Sunday, July 20, 2008

Meow Memory Matching Game

I saw these fabric in the store and know that I wanted to make another game with them. I lve the sweet little kitties and their paw prints. Remember playing memory as a child? This fun game is educational as it builds deductive reasoning and logic forming skills. There are 18 quilted game pieces, 2 of each picture, and a Fun Kitty Drawstring Bag. Visit my Etsy Shop, New England Quilter, to find this game for sale as well as other themed games as well.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

My First Rag Rug

One of the moms in my group, Fabulous Artistic Moms of Etsy, asked if I would make her a rag rug. I had never made one before, but it looked like something fun to try, and I am always up for a challenge, especially if fabric is involved.

When I was a little girl, my twin sister, my older sister and I all went to my grandmother's house after school. My grandmother, who could probably have crocheted in her sleep, taught me how to crochet. It's been a while since I've picked up a hook, but it was like riding a bike, tough to forget. I grabbed some yarn to refresh my memory before starting with fabric. Once I felt comfortable, I grabbed some fabric strips that I had stashed in a box and got to work. I used three different methods of attaching new strips. I wanted to see which I liked the best.

The Vintage Chica has lovely tutorial for crocheting rag rugs. The way she suggests to cut the fabric into strips is what I consider the first method of joining the strips. You simply cut a piece of fabric alternating which side you start from and stopping an inch short of the end each time. The result is a long strip of fabric. However, with this method there are rectangular pieces that stick out a little. She also suggests to tie the fabric strips together when you come to a new piece, but I wasn't sure if I liked the knots showing - I know, they are on the backside.
This is a closeup photo of the backside. The green pieces sticking up are the rectangular pieces at the end of the fabric when cutting strips. Then in the middle and at the end, you can see the knots by the pink and blue fabrics. However, you can't see where the fabric changed using the slit method, referenced below.

So, I searched a bit more online. I found LauraJane's YouTube Video on preparing fabric strips. She uses the "slit method." Of the three methods, I liked the look of this one the best. You simply cut small slits in the fabric at the ends and loop a strip into the slit of its own opposite end. See the link for the video. She shows it very well.

Here is a picture of the finished mini rag rug. It was lots of fun to make and I am going to go ahead and make one for my team member.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Sail Away Memory Matching Game



This set includes 7 pairs of quilted game pieces and directions that store easily in a Sailboat Drawstring Bag. This is the perfect handmade toy for little ones who are just learning about matching. It is a great way for children to start developing their deductive reasoning skills. This set and others can be found at my Etsy Shop, NewEngland Quilter.

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Beech Hill Farm

We had beautiful weather here yesterday and decided to take the babe out and get some ice cream. We went to Beech Hill Farm, which is in the next town over. They have unique flavors and a make your own Sundae bar. For the babe, they had a huge mountain of sand and a ton of trucks to play with. My husband and I sat and enjoyed our ice cream while the babe played with the trucks. After finishing our ice cream we walked up the nature trail a ways. Then we visited the animals. They have peacocks, pigs, calves, a donkey, ponies, goats, and bunnies.