Category: Turkey Tracks: My Life in Maine

Our Life in Maine, My Craft Projects, Quilting, Recipes, Book and Media Reviews

Turkey Tracks: Cookie A’s Pomatomus Socks

Turkey Tracks:  April 1, 2011

Cookie A’s Pomatomus Socks

I reconnected with my fried Jane Williams a few months ago.  When we came to Maine, Jane and her family went to London and on to Indonesia.  Jane’s back in Northern Virginia now, and I’m looking forward to a visit with her in April when she comes north to visit her mother.  In London, Jane went to the Royal Needlework school where she learned to be even more awesome fiber arts skills.  While I was learning quilting, she was already well into knitting.

Jane mentioned Cookie A’s work, and I went searching for examples.  I just completed Cookie A’s FAMOUS SOCKS–the very first pattern she put on knitty.com and which thousands of people have made now.  I’ve also bought BOTH her books, and I can’t wait to start another pair of her socks.  Only, most of my current yarn is variegated in nature, and Cookie A’s socks are spectacular in solid yards.  I’ll do what I can…

Let me just tell you that these socks were more than a notch above my current skills.  I tore out the first cuff and leg SEVEN TIMES before I finally “saw” the pattern.  Once that happened though, I was off and running and having a spectacular time–even though Cookie A knits on 4 double-pointed needles and not the 5 I use–which I use because I tend to “ladder” socks at the joins of the needles.  Maybe I got over that with this pair.

Here’s what the look like finished:

When you put them on. the little scales open up into a lacy pattern:

THANK YOU JANE AND COOKIE A!!!

Here’s the pattern and more information.  You can search to see more of Cookie A’s patterns.  The first book has detailed instructions of how to do yarn overs, increase, and the like.

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter05/PATTpomatomus.html

Turkey Tracks: Essence Quilt

Turkey Tracks:  March 27, 2011

Essence Quilt

 Here is “Essence.” 

You might remember that I made this quilt out of the little triangles cut from the blocks used in the quilt “Spinner”–posted here a few weeks ago. 

I wanted to try this beaded border–it came from “Quilters Newsletter” magazine, April/May 2010, “Bead-Dazzled Bindings,” by Laura West King, pp. 46-47. 

I like the funky nature of it.  I need to measure it, but it’s about 20 inches by 14 or 15 inches.

 

 I do think this kind of edging would be spectacular on a smaller quilt–and King’s instructions are terrific.  It works here, but only just…

The white marks on the left side of the binding are just chalk marks which I didn’t notice when I took the picture.

I had fun figuring which of the geometric shapes to highlight with the quilting and the beads.

Turkey Tracks: Starting Our Seeds

Turkey Tracks:  March 27, 2011

Starting Our Seeds

Our vegetable seeds arrived about a week ago!

We collected potting soil one day last week.  Then, we waited for an opportune day (a warm day) to set up the sun porch on the third floor (southeast facing, lovely light) (finding where on earth we put the card table and the small white table).  The potting soil came as a peat block which had to be mixed with water in the wheelbarrow.  It’s the same mixture our favorite local nursery uses.  (Last year I used a compost-based soil that did not grow a thing.)  Water means either hauling water from the outside faucetswhich are  up a set of steps or dragging out hoses put away for the winter.  John, god love him, dragged out the hoses and hooked one up, which made our work much easier.  And, he turned the mixture while I sprayed the water.  AND, he carried the flats of dirt-filled pots up two flights of stairs to the sun porch.  In the middle of the effort we decided we had room for more pots, so we made a trip to our local hardware store for three more flats and 54 peat pots.

Here’s John during the front end of this operation.  It was sunny, yes, but there was a cold wind off and on.   

Here John is putting tiny, tiny seeds into our pots.   (The celery seeds were 1/4 the size of a poppy seed!  Look at those fabulous windows.  It was warm enough in this room that we had to shed sweaters.

We planted lOTS of leeks, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, Sun Gold tomatoes,  a mid-season tomato, and some celery.  Margaret dried a little cherry tomato last fall and gave me a quart Mason jar of them for my birthday.  They are as sweet as candy and so welcome now when our taste buds are looking for greens and tangy tasting things.  We’ll be cutting broccoli right up to really cold weather in December. 

We’re going to seed more leeks directly into the ground, along with onions and peas, as soon as we can work the soil–hopefully in April.

