Books Read - August, 2015

1. Faces of the Gone by Brad Parks
2. The Player by Brad Parks
3. Liberated Medallion Quilts by Gwen Marston (NF)
4. Mom and Me Knits by Stefanie Japel (NF)
5. That Perfect Stitch: The Secrets of Fine Hand Quilting by Dierdra McElroy (NF)
6. Painting Nature in Pen and Ink with Watercolor by Claudia Nice (NF)
7. Hand-appliqued Quilts: Whimsical Designs and Simple Techniques by Tonye Belinda Phillips (NF)
8. American Folk Art Quilts by Maggie McCormick Gordon (NF)
9. Lively Little Folk Art Quilts by Gwen Marston (NF)
10. Vintage Quilts by Bobbie Aug (NF)
11. Quietly in Their Sleep by Donna Leon
12. Brush Back  by Sara Paretsky

Log Cabin Variation Quilt

A few years after I married, my husband's grandmother gave me many quilt tops, fabrics, and quilt patterns which had belonged to her sister, Clara Bentley Wooster.  This quilt top was one of them.  The edges were frayed and there were a few loose seams, but it was otherwise in excellent condition  I hand quilted it.  It is 45" x 54" and the blocks are 3".

There are a wide variety of fabrics in this quilt, some much older than others, which makes it a challenge to date.  It's one reason I brought it to be appraised when I went to the Antiques Road Show.  The textile expert told me what I'd suspected--that it is circa 1920.  Yes, there are some much older fabrics mixed in but scrap quilts are dated by the oldest fabrics and the ones in this quilt are 1910-1920.  I suspect she may have traded fabrics with others (the papers I have indicate she did just that in the 1930s and 1940s) and my husband claims he can recognize some of his great-aunt Clara's apron fabrics and some of her husband's shirt fabrics in this quilt.

Not long ago I posted a photo of this quilt on Quilts--Vintage and Antique which has among their members appraisers and antique quilt dealers including many names I recognize and respect.  The consensus was that circa 1920 was a good estimate.

A few years ago someone, seeing a photo of this quilt and intrigued by its construction, made her own version of it.  That can be found here. 

Books Read - July, 2015

1. About Face by Donna Leon
2. The Stranger by Camilla Lackberg
3. The Stonecutter by Camilla Lackberg
4.  A Minister's Ghost by Phillip DePoy
5. The Good Cop by Brad Parks
6. Little Black Lies by Sharon Bolton
7. The Girl Next Door by Brad Parks
8. The Girl of His Dreams by Donna Leon
9. Through a Glass Darkly by Donna Leon
10. Don't Go Home by Carolyn Hart
11. A Widow's Curse by Phillip DePoy
12. Wholecloth Linen Quilts: Patterns and Designs by Cindy Needham (NF)
13. The Drifter's Wheel by Phillip DePoy
14. Wicked Charms by Janet Evanovich
15. Eyes of the Innocent by Brad Parks
16. Faces of the Gone by Brad Parks

Books Read - June, 2015

1. The Preacher by Camilla Lackberg
2. The Ravens by Vidar Sundstøl
3. A Pale Horse by Charles Todd 
4. The Lost Boy by Camilla Lackberg
5. Cold Betrayal by J.A. Jance 
6. Abattoir Blues by Peter Robinson
7. 60 Quick Baby Knits by Sixth and Spring Books (NF)
8. How Not to be Wrong: The Power of Mathematical Thinking by Jorden Ellenberg (NF)
9. Once Upon a Flock: Life with my Soulful Chickens by Lauren Scheuer (NF)
10.  Remains of Innocence by J.A. Jance.
11.  Drawing Conclusions by Donna Leon
12. The Ghost Fields by Elly Griffiths
13. Someone to Watch Over Me by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir
14. Kickback by Robert B.Parker
15.Drawing Conclusions by Donna Leon
16. Welsh Quilts by Jen Jones (NF)
17.  Beatrix Potter by Linda Lear (NF)
18. The Body in the Birches by Katherine Hall Page
19. Beatrix Potter's Letters by Beatrix Potter (NF)
20. Death and Judgement by Donna Leon
21. Uniform Justice by Donna Leon
22. At Home with Beatrix Potter by Susan Denyer (NF)
23. Sibley's Birding Basics by David Sibley (NF)
24. Quilt Road by Kaffe Fassett
25. 200 Fair Isle Motifs by Mary Jane Mucklestone (NF)
26.  Beatrix Potter's Journal by Beatrix Potter (NF)
27. Country Gardens by Kaffe Fassett
28  The Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter by Beatrix Potter (NF)
29. How to Keep a Sketchbook Journal by Claudia Nice (NF)
 

