Long Time Gone

 I can't believe how long it has been since I posted anything on the blog....

One of the things I have been doing is making the Pincushion Collage Quilt by Laura Heine for a class at the  The Old Country Store in Intercourse PA If you are interested in taking it, the class is in February. It is such a fun project, especially for anyone who sews!

Fall is here in all its glory! I love autumn and everything is has to offer. Crisp cool days, sweaters, beautiful leaves, soup, hot tea and putting the garden to bed. While I love my gardens they take up a lot of time!

I don't decorate much for Halloween but I saw this on Instagram and loved the idea. They had pictures of their kids but I chose to use some scrapbook images that was a very low key Halloween idea.

I am also making a autumn quilt along with my friend Stephanie. This is the Fig Tree block of the month from a while ago. We both bought the kit to make it easy. I love their blocks and the instructions are very good. If you have ever wanted to try it, don't be afraid to do it!

I am also trying my hand at crochet......this was a first attempt and it's pretty wonky.

This is much better and I find it very relaxing! Repetitive motions can do that I suppose. I am hoping to make more and get better at it.

Over the weekend I made myself a project pouch with this adorable fabric from Lori Holt. It's cheater cloth and all I did was quilt along each orange peel to give it some body. So quick and so easy! My friend Cindy gave me the quilter zip charm that completes it just perfectly!

I kept the lining on the vintage side too. I think my crochet will fit in their perfectly!

I can't say my focus is totally back to normal so I am always doing something here and there. My stuff was all over the house and I was always looking for scissors, or my needle threader, you get it.....So I got this organizer at Michael's and it is so nice! This is the bottom part......

this is the top part. I really am happy with it and might need to get another one....

This is my new bed quilt. It is going to be king size! At first I was going to do the blocks in a straight set. I showed it on Instagram and the overwhelming majority said no put it on point. So I tried it out and yes I like it much better this way. I think I have enough fabric but I won't let that bother me. I will take a page out the book of our pioneer quilters and use something else if I don't have enough!

I have made myself some design boards to keep track of all the pieces and it is a life saver. I don't mix up the pieces that are almost the same size and it is nice to have them all in 1 spot. I will be making more. Do you use a design board?

I have read lots of books this summer. This was really good but will not be for everyone. I loved all the details and the story behind this disastrous group and all the bad decisions they made and people they trusted. I was also surprised that there are people that never heard about the Donner party. Yes cannibalism is involved but like all things in the world it was sensationalized over time. Once it is put into context I think you will have a different opinion about it.I gave it 4 stars.

This started out very slow but I stuck with it because I bought it. It is very difficult to get a GOOD book at the library these days....I liked it in the end but would only give it 3.5 stars.

I read all of the Lonesome Dove series this year and loved every single book. Larry McMurty is such a good writer and really paints a picture for me. I will be reading more of his books. Any recommendations out there?

This book I could not put down! It was very good and I think based on true events. This one got 4.5 stars.

While this one started out slow, it really picked up and makes you wonder what lengths you would go to keeping a secret that you know is hurting others and altering their lives. The injustice of this book is sad but the twist at the end makes it worth reading and I didn't see it coming! I gave it 4 stars.

Kelly