TrueLove for TrueCut

I have trouble cutting straight lines sometimes - hate to admit it but I do. I also have some issues with my neck, shoulders and wrist. I saw the TrueCut Rotary system demonstrated last Christmas season and it looked great but I couldn't justify buying it when I already had cutters. Time passed and I found it on sale recently and now I am blogging about it. As you can see, I bought the 60mm ergonomic cutter with the 6 1/2 inch ruler. The ruler has a "guide" along the edge and the cutter has a channel which fits into it 'locking' it in place and it is a dream to use for anyone you know starting out or having health issues. It is advisable to buy a package of True Grips to place on the back of the ruler. Once done, it does not slip and you have lots left for other rulers. The rotary cutter takes any 60mm blade. I am currently cutting out my first spider block quilt and am loving this cutter. Note that when cutting to the left side of the cutter because of the guide you will be running the cutter towards you which we are taught is a no, no but has worked well for me (only because the cutter is locked in). Hope your week is going well. It is getting colder here on the coast of Vancouver Island though yesterday was a beautiful sunny fall day.

Lil Twister

Have you tried theTwister Tool? I used the small one and two Holly Jolly Riley Blake charm packs (22- 5" charms in each pack) to make this table topper and enough border fabric for a 3" border as well as the binding. Was a fun project and the best part is my family likes it. The instructions come with the tool but here is the idea.
 1. Lay out 5"x5" squares in any pattern you wish. I used 42 charms and the layout was  7 across and 6 down. Try to have lots of contrast to show the effect well.
2. Sew charms in row using a 1/4" seam and sew the rows together after 'butting the seams together' and pinning carefully.
3. Cut 3" strips from the border material in this case another Rylie Blake fabric and sew to each side using a 1/4" seam as before.
4. Now comes the fun part. Take the tool and line up the horizontal and vertical lines at each junction starting the first one where the left top and side border meet the charm squares. Very carefully cut around the tool. I found using a small rotary cutter worked well. Work across the first row and keep each piece in order. You can sew them together as you go. Once the first row has been cut, drop down to the second row at the left and repeat the process. Continue untill all rows have been cut apart and resewn. Then join the rows together and reveal the design.
5. Your top is done UNLESS you want to use the 2" squares which are left over after each cut, which I decided to do. I used my GO Cutter to even up the squares and sewed them together and attached them to the sides, top and bottom. You may want to trim them down, attach to 2 sides only, save them for another project or discard them (don't do that - send them to me!).
I enjoyed making this but it does waste fabric and your project while interesting, does shrink quite a bit so you decide.

For another example and a visual step-by-step visit Michele at  Michelle's Quilts and Stuff. We both blogged about the twister on the same day and she sent me her link which I really appreciated.
Have a great week and Happy Hallowe'en!

New Give Away From Melissa

A layer cake of O’ Tinsel Tree by Robert Kaufman Fabrics! Hop on over to Melissa's Blog and enter. She is doing a free Christmas Sampler Quilt as well and I like her tutorials - work well for someone at my level.

As for me, had a garage sale this past week-end which was a lot of work and only brought in $200. We were amazed at how little people would pay for some really good stuff. I knew things had to be priced low but really......... Still have lots of 'junk' left (nothing quilty) and will think about having another one or giving to charity as we usually do.

On the sewing front I have made my daughter a pillowcase:

 She loves Hallowe'en! This was fun and quick to do - used my serger for most of it. I bought .7 metre of black and pumpkin and added an 8 " orange flange folded and a 2" green 'piping' folded. I have made her a couple of nice flannel winter themed pillowcases in the past which she loves and now she has a fall one.

I have had some good luck collecting cottons at second hand stores in the area and would love to share the photos with you.

Sophie wants something!

 

 

 

 Have a great week - seriously. hugs, Vicki

Intrepid Threads Giveaway

What yummy flavors for a Friday! Sunni at Love Affair With My Brother (sewing machine) has a give-away, as does Melissa at Bitter Sweet.

It's Not That I Don't Want to be Quilting BUT.........

My sewing room beckons me but there are so many other things that need doing and now this is one of the things in the way -

Yup, new homes need landscaping and we want to start on the front this fall. We found a small nursery in Chemainus, Sandpiper Garden and Glass and it is quaint and wonderful. They want to remodel so lots of sales and we bought some of the bigger items which are standing in tubs in the view above.Oh, dear, doesn't look like much when placed in the yard. Here's a photo of Sandpiper Garden and Glass.

