Making Fidget Quilts--Not Reviewing

I am behind in reviewing because I've been back in the studio after a long hiatus.  

I'm making small fidget quilts for AD/dementia patients.  Dementia patients tend to have restless hands, and the quilts are very tactile, giving a place for hands to feel texture and tactile elements.  I wish I'd known about them when my father's hands appeared to be sorting papers, as if he were still in the office.

The butterfly is dimensional, the prairie points can be fidgeted with,

 the same with the loops, 

and the embroidery adds another textural element 

for fingers to linger over.

 So far, I'm using all kinds of scraps and odds and ends 

that I've made or collected that sit around waiting for a purpose.

F.Q. #2

More loops, prairie points, buttons, some fabric flowers, etc.

They have been through the washing machine and dryer,

so that I know how they will stand up.

I'm almost finished with the third one.

They are keeping me busy,

and away from my reviewing,

but they are so much fun.

Love that Science Fiction

I'm really liking Dune by Frank Herbert -- From Library Journal: "Dune is to science fiction what The Lord of the Rings is to fantasy" -- and still can't explain why I've waited so long.

Nice to know that there are plenty more in the series AND that I have a review copy of Paul of Dune by Brian Herbert (Frank's son) and Kevin J. Anderson, which links the first two books in the series.

My reading had been slowing down as I've tried to get in more sewing and crafty projects, but I've found myself picking up this novel more frequently than I intended.

I'm almost done with this pillow made from one of Miss Mila's drawings of her dog, Mojo.

Blogs, books, and sewing adventures

I've been over to So Many Books and found this list of books that interest me. I'm adding several of these titles to my wish list and will order some when I return from vacation. I've always loved Emerson, and visiting Stefanie's blog reminds of much of what I enjoyed in Emerson without having to do research myself--but sometimes, I just can't resist the desire for further reading on the Concord group: Emerson, Thoreau, Louisa May Alcott, Margaret Fuller, etc.

I have a copy of Eden's Outcasts: The Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Father in my TBR stack and have been debating on whether or not to take this one with me to Florida, but it is such a big, thick hardback that it will really need to wait.

Still have a couple of books to review and hope to do that before we leave and have several stalled books -- including The Philosopher's Apprentice which I read avidly and then when almost finished, put aside and read several other books. Susan at Pages Turned is in the process of reading this one, so I'm eager to find out what she thinks.

Things around here have been hectic lately and my mood takes me from one thing to another in a pretty helter-skelter manner. I've been doing some sewing (which - like reading - provides stress relief). My quilting/sewing blog Bayou Quilts has more pics of the sewing adventures, but here are a couple of the cuffs I've been working on lately.
These little cloth shoes are for baby Bryce Eleanor.

Projects and Overlays

Still reading several books at once. Keep starting new ones, but nothing has seriously grabbed my attention, and I've been so busy lately that there has not been a great deal of time for reading anyway.

I've been making pencil rolls when I have spare time -- instead of reading. The mouse fabric one is for Mila and is made from scraps left over from an apron I made her a couple of years ago.

From the little scraps left cut from the ends of the above project came a little landscape. Most of the little strips are 1/4 to 1 one inch wide, trimmed from squaring the fabric. I cut a wavy edge all around and then satin stitched instead of binding it. The scraps are covered with tulle to keep them in place.


Here is an interesting note relating to reading:

Colored overlay transparencies can improve your child's reading. My sister-in-law told me about this and let me try some of the overlays to see which ones improved my reading ease. I was surprised at the way almost all of the overlays made the words jump off the page, but the light blue and a bright yellow worked best. The overlays are a real aid for children with reading difficulties, but can make reading easier for anyone. I'm going to order some, as my eyes sometimes get tired, and the overlays could relieve some of the eye strain.

I've got a lot to do before getting ready for Amelia's baby shower, so I'd better get to it. Erin and her family are in town, and Mila will attend the shower with us. This should be fun.

Mixcellaneous Mix

I've updated my 2007 list of books with the August entries. Two books didn't get a review. Mademoiselle Victorine never involved me with either the characters or the story. Far-fetched? The only thing that interested me was the inclusion of Baudelaire as a character. The Millionth Circle was a new agey work that essentially said, over 87 double-spaced, centered pages, what could have been said in a paragraph...and was and was and was, over and over again. Nevertheless, August saw some real winners in both fiction and nonfiction. A very good month overall.

As soon as I finish Bridge of Sighs, I'll be delving into the R.I.P and Unread Authors challenges with gusto!

I've already mentioned the Cardathon Challenge when I discussed Challenges on Tuesday. The only thing I'm sure of is that I'll begin with Ender's Game (it has been years and years since I read it) and proceed from there working through as many Ender books as possible. Homebody is on my current list for the R.I.P. Challenge, and Chris recommended Treasure Box. Card will be making frequent appearances next year.

I finished and framed the bee balm, but have not started on the cone flowers or the crane yet. Will get another mat for the bee balm, Debbi suggested green, and I think that is a good choice and Mac agreed.

A garden visitor. click to enlarge

One of those reading iteneraries...

Lotus at Lotus Reads has provided me with some excellent titles over the last year (Shadow Cities: A Billion Squatters, a New Urban World , Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found and Palace Walk).

The latest interesting titles from current Lotus Lists include:

Train to Pakistan by Khushwant Singh
Freedom at Midnight by Dominique la Pierre and Larry Collins
What the Body Remembers by Shauna Singh Baldwin

Actually, there are even more on the list of those that I want to read, but those three stand out at the moment.

Another that I'd like very much to read is Indian Summer: The Secret History of the End of an Empire, and follow the link to an article that gives a most interesting review of this book by Alex von Tunzleman.

This is what I did last night instead of read...worked on a WIP that has been on my design wall for several months now and watched Look to the Lady based on Margery Allingham's Campion novels. I basted the quilt sandwich together, then sat down to some hand quilting as I reveled in the atmosphere.

Tonight I did get a good more reading done and still love The Spanish Bow. And now to bed...