Nifty gadget

Like most quilters I love trying new gadgets which may (or may not) make the sewing process easier, faster, or more fun. This one is my latest find:

It is called a needle grabber, but it is not one of those small rubber pads used to grab the needle when hand quilting, – this is quite different, and is perfect to use on sewing machine needles.

It is spring loaded, and when the flat end is pushed, a small hook appears at the other end.

You grab the needle with the small hook and then release the spring. The needle stays firmly in the needle grabber, and is easy to remove from and/or insert into the machine.

As my fingers and I are getting on in years, the task of changing the needle has become increasingly difficult. Also, the new machines have lamps positioned right above the needle, which is lovely when you are sewing, but they also get quite hot and may burn the fingers while you are fiddling with the needle. The needle grabber spared me both the fiddling and the burning, and getting the needle out and in again was both easy and very quick.

I saw this gadget described in a newsletter I am receiving, but it was not easy to find online as my search mostly turned up the rubber pads. However, Ute-Barbara at Quilt-Design ordered it especially for me, and I must say I am very happy with it.

It is definitely going to live close to my sewing machine from now on.

Eldrid

New old bag

I had to go to town to attend a meeting the other day, and went a bit early so I would have time for some shopping.  Being on my own, – no husband, children, or grandchildren attached, – I decided to visit a fairly new antiques shop there. I had a very good excuse to do so, as our kitchen lamp fell down and broke a couple of weeks ago, and I wanted to look for a replacement. No such luck however, – the lamps they had in the shop were really too grand for our kitchen, except one, but I decided I would not really be comfortable having a lamp with 50 or 60 years old wiring in it.

Instead, I found a couple smaller items I wanted, and on my way out, I spotted this bag that I absolutely could not resist:

The fabric is woven in the same technique and in similar colours as the coverlet I mentioned in a previous post, but the pattern is different.

These days it is very popular to take old woven or embroidered coverlets or wall hangings and use them for making bags. My first impression was that this bag might also have been cut from and old coverlet, but closer inspection revealed that this is not the case here.

The back side of the bag has no pattern.

However, it has the same colour as one of the front side colours, and also, there is no seam in the bottom of the bag, only in the sides. Both the front and back has been woven in one piece, so clearly this was designed to be a bag from the very beginning.

The bag is mounted on a wrought iron frame with a special kind of lock, and a chain attached for a handle.

The frame is really four hinged iron bars, and there is a small latch that prevents the hinged bars from opening up. When the latch is lifted, the frame can be opened:

The bag is lined with a grey green cotton damasque fabric.

The bag has obviously been used, but is not worn.  I do not know how old it is, but my first impression was that this was something one of my grandmothers could have owned. The colour combination and weaving technique are both traditional, but the pattern is not. The asymmetric design has a more modern feel to it.

The more I look at it, the more I like it, and I am very happy that it came home with me.

Eldrid

October

……. where did it go? The month seems to have passed so quickly I hardly noticed we are already into November.

After  two months of almost constant rain, it finally cleared up at the beginning of the month. We had some early frost which brought out the autumn colours.

Early in the month, the sun was high enough, and warm enough, to thaw the frost in the fields as it rose towards midday.

There was a storm or two in between, but we do not mind that when most of the days are sunny and quiet.

The leaves started falling, and were able to settle quietly on the ground or in the streams. Usually they are blown away or swept quickly into the sea by the rushing waters.

Some trees hang onto their leaves longer than others, – or maybe it is the other way around; – the leaves hang onto the trees…..

By now most of them are gone.

The sandbox in the garden is covered with a tarp to keep out the cats. It collected a lot of water throughout September, which froze to ice.

The plastic toys were trapped.

The water on the handrail also froze, creating beautiful patterns.

Below the photo is enhanced in a photo editing program to show the pattern better:

Eldrid

Australian Hexagon Quilt

An Australian organization will attempt to make the world’s largest hexagon quilt. Everybody can contribute rosettes made of 1 inch hexagons.

Since I happen to be working with 1 inch hexagons right now (on and off), I will send this one:

In addition to the size requirement, the only hard and fast rule is a green centre patch, and if you choose to make a second round, this must be in cream coloured fabrics.

Read more about the project on these sites:

http://www.paperpieces.com/index1.html

http://www.bellaonline.com:80/articles/art2273.asp

Rosettes must arrive in Queensland, Australia before Dec. 1st 2009.

The Greatest Hexagon Challenge
60 East St
Gatton Q 4343
Queensland, Australia

Eldrid

Sunset

Today was the very last sunset before winter, – seen from our house that is.

Because of the mountain to the south, the sun will not shine here till the 13th of February next year.

I am already looking forward to the spring.

Eldrid

Audition

This afternoon I have been auditioning threads to go along with the silk fabrics I have chosen for a new project. After lining up the possible contestants, I thought my work table looked so pretty, so I just had to take a photo:

A few minutes after I had put away my camera, the low autumn sun shone in through the window, and the silk fabrics and threads on the table were positively glowing. I just had to take one more photo (or ten):

This is for two commissioned items, which cannot be revealed in full till early next summer, – but I hope I will be able to  show you some teasers along the way.

Eldrid

New class

My new online class on Folded Fabric Blocks is now open for registration.

Go to Quilt Campus to read more about the class (fourth class from the top), and to register.

Eldrid

My ticket to Houston

Amy at Park City Girl is hosting a Bloggers’ Quilt Festival again. Thank you, Amy, for organizing this tour.

This time I want to show you the quilt that bought me a ticket to Houston in 2000.

I had just finished my Kameleon Quilt number 1, and my head was spinning with all the possible variations I could do with this concept when a Norwegian magazine announced a pillow contest. The first prize would be a 10 day journey to the US, – first to Houston Quilt festival and then on to Bird-in-Hand in the middle of Amish country in Pennsylvania.

I entered the quilt below, which actually won the first prize. My husband was lucky to buy himself a ticket in the same group, so we could go together. It was a great experience.

The quilt is mounted as a pillow, but it can also work well as a wall hanging. The video below shows how the flaps can be opened and display different flower motifs:

If you have problems running the video, there are photos of the different views on my website. A pattern for the wall hanging is also available.

Every autumn when there is talk of Houston, I think back on the wonderful trip we had 9 years ago.

Please go over to Park City Girl to see a list of all the other participants.

Eldrid

So…

….. what does one do during a thunderstorm when all electric equipment that one cares about, – and that includes the computer and the sewing machine, – are unplugged?

Answer: make more hexagons!

Cut lots of pieces from scraps…..

….. and baste on to paper, ready to make lots of hexagon flower blocks.

Eldrid

Autumn

… is definitely here.

We just have to accept the fact.

I had hoped that September would give us a few sunny days, but there was only one: the 14th.

We’ll see what October will bring.

Eldrid