Category: Turkey Tracks: My Life in Maine

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

Turkey Tracks: Improv Inspiration

Turkey Tracks:  February 6, 2020

Improv Inspiration

When I’m stressed, I feel soothed when I am doing something with my hands.

Here’s what happened while the Impeachment process raged:

These blocks were inspired by our Mt. Battie Modern Quilt Guild’s challenge “Bee Inspired”—which itself was inspired by the quilters who make up the “Bee Sewcial” improv project.  (You can see their work on Instagram and the blocks for each completed prompt on Mt. Battie MQG projects on Facebook.)

My prompt turn will not come around until next November, but I had a workshop with Amy Friend on foundation piecing curves this fall.  And, I have two books which I love and used to play with making these blocks.  Nicholas Ball’s INSPIRING IMPROV and Sherri Lynn Wood’s IMPROV HANDBOOK FOR MODERN QUILTERS.  I have specified solids with clear colors—though some of the colors above are darker than I specified.

Yesterday I made myself take my sample blocks off the design wall.  But between now and November I can’t guarantee that I won’t return to this kind of play again.  It is kind of interesting that my prompt does come in November…

I have returned to putting binding on two finished quilts, setting up the Galactic and Gumdrops projects for The Color Collective online class I’m taking, and finishing up making blocks out of extra materials left over from other projects.  More on that later.

Here’s what’s on the design wall now:  Then Came June’s Checkered Garden Quilt made from leftover solids as a leader/ender project.

The blocks are 14 inches.  I don’t know.  I think this one needs to be 5 blocks by 6 blocks (70 by 84).  Right now it’s 56 by 56.  Thinking on this…   Hmmm.  4 by 5 would be 56 by 70.  That’s a good lap size too.  Will try that next.

And of course I’m still moving blocks around…

 

 

 

Turkey Tracks: Best EPP Tip of the Year!”

Turkey Tracks:  January 31, 2020

 

Best EPP Tip of the Year

 

I’ve been working on this English Paper Piecing project for about a year.  It’s the “36-Ring Circus” pattern by Jo Anne Louis.

It has been VERY slow going, and I realized I am avoiding it whenever I can.

Why?

The curves are really hard to manage, especially when sewing a block into the rows of six blocks.

 

Tara Faughnan in THE COLOR COLLECTIVE, from Sewtopia, to the rescue!

Tara taught in a recent month’s project to use ARTIST TAPE on the FRONT of the block to hold the seam placement firm.

Artist tape is used to mount watercolor art to mats in order to frame them.  The tape is heavier and stickier than something like the blue tape one can when painting a room.  Though blue tape might also work—but maybe wouldn’t be reuseable???

After one places the tape, one then does a flat back stitch on the back side of the piece—and it works best to just keep that line of stitching very narrow.

Wow!  Now this project is going much faster, with much less stress.

And the tape worked well to insert the block into the row as well.  Two more blocks, and I’ll have two rows of six done.

Here’s an image of what this quilt will be like when done—though I am attempting to use Cotton+Steel/Ruby Star Society fabrics for the centers and solids for the rest.

Turkey Tracks: My Sugaridoo QAL Rows So Far

Turkey Tracks:  January 29, 2020

My Sugaridoo QAL Rows So Far

We have a number of new quilters at Coastal Quilters these days.  Our CQ president, Tori Manzi, who is an internet wizard, found this Bernina-sponsored Sugaridoo QAL (quilt-a-long) and encouraged CQ members to do it.  A bunch of us are…  This QAL is meant to teach all kinds of quilty methods and lasts for a year.

Irene is Sugaridoo—and she quilts and designs patters, is multi-lingual, and lives in the Netherlands.  She is also totally adorable—a very happy and sunny personality.

You can join up anytime—all the info is on the Bernina website.

Here is the schematic for the year—you can see that each row has an accent piece in the dark grey.  I am doing this rainbow version in Kona solids, but there is another version as well.

We have completed three rows now: 1, 5, and 12.  Row 1 is made with the freezer paper method, which I have grown to really like.  The other two rows really need to be pieced.

There is a FB page where people can discuss progress and post images.  There is a lot of discussion there about seam size versus unit size in order to create blocks and rows that measure correctly.  Irene, though, keeps telling everyone “not to worry,” that it will all work out.

The finished quilt will be something like 70 by 90 inches.

I seem to be doing two quilts however…

I’m not sure how that happened…

I’m using Cotton+Steel/Ruby Star Society colored fabrics with their neutrals as much as I can.  Who knows how this work out within the rainbow design.

Here are some close-ups of the novelty fabrics:

 

 

 

 

Turkey Tracks: AC Slater and His Yellow Ball

Turkey Tracks:  January 28,2020

AC Slater and His Yellow Ball

AC Slater carries this yellow ball with him everywhere.

He carries it—or whatever toy he can find—to greet visitors.

But the ball is his “go to” toy.  His favorite.  It used to light up in the dark when in motion.  No more.  But it still squeaks—a high-pitched sound he adores.

