Breaking my string . . .

For the few years that I have been doing book signings it seems that at every one of them someone (or two, or three) will come up and ask me, "Do you use any swear words?" or a variation of this.  I find this odd in that, they never ask about sex or violence in my books.  

I finally started asking people why they are only interested in that aspect.  "I never read a book with swear words."  But what about violence?  Sex?  "Oh, that's just part of the story.  There is no place for swear words, though."

Okay.

Recently I was nearing the end of a book signing wondering when the question was going to come up.  Maybe, just maybe, my string of people asking me this was  broken.  I checked my watch, a half hour to go and here she came.

With a stern expression she asked, "Are these Christian books?"

I stared back at her, "No."

 She slammed her big purse on my table.  "I'll take one."

Beg(ga)(he)r e-book discounted

For those of you interested in e-reading I now have my latest book, Beg(ga)(he)r out.  And until June 13, 2014 it is discounted 50%.  Go to the link: http://smashwords.com/profile/view/jrarmstrongbooks and at check-out type in code: LD28Z

Knit Clothes Pin Bag

I am one of those people who enjoy hanging my clothes out on the line to dry.  However, I always seem to have a flimsy bag to hold my clothes pins in.  After a very long winter of snow and cold it was nice to have a few days in the 60's. I took some freshly washed sheets outside and there I was with my pins falling out of my bag.  Need, once again to get a new one.  Something durable.  Something to last a few seasons. 

Now there are several things I could have done but I'm not one to do the norm. 

And what about all those selvedges that I've been collecting from making quilts?  I actually have two sets and friends have also donated their selvedges so I have a lot.  One set of just the selvedge and the other group has at least an inch of the actual fabric attached.  My thin group I have tied together and rolled into a ball.  The idea was to knit something with it. 

And for two days I did just that. 

Next up: bags, purses, place-mats, table runners . . .

Dragon Quilt -- Done

My 64 x 64 in. dragon quilt top is done!  I appliqued the 4 dragons on last night.  Next up: have it quilted and put the binding on. 




Close up of center: 

And the 4 dragons:

Dragon Quilt

Being snowed in and going a little nuts I decided to get out a new project.  I went out to my studio and found a box where I had started putting fabrics together to make a small quilt.  Using the book:  Prairie-Point Pizzazz by Karen Sievert this is what I made. 

Close up of the 120 prairie points that I made from 2 different fabrics:

After I was all done it dawned on me that I have an embroidery machine and that I had recently purchased a design package full of dragons.  Why not put those in the corners? 

I made this on a separate piece of cloth to see how well it stitched up.  I was impressed and have 3 other upright dragons picked out.  I will probably carefully cut these out and applique them on.

Author Blog Tour

I have done my first author blog tour.  If you would like to learn a little bit more about me head on over to: http://wp.me/p40rbA-57.

Sewing

Serendipity --

The dictionary says that this means: an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident.  Have you ever had one of those times?  

I have had them when I'm writing.  Far down the road it will hit me:  so that's why I wrote in there about that.  I had no idea why I did that but now I do.  That ties it all up.  I have read where other authors say they have done the same thing.

On a more material level I can remember the time ages back when my sewing machine broke and I took it in for repair.  A few weeks later I picked it up.  Right away I noticed that the top was not the same.  It was a dingy yellow compared to my white one with the crack and chip on the top.  I did check the sewing machine and found my sticker with my name and address.  Alright.  I at least had the right sewing machine, forget about the case.  

But it bothered me.  I felt there was no yin to my yang.  That my sewing machine was missing something.  And this was silly.  I had a much better case now although the color wasn't the greatest to my way of thinking.  

Flash forward 10 years.  My friend who has the same type sewing machine takes hers in for repair at the same place.  They no longer give out loaners so she buys a used sewing machine, same kind.  Some months later I ask to borrow it as mine is broken again.  I get it home and look at it.  Isn't that funny, it has a crack in the top.  Oh, look, a chip.  Just like mine had.  But that's not possible.  

I popped the top off and flipped it over.  And there was my sticker with my name and address.  

It had been to some strangers house for years
Traded in for a newer sewing machine
Shortly after my friend walked in with her broken down one
She picked that one out among all the other used models and bought it
The one and only time I have ever asked to borrow anybody's sewing machine

Yin had finally come home.