Books Read - May, 2015

1. The Dead Don't Lie by Stuart Kaminsky
2. Lieberman's Law by Stuart Kaminsky
3. The Chisllers by Brendan O'Carroll
4. The Big Silence by Stuart Kaminsky
5. The Probable Future by Alice Hoffman
6.  Reykjavik Nights by Arnaldur Indriðson
7. Terror Town by Stuart Kaminsky
8. Winter at the Door by Sarah Graves
9. The Tale of Beatrix Potter: A Biography by Margaret Lane (NF)
10. Buried Angels by Camilla Lackberg
11. The Knitter's Curiosity Cabinet by Hunter Hammersen (NF)
12. And Sometimes I Wonder About You by Walter Mosely
13. Thin Air by Anne Cleaves
14. The Darkest Room by Johan Theorin
15. Bearing Secrets by Richard Barre
16. Dead of Summer by Mari Jungstedt
17. Gathering Prey by John Sanford
18. Blackbird House by Alice Hoffman
19. There Goes the Bride by M.C. Beaton
20. Defender of the Innocent by Lawrence Block
21. The Red Garden by Alice Hoffman
22. Deeds of Darkness by Edward Marston
23. Land of Dreams by Vidar Sundstøl
24. Only the Dead by Vidar Sundstøl
25. The Magic Years of Beatrix Pottery by Margaret Lane (NF)
26. Beatrix Potter's Art: Paintings and Drawings by Beatrix Potter (NF)
27. Beatrix Potter's Letters by Beatrix Potter (NF)
28. The Art of Beatrix Potter by Beatrix Potter (NF)
29. Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature by Linda Lear (NF)
30. Beatrix Potter: A Journal by Beatrix Potter (NF)
31. Beatrix Potter: Selected Letters by Beatrix Potter (NF)
32. Someone to Watch Over Me by Yrsa Sigurdardottir

Books Read - April, 2015

1. Edge of Dreams by Rhys Bowen
2. A Ticket to Oblivion by Edward Marston
3. Demons by Bill Pronzini
4. Echoes from the Dead by Johan Theorin
5. End in Tears by Ruth Rendell
6. Not Quite Kosher by Stuart Kaminsky
7. Blacklist by Sara Paretsky
8. Money, Money, Money by Ed McBain
9. Lieberman's Day by Stuart Kaminsky
10. The Young Wan by Brandan O'Carroll
11. Blood on Snow by Jo Nesbo
12. The Mammy by Brandan O'Carroll
13. The Granny by Brandan O'Carroll
14. Lieberman's Choice by Stuart Kaminsky
15. Lieberman's Folly by Stuart Kaminsky

Books Read - March, 2015

1. A String of Beads by Thomas Perry
2. Hush, Hush by Laura Lippman
3. Being Mortal: Medicine and What Happens in the End by Atul Gawande (NF)
4. Busy Body by M.C. Beaton
5. Motive by Jonathan Kellerman
6. Whiskey Island by Les Roberts
7. Cleveland Creep by Les Roberts
8.  Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain (NF)
9. Small Victories by Anne Lamott (NF)
10. The Crimes of Jordan Wise by Bill Pronzini
11. Hardcase by Bill Pronzini
12. Judgement Day by Sheldon Siegel
13. Sidetracked by Henning Mankell
14. Demons by Bill Pronzini
15. A Ticket to Oblivion by Edward Marston
16. The Edge of Dreams by Rhys Bowen

Baby Sweater

I've just finished this sweater for my grand-daughter, Isabella Rose, who'll be celebrating her first birthday next month.  It took me a week of knitting. The yarn is from Sweet Georgia Yarns in DK, colorway Cherry. The pattern is Caleb from Berreco Knits.