Turkey Tracks: Chicken Sandbox

Turkey Tracks:  March 25, 2011

Chicken Sandbox

 We let the chickens out last week.  Even though there is still a lot of snow on the ground, there’s enough open patches where they are not so visible from above.  Or at least we hope so!  They’ve had it with the coop and cage, that’s for sure.

Chickens love spring.

Chickens love dirt baths in spring.

Chickens get into flower beds as soon as the snow melts and the mud dries up a little.   I went over to Rose and Pete’s last weekend on a sunny day, and their chickens had dug holes in the dry dirt under the bushes next to her porch and were hunkered down for sunbaths.

Sometimes you can give chickens such a powerful gift that your yard is spared:  a sandbox.

But, when you first put it out, they aren’t so sure about it…

For two days they weren’t sure, then on the morning of the third day, John called me, saying “Come quick and see!”

Here’s a close-up of the Wheaten Americaunas, Sally and Nancy.  They hog the sandbox and won’t let the bigger Marans into it.  These two dainty hanks of feather and bone lay, every day, the most beautiful blue eggs.

Dirt baths keep chickens clean.  Use play sand, not all purpose sand, which has silica in a form that can be inhaled and hurt chickens or children.

Turkey Tracks: Leslie Muir-Volpe’s Miniature Quilts

Turkey Tracks:  March 25, 2011

Leslie Muir-Volpe’s Miniature Quilts

Leslie Muir-Volpe makes REALLY TINY quilts.  I tried to take some pictures, but it’s hard to see HOW tiny they are unless you catch them in the background.  Or, go to her web site:   http://www.mainecraftsmen.org/flying-fox-studio.aspx.

She gave a terrific talk and trunk show to Coastal Quilters March 12th, and she will be teaching at Pine Tree Quilters’ Guild annual meeting next July.  She’s an engaging speaker and a talented quilter.   Here’s a picture of her:  note the TINY hanging quilts in the background.

 

Here’s one of my favorites, but there were many, many favorites where the picture I took just didn’t do the quilt justice.

The “flying geese” in this quilt can’t be bigger than 1/2 inch!  Leslie does machine quilt these tiny blocks, but she hand quilts the quilt itself.  This quilt is about, as I remember 5 by 6 inches or so.

If you’re looking for a very special gift for someone, consider Leslie’s tiny quilts.  She also frames them so you don’t have to.

Turkey Tracks: The Absolute Best Way to Learn How to Knit

Here’s another draft lurker post!
Turkey Tracks:  February 15, 2011
The Absolute Best Way to Learn How to Knit
Coastal Quilters met last Saturday, the 12th.
We have a table where we all bring timely magazines to share, and I picked up a May 2007 CREATIVE KNITTING magazine from the pile.  Inside was a glowing review of this DVD on learning to knit, so I’m posting it for any of you who would like to learn to knit, but need help getting started.
The review says “Leslye takes the time to explain each step in exquisite detail, with careful scripting to avoid the annoying `ums’ and `ahs’ that are so much a part of many how-to videos.”  And, “the production quality of this DVD is superb, easily navigable, with clear closeups of hands and yarn, seen from the knitter’s point of view.”
The internet is full of “how to” videos, and you can learn how to do any particular knitting thing that way.  But, having a tutorial all in one place could be a terrific way to jump start a new skill.  The DVD is pricy, just under $30.  But, but, it’s cheaper than taking a class…  And, the reviewer said that “beyond-the-basics knitters may want to practice…[their] methods as an alternative to their current practices, and knitting teachers can learn a thing or two from watching this experienced teacher at work.”
It’s available on-line, but not at amazon.com.  Just google the title.
The Absolute Best Way to Learn How to Knit – DVD
Leslye Solomon
Fiber Fantasy
Glyndon, MD
410-517-1020

Turkey Tracks: Bamboo Silk Scarf and KJ’s Purse

aha!  Here’s the missing post on KJ’s purse–and the bamboo silk scarf.  Will post it and delete the newer post.  It was lurking in “drafts” which I don’t seem to be able to find…  Thought you could only have one at a time

Turkey Tracks:  February 2, 2011

Bamboo Silk Scarf and KJ’s Purse

I’ve finished two projects in the past few days.

