Category: Turkey Tracks: My Life in Maine

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

Turkey Tracks: A Knitted Sock Story

Turkey Tracks:  March 21, 2014

A Knitted Sock Story

At least six years ago–maybe longer–my Virginia quilting group, which meets every year in Williamsburg for a week, wanted to make socks.

I had probably been making the first socks I was learning to make the previous year.  I was using bigger needles, size 3, Lion Brand sock yarn, and their free pattern–which makes a heavy sock best for boots.  (I now use size 1’s, and the sock is finer.)

So, I rounded up yarn and needles and Lion’s brand yarn and gave those interested a set.

Rosie Pilkerton started a pair of socks with this yarn.

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The next year, Rosie brought back her sock, which was almost done.  But, the needles had been too big for her gauge, and the sock was too big and stretchy.   We were all afraid she would not have enough yarn to finish a second sock as well.

“Rosie, you have to start over with smaller needles.”

“Your mean, rip it out????   No way!!!”

The following year, Rosie brought the sock back and we had the same conversation.

Then, I missed three years as John was too sick for me to leave him with dogs and chickens.

This year, just after we had all settled in, out came the sock.  And I repeated the remedy for this sock problem.

“No way!!!!!” said Rosie.

But this year, Caroline Razeq, who had gone on to make other socks, picked up the sock, handed me the loose end to wind, and with Rosie moaning beside us, we undid the sock.  Along the way, I kept promising that I would fix it for her.  As we unknitted the sock, the adage “you break it, you own it” played in my head.

So, I put aside the sock project I had brought with me and started reknitting Rosie’s socks.  I just mailed the completed socks to Rosie (it was her birthday too!) the other day.  I had located some of my yarn that would work to complete the toe, but I did have enough of the Lion’s yarn to complete both socks.  That’s usually the way–it never looks like you will have enough yarn, but you do.

And that felt pretty good–to be able to fix something for an old and valued friend who will likely not knit another pair of socks ever in her life.  Though, I should add, she knits scarves with intricate patterns that are beautiful.  And I should also add that socks are not difficult to make, they just look daunting.

Meanwhile, Caroline had two pairs of socks with toe errors.  She had sewn them together going up and down rather than side to side.  And we had to rip one back to the point where she decreased to get the toe right.  But, here they are–all fixed and, hopefully, being worn now:

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Caroline is now working on a dark green pair which will be very pretty.

She’s ready now for a good sock book–I recommended Charlene Schurch’s Sensational Knitted Socks, which I have really enjoyed and highly recommend.

 

Turkey Tracks: Settings for String-quilt Blocks

Turkey Tracks:  March 20, 2014

Settings for String-quilt Blocks

Remember my pile of 100 plus string-quilt blocks made during my quilting retreat?

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I’ve been looking at different settings for these blocks.  Here’s an interesting one from a quilter whose name I have totally lost on Bonnie Hunter’s Open Studio Facebook site–and I apologize for that as she designed this setting.

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There’s a ton of work in this setting, but it’s making a terrific quilt.  I think I’m going to do something a bit different though….  I’m playing around with some sort of double lattice with cornerstones made with very bright colors–like aqua, fern green, orange, red…

Rosie Pilkerton was working on a different version of a string quilt–one that makes it’s own lattice as you leave a set width of your underlying fabric foundation square (the pale yellow here) free and start your strings on either side of that central diagonal stripe:

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VERY nice, Rosie.

Turkey Tracks: The Best Cup of Coffee Ever!

Turkey Tracks:  March 20, 2014

The Best Cup of Coffee Ever!

 

I don’t drink coffee in the morning.  I’m mostly a tea drinker.

But, I love a good cup of coffee after lunch or dinner–as a special treat.  And, bad as they are for you–bad, dead milk and too much sugar–I am almost always tempted by lattes.  Vanilla lattes.  Mocha lattes with real whipped cream.  Fortunately, actually getting one happens only when I travel or off and on in the winter.