It's owned and operated by people we knew when we lived in Mill Bay which is part of the "south end of the Cowichan Valley". Was great to see Gunnel and know her expertise is there for us. I was thrilled with my purchases and now have my first flowers planted.

And the plan is that I will be able to change the groupings with the season! I know this is not a new concept but had fun putting this together - and I think it adds a simple yet inviting touch. So the front entrance has some charm. I have several more ideas but they will have to wait for now.

That was yesterday and today I went shopping, bought this -

 to turn it/them into -

Spicy Yam and Red Pepper Soup

It will be served with Black Bean veggie patties. Hope everyone had a nice week-end and let's keep smiling!

AccuQuilt Flower Die

Here is another look at the Die I bought in Kelowna. I am such a novice in all of this but here goes.

Here is the Die with the cutting areas outlined in black marker. I chose some fabric and ironed on a scrap of lite 'steam-a-seam' onto the back and cut out one layer only with nice results - clean edges but it did require scissor cutting a couple of strands of fabric.

This is how the flower looks ironed on a square of fabric. Easy to do. I like it without the flower centre but I haven't done any applique yet.

Here is the small flower cut out and adhered to a block. I didn't use all of the petals and may or may not use a circle centre. The thought of machine applique is overwhelming as the petals are so small but guess I'll just have to practice. I would be comfortable trying hand applique on this project. Would love suggestions, ideas, input - constructive - of any kind. I did cut a layer of waxed freezer paper thinking I would like to try English Paper Piecing using the Die Cutter as the template and of course that was easy piecey and I have saved the backing pieces from the steam-a-seam cause you never know! Am afraid to throw anything out in quilting anymore. haha.

What do you think and what would you do with this Die? Inquiring minds want to know.

What a Wonderful World!

We spent the week-end on the west coast of Vancouver Island in Ucluelet where we have a vacation home. Ucluelet is at the end of a Peninsula with calm waters on one side and the open Pacific on the other. On another peninsula at the other end and about 40 minutes away by car lies Tofino and inbetween lies the Pacific Rim Park which is owned and operated by the Canadian Government. Here are a couple of pictures from our walk at Wickininnish Beach.

kelp that was rooted in rocks

This was our 3 day Labor Day week-end in Canada, the last hurrah before school is back in session and it marks the end of summer. Although the weather can remain warm for weeks yet, the evenings and early mornings are cooler and signs of fall are just around the corner. It's an amazing time of year and my favorite.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sew Tuff Tofino BC

http://www.sewtuffquiltingco.com/Site/Welcome.html

I found this little shop in Tofino last time we went to the west coast and had a chance to revisit it last week-end.

 

Strutting his stuff inside was this little guy.

 His name is Winston and he's bigger than this now as he's 5 months old but he is still pretty little. He's a mini pig and won't get very big but he's teething now and he wanted to chew on my runners!
This shop is WONDERFUL - the owner is in her early 30's and just buys what she likes. And though I'm not in my 30's (haha) I found a lot to like and settled on these fabrics (had to buy after I drooled on them)

Do you like? I sure do. I'm hoping to make a baby quilt and think I can fussy cut 15 birds out. Tried to start cutting today but you know, I just couldn't do it - worried about making a mistake. Please wish me luck.
Anyway this shop is really refreshing and I plan on getting to know it, the owner and Winston very well over the next few years. Her website is easy to navigate and she welcomes online orders and has her fabric online for you to see. If you take a look let me know what you think.

First Rug Mats

Went to Kelowna for a wedding and to visit the bride's mom so I thought I would make a couple of rug mats to take along. What a great way to try new techniques! This one is an applique technique of Penny Haren's. This block started life as a 9 patch, something I thought I could handle, and then the yellow squares and triangles were appliqued on top to change it up - easy and relaxing - except for the fact that it's not perfect (oh, well - maybe the next one would be ?) I understand that experieced piecers say this technique takes too long but since I like to applique it worked for me.

 This second one is from a blog tutorial from Terri from
http://sew-fantastic.blogspot.com/2011/03/mug-rug-tutorial-scrappy-colorblock.html
The binding hasn't been sewn on either of them but gives you an idea of what I was doing.

Kelowna  was hot as was expected and the wedding was very nice. I arrived the day before and helped prepare supper for 23 and then relaxed and visited for the next 4 days - great time.

On my way to the airport prior to the flight home, Mary stopped at Linda's Quilt Shoppe, a serious generous sized quilt shop in Kelowna - lots of eye candy here - fabric, kits, classes, tools and thread. I didn't have my camera with me but she does have a web site so you can browse a bit. I did indulge in a new die for my GO Cutting machine.

