Tangled Thursday - Ornaments

I really didn't know what I was going to draw this week until I touched the pen to the paper.  I knew I wanted a drawn out line and that I would cut the ornaments out leaving an extra paper margin. Once I got started, the ideas just seemed to flow. I used a bit of watercolour paint  to add colours, which are a bit washed out due to the camera flash.

Welcome to Tangled Thursday.  A few of my local and online friends have joined me in an occasional Zentangle challenge.  We'll take turns choosing a theme  and them post our drawings in about 2 weeks time.  All are welcome to join in the fun.  If you are new to Zentangles, then visit the website for a complete explanation and all sorts of online resources.  I'm also a big fan of TanglePatterns.com.

When I was shopping earlier in the week, I came across these window clings in the grocery store.  Just one dollar, hmm, I could tangle those couldn't I.  I bought a package.

Since this week's theme is ornaments, I'd better start there. I had to use a Sharpie marker as the ink of the Sakura Pigma pens doesn't dry on the plastic surface.

For the colour of the poinsietta, I peeled the finished piece off the backing and used a Sharpie marker to colour the back.  I took longer to dry as I used a thick marker, but it coloured in very well.  Following are a few more images from that sheet.  I am quite pleased with how this turned out and am thinking a trip to the dollar store in search of additional pages is in order.

 

Marie at Daisy's Book Journal will be selecting out next challenge.

 

I am curious, what is the most unusual item that you have tangled on?  Please leave a comment.

Did you tangle this past week, if so, then add your link to Mr. Linky, it you don't have a blog, you are invited to email your photo and I'll add it to next week's post.

 

 

Needlework Tuesday - A Leaders and Enders End

For most of the year I have been teasing you with photos of my progress through my leaders and enders project.  It all started with this tiny bit:

Needlework Tuesday is a regular weekly post where I share the progress of my various needlework projects over the past week. I enjoy the encouragement that I receive from my readers and in return visit their blogs and cheer them on with theirs. You are welcome to grab the cute little mouse and create your own Needlework Tuesday post. Leave a comment with a link and I'll be sure to visit with you.  A special shoutout to Sherrie at Food for Thought who is back blogging again.  Sherrie is the designer of my cute little mouse button.

 
 

My leader and ender project continues, though I am now at the most exciting part.  The blocks are completed.

I had these blocks laid out on the floor and when hubby came in I asked him what he thought. He stood there a minute looking at them, and finally he said "I got it, I got it, there's one block missing". Well I knew that, I wanted to know about the lay out.   I could use just about any log cabin arrangement.  Before I go any further I want to share my pattern source.  Em at When Life Falls to Pieces Make a Quilt (Em's Scrapbag).

I'm trying out several arrangements before I start sewing the blocks together.

 

For quite a while now I have been working on Dutch Nine Patch blocks for future wedding quilt for my nephew.  He's just started dating a woman, so there is no rush for this quilt, but I want to be ready. Ten more blocks this week should give me plenty to play with.  He's a military man which meant I had to include some camo fabrics. 

 

Here are the 35 blocks that I pieced.  They should all be different fabrics.  They'll be put away for now while I complete projects with more pressing needs.

 

I had hoped to show you my finished shawl, but I still have to cast off and it's a picot bind off which I know will take a while as there are 272 stitches on the needle.

 

Did you get some stitching done this week?  Doesn't matter what type or whether it's complete or still in progress or you are still thinking about it, if you wrote a post join up with Mr. Linky and I'll come visit with you.

 

Tangled Thursday - It's Thanksgiving - Somewhere

If you are here for the Canadian Quilters Connect Blogathon, check out this welcome post.

 

 

Pumpkins, stuffed turkey, bountiful amounts of fresh produce, Thanksgiving.  That is our theme this week courtesy of Tami at Just One More Thing.  While I was searching online colouring pages, I came across this cornucopia.  It had everything  I was looking for, circles and other interesting shapes.  I printed it and started with the grapes.  They were a little small to work in much detail, but with so many of them, I found that a little detail goes a long way.  about 7 inches wide by 6 high.

 

I drew this on printer paper and found that it didn't work all that well with my Pigma pens, almost as though there is a coating on the paper.  I much prefer a proper sketch paper. 

