blue?

hmmm...……

 

Anyway, Sandi's book is great, you should try it.

She makes a scary new technique simple and fearless.

I'm inspired :)

Crazy Overlay Crochet

Texture! My favorite aspect of crochet. This new Leisure Arts book, Overlay Crochet: 10 Projects Add Dimensions and Style to YourHome by Kristi Simpson, creates crochet texture in fabulous new ways. “Dimension and style” is no joke here. Look what I made:

Kristi’s book Features a variety of projects:  table décor, pillow, box, hand towel, blanket, ottoman pouf, wall hanging (mandala), granny square style blanket (but it’s not your granny’s style!), and an amazing boho crossbody bag – which is going to be next project, for sure.

I have always shied away from colorful crochet projects because I dislike changing threads. But Krisit has solved that, detailing 5 ways to join yarns. When you use this book, start with the General Instructions at the end (pg. 57). You’ll be amazed at the new tricks even before you dive into the gorgeous projects. Plus, there is a guide at the very end where you can get the exact project yarns Kristi used. I will definitely be hunting the original colors when I try this cover model table mat. Ideal springtime flavors!

Believe it or not, almost all the projects are rated Easy skill level. The Pillow is certainly Intermediate. Box is the beginner level project. My project was this gorgeous hand towel (pg. 48).

LOL – I made a simple mistake right at the begging, setting 9 posts instead of 8. So mine turned out pentagram instead of square and I love it! And it was still easy to finish. I think it looks like a poppy. I’m going to make a few more and see what a blanket of these would be like. Round, I guess. What do you think?

I really love this book – it’s going to keep me busy and happy all year :)

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Visible Medning Review

Much has been said about Visible Mending:  Artful Stitchery to Repair and Refresh Your Favorite Things, by Jenny Wilding Cardon. It's started a mending movement!

As I am forever mending jeans, I thought this book would add some excitement to the chore. But it is much more than that. I found this a handbook for challenging your creativity in a new functional turn.

To begin with....yes, the beginning is the best part of this book! Only a page, but artfully challenging you to "see the beauty in the broken."

From the start Visible Mending is more than a how-to book. Each chapter: 

• Boro
• Hand Embroidery
• PATCHES (my favorite)
• Darning (new to me)
• Mending by Machine (free motion)

carries a new philosophy for celebrating scars "as an opportunity for one-of-a-kind creativity."

Of course, each chapter also shares insights on the unique tools and skills needed for it's particular technique. But more importantly, Visible Mending shows you how to look beyond the skill lessons to the catalog of

1. what type of blemish is best repaired with that technique
2. what fabrics can each technique be applied to.

Visible Mending could have as easily been organized by tear, hole, stain.....

or sweater, denim, t-shirt, linen, see! 

Here is my first project inspired by Visible Mending:

Yes, it is a jeans patch, ringed with Boro stitching :) Now instead of a tear, it's a statement! Instead of working to hide my work, I spent just as much time making something to show! See how it works?

By the time you get to the end of the book, I guarantee you'll be searching your wardrobe for old clothes to turn into statement pieces. And the next time you spill on your new outfit, you'll be thinking, "oooh, now I get to mend this:)"

All Points Patchwork review

Quilty Book Review by Ronni Chavez:
All Points Patchwork
by Diane Gilleland (CraftyPod)

The layout of this latest EPP book just tickles me:

front and back covers show front and back of an elaborate EPP block:)





Storey Publishing and Diane Gilleland have made complicated illustrations easy to understand, and very fun. [I know, because I drew similar illustrations for our RHQ EPP Tutorial.]
Diane describes every type of English Paper Piecing form, how each is best covered (in fabric, of course:), with several design options for all shape.
No matter what the feature; skinny points, curves, every size angle...all are covered here;)

And covered EQUALLY! Too often EPP books claim to be comprehensive, but really only focus on hexagons. This book actually is comprehensive, with every shape receiving it's own chapter comparing differing construction methods. Now you'll know when to glue EPP seam allowances, and when its best to stich through the papers.