Isn't it cute? Am looking forward to playing with it when I get a chance.

Give Away at Woolie Mammoth

Good morning. Just want to let you know that Anna over at Woolie Mammoth is looking for more followers sooooo.. she has put together a kit using coffee prints for a give-away which I think is very generous.    http://wooliemammoth.blogspot.com/
If the link doesn't work you can find her under my blog list, right side of the page. I want to wish you luck but I really want to win myself - how selfish right!? 

I haven't done much sewing this summer but have some ideas and plans for this fall. Have put a couple of blocks together for my first sew along and it has been great fun - don't know what I'm making yet but will show you (if anyone is still reading my blog after my long absense) soon.  Am out for lunch today and having people over for supper tonight so today is a social day. Yeah.

Quilt Along Virgin

I am joining my first quilt along!

AMANDA JEAN of Crazy Mom Quilts is starting one I might be able to handle. I have to look at my stash if I can find it and pick out at least 24 1/8s. I'll have two per 12" block and 24 blocks would be for a baby quilt. Or I can make a bigger one. Amanda Jean has done all the math. This is exciting.
http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/

Here's a few photos of my sewing stuff and room. See what I need to do

Guess who's got work to do!?

Inch Worm wants to Hear from You!

Jeanette over at Inch Worm Fabrics is hosting a give-away and will 'draw' a winner once 200 quilters have commented. Let's help her get there. I'm having trouble linking to her blog but the address is: http://inchwormfabrics.blogspot./com.

Some of My Views

Good morning. It's almost 10 am and I am still in my dressing gown thoroughly enjoying the morning, listening to Luke Parkin on the piano, drinking coffee and taking photos of my vista. Thought I would share a few with you since quilting doesn't appear to be in my near future. This is the view from my bed - I know! Hard to take eh?

And here is one of the views from my beautiful kitchen!
That's Salt Spring Island across from us.

Sitting on my deck I had company for breakfast. He wanted a quiet moment to himself which hey, we can understand so I left him(?)to dine alone.

That is our neighbors yard he is heading for. Plantings need to be carefully chosen to survive in Crofton.
Here's the last one for today - the mill, ferry from Salt Spring Island unloading and the edge of Crofton's RV Park. Crofton has a deep sea port so we get to watch freighters swing by, tugs towing barges and much more.

Must send this now and get on with my day. Hope yours is the best. hugs.

WHO GETS THE BABY?

True Random Number Generator

Min: 1
Max: 301
Result:
102

And 102 is WENDY who asked for: circles, 6 1/4 apple core, 5" squares DIE.
Accuquilt will be sending her a new BABY GO CUTTER AND THE DIES! I can feel her excitement and how great it is to win. CONGRATULATION WENDY!
And I also know how disappointing it is not to win but it is fun for awhile as we think of the possibility and we do know if we don't play we can't win. Thank you everyone. This was a blast and may an ACCUQUILT CUTTER and ALL OF THE DIES be in your future soon.
The sun shines here and it is going to be a great week. Make sure yours is too.

LAST DAY FOR MY GIVE AWAY AND ANOTHER GIVE AWAY

Well this has been fun and I've met some great people. Thank you to all of you who have stayed to 'follow'. Tomorrow morning I will be drawing winner and also getting on with 'the move'. I've had 4 days off from the drudgery of moving and cleaning while my son and his family have visited but they leave today and I need to get back to it. My sewing room is not going to be set up for awhile, so sad and one of the reasons I was reluctant to move. A friend commented on what a great opportunity this to sort and organize and she is right it is so I will soldier on.

For those who have the fortitude to try for another BABY GO Kathy is also giving one away at "Quilting along

the Gorge" and that give away is open until July 8 or 9.

ANOTHER GREAT GIVE AWAY!

Head on over to Natasha's Blog for a chance to win an awesome Slice Fabrique Cordless Digital Design Cutter give away. I have one of these and you can buy cards with about 20 different shapes on them, AND there are different sizes on each card. Unlike the GO and BABY GO you can only cut 1 at a time but so many choices
http://joyofquilting-natasha.blogspot.com/2011/06/oh-my-goodness-i-have-awesome-giveaway.html Good luck!

Baby Go or Studio Fabric Cutters and their Dies SPECIALS from Accuquilt

 If you've been trying to win a BABY GO and can't wait anymore here's your chance for some great specials from Accuquilt!

