How often do you change your rotary cutter blades? Chances are not often enough! They do get expensive after a while and the blade sharpeners don't seem to work all that well. I have found a great option! The blades you see on the left are sold at Harbor Freight (yes, the tool store, that your husband may go to occasionally) as replacement blades for a carpet cutter. They fit a 45mm rotary cutter and are a great value at $1.99 for two. That is a fraction of the cost of the name brands blades that do the same thing! I have heard some say they don't stay sharp as long, but at that price I can afford to change them as often as I should be anyway! If you don't have a harbor freight near you, go in together with some friends to save on shipping and purchase them online here: http://www.harborfreight.com/pack-of-2-carpet-cutter-replacement-blades-97642.html
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Our local guild hosted a member challenge: 1. A miniature quilt, no larger than 16" x 20" 2. Must have at least four blocks that are 4" square or less. 3. Must use red and white fabrics. Ever have a pattern that you've wanted to make for some time, but haven't gotten around to it? What you see on the left is my solution to that dilemma and my entry for the challenge! :) It is the Wheel of Mystery pattern and is normally pieced. My blocks measure two and half inches square. To accommodate the small size, I machine appliqued the pieces that create the circular pattern. At first glance, you may only see the "flowers" in the center of each block. If you keep looking, circles do in fact appear. Can you see them? If you couldn't see the circles in the picture above, you will definitely be able to see them in the picture on the right. I quilted the circular pattern and continued it into the borders. This was indeed a challenge, but I'm so happy with my results! Did I win? Nope! That's okay! I still accomplished my own personal goal of completing the project and I didn't even have to buy anything for it! Using up scraps from my stash is always satisfying! So now I have a challenge for you....pick something you've been meaning to make for a while, but haven't because life has gotten in the way. Once you finish it, make it a present to yourself! That's the hard part, isn't it? For those of us that create, we often bless others with our abilities and we seldom keep anything we make. Well, I still believe in giving to others, but sometimes, every once in a blue moon, it is fun to keep something we make too! :) |
About MeFiber artist, wife to a wonderful husband and mom to 2 awesome, grown kids Archives
July 2023
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