Testing the Weed Wacker Block

I'm in the middle of testing out a slightly smaller version of Bonnie Hunter's Weed Wacker block. I'm using 1.75" strips instead of 2". The finished block will be 7.5" instead of 9". This allows me to fit an odd number of rows and columns into the queen size quilt. EQ tells me that if I use 99 of these weed wacker blocks I'll have a 86" x 101" quilt. A perfect size.

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I'm just at the stage where I'm sewing the diagonal light patch on the strip.

I thought I'd tell you about this new Glow Line tape that I bought recently. Although it's intended to use on your acrylic rulers, I find I really like it for marking my sewing line on my sewing machine bed for when doing the diagonal line. It's slightly tacky like floral tape. I'm using the pink tape on my sewing machine. The package includes 3 colors.

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I can't show you the finished block because the nice sunny and warm weather is calling us to the cottage for a couple of days. I'll finish the test block on Sunday evening.

Nines and Vines II - The kit

Over the past couple of days, I've cut out a kit to make a queen size Nines and Vines quilt. Yep, it's the same pattern that I did in late 2007 - early 2008 for St. Dunstans Church. I think this was one of my all time favorite bed quilt sized patterns to sew. The pattern is available free on the McCalls quilting website. Get it by clicking here.

I'm glad I kept the pizza box with the nines and vines name on it. It's full again and organized with the pattern and all my notes from last time. Ready for me to sew in November. I can hardly wait.

St. Dunstan's Raffle Quilt for 2011

It was so nice to have tea and cookies with all the St. Dunstan's Quilters again. It's been quite a while since I've visited them. I was sad not to see Rose there. She's my usual main contact, but she is sick and not able to attend quilting for a while. But we carried on with the task of choose what the next raffle quilt will be and tried to consider what would Rose like in our process.
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So, after going through lots of pictures, and every bookmark in the books, the ladies came upon a decision. Because they think this is going to be much easier and quicker to quilt, they chose the Weed Wacker quilt by by Bonnie Hunter. This is Bonnie's quilt. It's really got a unique look.

The ladies were quite excited about it and want me to do it in earth tones. Browns, golds, greens, burgandy's. I'm excited to get going on it too.

I haven't decided whether to make this in a very scrappy style with 15 - 20 fabrics or just do it less scrappy 9 or 10 fabrics. I'll make a sample blocks this weekend and decide after that.


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I'll soften the border and do something a bit lighter - maybe some fall leaves and vines on cream borders... . And they're not crazy about the Weed Wacker name, so they want to come up with a autumn themed name for the label.

. I'm excited to do this one as it's been on my to-do list for a long time. Many thanks Bonnie Hunter for this fun pattern.

What will they choose?

I can't believe its that time of year again. The time when I take an hour or two and look through all my quilt books and photos for good suggestions for St. Dunstan's next raffle quilt.
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So here I am, all armed and ready for our meeting this afternoon. I have many bookmarks in 8 or 9 books and I have a fist full of photos of quilts. Most photos were taken at local quilt shows and then I have other photos of quilts that I thought would be great for their annual raffle.
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The Square Dance quilt that I did for them last winter is proving to be a bit too much quilting for them. It's still on the frame so I'll see if I can get a picture of it this afternoon. They're running a bit behind because this summer was unusually hot and they lost a few weeks of quilting. Anyway, the bottom line is that they're looking for something a bit simpler to quilt... I'm translating that to mean they just want to quilt straight lines for this next one.
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So I'll share with you this evening, what they chose.

Team Jedi

Mitchell came for a visit this afternoon. He's been itching to come over all week to sew/embroider a special project.
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See, he's been accepted on his elementary soccer team and his first game is tomorrow. We did some research, and then he designed this shirt all by himself. He chose the design, the colors and the placement of the words. Didn't he do a cute job?
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And won't the other kids be impressed when he goes to the game with the team name on his shirt.
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What a cool kid!!

How would you machine quilt a Hexagon quilt?

I haven't sewn much in the last month, but I was pleased today, to finally get out a project from earlier in the summer, just to get back into the swing of things again.

I was thinking and thinking of another way to quilt my scrappy hexagon table runner, and without a definite plan, it was easy to put it off.

