Houston....we have a Robin.

a few....Quilt Blocks of the Month....

...these are made using reproduction 1800's fabrics except for the light background fabric that I chose.  Still, I think they look pretty good!

Have you been quilting?

A Market Bag

I made this bag at Billie's Designer Fabrics and I was one of three in the 2nd class.  It's made of oilcloth and finished at 15 1/2" tall, 13 1/2" wide, and 7" deep.  I got enough fabric to make two more because a gal can never have enough market bags!

The accents are a ruffly poly scarf (knit by mwah) and a cup of cocoa (made by mwah because of Chris and Denise).

Sewing a bit

Any guesses to what these want to be?  ;o)

Chicken Soup, Tatting and something else

 My mom worked as the Head Cook for a lady, and her family, in England over 70 years ago.  She is considered a gourmet cook and taught me to cook like her.

Nothing goes better with this soup than Sage Dumplings.  Yum.

 This Glass Mat Spinning Wheel finished at 5 inches.  I used sz 20 Lizbeth thread in...black and I want to make many more of this lovely design by Mary Konior.

 We should all hold hands like this......

Now I wonder what I'm going to be making out of those letters, that apostrophe and the fabric peeking out underneath them....;)

WEFT Fiber Arts Magazine comes to life.....

This is exciting news from my friend, Marilyn, who lives on a boat.  I will be joining the many subscribers for many reasons.....1)  I love fiber, 2) It's at a great price, and 3) I know Marilyn!!!!  

Here is the news:

THE ISLAND SHUTTLE IS RE-BORN!

I’m very excited to announce that the former Island Shuttle has been re-born as WEFT Fiber Arts Magazine  – the first issue will be available on March 1^st!

Many of you know me as the former producer of the Victoria FibreFest, an avid knitter and long-time ambassador of all things fibre-related. The first time I laid eyes on the Island Shuttle (probably ten years ago now) I introduced myself to Dianne, offered my help if she ever needed it – and then boldly informed her that if she ever wanted to give it up, I’d be interested in taking it on. So when I saw ‘The Shuttle Says Goodbye’ on the front page of the final issue, I had to call! 

What you might not know is that, in addition to my enthusiasm for all things fibre, I have a 25-year background as a freelance writer and publisher, so newsletter production is a great fit for me. After ‘laying low’ here on Salt Spring Island for the last year-and-a-half, I was ready to jump back in – those of you who know me will be surprised that it took me this long!

Dianne suggested that I do a ‘fresh start’ instead of carrying on under the Island Shuttle banner.  So I’ve changed its name and the publication frequency (it will be published every other month now), but otherwise, I’ve always had the philosophy that ‘if it works, don’t fix it!’ In other words, ad and subscription rates won’t change any time soon, and you can expect the same great coverage of news, events, contacts, and classifieds that made the Island Shuttle such a wonderful  resource for all of us! 

Here’s what Dianne had to say… 

“I think there is a place for a publication for fibre enthusiasts in British Columbia, one that connects people and organizations, introduces new people to sources, equipment and teachers and publicizes events. I wish Marilyn well with her new endeavour.”  

~ Dianne Cross, Editor/Publisher, former Island Shuttle ~ 

If you are a former advertiser, I’d love to hear from you to re-start your ad. If you are a former subscriber, I’d love to hear from you to re-start your subscription. If you’d like to be a NEW advertiser or subscriber, I’d love to hear from you to get you started!  If you are simply a former fan of Island Shuttle, I look forward to being read (and recommended!) by you, and to hearing from you (comments, critiques and suggestions welcome) as I build the new WEFT (Westcoast Enthusiasts For The Fibre Arts) Magazine!  Looking forward to hearing from you!  

Subscriptions: are $20 for two years. 

AD PRICES: A business card was $10, a quarter page $25 and a half page $50 for the two year subscription period.

PH: (250)653-4445    EMAIL: weftfibrearts@gmail.com

Cheques can be made out to:

Marilyn Guille DBA WEFT

2878 Fulford-Ganges Rd

Salt Spring Island, BC

V8K1X6

It was C.O.L.D. this morning!

 Dragon Ice Crystal?

This looks like an Ice Crystal leaf!

Reba always sits and looks straight up at the camera when I take her picture.

Finished Objects

 Waldesgrund Doily

 Love those close ups...

 Charity sewing hats and mittens

 Flannel back of quilt below

 My own way of not having to line up the blocks....

 Flannel back of next quilt

 Having fun with Free Motion Quilting (FMQ)

Apron and oven mitts for Leah

 The garden is finished, too.

They moved in...

Knitted Clogs and a Christmas Stole

Meet my new house slippers with pixie toe!  Who else, but Elizabeth Zimmermann, would design this adorable and quick knit to keep your feet warm.  The wool used is Sheepsdown and US sz 9 needles at 2.75 stitches to the inch.

