Apr 3, 2007

Should I really be playing??

I spent the weekend in my sewing room- a lot! I had almost forgotten how happy that makes me. Naturally I didn't work on anything I should have worked on (like the two samples I should finish for the shop!) but I keep telling myself that weekends are my days off and I am allowed to play on my days off. Sounded good. First off, I wanted to play with the new ruler and pattern by Deb Tucker (Dat Quilt Lady). She came by the shop Wednesday and left them with my cohort Mardi. Mardi had taken them home Wednesday night and read the pattern and decided she wan't going to try it. She showed me on Friday when she came in and I said I'd take them home and look at them over the weekend. The ruler intrigued me:


I had always wanted to do a Hunter Star, but it just looked like a lot of work, so I never did. Rapid Fire, huh?? Well we'd see. Can you tell I can be quite skeptical? Getting a hunter star out of strips- interesting concept. Once I figured out "rightie" and "leftie" meant handedness of the sewer and not the way the little pre-cut trapezoids were sewn to the long strips of fabric for the star points I was all set! Only one brain dead moment in an entire weekend is a real bonus!! So off I went sewing like a madwoman and here is the first full block- made of 4 subunits. I intend to make 3 more blocks (they finish to 12" and I am going to use them as a medallion center for a self -challenge going on at my reproduction fabric group). I really like how this is looking with minimal effort:


Other than playing with the Hunter Star, I finished up the April blocks for a block swap. You may have seen Dawn's blocks at her blog. Her album block (Feb.) is the top left The other two beautiful blocks (top right and bottom left) are from our group mate Jenny in Belgium. Mine is at the bottom right. I'm not going to show you April's theme block just yet-I wouldn't want anyone to get wind of their latest blocks before I pop them in the mail *smiles*. As it is, Dawn may not have received her album block yet and I just know she is going to peek!


All in all it was a good weekend. The dust bunnies were allowed to live yet again, I did manage to wash the kitchen and foyer floors, cook a huge dinner Sunday and do laundry- thus not feeling too guilty about spending most of the weekend draped over my sewing machine! That dinner by the way was like Thanksgiving in April. I was in the mood for turkey, and mentioned I was going to get in some groceries and pick up a small turkey breast for Sunday. Do not ever tell a husband your intentions ahead of time. My dear one commented that there was a small turkey in the downstairs freezer and why not just cook that? OK by me, I said not thinking...he takes it out to defrost, and hours later I realize there is a 22 pound turkey sitting in water in my kitchen sink! 22 pounds! Dinner for two! Lots of cooked turkey back in the downstairs freezer for future use. Enough said....

12 comments:

Unknown said...

Well, I can only say "Bon appetit"!
I really like your scrap square quilt and I am curious to see it finished. Take care.

tami said...

I really like the Hunter's Star. It's one on my list, but my list is so long who would ever know.

Quilts And Pieces said...

I"ll come over for Turkey! And yes of course I peeked! No have not gotten it yet! But I love it! And I still love your hunters star!

Carol said...

YUM..turkey in April...I love turkey and never think to cook it during the year. Love your swap blocks how very fun. That Hunter's Star is really neat. Is she selling the rulers and pattern...I'd be interested for the shop.

atet said...

Hmmn...turkey tetrazzini (is that how it's spelled) is always an option! And turkey noodle soup. And...I'm sure food network has some recipies.

I love the Hunter's Star block -- but you forgot to mention, is it as easy as the ruler promised?

Libby said...

At least the turkey was thawing in water. Last Feb, we were to celebrate Christmas and I had kept a turkey in the freezer. I had to go out of town just before the 'big day' and asked Hubby to begin thawing the turkey. I know I asked him to put it in the fridge but . . . . after 4 days, he called to ask how long should the bird be on the kitchen counter? *argh* No turkey for is *s*

Love that Hunter's star.

Darlene said...

You've been missed, Karen! Love the Hunter's Star and the exchange blocks are fabulous!

Tazzie said...

Mmmmm ... turkey! I'll be right over! The blocks are lovely, and that Hunters Star looks super complex. You did well to get that happening!
*hugs*
Tazzie
:-)

YankeeQuilter said...

My father-in-law makes the best turkey hash with left overs...you can never have too much turkey left-overs!

Husbands can be funny in the kitchen. Mine once made me a quiche in a graham cracker crust!

Nancy in MT said...

That is a beautiful block, perfection on the piecing. Glad to hear your husband is home and doing well. Happy Easter, Nancy

Karen said...

For those who asked- YES!! The Hunter Star ruler is really as easy as it was said to be. Who would have thought you could get such an intricate looking block as the Hunter Star by strip piecing the diamond units. Interesting concept and even I could understand how to trim with accuracy. Deb Tucker sells the rulers and patten on her site. I also see she is teaching the Hunter Star and her Bricks and Cobblestones at Vermont Quilt Festival this year.

datquiltlady said...

Glad to hear so many of you have tried my Rapid Fire Hunter's Star technique and ruler.
It was developed to be user friendly with a pattern that has sometimes intimidated us as quilters.
You can strip piece to make it fast and trim down at the end to make it accurate.
Wanted to make the Hunter's Star design for more than 20 years - but didn't , but now have made over 50 different projects.
If you would like to contact me you can do it through my ebay store - datquiltlady.

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