I’m back from Phoenix and East TN…
and I spent Thursday and Friday working like mad to finish the last 22 blocks I needed for my “Roy G Zig” quilt. The top has to be done by Friday to enter in Rachel’s String-A-Long contest/giveaway! I was worried but now I think I might make it. (Though really, I think my Sunday Morning quilt also qualifies.)
A revelatory sidenote: though these blocks are super-fun and -relaxing to make, there are a lot of them to crank through (I made 56 for a throw size). When I held my 100th post giveaway a few weeks ago, I asked people to recommend a book. Several folks recommended listening to audiobooks while quilting. Beth @ Plum and June recommended, in particular, Candice Millard’s Destiny of the Republic, which, frankly, did not sound like my kind of book at all, but I gave it a try and it. was. so. awesome. It’s about the assassination of James Garfield, but is so fascinating. I probably made 20 blocks before it ended!
Then, on my own, I found Gillian Flynn’s Sharp Objects, available as an audiobook from my library through Overdrive, which I’d meant to read after enjoying Gone Girl last summer. I’m 3/4 of the way through and told my husband last night that I wished I had more laundry to fold so that I could finish listening to it instead of watching TV. Yep.
I love quilting, but have been a little sad that it’s cut into my reading time. Audiobooks, though–you can cut, sew, iron, whatever. Awesome. Do you listen to audiobooks while you sew? Do you have any specific recommendations? (I’d be especially interested in hearing about books you think are good AUDIObooks–some are much better than others.)
/pointless interlude. Here are my Zig blocks laid out:
I’m supposed to give this away, BUT. We’ll see!
Also on the strong-a-long front: Marla @ Sew Hungry wrote an awesome String-A-Hex block tutorial that I’m hoping will help me eliminate this pile:
This is way more string scraps than I thought I’d be left with after finishing 56 Ziggy Strings blocks! They’re mostly uglies, so I am super-ready to part ways with them. String-A-Hex next?
Well, after I do some more Washis.
Top print is a Kokka strawberry print from Trefle, which I bought from Pink Castle’s Skinny Sale (holy moly, an insane deal I got on this stuff, and it already came!). It’s going to be a Washi for my mom if I have any self-control at all. Bottom print is from Sew Fresh Fabrics, and it’s a Lizzy House Constellations print. For another me-Washi. 🙂
Enjoy your long weekend! I hope you are doing better than picking paper off zig blocks while it is 45 degrees and raining cats and dogs. Not that I know anything about that.
little and lots 
I love this so much! I would have a really hard time giving it away :).
Oh, wow – that quilt is awesome! What a great idea! I’ll have to see if my library has that book you are listening to – I need to find a new one.
I listen to stuff through Overdrive a lot too – my latest listens have been Sophie Hannah’s trio of very unusual mystery books based outside of London. Little Face is the first one 🙂 I’m going to have to check out your recommendation – I love books about presidents. Very nerdy, I know! 😉
Oh squee. I would love to see you make some hexy strings. The rainbow ziggy is looking great! It is huge! I am putting my string-a-hex top together this weekend.
OH I forgot to mention my audiobook favs. I am a big fan of listening to autobiographies read by the person. Gene Wilder, Dike Van Dyke and Steven Martin are some of the ones I listened to. Also the Series of Unfortunate Events (read by Tim Curry!) if you want some snarky smart fiction and the Redwall series (Full cast of characters) if you want some adventure. Harry Potter is always a good standby too.
Love, love, love this quilt. The layout is awesome – and it should definitely remain with you… or me. Wow. Love. Glad to her you enjoyed Sharp Objects – that’s at the top of my list after loving Gone Girl! Such a good idea to listen to audio books while quilting. I have to try that!
I’ve been enjoying audiobooks recently too! The first one I read was Foundation by Mercedes Lackey…great for listening to if you like fantasy. I’m now listening to Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. (also fantasy) It’s really interesting, but long…I’ve had to check it out of Overdrive about three times so far.