So, when I was recently in Virginia, my niece Meg Challand, made me a cup of after-dinner coffee using a cone-shaped porcelain drip affair with a filter inside.

Oh my!  It was the best cup of coffee I’ve every had in my life.  Smooth and sweet–with no bitter taste at all.

So, guess what sister Susan sent me yesterday for my birthday???

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I have just enjoyed the BEST cup of coffee since the one Meg made me.

And mine has local, raw unheated honey and local, thick, gorgeous raw cream from Jersey cows–which is full of good fat and lots of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, K) crucial for health.

I am spoiled beyond belief!

PS:  You do NOT want one of the cheap plastic drippers as plastic off-gases chemicals.  And there is something called a “pour over” stand that allows you to see how much coffee has dripped into your cup.  Online, the ones I found are incomprehensibly expensive given that they are just a few pieces of wood or a pre-formed plastic.  So, I’ll look locally in our kitchen stores for something.  Or ask a local carpenter to make me one…

Turkey Tracks: Quilting Retreat Project

Turkey Tracks:  March 7, 2014

Quilting Retreat Project

I left my Virginia quilting friend today–and was so grateful for this time spent with them.

We have been sewing together for about eighteen years–not every year since I moved to Maine in 2004, but steadily all along.

I left with 98 string-pieced 6 1/2 inch blocks–made from the torn selvage edges of my quilting fabric.  When I cut up my stash this past summer (all but pieces a yard or more long), I tore strips from the selvage edge with the little colored dots and/or writing.  I tore at least 1 1/2 inches of the colored fabric–and some times two inches if I liked the color.  One also needs some fatter pieces to use in corners I found–and fortunately I had included some when I put together what I was bringing to this year’s meeting.

So, I sewed on to pre-cut paper squares from an old drawing pad.  And I brought along an old telephone book in case I needed more paper.  Both mediums tore away easily after I had finished sewing and trimming my blocks.

I’ve had a long strip of green, pieced rectangles made a very long time ago–at least 12 years ago–thinking I’d use it some day for a border or binding–and I used that in some of the blocks.  The effect was quite nice.

I pinned the blocks into piles of ten.  I have some ideas for using these blocks, but no set plan yet.  It will be fun devising a setting (or multiple settings) for these blocks.

98 blocks–and I have at least 13 at home:

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I really like the way the words and the color dots on the selvages came out on these blocks.

 

Turkey Tracks: Wacky Weather

Turkey Tracks:  March 5, 2014

Wacky Weather

So…

I expected to have a little warmer weather here in Virginia than I left in Maine–where it has been bitterly cold while I have been gone.

It was REALLY cold here the first few days–especially since I brought jeans and summerweight t-shirts and sweaters.  I have sweltered down here in February on other trips.

Finally, the temps soared into the low 70s.

Then, the very next day, snow appeared in earnest.  All the schools closed for at least two days.

Here’s the view from the timeshare:

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Turkey Tracks: Quilting Retreat

Turkey Tracks:  March 6, 2014

Quilting Retreat

I’m in Williamsburg, Virginia, with friends I’ve quilted with for about 18 years, save the past three.  It’s good to see them again.

We hunker down and SEW!  We eat when we want, leave to get out a bit when we want, sleep when we want, and so on.  There is a lot of laughter, lots of catching up with everyone, some serious conversations and lots of good listening.

I’ve been ripping off selvages for the past year and leaving at least 1 1/2 inches of fabric.  More is even better.   And I’ve been saving all strips that are just under two inches, but uneven.  So, I’m strip piecing 6 1/2 inch blocks–using scrap paper as a foundation.  And piecing in all those words and little color dots that I can use.  The blocks are coming out really fun and interesting and colorful.

I color sorted and ironed before I came–to help packing space and to get a jump start.   And that has helped me get  more done.

Over 60 blocks after three days of intensive sewing.

Here’s my workspace–and I’m sewing on friend Rosy Pilkerton’s “Black Beauty”–a vintage Singer machine.

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And from another view:

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And from the back view:

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I have lots more pictures of the folks here with me AND of the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Show, but they will have to wait until I get home Monday.