 

Welcome to Tangled Thursday.  A few of my local and online friends have joined me in an occasional Zentangle challenge.  We'll take turns choosing a theme  and them post our drawings in about 2 weeks time.  All are welcome to join in the fun.  If you are new to Zentangles, then visit the website for a complete explanation and all sorts of online resources.  I'm also a big fan of TanglePatterns.com.

  A few readers have mentioned that they are interested in trying Zentangles.  My suggestion is that you visit the TanglePattern pages, pick a straight line tangle and start drawing.  If you have a sketch book, use that, search around your kids desk for one of their part empty ones.  Using a pencil, lightly drawn a three inch square, this will be your working area.  Fill the square with your selected tangle.  Don't worry about it being perfect, the variations make it more interesting.  After you've completed your first tangle, take a picture of it, post it to your blog and then link up here, don't worry about the theme, in fact, no worrying while you are tangling, remember, it's relaxing.  If you don't have a blog, email your photo to one of the regular participants and she'll add it to her next post.

 

 

After seeing one of Marie's tangles last week that used one tangle, I wanted to do the same with a pumpkin.  It still needs some leaves or a border so that it isn't floating on the paper.

Next week's theme is ornaments with colour.  I'm going with circular ornaments and I'm going to cut out circles. After that, I'm going to imagine some the of the ornaments I've seen, with bands of colour around the middle, or sectioned from top to bottom like the sections of an orange.  not sure whether to add the colour first or after drawing, so I'll probably try both. 

Did you join in with our Thanksgiving theme, or have you been inspired to try Zentangles, add a link to your post below in Mr. Linky.

Needlework Tuesday - The Stars are Shining

 

It's finished. Yes, I did a little happy dance, then got out the camera to try and take pictures. I do realise that some quilts are just too big to lay on the floor for photos. I would have taken it outside to hang up, but it was pouring rain out there.  Measures about 70 inches square.  I am planning to machine quilt feathers in those big open spaces.  This will be a huge challenge for me as I've only done feathers a few times, but with patience and practise before hand, I'll get it done, eventually.

 

To recap for new visitors, the large blocks were made during a year long BOM program at my local quilt shop.  The pattern is "Building Blocks" by Sharyn Craig and the setting for the quilt is "All in the Family Sampler" in Judy Martin's book Knockout Blocks and Sampler Quilts.

 

 

Needlework Tuesday is a regular weekly post where I share the progress of my various needlework projects over the past week. I enjoy the encouragement that I receive from my readers and in return visit their blogs and cheer them on with theirs. You are welcome to grab the cute little mouse and create your own Needlework Tuesday post. Leave a comment with a link and I'll be sure to visit with you.

Did you work on needlework this past week, I'd love to see what you've been stitching.  Add a link to your current post by using Mr. Linky and i'll be sure come visit and leave a comment.

This week is the Canadian Quilters Connect Blogathon Canada.  Lots of fun sites to visit and even some contests to enter.  I have contest that I posted yesterday.  You are invited to enter by visiting that post.

Canadian Quilters Connect Blogathon

It's time for the Canadian Quilters Connect Blogathon, sponsored by SewSisters quilt shop.
Welcome and thank-you for visiting with me at Books and Quilts.

I started blogging in 2007 and have posted regularly about my activities since then. 

In Tuesdays I write about my needlework projects over the past week.  it could be knitting, crochet, quilting, sewing and occasionally some embroidery. 

I've recently started a new occasional Thursday post with a few friends that features out Zentangle challenges.  It's a wonderful drawing method that I am planning to adapt to my machine quilting.

In between times, I post other items of interest, usually book reviews including occasional First Nations Fridays posts where I review books by First Nations Authors.

Below are photos of some of my recently finished quilt tops.   Be sure to look through all of them as I am hosting a contest and the directions are after the photos.

