Newsy Stuff: Quilts, New Sewing Machine, Shibas, and Books

Life has been very busy, and I have hardly prepared for the holidays!

I bought a new sewing machine! I have used a Bernina 850 Record made in 1974 my entire quilting life. When my original machine died of old age I replaced it with an identical machine.

But it was time for a change. I wanted a machine that threaded the needle and had other nice features. I bought a Baby Lock Soprano at a local quilt shop, on sale half price.

My new Baby Lock with the Bernina in the background

We have a grandpuppy! Our son adopted a Shiba Inu! Ellie is now the fifth Shiba Inu we have had in our family. She was rescued from destruction after the puppy mill didn't want her anymore.

She is a real sweetheart.

My weekly quilt group had their annual Christmas Party. Every year they have a gift exchange playing Quilto. People can take each other's wins. This year we were to make pillowcases or placemats.

My placemat with a Singer sewing machine was very popular, and the gals took it from one another to the bitter end. The pattern is from Quiltmaker's 100 Quilt Blocks Volume 2. Thank you to designer Jina Barney!

I got the last of my quilts back from the longarm quilter! The Big Block quilt is for my livingroom. I previously made this pattern in another colorway for my son.

Icicle Days is a pattern from Bunny Hill. The fabrics were a win from an AQS Facebook giveaway.

My version of Lorna McMahon of Sew Fresh Quilts pattern Fox Kits was custom quilted. I just love it!

Kona Fox Kits

I was contacted by Ryan of the ETWN Global Catholic Network. He is making a documentary film about Father Aloysius Schwartz and the World Villages organization.  He googled Operation Hanky and found my post about Father Al's Korean Relief organization.  Father Al masterminded Operation Hanky, a cottage industry of Korean women whose embroidered handkerchiefs raised money to built schools and hospitals.

I have been working on my quilt projects, serenaded by the Seeburg jukebox. We found my stash of  50s and 60s 45 records and now the jukebox is nearly filled up! New additions include Wimoweh, I Ride an Old Paint performed by the Weavers, Scarlet Ribbons, Tom Dooley, What Now My Love by Herb Alpert, My Sweet Lord by George Harrison, Color My World by Chicago, and more.

I am reading like crazy to get in all the January publication books! I am reading The Cassandra by Sharma Shields and Overrun, about the Asian Carp crisis, by Andrew Reeves.

New on my shelf are:

The Red Notebook by Sofia Lundberg and The Bird King by G. Willow Wilson, won through Bookish.
I also won Make Me a City by Jonathan Carr from LibraryThing.

Make Me A City by Jonathan Carr
painting by my mother Joyce Gochenour

New from NetGalley I have
The King's Favorite by John Vance, a historical fiction/mystery about Charles II and his court
The Peacock Feast by Lisa Gornick, historical fiction "about love, class, and the past we never escape."

Just finished galleys include
Jane Austen for Kids including background history and activities to help younger readers experience Jane's novels
We Hope for Better Things by Erin Bartels, set in Detroit in the 60s and Underground Railroad eras

I am way too busy to be prepared for the holidays!