You might remember an earlier blog on 3 different yarns I had bought.  Here’s the finished scarf from the bamboo/silk yarn:

The pattern was daunting for me, but it came out nicely, don’t you think?  I had to keep track of different stitches and use a cable holder for all 30-something rows of the pattern.  But, about halfway along, it became much easier as I “got” it.  Nevertheless, such intricacy is slow.  I have new-found respect for people who knit those Aran sweaters with all those different patterns and cables.  The scarf is VERY long–enough to double so that the wearer can thread the ends through the middle loop–something Mainers do a lot–and still have generous tails falling down the front.

It’s going to a dear friend who has been so generous with her spirit, her knowledge, her time, and her love.

Karen’s Purse

So, Karen Johnson, the Community School student who graduated last year and who is now the intern at The C-School (GO KAREN!), has admired my versions of this purse off and on for as long as I’ve known her.  I’ve made about six or seven purses from this “Bow-Tie” purse pattern, and I think I myself ha’ve had two versions while I’ve known Karen.  (Bow Tucks Tote, #PS008, Penny Sturges)

Anyway, Karen’s birthday was Christmas week, so we went to Marge’s Maine-ly Quilting store in Nobleboro, and Karen picked out fabrics for her purse.  Karen, you might recall, made a quilt last year with me.  So, it was pretty amazing to see how much confidence she had in picking out her fabrics for her purse.  And, mercy me!!, is it cute or what?  I’m letting her choose the fabric for my next project for sure.

Karen loves pink, so that was the starting point for the bag.  She chose a soft black for the bottom, so it would not show dirt.  (This bag is washablel, however.)  And, she chose the stripe for contrast.

Inside, is a bright, lime green, which looks way too muted here.  And, you can’t see it well, but the stripes match perfectly on BOTH sides!  John made the hard bottom, and I covered it with fuzzy fleece and fabric and glued it to the back of the board John made.

These fabrics did not come all together; Karen hunted all over the store to put them together.

Here’s the end detail, with the small ties “gathering” up excess fabric under the “bow-tie tuck” of the purse’s name.

And, here’s the purse pocket detail up close.  Karen chose a different big closure button, but I began to see tiny white antique buttons for the pocket stripes–from a collection I inherited from my great aunt Margaret. (People used to cut the buttons off worn-out clothing before using it in other ways.)  There are 20 small buttons and, with the large button, 21 buttons total.  Karen is 20 and will be 21 next year, and I hope she will still be using her purse then.  All these buttons have been handled many times by many hands, so each touching sends along its own energy to Karen.

Here is Karen’s bag, ready to be delivered to her this Friday (Feb. 4th.) when we will have a visit.  Below, Karen’s purse is sitting alongside my bag and is atop the scarf, wrapped and ready to be mailed.

Karen was to have helped me cut out the bag (no sewing, I promise!) and do the ironing while I sewed, but she has been so busy with her work (at a local nursing home where she is getting training to be a Personal Care Assistant) and with her new internship responsibilities at The C-School, and as I am leaving Feb. 18th for 10 days or so (quilting in Williamsburg with my quilting friends, attending the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Show, and visiting with family), I just went ahead and made the bag.  We will do another one down the road, I’m sure.

Turkey Tracks: Katie Climbing Trees

Turkey Tracks:  March 13, 2011

Katie Climbing Trees

 When I went to visit my brother’s family on my recent trip to Williamsburg, his youngest daughter Katie met me as I got out of the car.  She came with big hugs.  Then, she climbed this tree.

Do you remember climbing trees when you were little?

Do you remember the feeling of accomplishment and power you felt?

How easy it is to forget such a simple pleasure.

It’s going to be so interesting to see what trees Katie climbs in the years to come.

Turkey Tracks: Williamsburg 2011

Turkey Tracks:  March 13, 2011

Williamsburg 2011

Every year for at least the past 10 years, this group of quilters has gathered in Williamsburg, Virginia, to spend a week with each other quilting, visiting, eating together, visiting local quilt shops, and attending the Mid-Atlantic Regional quilt show in, now, Norfolk.  (It started in Williamsburg in multiple hotels.)  Other quilters who live in the area also come to visit, to “show and tell,”  and to, perhaps, sew with us for a day or two.