Gretchen Quilt block from Debby Kratovil

 

Sunflower Wave Tote

 

L'il Twister Placemat

 

Ugly Fabric Challenge

Assorted Applique Hearts

Birds of a Feather

Disappearing 4 patch

Doll Quilt

 

Now for the contest. Prize is a Fabric Lovers FQ bundle purchased from Sew Sisters. (Will be mailed directly from Sew Sisters). Browse some of my needle work posts and find the quilt or project that most appeals to you.  Come back here and tell me about it in the Rafflecopter below.  Open to all visitors, though a different prize will be selected should the winner be international. One Canadian winner will be seclected.   **if the Rafflecopter doesn't appear or doesn't work, then leave a comment letting me know and I'll add you manually, you still need to tell me which project you like and in which country you live**  

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Dragon Head of Hong Kong by Ian Hamilton

Ava Lee is the most kick-ass female character I have encountered in a novel in ages.  She is the hero of Ian Hamilton's  six Ava Lee novels.  I earlier reviewed the first book in the series, The Water Rat of Wanchai. 

I just received an email from House of Anansi that Mr. Hamilton has written a prequel to the series, and that for a limited time, this will be available free.  You do need to sign up to receive this 4 part story.  Click this link to take you to the sign-up page.

Need more to tempt you, read what the publisher has to say about the incredible Ava Lee:

About Ava Lee

Ava Lee is a young Chinese-Canadian forensic accountant who specializes in recovering massive debts that aren’t likely to be recovered through traditional methods. In the first book of the Ava Lee series, The Water Rat of Wanchai, her character takes shape through learning about her traditional Chinese upbringing, her family dynamic and the people that are most important to Ava. 

Partnering with “Uncle”, who lives in Hong Kong , they have a diverse client base that is mainly Asian. They approach their business with the understanding that “organized corruption is always superior to corruption with no rules.” Since dealing with corruption is the heart of their business, they prefer to conduct their work in countries with organized corruption.

Independent, intelligent, and creative in her methods, Ava does whatever needs doing to get the job done. Ava’s motto is: “people always do the right thing for the wrong reason.” Her challenge is to always find that wrong reason. Even though she’s petite, it’s a serious mistake to underestimate her physical abilities. She is well trained in martial arts and uses her abilities to get her out of dangerous circumstances. She is also accustomed to working alone, to the point of obsession, which becomes interesting when she is forced to negotiate with powerful and unfamiliar alliances to get the job done.

There are currently five books in the Ava Lee series, with the sixth (The Two Sisters of Borneo) set to release this fall. 

Key Dates

November 19th - instalment #1 released

November 26th - instalment #2 released

December 3rd - instalment #3 released

December 10th - instalment #4 released

December 17th - free ebooks no longer available. 

Tangled Thursday - Hearts, Hearts, Hearts

 This weeks challenge was posed by Elaine, Hearts in any configuration.  I had fun with this.  Hubby looked at this one and asked why I had barbed wire in a heart?  

Heart wire
Bead lines
Rain

Welcome to Tangled Thursday.  A few of my local and online friends have joined me in an occasional Zentangle challenge.  We'll take turns choosing a theme  and them post our drawings in about 2 weeks time.  All are welcome to join in the fun.  If you are new to Zentangles, then visit the website for a complete explanation and all sorts of online resources.  I'm also a big fan of TanglePatterns.com

I usually have at least one book on the go which means I frequently are looking for bookmarks.  Tangles from top to bottom: papyrus, tipple, squares, static, bales, mist, sag, cross stitch, and this one's name is unknown

I decided to go with tangles that started with H.  Hollibaugh, HekZee, Hibred, Hypnotic

I traced this heart from a quilt stencil and cut it from white paper.  Tangles used: Paushalov, Pia, Barber Pole, Knightsbridge, Dugwud

 

Our next challenge will be posed by Tami at Just One More Thing.

For next week's (November 21) challenge, the theme is "Thanksgiving".  Interpret that however you would like - related shapes, words, patterns or whatever strikes you.  

Did you join in today and tangle a heart or hearts, add your link below:

Needlework Tuesday - Seeing Stars

Welcome back.  Last week I told you that I was going on a piecing binge and that I planned to sew 40 little star blocks. Well, I didn't  do 40, once I got going, I realised that I needed 44. Here they all are.  They measure 4 1/2 inches finished.  All patterns are from Judy Martin's bet book every, Knockout Blocks and Sampler Quilts.

 

Needlework Tuesday is a regular weekly post where I share the progress of my various needlework projects over the past week. I enjoy the encouragement that I receive from my readers and in return visit their blogs and cheer them on with theirs. You are welcome to grab the cute little mouse and create your own Needlework Tuesday post. Leave a comment with a link and I'll be sure to visit with you.

