Farmers Wife -Blocks 1-9

I finally decided to do the Farmers Wife Quilt. At first Adena and I were going to do it together then Jeremy joined since he'd been thinking about it too and he said Becky wanted in, so right now there are 4 of us. This may change i think. We decided to do 9 blocks a month so we can get the top done in a year. We are using templates (freezer paper) which is not as hard as I thought it would be.

I decided to do mine using red and whites/creams. And I want to use all shades of tone on tone reds.

Here's where these blocks go. My thought right now is to sash in aqua. But in a year I may change my mind.

This is what we all got done last Friday. From left to right--Becky, Jeremy, me and Adena.

I got my first block of the month from The Fat Quarter Shops designer block program today but since the Loose thread girls met tonight I didn't get to put it together.

Had a great night with Loose Thread ladies. We finished reviewing our whisper challenge quilts so we can sell or give them away now.

Thanks for looking.

 

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Pink as Bubblegum

It's a little wrinkly and the binding isn't all the way on in this picture.  It was finished months ago but since it was for our guilds solid challenge, I couldn't show it.  We had the challenge last Thursday.  I really like this, but I really like pink.  I used over 14 different color pink solid fabrics on this.  I kind of made it like the jelly roll race quilts -I cut different lengths, sewed them in one very long strip and started sewing the strip together lengthwise, over and over again until I got to the size I liked. Kind of a modern looking quilt and a modern method of putting it together.  However...this was my inspiration.

This is from a magazine from years ago.  Not even sure I was quilting when I pulled this page from the magazine.  Anyway, it's an antique quilt from the 1920's and it says it was red and pink, and a Brick Wall Variation pattern.
 
We also revealed the Round Robin quilts.  There were only 3 of us so we did rows and we exchanged 2 times.  I started with the row 2nd row and Adena Joseph and Brenda McCutcheon did the other rows.  (Brenda the star rows and Adena the chevron and granny block rows).

I supplied the white fabric and all I asked was the blocks only have red white and blue in them.  I love it.  I will add one more row and then a border.  I want to look for something real geometric like for this.  I need to check the local quilt store first and then do some internet shopping if they don't have what I want.

I have also completed a baby quilt top but need to wait for the baby to be born before I quilt it as I want to embroider the baby's name and birth date on the front.  I also finished my Xcentric Block quilt (from Anita Grossman Solomon's Rotary Cutting Revolution book).  It turned out really great and I have to take some time to think about how I want to machine quilt it.

I spent the weekend at my folks house and my older sister Brenda from Massachusettes was also visiting.  We did a lot of shopping, looking for the perfect shoes for my mother.  She needed lightweight shoes with velcro so she won't trip again.   I spent some money on shoes for myself and some new clothes - not one dime on fabric.  Can you believe that?!?!

Thanks for looking.

Leftover Quilt Runners

A month or so ago I made these crazy eight runners - three of them.  When you make them you make a bunch of strip sets and cut the triangles.  There is some waste and since I hate to throw anything away, I saved some of the pieces and I made these 2 little runners (and a hideously ugly pillow cover--not shown) from the leftovers.  I will be donating these to our guild's annual boutique.

I quilted both of these with metallic thread with feathers in the square top and spikey fern like feathers in the long one.

While outside taking these photos, I noticed this pretty little flower on one of our cactus plants.  As many of you know, I do not have a green thumb so any flowers I get are purely accidental.

Last night I got this picture in a text from my step-daughter.  She said Jack told her "I hug baby" and started loving on her.  

Today I am washing everything in the house that the dogs might have touched.  We have a new flea regiment so everything, including the dogs, are getting washed today.

Thanks for looking.

A Finished Quilt

This one took a while to machine quilt.

I took a design from the main striped fabric for the stacked coin strips. I then outlined all the designs in the main fabrics. It's a big quilt. 90" x 86". I can never show this in a quilt show for several reasons. It's not really squared. I was lazy when I pieced the columns together. I should have measured to keep it squared. There is a good 4" difference in length from one side to the other. But you won't notice that on my bed so I'm not going to worry about it. Now I need to make some little toppers from the left over fabric for my night stands and I need a name for this one.
I have another whole day to sew since its a holiday weekend. Yahoo!!!
And to end on some more cuteness...here's the latest picture of my granddaughter.

Just want to pinch those chubby cheeks.
Thanks for looking.

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Loose Threads Quote Challenge

"Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint you can on it." Danny Kaye

We had two months to create a quilt that was inspired by this quote. We met on Thursday and here are the quilts we came up with.

This is mine. I'm pretty literal so it's a basic paintbrush with lots of color. After our meeting and on the suggestions of the group, I added some metallic thread on the brush and some paint splatters on it too. I also shortened the strings and added fabric beads to the end.

Janice and I shared a fat quarter pack of solid colors and this is what she made. She still has to quilt it and we gave her our thoughts on that.

Next was Sara. Most, if not all, the fabrics were painted or dyed by her. Not sure if you can see the quilting. It really enhances the quilt.

Barbara Sawyer made this beauty. She painted, stamped and painted with thread.

Grace made this. She painted with fabric trimmings.

Anna couldn't make it but made sure her quilt did. I wish I took a better picture of it but this is all I have. This is actually painted canvas. You need to check her blog (link on right--Anna-the artist within) to see about the canvas.