Turkey Tracks: Traveling South

Turkey Tracks:  February 26, 2014

Traveling South

I have traveled today and will travel tomorrow, so the past few days have been busy with getting ready to leave a house that is knee-deep in snow; six chickens, one of which has been in my kitchen for almost two months; two dogs; and a friend and house sitter who is recovering from a broken wrist from a fall on treacherous ice.

I am in Portland in the trusty Comfort Inn, which will keep my car until I fly home. Portland is about two hours south from Camden.

I had hoped to drive straight to the airport Thursday morning for an 11:30 flight, but the POLAR VORTEX and a bit of light snow might mean treacherous ice at 6:30 or so Thursday morning. Anything could delay me–even someone else having an accident. So, most everyone I know travels to Portland the day before flying when the weather and roads are so uncertain. The motel’s fee for keeping my car and the overnight stay is pretty much a wash with paying for parking at the airport.

Where am I going?

Destination: Norfolk, VA

Why?

The driver is that I meet with a group of quilters that I have been sewing with during this week for about 18 years now–minus the last few when John was too sick to leave with all the above responsibilities. (John did the taxes, the money management, and all sorts of repair and mowing jobs, and I have acquired a whole new understanding of how hard just the taxes are after these past two tax endeavors. I cooked, shopped, gardened, took care of animals, and pretty much organized all the social tasks.)

Rosie Pilkerton is a wizard with time shares, and she gets us a beautiful apartment every year. We sew, laugh, eat, walk, shop, and visit the Mid Atlantic Quilt Festival in Norfolk (a beautiful show).

Everyone does exactly what she wants to do for a whole week–no pressure, no responsibilities, no worries. It’s all a gift. It’s therapy of the finest kind.

The other (big) draw to Norfolk is that I have a sister and a brother there–and I will see them and their children.

I have the ipad with me, and it does not always like to upload pictures onto the blog, but I will put some up. If not, when I get home.

All serious subject matter has been left behind for the week!

Turkey Tracks: More Winter Pleasures

Turkey Tracks:  February 18, 2014

More Winter Pleasures

Kathleen and John Nixon often visit me in January or February.  Like me, they love Maine and love being here in the snow.  Nature graced them with 8 to 10 inches on their first night here.

One of the things we love to do is to work puzzles.  Kathleen and John have a favorite puzzle artist–Heromim.  And this year they brought two of these beautiful puzzles.  We set up the white folding table, add a card table for extra pieces, and drag up folding chairs from downstairs.  Then we set to work.

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Here’s the first puzzle.   They let me choose which one to work first.

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Heronim signs his puzzles in two ways:  signature and a tiny black cat on one puzzle piece.  You can see the black cat on the logo.  Kathleen found that piece almost right away as we sorted out the edge pieces.

Heronim’s pictures are set in California and, apparently, in MAINE.  I’ll see if I can find some of the latter.

So, we are playing, which is why you have not heard from me in a few days.  I will post something serious soon.  I promise.

Meanwhile, play is a very good thing.  And play with old friends or family is the best!!

Turkey Tracks: Snow Day!

Turkey Tracks:  February 13, 2014

Snow Day!

As I write, the sky is pouring snow.  It’s still unclear how much we will get and if warmer temps will turn some of the moisture into sleet.

Our monthly knitting meeting has cancelled for the second time this month.   When it starts to snow this seriously, I hunker down and take pleasure in all my projects–on the theory that some trips are not worth the risk.  In this case, it’s not the going, it’s the getting home after several hours of snow.

So, as we are deep into February, my wild turkeys are now quite tame.  I throw them leftover chicken food, some scratch, and some sunflower seeds.  It seems to be my mission in life to feed things.

I’ve told you they talk to me–so I took this little video yesterday–a bit after some long conversations had already occurred.  And my goodness, you should have heard them this morning.  They knew the storm was coming.

The males are really starting to display now, and their heads are turning cobalt blue.  I will try to get pics of that phenomenon soon.