This group started in the now-defunct Falls Church chapter of the Northern Virginia guild.  We were all members of the same “bee,” which was a way to break down the larger Falls Church chapter into smaller, more personal groups that could work together.  One member moved to Roanake, met a quilter there, and the two often come to join us.  But, not this year.      

Rosy Pilkerton, center, pink shirt, organizes us all.  She is a wizard with the time shares she owns, and this year, she had saved points for almost 10 years to have us stay in this HUGE, amazing apartment with FOUR huge bedrooms.  Thank you Rosy!  Your gift to us was so appreciated!  From the left:  Louisa, from Maine; Libia, from Mexico; Rosy, Carrie, and Denise from Northern Virginia.  This year we were missing one quilter, Caroline, whose uncaring boss called a weekend meeting, to which he did not ultimately show, which prevented her from coming.  (He insisted she be at work for this “important” meeting the next week.)  She was terribly missed, and if we could see him, we’d give him a piece of our minds!   

Each of us is uniquely different, and each of us is uniquely special.   We quilt in all different kinds of ways, and, over the years, I’ve learned much of what I know about quilting from these women.   It’s also interesting to see how one of our quilting styles or interests rubs off on others.  My love of clever children’s fabrics stems from watching Rosy make so many charming children’s quilts over the years.   

Since I fly into Norfolk from Maine and since Libia comes from Mexico City, Rosy, Carrie, and Denise organize and bring all our equipment.  Who brings what is now down to a science for them, and everything we need is there:  a cutting table, ironing boards and irons (two),  a portable design wall, rulers, rotary cutters, sewing tables, a box of food staples (salt, pepper, sugar, tea), and so forth.  Carrie always brings me a sewing machine, and Rosy brings me and Libia Ott lights.  This year Libia brought her featherweight from  Mexico.  I had only to bring my project fabrics and small items like scissors, pins, needles, threads, and so forth, which is getting harder with shrinking airline bag sizes and extra charges.  We all come with small gifts for each other as well, and that’s always a fun time.  You’ll walk away from your machine, and when you return, there will be something special there for you. 

The first thing that happens is that we move around furniture so that we are all together in one room.  The dining room table is good for at least 2 sewing stations.  In this palatial palace, it was big enough for three.  Carrie and Denise set up in the tables next to the wall.  Denise brought fabrics for a large quilt that would be strip pieced.  She had to cut and sew a ton of strips, cut them, and sew more.   

 The cutting table is behind Libia–in front of sliding doors to a patio that overlooked a little pond.  It was warm enough on a few days to sit outside in the sun.  The living room and TV were in this room.   

And the ironing boards are along a wall in the kitchen. 

Here are some “works in progress”:

 Libia made TWO  twin-sized quilts from these tiny squares.  Here’s one of the tops finished:

And here’s one of the quilt tops Carrie finished almost right away!  She made another BIG one and a new purse.  Carrie has a new long-arm too, and we watched a set of instructional videos together during the week. 

And, here’s a picture of a Christmas quilt with very unusual fabric that Rose was putting the binding on.  The back is a warm, red fabric. 

 Here’s my most favorite picture I took all week:

I miss them all already.   What a lovely week we had.

Turkey Tracks: Warm and Wonderful

Turkey Tracks:  March 13, 2011

Warm and Wonderful

Here’s another scrappy quilt made wholly from my stash.  This one uses the 4-inch blocks, and can I tell you, I have at least enough bright ones left to make a whole other quilt! 

What I had fun with here is the placement of the paper doll blocks.  The first one was an accident; I was just using warm colored 4-inch squares roughly alternated with neutrals.  Linda McKinney passed through the quilt room one day and expressed delight with the faces and feet now scattered about the quilt.   So, I deliberately did more and placed them advantageously. 

 

Here’s a close-up, so you can see some of the quilting.  I’ve learned to use stencils and pounce powder (or erasable chalk pencils) to trace in stencil lines and then to quilt them.  You can see a bird and a dragonfly, at least, in this picture.  And, I densely quilted.  This quilt is a lap size, about 56 x 72, and it took FOUR industrial-sized bobbins.  I used a commercial big-cone thread and had no problems with thread breakage.  Indeed, this is the first quilt I’ve done on Lucy with which I felt really at-ease.  

The backing is a warm beige that, it turned out, I had enough of to make the batting.   

 

Warm and Wonderful was made especially for someone special.