Beginning chapters review all the different ways to make templates and cardstock forms. If you're planning to draw your own papers, you'll appreciate Diane's simplified geometry lessons for drafting. Contemporary tools like paper punches and marking pens are also included.

Best of all is the extensive in text cross referencing.  For example,
"Bet you're wondering how to xyz about now? Remember we answered that back on page 000." Makes my librarian's heart happy:)

I was inspired by the new projects in All Points Patchwork.

Some are 3-D, some are applique, all are clever and would be fun to make. 

I have always wanted to try some Apple Cores. Diane's book has the cutest design for an embroidered apple core applique dish towel. Hope I'll get to try it out, soon!

[This picture isn't it. I wouldn't post copyrighted stuff here, and ruin he book for you! This is another cool apple core design of the Apple-a-Day bloghop project from CraftyPod]

So, the moral of the Storey is, don't be afraid of EPP. If you are beginner, here is everything you need to know in one adorable, inspiring package. And if you are an expert, you'll still find advice on new EPP shapes you haven't tried yet, plus plenty of fun projects.
   What new EPP shapes are you inspired to work on?

Sewing for Music

This was Bill from Canada's idea. Bill is tenor in our community choir. Alex and I both sing in the choir. Well, Alex sings, and I am learning :)
Choirs don't use music stands like other musicians. Sometimes it can be challenging to hold all your music. Bill made a super sewing project that solves all that. Really!
Are you ready to see it?

 

*

*

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Ta-Da!

Bills genius idea is to sew an elastic handle on your music binder!

 

 

• I used 7" of one-inch-wide plain old braided elastic. I'm wishing I would have used 9".
• Tape elastic in place 1/3 of the way from top of binder. Make sure you can close the binder without stretching the elastic.
• Machine tack ends of elastic in place. Use any old needle that you are ready to throw out. I used darning foot and covered feed dogs.
• Bill was right, you must hand turn your machine. Not that it's not strong enough to sew on the binder, but the thread keeps breaking unless you hand turn.

You never know where you'll meet new sewing friends! And I'm always pleasantly surprised when the defi de jour is solved with stitches:)  ---Mom

Starting Summer

What could be more fun than a special sewing prize? How about two! How about combining gifts?!!

Thank you Bramcost Publications for sharing your new book, How to Make Aprons: Vintage Patterns for making Home, Garden, Utility & Craft Aprons. Sew many unique aprons here, I want to make them all!

We had so much fun at Bloggers Quiltmarket Meetup! And we won super prizes!! Thank you Daria and Megan Boutique Cafe girls who awarded us NEW Kaufman charm pack, Sweet Pickins by Darlene Zimmerman, not to mention other super cool stuff.
This super cheery 1930's reproduction fabric just screamed KITCHEN to me. What to make with this special prize? Hey, how about an Apron?

For this project, I chose one of the Patchwork Aprons (pg. 75, if you are following along), which uses 40 squares, WOW- exactly the size of my charm pack prize.  The triple-V edge is SEW VINTAGE! And I had way too much fun sorting the charm pack to align matching series. SEE?
The pattern is for 4" patches, so using the charm pack made the apron larger than usual. I decided to go ahead in the XL direction, and added 7' of ties. I know how hard it is for my big friends to find aprons that fit. So I also adapted the ties to a no-waistband style. This way apron won't look stretched at the waist.

Luckily, I had this lovely old fashioned blue calico in my stash, and there was just enough to create bias binding and matching ties. Matches great, wouldn't you say? Just right, so it doesn't fight with the blue gingham center-top either. Perfect!

Starting the summer with a new apron..... We should make this a tradition.

Making the Gardener's Picking Apron

If you click this link you could get the book that shows you how to make these aprons too. Thank you Bramcost Publications for sharing this book!

Remember how you voted on which vintage apron to make from our book review How to Make Aprons? Well, Mom did it! She combined the Pickers Apron (pg. 69) and the Gardening Apron (pg. 84) to make the ultimate one-of-a-kind Gardener's Picking Apron.

Blogger is doing the sideways picture thing again - WHY?!?!
Mom made the apron with with recycled fabric from this denim work shirt.

 Mom uses plates and duct tape for her drafting tools.