Look at THIS:

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I have six of the 12 needed of these BIG hexies.  I am working on the 7th and have two more planned.  You will recall that this idea/pattern comes from Kathy Doughty and Sarah Fielke in Material Obsession 2:  More Modern Quilts with Traditional Roots.   Remember these earlier pictures of two different settings?

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And:

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The issue is bed quilt or wall hanging.  I go back and forth daily.

I have a quilt on the long arm and will work on that some this afternoon.

And I am listening to an Elizabeth George mystery downloaded from the library:  Careless in Red.  I have to finish it as Mary Karr’s Lit, which I had put a hold on, is now available.

Oh my goodness!!!  So many good things to do, so little time.

Turkey Tracks: “Celtic Solstice” Quilt

Turkey Tracks:  February 13, 2014

Celtic Solstice Quilt

“Celtic Solstice” is Bonnie Hunter’s 2013 Mystery Quilt.  Bonnie writes a few weeks before Thanksgiving about fabric choices and releases the first “clue”–which unit we will make first–the day after Thanksgiving.  Then we are off and running–making hundreds of units each week until she reveals the finished quilt and how to put it together sometime before New Year’s.  Some of us finish right away; others take longer as life circumstances are all different.  We had the option to sign up for a Facebook “secret”/closed group to connect with other quilters making CS, and I have to say I have really enjoyed seeing their comments, their work, their different color choices, and the many different ways they put together the quilt.  Some reversed the chevron unit, which made that block more like a star, for instance.  And there were many, many different border treatments.

My CS has been finished for about two weeks now, and it’s been hard not to “share” it here until I could send it to DIL Tamara Kelly Enright for her February 12th birthday.  Tami KELLY Enright is part of the amazing Kelly Clan of Charleston, SC–which has been a boon for all the Enrights.

Two of my friends held it upright at our last quilt meeting as I can rarely get this kind of a shot of a quilt.

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Bonnie designed this quilt after a trip to Ireland last summer.  You can see that it has the colors of the Irish Flag (green, orange, white) and that blue figures prominently.

Here’s what it looks like thrown over a queen-sized bed.

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This is a two-block quilt.  Each block is a nine-patch–and you can see them in this picture.  The block with the green square on point is a Bonnie Hunter design and has appeared in a recent book from Quiltmaker magazine (I think that’s right) of 100 blocks.  The star block–see the blue points with the orange and green four-patch in the middle–is made with Tri-Rec rulers and forms the blue circles.

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Here is a close-up of the very interesting border–and you can see that I quilted with a medium green thread–using a pantograph called “Circle of Life” ordered from Urban Elementz.  I specifically wanted a pantograph with this “New Grange” circle symbol for this quilt.  (New Grange, in Ireland, is an ancient site where the solstice light figures prominently during the solstice.)

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Here’s the backing, binding, and the quilt.  I chose this bright orange backing because I know that Tami likes orange and bright colors AND BECAUSE IT HAS FAIRY BEES all over it.  Tami is a bee keeper and Executive Director of The Bee Cause Project in Charleston, SC, and Savannah, GA.   See their url:  http://www.thebeecause.org/home.html.

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And, the other way:

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Here’s a close-up of the fairy bees:

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I knew very early that this quilt had to go to Tami.  I could hear John whispering in my ears–she’s a Kelly for Heaven’s Sake.  And while there are MANY of my quilts in Tami’s home, even one I made for her when she was pregnant with Bowen, there isn’t a big one that’s just for her.   And I didn’t realize until recently that she likes BRIGHT quilts.

Tami was hard hit with the loss of John–they had a very special relationship, and I’m so glad she could come spend time with him not long before he died.  I put this old Irish poem on the label for her:

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And our loved ones do not totally disappear.  We hear their voices inside ourselves all the time.  They have just gone on before us, to prepare our way.

I have so enjoyed making this quilt and so look forward to next year’s Bonnie Hunter mystery.  Meanwhile, Bonnie’s other mystery quilts are in her books, and there are many I would truly love to make.

Thanks, Bonnie!