Day: April 12, 2016

Turkey Tracks: Amy Friend’s Quilts

Turkey Tracks:  April

Amy Friend’s Quilts

Amy Friend, modern quilt and quilt pattern designer, was the speaker at a joint meeting of Area 2 in Maine, hosted by the Coastal Quilters, Friendship Samplers, and Georges Valley chapters.

Can I just say that this meeting was so much fun.  Amy Friend brought many of her amazing quilts and patterns to share.  We were entranced with modern quilting, the graphic designs, the colors, and Amy herself.

Here’s one of the many quilts with which I fell in love–Amy’s “Tell Me A Story.”

Tell Me A Story

Each little block is “intentional”–in that each tells a “story.”  INTENTIONAL PIECEING is Amy’s just-released book, which I bought at the meeting.  It’s FULL of wonderful ideas and instructions.

Here’s a close-up of some of the blocks:

Amy Friend, designer/maker
Amy Friend, designer/maker

You can see more of Amy’s quilts and patterns on her blog:   www.duringquiettime.com

The monthly archive button is on the right side of the blog to get to older posts.

You can also follow her posts on Instagram.

Enjoy!!

Books: THE HOUSEKEEPER AND THE PROFESSOR

Books, Documentaries, Reviews:  April 12, 2016

The Housekeeper and the Professor

Yoko Ogawa

I loved this book.

It’s a translation from Ogawa’s Japanese.

She’s an accomplished author and has had a lot of her work published in the US.

 

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This seemingly simple book asks so many questions about love and memory and what’s important in life.

AND, woven through the text are some fascinating bits on numbers, whole numbers, math theories, and the application of math theory to everyday events.

I took this book to my oldest grandchild as I think he will appreciate the story, thinking theoretically about a subject, and the math theories.

Turkey Tracks: Two of the Kiddos and a Sewing Machine

Turkey Tracks:  April 12, 2016

Two of the Kiddos and a Sewing Machine

Two of the kiddos got into sewing on mom’s sewing machine on my last trip down to see them.

Tami and I were working on her tablerunner–started up here in Maine on her recent visit.

Here it is being layered for pinning:

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Of course, once we started sewing, two of the kiddos appeared and wanted to “help.”

I’ve long been afraid of being held responsible for fingers being hurt on a sewing machine.  But you know what, the sewing machine feet really do block fingers getting under the needle for the most part.  And I have been waiting for this moment for some years.

These two started digging through leftover fabric and cutting out pieces for “a pillow.”  Talula even went with us to a nearby fabric store and purchased some fabric of her own and some pillow stuffing cotton.

How can one resist that kind of interest?

You can’t.  It needs to be fostered, nourished, developed.

So I sat down and got some scrap fabric and showed them how the machine worked and turned them loose to get comfortable–which did not take long at all.

Of course they snarled the machine in due time, but they learned, too, how to unsnarl it and get going again.

 

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Next, they sewed their pillows together while I sat next to them and gave encouragement.

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They got into mom’s button jar and were delighted:

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When I peeked into bedrooms, the pillows were on their beds.

That sewing machine was humming along nonstop for several days.

Interesting Information: How Safe is an Airport Full Body Scanner?

Interesting Information:  April 12, 2016

How Safe is an Airport Full Body Scanner?

I chickened out on this last trip.

I hate to admit it, but I did.

On the outbound trip, I dutifully went through the scanner.

Coming home, I lucked out and was directed toward the older quick-scan machine.

 

Have you ever wondered if the full body scanner at the airport is safe?

Everything I’m reading says these scanners are not safe, especially when used a lot.

Here’s an article for you to read.

I hope you have more courage than I did…as I believe until enough people protest, those giant machines will stay put.

I’ll try to do better next time.

Source: How Safe is an Airport Full Body Scanner?