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!

Works in Progress and What's New

1857 Album blocks

Sentimental Stitches has released the last patterns for the 1857 Album Quilt. I've been catching up with June blocks. And finding alternative blocks for some that I did not relate to or were too difficult for my talents. I have also been adding the embroidery to the completed blocks.

The broderie perse block in the lower right corner in the photo above is one of my additions.

I also added the upper left block with the bird, which is from the John Hewson reproduction fabric line that was available a while back.

I added the presidents who served in 1857, cut from a printed fabric of presidents. There is an applique border to be added as well! I may turn it into two quilts! It is already huge, as you can see in the photo below.

Last week a huge box of books arrived won from The Quivering Pen blog by author David Abrams! He has a giveaway every Friday. Included is an ARC of Abram's upcoming book, Brave Deeds.

There were some books I wanted to read, some I had not heard of but look interesting, and others that my son or husband will read.

 I have quite a pile of Goodreads giveaways and ARC wins, too. And my Blogging for Books choice, The Heirs, is also waiting.

The cheerful cover on Hello, Sunshine was welcomed, as it arrived on a rainy day. 

I am enjoying working on this new project from A Batch of Quilt Soup.

It is the antithesis of my 1857's controlled palette with lots of clashing prints and colors that somehow go together just right.

 The original quilt is shown below.

 My bottom panel looks like this:

One of my friends from the weekly quilt group made this fairy quilt. Margaret used a fairy coloring book illustration, embroidered and crayon tinted it and covered the quilt with sparkly sheer fabric with a floral print.

I also added two handkerchiefs to my collection. They were part of a stash of supplies and linens donated to my weekly group. Both are designer hankies from the 1960s. The first by Monique and the second by Shelly.

My home office floor was refinished and we are ready to put the rug back in. I am enjoying my new work space. I found a great table, which as you can see is being well used! I have lots of space to spread out while researching and writing my memoirs, blog, and quilt projects. We will add a comfy chair. I will be able to use the table for quilt related work as well.

 One of my mother's oil paintings is above my computer desk.

Two more of her paintings are also hanging my my office.

The one above Mom painted for her living room which was decorated in beige and burnt orange in the 1970s. The painting in the photo below was painted for me. It hangs above a bookcase that belonged to my in-laws. The Anniversary clock also belonged to my in-laws.

The bookcase holds my Jane Austen set, books by Rumer Godden and Barbara Pym, Samuel Pepys Diary, a set of Mark Twain's book owned by Gary's grandmother, a Sinclair Lewis set, a complete antique set of 1001 Arabian Nights by Sir Richard Burton, and some vintage volumes of Lady Godey's and Graham's magazines.

I have lots of bookshelves available. Right now this one holds my poetry books, hardbound copies of books I've reviewed--some signed by the author, more books from my giveaway pile, and CDs.

The oak barrister bookcase belonged to my Grandpa Ramer. He bought it while at Susquehanna University, and Mom gave it to me and Gary when we married. So, this bookcase has been to seminary twice! It holds complete sets of Dickens and Balzac and my piano music books.

Last of all, since we lost our dear Suki early we have only our Kamikaze. She misses her best friend, especially since they were both blind and did everything together. We cherish her and enjoy her company.

Kamikaze has the big bed all to herself now.

We are pleased that Kaze is doing great on her new heart medicine, The last medication left her dizzy and loopy. She couldn't walk a straight line and stumbled and fell. Now she is eating well and loves her walks.

What are you working on? What's new with you?

A Sad Goodbye to Our Dear Suki

Our dear Suki

Last week we had to let our Suki go. She was about 16 years old and had been declining physically and mentally. 

Suki was a puppy mill breeder for her first seven years. The Shiba Inu Rescue Society bought her at auction and she spent a year as a foster dog. When we brought her home she was still very unsocialized, frightened, and ignorant of the world. We worked with her and she blossomed into a brave, smart dog.

Suki, when she came to us, huddled in a corner. I sat next to her
and pet her and talked to her. It took days to get a response.

Suki was a 'red' Shiba with dark hair down her back and on her face. She had a triple-thick coat that felt like velvet.

Suki had to learn to be on a leash, climb stairs, understand open spaces, and the concept that she couldn't go in a straight line when something was between her and her destination. 

Suki 

Suki was our third Shiba Inu. Over the last 30 years, we have had a Shiba Inu for 27.

Happy Suki

When we lived in the country she loved to run! I took her out to run four or five times a day. The wide, open space made her feel very safe. She hated corners and fences because anything could be on the other side. But in the open she was free.

Suki

Suki was large for a Shiba, her ears, head, and chest much bigger than our other Shiba's. She was powerful but a 'gentle giant' who was submissive to other dogs.

Our shy Suki

We wanted her to have a friend and fostered Kara. Sadly he died after nine months, but he did teach Suki to play and run. She was so happy, her tail up.

Kara with Suki (on the right)

She was very bright and a quick learner. She understood what we were saying, like 'back door' and 'front door'.  We could not say, "Do you want to walk the dogs?" because she would be at the door immediately. Then she knew "Do you want to w. the dogs" so we had to say, "Shall we perambulate?"

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She loved to sit up and beg for treats until I stopped her because I knew she had bad arthritis. Then she just had to sit, and later as she became blind I just made her 'come'. And, she learned to sit for a treat on the second command!

Our old Suki became blind. She loved 'cookie' treats.

Suki liked her cheek stroked and her back rubbed, but any semblance of holding or restraint sent her fleeing. In her younger years, she even enjoyed brushing and baths!

After we lost Kara we adopted Kamikaze. Kaze was a real pistol and bossed Suki around. But as they aged they gave each other great comfort.

Suki with Kamikaze

Suki's back had developed a white strip

Over this last winter, Suki no longer groomed herself, or rolled on her back like she loved. She wanted to go on walks but she had a limp in one leg, a quiver in another, and a front leg was so stiff it did not bend.

In her last months, Suki slept a lot.

As Suki lost her sight and experienced heart problems and arthritis she wanted me in her sight at all times. She became frightened of men again. She was hyper-vigilant all night, pacing and wanting to go outside and check the yard. And she panted deeply, from pain or stress. Some days she slept in past 3 pm or refused to eat her meals.

Suki loved when Kamikaze snuggled up

It was a hard decision to make but I know she was suffering. We will miss our beloved girl.

Suki's last meal was scrambled eggs.