I will admit that with all those pieces and different fabrics I did get some bits out of order and had to do some un-sewing.  I found I worked best if I laid all the blocks out before I started any sewing.  This is a set of 8 blocks of the same pattern.   I work on  all the blocks at the same time so that I sew the same step for all of them at the same time. After sewing the final seam, all of a sudden I have 8 finished blocks.  (a little happy dance moment)  Next step is putting the top together.  I'll have a photo of that next week.

I've been wanting to get started on this triangle shawl for a while. It's made with a Bernat sequin yarn.  I don't know what it's made of but it seems a bit cottony.  the sequins are about 12 inches apart.   I don't know if it's my knitting, but there appear to be more of the sequins showing up on the wrong side than on the front.  it might not appear so as I keep going back and pushing them through to the front.

 

 

Last week I finished all the blocks for the Gretchen quilt that is for my niece.  I think it looks great.  Just what is needed in a dorm room. Suggestions of how to quilt this beauty would be appreciated.   Earlier I wrote a  photo post on how to piece the Gretchen  block.

 

With all the work on the above mentioned quilts, I've made lots of progress on my leader and ender quilt.  Last week I finished making these double four patches.  There are 112 of (I think).

 

This week, I completed the next step which involved adding a 4 1/2 inch square to each of the double 4 patches.  At the rate I'm going on the stars quilt, I'll probably have the next step of the leaders and enders for you next week as well.

Remember to leave a comment with suggestions of how I might quilt the Gretchen Quilt (which I really should change to the Jessie Quilt, as that is my niece's name).

 

Who else is stitching this week:

 

Over at Just One More Thing, Tami is stitching aprons and the neatest fabric boxes/baskets.

 

It feels as good as winning the lottery when you finish a huge project.  Sarah at Lit and Laundry is on cloud 9 with her recent finish.

 

With time to spare, Roslyn at Ros-the-Quilter has finished piecing the top for her new Christmas wall hanging.  Beautifully done.

The needles have been flying with Marie over at Daisy's Book Journal.  She has several cuddly projects on the go.

Weekend Cooking: A Taste of Paleo

My new years resolution this year was to loose 20 pounds.  I knew I would need some help and have found food journaling to help in the past.  This year I signed up for a free membership with Livestrong.com.  It has really helped me.  By selecting the correct foods I can also keep track of sodium consumption and see if I am getting enough fibre.  One o the bonuses that I hadn't expected, was the huge number of recipes that are available. 

 

Since daughter and I are both lactose intolerant, we tend to make a lot of vegan dishes and serve meat along side.  I've also found that many Paleo dishes are dairy free.  Below are three Paleo dishes that were featured on Livestrong.com.  All three recipes were designed by Jess Barron, Editor-in-Chief of Livestrong.com.  The recipes can be found on the site at the links below.

 

Blueberry Muffin and Banana Pancakes

 

Pumpkin Muffin

 

 



300-Calorie Gluten-Free 2-Minute Paleo Pumpkin Microwave Mug Muffin



I made a few changes to this recipe.  I found that 3 tablespoons of ground flax seed was too much; I replaced one with hemp protein powder, though hemp seeds would make for a more appealing colour.  I also replaced the honey with  1 tablespoon of maple syrup.  I serve this with a bit more maple syrup as well as the cream from coconut milk.

Paleo Gluten-free Banana Pancakes
 

These are wonderful made exactly as directed.  They are best eaten immediately.  For fun I served them with Hershey's Chocolate syrup.

Paleo Gluten-free Yummy Blueberry 2-Minute Microwave Muffin

I didn't have blueberries and substituted raspberries instead with wonderful results.  I also replaced the honey with maple syrup as before. This one is a big hit with even my husband. 

 

 These are three recipes that I keep using again and again.  The muffins are large enough that I eat them for lunch and they keep me full most of the afternoon.  Can't wait to see what other recipes Ms. Barron comes up with. 

 

For more recipes and foodie fun, be sure to visit Beth Fish Reads for her Weekend Cooking post.

ps. I have a postcard giveaway on my other blog, Send a Postcard A Week.