Our next quote is from Winston Churchill. "I like pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals." Could be fun.

I pinned the green/aqua quilt this afternoon so I better get busy quilting it. I have been goofing off all day.

Thanks for looking.

 

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Two Projects to Share

I got the binding on one of three of the exact same tops. Two for my mother-in-law for her to give as gift to her friends. The third for me to either donate to guilds boutique or give as a gift.

Here is a detail of how I quilted it. I used a curved stitch in the ditch with metallic thread.

Today I took a class from Karen Linduska. She is the author of two books using all those fancy stitches on your sewing machine. Here's what I made at class today.

I'm calling it the Tree of Life because it is full of color and life. It has a lot of texture as well.

Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers, grandmas, and step-mothers and thanks for looking.

 

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Dylan will now have her 1st of many quilts

For my new granddaughter Dylan.

All done. Pattern/tutorial by Aestheticnest.com/2011/11/sewing-chevron-chenille-blanket.html

It's for her. She is so worth the blister on my finger from all the cutting.

Thanks for looking.

 

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Another fun Cambria Retreat

The Visalia Dames had a little retreat in Cambria this weekend. I got there Tuesday night and the rest of the gang came on Wednesday except for Diane Mitchell who wasn't able to join us until Friday. On Thursday Debbie van Fossen had her trunk show at the quilt guild in Nipomo and on Saturday we went to the Seven Sisters Quilt Show and then Pismo Fish & Chips for lunch. And in the mean time, this is what we accomplished

Debbie finished this cute apron, this gorgeous modern aqua and white quilt top and finished piecing the baby quilt (she had the appliqué done before she came).

 

Janice machine quilted this One = Two quilt. (This quilt comprises two different challenges.). She also made the baby quilt with some strips.

Elaine Berry finished this topper and then she made a bunch of button bracelets. (I can't believe I didn't get a picture of that.).

Kathy made a cute little dress for her granddaughter (again no photo) and also this quilt for her granddaughter. This also is for two old challenges from the material girls. The Hexie challenge and the half-square triangle exchange challenge. She then made two of these great iron caddies. They open up to a pressing cloth.

 

Pam Larsen also came but she spent her time cutting up her scraps into useable sizes and knitting a sweater.

Diane Mitchell worked on more of her sisters quilt blocks. You'll have to check her blog for a picture of the block. I don't know how to link from my iPad.

I got a lot done. It took almost all day Wednesday to sew the chevrons on Dylan's chevron rag baby quilt. I started the cutting on Friday and still have more to go. I also finished the top of this green/aqua striped fabric quilt. It turned out better than I had figured in my head. I also finished three of the 8 pointed topper (they are all the same). I got the binding finished on my brothers quilt and started another top using my "Hello Luscious" charm packs. I also made one set of blocks from Anita Grossman Solomon's block using striped fabric.

Great group of ladies and we all got along great. We had good food and lots of it. I just love these ladies. All your problems and worries just melt away when your are around them.

Thanks for looking.

 

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Peace on Earth-Part 2

I made this quilt with the 100 half square triangles I had when I made this quilt last month.  When I sewed the corners on each of the strips, I sewed another line 1/2 from it and cut between the stitches and got these extra blocks. I also used all the left over fabrics and scraps from my scrap bins to complete this.  This will be donated to our guild's charity quilts.  I used it to practice my loops and swirls machine quilting.  (I still need some more work on it to keep the lines straight and consistent.)

I also worked a bit this week on my brothers quilt.  I drew a design out to use what I have as far as x-blocks - I just hope it turns out as good in real life as it does in my head.

Thanks for looking.  Off to clean house for a bit.  I have the art group Loose Threads coming on Thursday and the Best of the Valley Quilt show next weekend.

Finished Scrappy Trip

I started this little scrappy number at the retreat last month and finally finished the binding this past weekend. It's made using Bonnie Hunter's (quiltville.com) free pattern you can find on her blog.  You've seen a million of these in blog land and since my strip boxes were so full I figured I should make one.

Even used some scrappy fabrics for the border - a purple multi-colored fish fabric and a dark blue multi-colored fish fabric.  (Didn't have enough of both to do all 4 sides.)

Had a great visit with my sisters, brother and parents this weekend.  My sisters came in to spend time with my parents so I spent the weekend there too.  Saturday night we had dinner with just the original '6' - no spouses or kids.  It was a nice dinner.

I also got to spend a couple hours with my step-daughter, her husband, my grandson and granddaughter.  We met in Manteca at the Bass Pro Shop - it's a great place to keep a 2 year old very happy.  He and I had a ball.  He was very good at telling Oma where to go.

Needless to say - I was very sore the next day from carrying him up and down the stairs.

My sisters didn't believe me when I told them that the stray cats and stray chickens/roosters eat together in our citrus grove.  Here's proof.  We usually have more cats but by the time I grabbed my phone to take pictures Miss Kitty and Fluffy had gone on their merry way.  Pumpkin and this new black cat were there though.  And all 4 chickens/roosters were there - 1 rooster, 2 hens and one little one hiding there and blending in.  They all roam the neighborhood together.  It's a gang!

Thanks for looking.