Sewing Tip of the Day:  

if you don't know witch is the right side, put a piece of tape on the right side to mark it.

These are the cool buttons for balancing the strings you pull to make a pocket. They are made from pottery and have Celtic Knots on them.

This is how the apron is used. Gather the string to make a basket. Add your own belt.

Plus, Apron also has 2 hanging loops for gardening tools.

You can get this super Gardening Apron for yourself in our Etsy Shop:  http://roadhomequilting.etsy.com

UPDATE:  Garden Picker's Apron sold in about 20 hours, Thank You! We will make more as denim shirts become available, so please keep watching RHQ Etsy.



Vote for quilter's book

I'm sure you have read a quilt history article by Arizona quilter, historian, and writer,
Carolyn O'Bagy Davis. One of Carolyn's most popular pieces about Hopi quilters is featured on the Cranston Village -My Interests page. Carolyn's writing is even included in This Old Quilt.

Here is a picture of Carolyn with a Goldie Richmond quilt she rescued. More than quilts, Carolyn has rescued several quilters' personal histories from being lost in time. And thanks to Carolyn, we will get to read about all of them!

Carolyn's new book, Hopi Summer, has been nominated for the 2011 OneBookAZ award!
Vote for Carolyn's book at www.onebookaz.org now through October 15.

Roads and Curves Ahead

As you heard yesterday, our next quilt will be Lovers Lane block. Lovers Lane is a Kansas City Star newspaper block from the last great depression. I found this block in Edie McGinnis' book,
Roads and Curves Ahead.

I love this book! It has a ketchy layout, with vintage road signs and camping motifs. Not to mention, 24 road-themed block patterns, including an unusual electric fan.

Do you know any quilt poems?
Edie includes quilt poems in this book. I wonder if she wrote them herself? I'm guessing yes, because I haven't seen them anywhere else. I wish she would write/collect a quilt calendar with poems [HINT!] In the mean time, there is still this super unique themed pattern book.

Something Old, Something New

Something accomplished! I received this new canning book for Mother's Day, and finally made time to try a new recipe, Orange Syrup. I didn't have quite enough oranges and lemons for marmalade. And this syrup recipe uses honey and a lot less sugar than marmalade. But I do love marmalade. We'll cook that next time. Or maybe, Prickly Pear Marmalade, or ohhhh! Blueberry-Lime Jam, so many recipes in my new book! There are even recipes for canning seafood, and a chapter on dehydrating.... This book will keep me busy for along time.

I used to visit my Grandmother Lola for her birthday every August, to help with canning beets. Glad I have been able to share that tradition with Alex. We have made blackberry jam and strawberry jam too. Although no one does it like Grandma. I'm very thankful for those summer days with Grandma, in her garden and her kitchen, sharing the simple joys of hard work and homemaking. Grandma always made every holiday special, you know how Grandmas do, but it is these work days that I treasure most.

I want my daughter to know there is a lot more in these two jars then just oranges and honey and a day of chopping and stirring. They hold family tradition. And love under glass to share with our family and friends.

Tiara Time

Mom found this new book and LOLed when she read this paragraph. It's about making more time. So if you need more time to sew, I think you should read this article. As you can see the book is called Life's Too Short to Fold Fitted Sheets by Lisa Quinn.


"When my daughter started first grade, we attended parents' night. It was time to get the scoop on what was expected of our little girl and to meet her new teacher, Ms.Larson. It was an interesting experience, as Ms.Larson was quite a character. She had an artsy, ethereal way..... About midway through the evening, she surprised us all by placing a large rhinestone crown on top of her head. She said we should all know about of day that was all her practice of tiara time. I was all ears. Tiara time, she said, was the time of day that was all her own, a time when the children were required to participate in silent, independent study and not allowed to bother her at all. She needed to get certain things done, so when the crown went on, the mouths shut. She kept it on for the rest of the meeting, and I gotta tell you, I sat up straighter at my little desk. There were some stunned stares and a few grumblings among some of the parents. I, however, got on board immediately. I raced home, jumped on eBay, and bid on the shiniest rhinestone tiara I could find. It arrived 10 day later, and I have never looked back."