This is the Belle Affaire stole (knit through Clue 12) by Birgit of Knitting Delight.  Yarn used is Navy Merino/Silk from the Little Wool Co in New Zealand and produced by Anna Gratton.

You, too....can Make It With Wool

 I chose a pattern from the January 2009 issue of Creative Knitting.  It is called Cables & Lace Tunic and is designed by Susan Shildmyer.  Ms. Shildmyer can also be found on Ravelry.  

While knitting this lovely tunic, with 100% Donegal Tweed wool by Tahki, I decided to leave the pockets out and make the 4-stitch cable twist in the opposite direction on either side of the large centered gorgeous cable.  I was able to complete the tunic in 8 days with a little over 8 hanks.

And.  Here I am.  This was taken in Yakima, WA at the Make It With Wool State competition.  I placed 1st in District in my age category, went to compete in State and placed 3rd out of 6.  The winners will go to the National Competition in San Antonio, TX in January 2013.

I had the best of time.....meeting the other contestants and getting to tell some of my stories to people who haven't heard them yet!

Some things I sewed....

This pair of 'travel toothpaste and toothbrush holder' are already in Arizona.  The free pattern can be found here.

This.....is.....a laundry bag for my son.  He likes being an individual and gave me his ideas on what he would like.  :)

Lady in Pink.....

This is a great over sized garter knit sweater!  It's from Sally Melville's book, "Book 1: The Knit Stitch" and the pattern is called Sally's Favorite Summer Sweater.  I used Tahki Cotton Classic in.....well.....pink.
I normally knit everything in the round no matter what a pattern says to do, but this one is super simple in garter and easy to seam up.

Tatting is fun!

 I've been a little busy with tatting this and tatting that..........

 The doily (sz 30 thread) on the right isn't laying flat....because my thought of 1/4" thread spacing isn't what the ruler says.  I will have to tat it over again.

The square motif is tatted with sz 20 thread and isn't finished yet.

 Ahh, yes, [with the help of Sharon Briggs website] my first tatted wild rose (sz 20 thread).....love it!

Using sz 20 thread, I tatted a few chain links and then moved on to Marliee Rockley's earrings from April 2012 Bead & Button Magazine.

QIAD block 11....

Ozark Trail

Pint Ice Cream Cozy's

 These cozy's, looking like babies hats, are on their way to my son's friends.  They are knit with Cascade Fixation and US sz 5 dpn's.  I knit them as tight as I could and the gauge is spot on with the pattern that suggested US sz 7 needles.

Reba thinking......Knitting...schmitting....

Shuttle tatting....

Testing my skills with a 1930's pattern, size 30 DMC Cebelia thread and my Aero Shuttle.  I wrote the pattern down so it would be easier for me to know where I was at....one ring or chain at a time.

This could be placed on a collar or cuff or whatever you want!

Handmade....

Finished my eight 10"x17" napkins from my Handstitched Premium Class with Rachel at Stitched In Color.  I couldn't find 1/4" gingham that was 100% cotton but I found this (close to 1/8" squares) cotton fabric from Quilter's Junction, my local quilt store.  Here's to hoping I have the nerve to use them!

I've also been shutting tatting and using my Tatting Press.

How does my garden grow.....

 Lemon Cukes

 Onion Trees

 Tomatoes in the Sky

You are one of a kind

Some grocery bags for Mom

This is with material close to raincoat material.  It's so tightly woven that a tiny crochet hook will not go through!  Perfect for grocery shopping.

One of the bags is insulated to make sure cold things come home cold since my mom lives 30 minutes from shopping.

Mom is over 75 and loves Harry Potter so I put her initial on the bag with that font using the lining fabric of the insulated bag.  Cool, huh?  I can't wait to hear how she likes it!

Knitted doilies

Schaetzchen

Filigree

Narzissa Stole

Armed with less than 50 grams of J and S Supreme Cobweb Shetland Wool, US size 6  24" circular lace needles and 46 rows of clues presented each week for 4 weeks.......I knit this.......Fancy, Fancy.  

Birgit, of Knitting Delight, is a genius.  This Mystery Knit is over and gone but there will be another.....and you won't be disappointed.

Sewing Chopped Contest

kinda played like the Chopped Food show on TV........we were given some unmatched items in all shapes and textures and then allowed to use this or that and make something out of "this and that".  I came up with this little draw string bag......and.....I WON FIRST PLACE!  My prize is on its way here.   :)

Tasty Salad....and a new pet

Cauliflower, carrots, plumped raisins, spring onions/scallions, lemon juice, olive oil, little bit of honey/sugar...

and then lastly chopped cilantro.  Mmmm, mmmm! 

Finally!  A pet that is quiet, feeds himself and isn't a pest for affection!

;o)