I am asked to throw it for him many, many times each day.  But he does understand when I’ve had enough.

 

 

 

 

For the past 2 days I have not taken him to the dog park.  We have a warm spell, and there is too much mud.  And too much thawed you-know-what.  I get it that some people do not want to walk in the snow and risk slipping on underlying ice, but…

AC gets a fair amount of running in my woods—and he loves to go out to tree whatever squirrels have ventured out.  But he’s also VERY social and loves seeing the other dogs at the dog park.  And, the people.  He loves people.

The sun has come out and all is bright and shiny—but the snow has mostly melted away.  It is colder, so I will check later to see if the dog park mud is frozen.  If not, maybe I’ll take the chuck-it thrower and some balls elsewhere so he has some time dedicated to just him.

He may have acquired an allergy to meat proteins—but more on that for another day.  Meanwhile, he is happy, affectionate, and continues to enrich my life.

Turkey Tracks: A Kitchen Treat!

Turkey Tracks:  January 26, 2020

A Kitchen Treat

I had a pair of kitchen shears that came with a very good set of knives many years ago.  I’ve taken the shears to be sharpened many times, but gradually, they just become beyond help.  I finally gave up.

Can I say that this very reasonable kitchen shears purchase is BEYOND satisfying.  They are awesome.  I had forgotten how much I really enjoy having a SHARP and STRONG pair of kitchen shears.

Yes, a real treat as I use them all the time.

 

Gerior Heavy Duty Utility Come Apart Shears

 

Turkey Tracks: Kelly Launtenbach’s “Not Your Basic Blue Bag”

Turkey Tracks:  January 16, 2020

Kelly Lautenbach’s “Not Your Basic Blue Bag”

I saw modern quilter Kelly Lautenbach’s BIG bag in the recent Simply Modern (#19) magazine’s article on her work.

I fell in love!

There are three sizes, and the BIG, original one is HUGE—big enough to hold 3 or 4 full-size quilts or, even, two of the small bag version.  There are leather straps (2 sets if you like and I did for a bag this big that could be really heavy) attached with 1/4 inch Chicago Screws.  I bought a hand-held leather hole punch set from Amazon for roughly $20 (Pro-Master Leather Hole Punch Set) which I really like.  As suggested in the article, I got the leather straps from Springfield Leather and the 1/4-inch Chicago screws from Tandy’s Leather.

NOTE:  the pattern cover page has a math error in that the finished width of this big bag is 32+ inches, depending on the width you use of Annie’s Soft and Stable.  I used the standard kit size of Annie’s 36 wide and was careful when quilting not to go below the 36 inches.  The pattern suggests 38 wide Annie’s S&S as the fabric layers will shrink with quilting, but you do trim to 36 by 42.  I did not want to buy 2 yards of Annie’s to get these extra 2 inches as the bag is plenty wide.

I would also use the spray baste product the pattern suggests if I ever make this bag again.  The bag is made from one BIG piece, which means there is lots of room for layers to shift easily when you quilt.  I just ran lines down the width and called it a day.  Use a walking foot for sure!!!

And note that the bag, when full, makes a big rectangle.  Also, sometimes the pattern is referred to as “Not Your Basic Blue Ikea Bag.”

The really cool thing about the Chicago screws is that they can be removed if you want to wash the bag.  I did use the screw lock (blue or purple) liquid on my screws to insure that they don’t jiggle loose down the road—which happened to the tiny, tiny screws on the Turn Lock on the Noodlehead Explorer Bag I made last fall.  I can get them open again; it just takes a bit more beginning muscle and a pair of pliers to hold the back of the screw in place while you turn the front.

I ordered 1 1/2-inch leather straps for this big bag.  I think they work well at that width.  Right now, this bag holds three full-size quilts and there is room for a 4th smaller quilt.  For a smaller bag, I’d drop back to the 1 inch leather strips.

The pattern suggests cutting some backing pieces to stabalize the screw holes on the inside of the bag.  I agree that’s a good idea, and it looks so nice.

I worried about the 1/4-inch screw working with FOUR layers (3 leather and the bag), but they did.

I love the way Kelly bound the inside seams—to avoid having to lay in the lining separately and turn the bag, etc.  Next time I will sew the binding on the right side in the ditch—so the seam line does not show on this side.  The pattern calls for that, but I was squeamish about catching the back, folded piece for sure.  I’m not good at that.  No one would care about seeing this seam line really.  It just looks like more quilting lines.

I loved the Chicago screws so much I took apart the handle I hand-sewed on my Noodlehead Market Basket and used these screws.  Steel-colored ones might have been classier, so I’m ordering both brass and steel screws next.  It takes 8 screws per bag.

And, again, I put reinforment leather on the inside.

Oh boy!  I am feeling the urge to make the smaller bag—maybe for a gift…

Ok, maybe for ME.

