Farming

I managed two more Farmer's wife blocks last week.  I'm not sure if I've ever been this disciplined about a long term crafting project before.  However, I did struggle with finding the time to post on here though.  We're into our second week of this school term and it feels like much longer.  The Christmas term is a manic one and my daughter is already rehearsing for the school Christmas concert!  What with looking forward to all the Christmas activities at church and all the preparations at home I have a sneaky feeling this project may dwindle to one block a week soon - but I'm really hoping to keep the momentum!!

Last week I made these two blocks:

Firstly Big Dipper

I love the little hourglass blocks (or half square triangles if you prefer!) and I can't seem to get away from using red fabrics.  I decided to add variation by using two different red and white fabrics and i really love the result.

The second block I made was Friendship Star:

 Loving this one too - especially the red and white polka dot fabric :-)  I used two yellow Lecien fabric in this block, but decided to fussy cut the central square to make the most of the large print.  I think the polka dots frame the central square really well and the rosebud fabric surrounding the star finishes it off nicely.

Two done and shared - now to make this week's two.

Princess Millie Quilt

I love freshly laundered, crinkly quilts and here is a brand new one straight from the dryer .... and it is scraptastic!

One of my pre-Malvern promises to myself was to use up as much stash and scraps as possible.  I've bought sooo much fabric over the years and most of it has remained unused so figured I should try and make a dent in it before I accumulate more!  The 'Princess Millie' quilt is testement to this and was great fun to make.

My starting point was a fairy princess fabric panel which I cut into individual squares - these formed the centre of each block:

I didn't do any strict measuring with this one, just bordered the central squares with various 2.5" wide strips and kept going!  I added some white sashing and pink squares inbetween to make the blocks stand out a little. 

This is a gift for my friens Mel's little girl, Millie.  I've been promised her a quilt for months, especially given that the quilt I made for her sister, Sienna, is one of the first quilts I ever made!  Very appropriately, Millie was 2 last week so the finished article has been well (albeit accidentally) timed!

I took a break from stippling this time and quilted this one with horizontal straight lines - a washa nd a dry later and it is all lovely and crinkly!

Half Term

We've had a lovely half-term here - the weather hasn't been great but we've enjoyed cafe trips and grandparents visiting and playdates! I even managed to use some of my end-of-summer 'harvest' to make an apple and blackberry crumble!

I had a lovely time at Quilts UK in Malvern last weekend, despite the cold weather it was easily the best day of the holidays weather wise.  A few purchases were made and I will endeavour to get these blogged soon.


I've continued to make good progress with my  'Farmer's Wife' quilts blocks - so far, so good.  I'm not entirely convinced I will keep up this momentum  now that the Christmas term is looming, especially given all the Christmas projects I'm contemplating...

Here are this week's offerings - firstly 'Snowball'

Not the best photo I'm afraid,  also I was trying to move away from red fabric in this block so it's a bit washed out compared to the previous blocks.  However, I love the fabric, which is by Lecien, and I hope to incorporate more of it in other blocks.

The second block for this week is Calico Puzzle:

I won't lie - this one was a challenge for me what with all the corners, but I think it is one of my favourites so far.  A little busy, some may say, but I love the over all effect.

Let's see if I can keep up this week!  Happy weekend!

Keeping Up

Happy Friday everyone!  It is a very happy Friday in my house today as it's the last day of the autumn term, the sun is shining and it has become that little bit colder thus signalling the start of snuggling season!

I've been keeping up with my Farmer's Wife block - I am absolutely loving making the blocks.  Working on one unique block at a time from start to finish gives me a sense of achievement and also accomplishment - many of the blocks incorporate traditional quilting designs, many of which I've not attempted before.  it's educational as well as pleasurable!  Here are this week's offerings:

Attic Windows

I loved making this one!  It's the first block in the book and the first one where I've physically made use of the templates to cut the fabric.  For the previous blocks I've measured the printed template and accurately cut to those measurements.  This may be shocking to the purists out there but my logic was that if I repeatedly use my template how can i make sure I'm not shaving off bits of it during the cutting process and therefore changing the dimensions?  With this Attic Windows block I had no choice but to use the templates as they were all odd shapes and I am very happy with the result.  Incidentally I printed out the templates on acetate so they were a bit more sturdy.

Contrary Wife

I absolutely love the name of this block!  I think my husband probably thinks I fit into such a category!  I cut a few corners here (not literally!) by making half square triangles rather than using the templates.  I love the contrast of the red and white fabrics.

Tomorrow I'm leaving both children with my husband for a whole day to go to the Autumn Quilt Festival at Malvern.  I hope to find some lovely fabrics to share next week!

The Farmer's Wife Quilt

When I was a little girl I always wanted to marry a farmer.  I cannot recall why this was and I ended up marrying a doctor instead!  Over the last year or so many, many crafty people I admire in blogland have been partaking in this:


The project is based on this book:

 


Basically it involves 111 different quilting blocks inspired by a collection on 1920s letters to 'The Farmer's Wife' magazine as a response to the question 'Would you want your daughter to marry a farmer?'

I've been stalking several blogs over the last few months trying to decide if I would take the plunge.  As I am a bit of a serial starter when it comes to projects I didn't really want to bite off more than I could chew.   I bought the book and fell in love!  The blocks in the book are in very traditional 'civil war' type colours but easily lend themselves to a more contemporary colour palate.

I bought the book for a friend as a birthday gift, and together we are going to try and make one or two blocks a week.  The idea is by doing it together we will provide each other with inspiration and motivation, as well as giving us something fun to do now that the weather is properly autumny and the nights are drawing in.

Here are my first two blocks:

The block above is called 'Autum Tints', while the one below is 'Basketweave'.  I've changed the arrangement of the block slightly  in the latter, preferring it to the book's layout.

I think this may become addictive.....

Birthday Weekend

It was my birthday last weekend.  Of course, these days I never divulge such events until after they have passed!  I'm officially in my mid-thirties and half way to 70 as my husband has repeatedly told me.  Lucky for me, he'll get there first ;-)

I was very loved and spoilt and got lovely pressies and a fantastic meal here

My girly friends organised a surprise tea party for me complete with scones, jam and cream and these fantastic cupcakes:

My family also ordered a birthday cake - beautifully made by Natalie and inspired by my favourite Emma Bridgewater design: Starry Skies:

I'm so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends!!

Summer Days Quilt

There was a little pile of 9 patch squares all over my sewing table for a lot of the summer months.  Work was in fits and starts and a birthday deadline was missed in spectacular style!

Finally the quilt is completed - referred to as 'Summer Days' in reference to the time of year and the lovely fresh fabric prints used.  The fabric line was a Moda favourite for me - 'Oh Cherry, Oh' - sadly no longer available.

The quilt is a modern take on the single Irish chain quilt - I love the way the fabrics automatically 'chain' by alternating 9 patch squares with plain white fabric.  I also love the scrappy look achieved by using a jelly roll:

The back is pieced from various pink and green fabrics I had in my stash as well as a couple of leftover jelly roll strips.  The binding is pink and spotty :-) :

It was a long awaited birthday gift for my good friend Lois, but I think she thought it worth the wait!