GO! 4 It Die Sale - information here:
http://www.accuquilt.com/go-shop/sale.html 

Free Alex Anderson Die Set - information here:
http://www.accuquilt.com/go-shop/go-portable-fabric-cutters/go-baby-fabric-cutter-gift-with-purchase.html

Studio Fabric Cutter $395 - REALLY good price - information here:
http://www.accuquilt.com/studio-shop/studio-fabric-cutter/studio-fabric-cutter.html

Studio Die SaleBuy 4 or More and Save 25% - information here:
http://www.accuquilt.com/studio-shop/dies.html

Still moving! - Gosh it's fun - haha. My husband is so...... tired. Think we have way too much stuff!!! Except for my sewing 'treasures' of course. Hope everyone had a good day.

Movin, Movin, Movin

I wanted to respond to each one of you and give a special thanks to those of you who are following and first day I was able to but today we started the move to Crofton and I am exhausted -lol.  Wow, do I have a lot of stuff! So if you don't hear from me please understand and once again good luck to all. 

Anonymous responders please read!!! for ACCUQUILT GIVEAWAY

Several of you are anonymous responders and we can't get back to you. SewCalGal has great tips for bloggers and non-bloggers at the following site. You need to scroll down page until you come to heading TIPS.... I know this can be frustrating as I am quite new to this as well. Good luck!!!
http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/p/giveaways.html

READY! SET! GO BABY CONTEST STARTS NOW

I get to give an AccuQuilt Baby Go and 3 Die away!!!!! I am pumped and hope you are too.  

To choose your Die check out Accuquilt or click on the following:

http://www.accuquilt.com/go-shop/dies/go-baby.html 

This is honestly the hardest part as there are 58 to choose from and you are going to want them all.

Here are the rules:
1. Leave a comment here (at the end of this post) with your 3 choices of Go! Cutter dies.

2. Become a follower or comment that you already are a follower for another chance.
3. Post about this giveaway for yet another chance.

Only comments on this post will be included in the giveaway so please do not leave a comment on the Accuquilt Facebook page. That's it. Quite easy, huh? If you are lucky enough to be the winner, please make sure that I have a way to contact you. If you are a No-reply blogger, I will have to pick another winner.

The giveaway will close Sunday night, July 3, 2011. I will announce the winner on Monday, July 4, 2011.

Good Luck to each of you.

Accuquilt GO Basket Die Instructions

http://www.accuquilt.com/go-shop/dies/go-baby/go-bountiful-baskets.html
I'm attempting to do a step-by-step demonstration for the first time so please bear with me.
The instructions are free from Accuquilt. Go to Alex Anderson's Basket Quilt pattern and download. need to sign in and choose 'Add to Cart' but the pattern is free. http://www.accuquilt.com/patterns/go-free-patterns.html?p=

I printed the instructions and used them to make the block. First I chose 2 fabrics and cut 2- 5 1/4" by 11 1/2" rectangles out of each, stacked and cut the rectangles and took the die packaging and the instructions to my sewing table.






Sewing Directions
1. Press one, 1" Fabric #1 bias strip in 1/2 lengthwise, wrong sides together, to make a handle.
2. Stay-stitch long edge of one Fabric #2, 3" Half-Square Triangle.
3. Trace handle placement guide (see below)

The template is included on the second page of instructions. I placed the one I made below the drawing. I cut mine out of plastic.

Next, centre the handle placement guide on stay-stitched triangle with lower edges even. Mark handle placement. (This line won't show). I used a waxy marker. Fold the handle in half and place pin in the fold. Match the pin to the centre of the curved line with the folded edge of the handle pointing down. The handle has been cut on the bias so you can use lots of pins to secure it to the curved drawn edge.

The photo is blurry but I think you can see what I mean. Sew a scant 1/4" from the raw edge of the handle, remove pins and flip folded edge of handle up towards the top of triangle, covering the 1/4" seam allowance. Press then Applique this edge by hand or machine.

Here it is pressed but not sewn.

Checking to see how the other pieces go together before I sew. Looks like it will work.

Pin and sew one handle triangle and matching Fabric #2, 3" Finished Half Square Triangle together to make a basket unit. Press seams toward added triangle.

Using the same basket and background fabrics, pin and sew one Fabric #1, 1 1/2" Finished Half Square Triangle and one Fabric #2, 2" square together as shown. Press seams towards squares.

Pin and sew each unit to basket unit pressing seams away from basket unit.

Pin and sew one matching Fabric #2, 3" Finished Half Square Triangle to unit as shown. Press toward Fabric #2 triangle.
And here is mine, finished.

You will be able to make 3 more basket units if you cut 4 layers. I am new to quilting and yet I found this went together very easily. I have learnt to make sure my 1/4" seam is a true 1/4" though. That seems to be very important.