Warbreaker

Book one of the year finished. Really fun read, knocked it out in a few days. The only disappointing thing is that it is a single book and not a series.

A Must Read For Every Parent

If you want a good laugh you have to buy this book!!!
 

Machine Cathedral Windows

 
I just finished my first Cathedral Windows block, I made a pillow because I thought it would be a good starter project. I did it fully by machine and here are a few things that I learned.



- First of all don't be intimidated these are WAY easier then they look - I finished this entire project including cutting, sewing, stuffing etc in about 3 - 4 hours which isn't bad considering there was learning curve time included.



- I used 12.5 inch backing pieces and 4 inch windows. I think if I did an entire quilt I would use bigger pieces.

- If I did this again I may try doing it by hand because it may look a lot less sloppy (that is how these blocks are traditionally done)

- Cathedral blocks are not for perfectionists. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't get my corners to line up perfectly (which is kind of the nature of the block since you are folding so many layers of fabric). The result is something like this where you have some perfect corners (where the corners were sewn together)....



...and some way less then perfect corners where you are sewing down loose flaps that made my OCD crazy....I realized that on one of the tutorials they recommended tacking down the loose flaps with a few stitches before doing your rolled edges - this probably fixes the sloppy corner issue and I will definitely try it next time.



- These blocks end up being a little bit lumpy and seamy - I had thought they would make great baby quilts but they aren't exactly snuggly

- While it does take a long time to make the blocks you have to consider that you save a lot of time because you don't have to quilt or bind these blocks

- I found when I sewed down the rolled edges it was easiest to go all the way around the entire window without stopping

- Here is what the back looks like if you do it by machine - a bit sloppy looking for my taste but not terrible I guess



- Some people recommended gluing the window fabric down or the rolled edges down but I found a single pin was enough to hold the window fabric down and I didn't have any trouble with the rolled edge (I think the key is the make sure your piece of window fabric isn't too big so you can get a clean roll).

I will admit that once I saw the final product as a pillow I was a bit sad that I made this as a gift because I LOVE it!





If you want to try your own block here are the links that I found the most helpful.
The Sometimes Crafter
Hyena in Petticoats
Making Ends Meet

Happy Sewing!

In other random news I finished my 3.1 mile run in 34:26 minutes - hooray for being under 35 minutes. I also finished the book The Help the other day - I can't wait for the movie!
 

Fun Trashy Reading

 
I've recently started reading again. I just finished Cross Bones by Kathy Reichs and No Mercy by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Next on the reading list is The Help by Kathryn Stockett then maybe Lover Mine by J R Ward. Granted I have a lot of packing and house related things to do so there may not be much reading in my future but a girl can dream right? I've also been listening to a book on tape while I run which has been interesting.
 

Girly Books Galore

 
Last weekend I went to see Red Riding Hood with my cousin - it was one of those bad but fun movies. While I was there I saw previews for Water for Elephants and Something Borrowed - both of which I will end up seeing.





Both of the movies are based on books so I spent quite a bit of time with my nook this week and finished reading them both.



I enjoyed Water for Elephants but I am pretty excited to see the movie because I think some of the circus imagery will be even better then the author was able to describe.



Something Borrowed was one of those interesting books where a lot of women out there probably relate to the main character and have moments where they feel like her (of course the characters in the book are blown WAY out of proportion to what probably really happens in real life - but the basic traits are ones that I am all too familiar with). I am not sure the movie will be able to capture some of the character details as well as the book but we will see.

I can't wait to log some time in the theaters.
 

The Hunger Games

 
For my birthday I got The Hunger Games series and I am in love. I read the first book in a day and the second one is calling to me. I highly recommend it, it is an easy read with a great story line and interesting characters. I am surprised it is classified as young adult because it is on the "dark" side...


 

Bones

 



You probably wonder why I haven't been blogging lately. I could probably say that it is because it is summer and the weather has been nicer or because I have been busy at work or because I've had a bad cold but the truth is that the major distractor lately has been the Fox TV series Bones. I am hooked, in love in fact. I have already watched all 5 seasons and I can't wait for the next season to come out. The show is about a forensic anthropologist and her partner who is an FBI agent (and is played by the ever hot David Boreanaz - I became hooked on him during Buffy the Vampire slayer).

I love the series so much that I decided to give the books the show was based off of a go. The first book is De Ja Dead. I must admit that it starts off a little bit slow and it may have slightly too many historical side tracks for me but overall it was fun to read. I am half way through the second book already.