Author: louisaenright

I am passionate about whole, nutrient-dense foods, developing local markets, and strengthening communities.

Turkey Tracks: April Quilty Update

Turkey Tracks:  April

April Quilty Update

And then there were TWO quiltlets:

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They will go together like this:

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A reminder:  this project is from Katja Marek’s 2016 challenge:  one quilt-let a week.  There are 52 blocks–taken from her book,  THE NEW HEXAGON.  I figure those who started on time are into their 14th week!!  I have a third block cut out and ready to be sewn.  They are so fun to make.

I made seven of the flower blocks while in Charleston for the big hexie quilt, based on Edyta Sitar’s quilt on the cover of her HANDFULS OF SCRAPS.

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These are all from my 2 1/2-inch scrap bin.

I finished the last of the blocks yesterday:

 

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Now, on to the last of the neutrals…

I’m working on a quilt for granddaughter Mina.  AND, I’ve finished seven of the eight FARMER’S WIFE blocks for this month–three more to go and pics will come when I’m finished.

Turkey Tracks: Carroll Rhodes Risk’s Sweaters

Turkey Tracks:  April

Carroll Rhodes Risk’s Sweaters

Carroll and I went to high school together back in the dark ages.

We reconnected a few years back online.  She loves fiber art as much as I do.

She sent me these pics of two sweaters she made that she especially loved.

Oh my goodness!!  They are quite something, aren’t they?

I thought you’d like to see them, so…ENJOY!

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Turkey Tracks: Tula Pink’s Modern Quilt Blocks

Turkey Tracks:

Tula Pink’s Modern Quilt Blocks

I am intrigued by “modern” quilting.

Tula Pink’s work is a lovely example of a collection of “modern” quilt blocks that float in a communal “sea” of, usually, a light color, that lets each block also shine on its own.

It’s a bit like the meta-narrative of today:  be an individual inside the community.

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The fabrics today are gorgeous–even though the bolts are not as wide and the griege not as sturdy and the fabric costs more per yard.

The good news is that fat quarters are plenty big enough to make these “individual” blocks.

Here’s what one of Tula Pink’s looks like.  See, it’s all about the fabrics.

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And look!!  Minimal quilting in this block.  (That’s not usually true for modern quilts though.)

So, what do I do with all the “old” fabrics I already have?

I will keep using them–and I will try some times to put them into blocks that “float” more than blocks in a traditional quilt where blocks link up to make patterns and secondary patterns across the quilt.

Truth to tell, I like both ways of quilting, so will continue to do both.

Meanwhile, I’m celebrating this quilty development because I was really sick of the geometric/medallion quilt that has been quilted to death that has won all the shows in recent years.

It’s long past time for a change.

Interesting Information: High Fructose Corn Syrup Has a New Name – and It’s Sneaking Back Into Food

Interesting Information:  April 13, 2016

High Fructose Corn Syrup Has a New Name–

And It’s Sneaking Back Into Food

Look for “Isolated Fructose” on the label.

I’m sick of how industry operates in this country.

And I’m sick of how our government is NOT protecting us from obvious health hazards.

I hope you are too.

Here’s a quote from the article below–setting aside for the moment that boxed cereals are a terrible choice for breakfast:

One such product is General Mills’ Vanilla Chex, a redesigned version of the Chex cereal that has been on grocery shelves for years. The label on the front of the box clearly states “no high fructose corn syrup,” but when you flip to the back and read the whole ingredient list, there is the new name for the same old problem: isolated fructose.

Anyway, here’s the skinny on what industry is doing with High Fructose Corn Syrup.

Here’s how the article begins:

As consumers have become more health conscious, and more savvy in their buying habits, the processed food industry is reacting by resorting to subterfuge. When you go down the grocery store aisles, you immediately see that more and more packaging bears the words “100% natural” on its labels. That is why health experts recommend you…

Source: High Fructose Corn Syrup Has a New Name – and It’s Sneaking Back Into Food – Natural Health Center

Turkey Tracks: Dragonfly Pottery

Turkey Tracks:  April 13, 2016

Dragonfly Pottery

Aren’t these pretty?

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The dragonfly is my chosen artist symbol.

I fell in love with them on our first trip to Maine.  They come in so many BRIGHT colors, don’t bite humans, and hover over lakes and the river to provide added beauty.

I sign my quilts “Lovey Dragonfly Quilts.”  If I had a business (and I don’t want one as that would be WORK and these days I’m all about fun), “Lovey Dragonfly Quilts” would be its name.

These beautiful pottery pieces were a recent gift from friend-of-many-years June Derr.

Thanks again June!

Turkey Tracks: Juicing Joy

Turkey Tracks:  April 13, 2016

Juicing Joy

I’m still juicing.

In the spring I seem to juice about every day.

I juice in the morning and have a glass with breakfast, and I save the other glass for the late afternoon.

Juicing does not take long and the clean-up is quick, quick.

The first long drink from the fresh juice is…sublime.

Here’s how I start.  This combo will make a “red” drink:

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Red cabbage, red and orange beets, red pepper, a blood orange, an apple, carrots, a piece of ginger, a piece of fresh tumeric root, and a lime.

Here are some videos of the process, but note that I was having trouble filming and juicing…

 

 

 

Someone asked me not long ago why not just eat all the veggies.  The answer, I hope you can see now, is that to get all these nutrients you would overload your body with way, way too much fiber.  Caution:  I usually only add ONE fruit to the veggies, usually an apple, as in “an apple a day….”  I just happened to have a blood orange in the refrigerator for this batch.  Too much fruit is so NOT a good thing to do at this level of juice.  It’s the veggie nutrients you want, not all the fruit sugar.  I alternate green drink and red drink days.  Basically I’m trying to “eat the rainbow.”

Here are today’s drinks:

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I recently got “THE juice lady’s” book on juicing to see what I might also be adding to these drinks:

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Calbom cured herself via juicing…

My juicer is an Omega VRT350 model.  It’s a “slow” juicer so will juice things like wheat grass, sprouts, and so forth.

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.”

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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?