Kite Quilt Top

Once I paper pieced the top section of the kite, the quilt top came together quickly.  I saw the idea here and really liked it.  Yea for scrappy kites!

Let's Go Fly a Kite

The progress is extremely slow, but I finally got one kite block finished.  8 more to go!

Kidnapped

Category #6 for this year's Classics Challenge is A Classic with a single-word title.  I didn't have a particular one in mind for this category, so I chose one of the examples she gave.  I read Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson.  I feel a bit silly, because it wasn't until I finished the book that I really looked at the author's name as realized it was the author of Treasure Island and Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde.  I would have known right away that I was going to love the book.  I suppose I can chalk it up to dumb luck then that I stumbled upon one of Stevenson's books I hadn't read yet.

I adored this book.  David Balfour is such a likable fellow.  He led a sheltered life and comes across as pure innocence and yet he's got wit and a personality you can't help but root for.  I also happen to love British history, so I'm always up for a book that has a bit of Jacobite drama. 

The illustrations were also lovely and enhanced the reading experience.  I would definitely recommend this book.  It's also very short and an easy, light read.

Testament of Youth

I appreciate its importance academically and intellectually, but I didn't personally love Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain.  I read this book as part of The Classics Challenge: #3 A classic by a woman author.

This book is Brittain's memoir of her life surrounding World War I.  There are 3 sections to this book: her sheltered life prior to the war, her time as a nurse during the war, and her involvement in politics and writing after the war.  The section about her time as a nurse during WWI was definitely the most interesting part to me.  She served in England, Malta, and in France.  During this time she lost all 4 of her closest loves/friends in the war, including her fiance and brother.  I think Brittian is an important voice in female memoirs, but I don't know if it's because it was written in a different era or because she's very British, but her recollection of things felt a bit cold and subdued.  I know lots of people love this book, and academically speaking, I can see the draw, so I ended with mixed feelings about the book. 

Spectacle Quilt Blocks

Steph is in charge of back to back months for do.Good Stitches, so she chose to have us do one set of Spectacle Quilt Blocks in feminine colors and another set in masculine colors.  They're simple but really nice blocks.

Basket Weave Finish

This quilt has been a long time in the making.  This is a do.Good Stitches quilt of blocks I requested starting last Fall.  We had some turn over in our group right about then and so I didn't get a bunch of blocks, and the quilt was going to be tiny, so I asked everyone to make another set of these blocks back in February.  It turned out so bright and cheerful.

 I wanted the back to be just as cheerful, so I chose some of this citrus fabric from my stash. 

 I continued with my large stipling for the quilting since the rail blocks are perfect guiding lines.  I chose a bright green thread for the stitching.  I usually stick with neutral, but it matched so well with the limes on the back I couldn't resist. 

My goal was to get this done before the school year ended, because my quilting typically comes to a halt once all the kids are out of school for the summer.  I just have some blocks left to make for the month of May and then I'll have everything done that needs to happen before summer hits. 

A Rails Finish

A wonderful couple from our time in Ohio is, after quite some time, are expecting their first little baby this summer, and we couldn't be more excited for them.  They're having a baby boy.

The lines in the rails were a perfect visual guide for keeping large stipling straight.  It was great practice.

Reverse Time Out

Little Lady was most put out that she got put in time out.  She decided to take things into her own hands and declare her room a time out zone, so no one could come in while she stewed.  She posted this on her door:

She can be the sweetest and most helpful girl, but if you cross her, heaven help you both.  Sadly, I know this from personal experience.  Her strong, independent personality will serve her well as an adult, but it can sometimes be really changing for me as her parent.  Sigh.  I sure love my feisty Little Lady.