It's not my most successful project anyway, was the excuse I was giving myself.

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But yesterday in my "I spy" class, we were given one possible way to machine quilt a hexagon quilt...... There it was, my inspiration. Yippee.

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So first thing this morning, I dug out my project and started sewing. I kinda consider this red neck machine quilting. It's rough, but it feels good to clear off my machine and get some sewing done.

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I have another hexagon runner called Sugar Cookies that I need to quilt, so I'll try to be a bit more precise. Stay tuned later this week.

Ask me what's in my Werther's Can?

This summer, my sister gave me some metal tins that she didn't have use for any more. I really like this oval one and I love Werthers candies. But there are no candies in this can.

See, I invited my niece Michelle and her hubby Scott came over for supper. I had an ulterior motive. While they were here visiting, we put everyone to work. Scott re-programmed our remote control for our TV and then we all assembled my Run for the Cure stitch markers.

Scott designed a nice little business card size package for my stitch markers which are stapled on the back of the card. So, here's what they look like in the can. It's hard to read but under the words Stitch Markers, it says "bling for your knitting". So cute... So, until the end of the month, this can is going everywhere with me.

I hope by the end of the month this can will be empty of stitch markers and replaced with $5.00 bills.

Thanks for your help today Michelle and Scott!

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Post note: Some have asked if I can mail these. I sure can. I can mail up to 5 sets in Canada for $1.25 and airmail to the US is $2.25. I'd love to have your support from afar.

Sewing up a Tea Bag of Spices

This afternoon, we boiled up some beets with a plan to pickle them. The recipe calls for 3 tablespoons of pickling spice tied up in a few layers of cheesecloth. I never have cheesecloth. So here's what I did instead.

Take a couple of scrap squares of fabric and sew around 3 sides.

Then turn the square inside out and put the proper amount of pickling spice in it.

Then close up the open side and sew it shut.

Put your teabag full of spice into your vinegar mixture to boil. Remove the teabag of spices and pour the spiced vinegar over the cooked sliced beats.

Voila, Pickled Beets!

Run for the Cure - Knitters Stitch Markers

Yesterday, I showed you some pink beads that inspired me to make a unique craft to raise money for the Run for the Cure. I will sell them locally to my friends and quilt guild friends this month. I guarantee that these stitch markers will put a smile on any knitter who uses them.

Here you can see my first couple of sets of stitch markers. These type of bead stitch markers are popular among young knitters. I have two styles that I just love and will make for my fund-raising effort. The pearl set looks antique and is embellished with a small crystal. The crystal set will have 2 crystals for extra sparkle. They are shown here with a size 4.5mm knitting needle as a reference. Which set would you like for the knitter in your life?

I made them in sets of five, with one unique pink marker in each set. The unique marker has two functions. The first function is to indicate a new row, if you are knitting in the round. The second function of the pink marker is to remind us of the ever present need to find a cure for Breast Cancer.

Who will you be running for on October 3rd.

Pink Beads!

I have a bunch of beads. And these small pink ones are special. I'm crafting a project to raise money for the Oct 2nd Run for the cure. Each project will have a pink bead to represent and honor all survivors of Breast Cancer.

Stay tuned. I'll show you my project tomorrow.

Leapster Training

Today was Mitchell's turn to come and spend the day with Aurora. He spent some time doing sticker crafts with her and coloring some Dora Shrinky Dinks. Then after lunch he was going to show Aurora how to operate this new little Leapster. A great find on Kijiji. It has a Dora game. She really got a charge out of that... She calls this her DS because all the kids have a DS.

After a couple of hours of training, I guess we decided that she was a bit too young for this toy, so maybe we'll try again next summer. She loved playing with it, but couldn't get the concept of pushing the button to make the moves.

Tomorrow, we're off to the cottage where Caitlin will join us.

Guess who's coming for Dinner?

Aurora is here for the long weekend. We've had this visit planned for a long time, but we didn't plan on this heat wave. She'll be glad when the heat breaks. Grace is here for the day too, and we'll do some stuff together. Tomorrow, Mitchell will visit, and on Sunday, Caitlin will visit.

Aurora is one lucky little girl to have such attentive cousins.