Books Read - February, 2015

1. Hiss and Hers by M.C. Beaton
2. Dead Man's Folly by Agatha Christie
3. A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy
4. The Blood of an Englishman by M.C. Beaton
5. A Pleasure and a Calling by Phil Hogan
6. The Harlequin Tea Set and Other Stories by Agatha Christie
7.The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
8. Shake Hands Forever by Ruth Rendell
9.An Unkindness of Ravens by Ruth Rendell
10. A Pocketful of Rye by Agatha Christie
11. Great Catherine, the Life of Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia by Carolly Erickson (NF)
12. Death of a Liar by M.C. Beaton
13. Crash and Burn by Lisa Gardner
14. The Terrorist Next Door by Sheldon Siegele
15. The Accidental Universe: The World You Thought You Knew by Alan Lightman (NF)
16. The Cleveland Local by Les Robers
17. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
18. Breaking Creed by Alex Kava

Books Read -- January, 2015

1. You Know Who Killed Me by Loren Estleman
2.  Close to the Bone by Lisa Black
3. A Christmas Blizzard by Garrison Keillor
4. The A.B.C. Murders by Agatha Christie
5. Murder in the Mews by Agatha Christie
6. Dumb Witness by Agatha Christie
7. The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
8. Elephants Can Remember by Agatha Christie
9. The Tuesday Club Murders by Agatha Christie
10. You are Now Less Dumb by David McRaney (NF)
11. The Price of Innocence by Lisa Black
12. Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie
13. The Big Four by Agatha Christie
14. Murder in the Manor by Agatha Christie
15. On Account of Conspicuous Women by Dawn Shamp
16. Survival Lessons by Alice Hoffman (NF)
17. As the Pig Turns by M.C. Beaton
18. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
19. Loves, Lies,and Liquor by M.C. Beaton
20. My Favorite Things by Maira Kalman (NF)

Books Read -- December, 2014

1. The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters
2.  Mad River by John Sanford
3.  The Elements of Murder by John Emsley  (NF)
4. Betrayed by Lisa Scottoline
5. The Murder of Harriet Krohn by Karin Fossum
6. The Deader the Better by G.M. Ford
7. Blood of the South by Alys Clare
8. A Christmas Dream by Louisa May Alcott
9. The Box of Delights by John Masefield
10. Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie
11. The Affair at the Victory Ball by Agatha Christie
12. The Mystery of Hunter's Lodge by Agatha Christie
13. An Idiot Girl's Christmas by Laurie Notaro (NF)
14. The Sock Knitter's Handbook by Charlene Schurch (NF)
15. Knitting the Threads of Time by Nora Murphy (NF)
16. Your Flying Car Awaits by Paul Milo (NF)
17. The Tuesday Club Murders by Agatha Christie
18. The Escape by David Baldacci

Books Read -- November, 2014

1. Deadline by John Sandford
2. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
3. Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey
4. The Cinderella Murder by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke
5. The Laws of Murder by Charles Finch
6. The Burning Room by Michael Connelly
7.  Little Quilts by Sarah Fielke (NF)
8. New York Christmas by Anne Perry
9. To Dwell in Darkness by Deborah Crombie
10. Thicker than Water by G.M. Ford
11. Chump Change by G.M. Ford

Books Read -October, 2014

1.  Neptune Avenue by Gabriel Cohen
2.  The Marco Effect by Jussi Adler-Olsen
3. Bones Never Lie by Kathy Reichs 
4. The Lost Key by Catherine Coulter
5. Rose Gold by Walter Mosley
6. The Mysterious World of Agatha Christie by Jeffrey Feinman (NF) 
7. The Hollow by Agatha Christie
8. Black Coffee by Agatha Christie 
9. Five Dead Canaries by Edward Marston
10. Proof Positive by Archer Mayor

Books Read - September, 2014

1. Designated Daughters by Margaret Maron
2. The Miracles of Santo Fico by D.L. Smith
3. The Star Garden by Nancy Turner
4.  At Knit's End: Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (NF)
5.  Strange Shores by Arnaldur Indriðason
6.  Where the Shadows Lie by Michael Ridpath
7. Deceptions by Rebecca Frayn
8. The Reckoning by Rennie Airth 
9. The Hidden Child by Camilla Läckberg 
10. Robert B. Parker's Blind Spot by Reed Farrel Coleman
11. The Ninth Step by Gabriel Cohen 

Books Read - August, 2014

1. The Strangler's  Honeymoon by Håkan Nesser
2. When the Devil Holds the Candle by Karin Fossum
3.  He Who Fears the Wolf by Karin Fossum
4. The Indian Bride by Karin Fossum 
5. Among the Missing by Morag Joss
6. Hypothermia by Arnaldur Indridason
7. The Late Scholar by Jill Paton Walsh
8. Black Skies by Arnaldur Indridason
9. Outrage by Arnaldur Indridason
10. Voices by Arnaldur Indridason
11. By a Spider's Thread by Laura Lippman
12. I Can See in the Dark by Karin Fossum 
13. The Graving Dock by Gabriel Cohen