The pattern is available on Etsy.  Note that I blacked out the 22-inch figure for the original bag, which is wrong. It is more like 32 or more—depending on the width size of your Annie’s Soft and Stable.  And I added in black text the correct size on the image.  The other long sizes on the pattern are a big off as well.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/728254928/not-your-basic-blue-bag-pattern-by-kelly

 

Turkey Tracks: Bonnie Hunter’s Scrappy Irish Courthouse Pattern On Sale

Turkey Tracks:  January 14, 2020

 

Bonnie Hunter’s Scrappy Irish Courthouse Pattern On Sale

I think this pattern would make such a great scrappy leader/ender project.

It’s on sale for $4 right now—for a download pattern—and the link is below.

 

https://quiltville.com/shop.html#!/Irish-Courthouse-Digital-Pattern/p/117044006/category=13038426

 

A leader/ender project is where you have block pieces prepped so you can feed parts through the sewing machine—instead of cutting your thread—while you are working on a primary project.  Leader/ender blocks can come into being faster than you think.  So, you are always working on two projects at the same time, but the leader/ender is much slower.  At some point, mine turn into primary projects.

 

 

Turkey Tracks: Yummy Lunch

Turkey Tracks:  January 11, 2020

Yummy Lunch

I really look forward to my lunch everyday.  It’s the first meal of the day that I eat.

I really like to make a big salad with LOTS of fresh and roasted veggies—and some protein.  I use what I have on hand.

This one has a bed of organic lettuce that includes hearty greens and some herbs , roasted beets, roasted asparagus, red peppers, carrots, cucumbers, red onion, and is sprinkled with Penzey’s dried dill and sea salt.

With my histamine intolerance issues, I can’t do vinegar.  I drizzle with an organic, first pressed, olive oil.  I’ve learned to really taste the veggies over these past years.  The peppers, beets, and carrots are so sweet.

 

Turkey Tracks: I Love Stir Frys

Turkey Tracks:  January 6, 2020

I Love Stir Frys

I love to make a stir-fry meal with LOTS of fresh, organic, local-when-possible veggies and a healthy meat.

Just look at this beautiful mixture:  onion, three colored carrots (orange, white, red), cauliflower, green and red sweet peppers, yellow squash, and garlic are in this mix.  I added sea salt, crumbled dried mint that I dried from my garden, and an herb mixture I like (Penzey’s Herbs de Provence which has lavender included).  I can’t do spices with my Histamine Intolerance, if I could I would like the Indian spices, like cumin, cardamon, tumeric, etc.  And some pepper heat.  Basically I use the veggies I have on hand and start to “sweat” them in a little beef or duck fat.  I don’t use olive oil as it is too delicate and fractures under heat, which isn’t good for us to eat.

This time I added a lean ground lamb when the veggies start to brown on the bottom of the pan.  The addition of the meat adds more fat and some moisture, which helps to cook the veggies without burning.  When the meat is almost done, I added, this time, slivered raw cabbage.

Here is the meal finished and ready to eat.  I will get several meals from this cooking expedition.  Note that I don’t like my veggies to get too limp—which means that when I reheat some of the mixture for a meal (covered and add a few tablespoons of water to keep things moise), the veggies don’t get overdone.  Reheating from a cold oven takes no more than 20 minutes.  I use an oven-proof glass bowl, a stray glass top I have that sits loosely on the top, and, often just slide the bowl on a plate and eat from the bowl.

With this method, I can also use cubed left-over meat from other meals—added at the last minute just to heat through.  And if I want, I can put the mixture over rice or, for me, rice noodles.  I don’t do that often though as all I have to do is look at rice forms to put on weight.  I like a sprouted, color mixed, organic rice from Trader Joe’s best of all, and when I make a run to Portland, I stop in and replenish my supply.  Sprouted grains make their nutrients more available for our bodies to use.

Turkey Tracks: I DID IT!!!

Turkey Tracks:  December 26, 2019

I DID IT!!!

On Christmas Day I met a friend with a dog for a super pleasant hour of exercise for all involved.  It was cold enough that the dog park mud was frozen.  Others came, the thrown balls bounced high and traveled far, and the dogs and people were all happy to spend this time together.

I came home, had a nice lunch, and…started my planned Christmas Day project.  In between I talked with various family members via Facetime.

With the help of a terrific video, I took apart my Brother 1034D serger, cleaned it, greased it, CHANGED THE KNIVES, changed the needles, and rethreaded it.

I had some trouble at the end with getting the thread on one of the loopers right, but this morning…

PERFECTION!

And now I understand EXACTLY how that looper threading works.

That serger is running like a dream!  The new knives made all the difference—and the lubrication and cleaning, well, the thing is running super smooth.  Now to make the knit garments I have stockpiled for winter sewing.  PLUS, I’ve realized I don’t have to take EVERYTHING apart just to change the knives.  But, cleaning this machine thoroughly may become a Christmas project yearly.

Here’s the very helpful video, and I had a lot of fun assembling the products this generous woman uses for this project.

Look what’s on the longarm today—Bonnie Hunter’s Wild and Goosey block is now in a quilt.  This one has been a LONG project—two or three years all told, off and on.  Many, many, many hours have been used in getting all these blocks done and into a quilt.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

And all my best to everyone for 2020 and beyond.