Farmer's Wife Quilt: Part 2

When I got home today it was raining so quilt pictures would have to wait for another day.  I got on the torture cycle and was half way through when the sun came out.  I hopped off the bike to see that it was raining through the sunshine.  Drat.  Not only did I have to get back on the torture cycle but I still couldn't take the pictures I wanted.  After doing my time on the bike, the rain had stopped so Husband, the dog and I grabbed the quilt and pinned it up on the clothesline really quickly before the rain started again.

So here it is again.  In full glory on the clothesline.  The carport shots from yesterday just didn't do it justice but I so wanted to share!  We didn't pay any attention to right side up or not because it really doesn't have a right side up.  It's all good.  10 months of quilting work all bundled up and hung on the line.  It feels good.  Really good!

Linking up with Amanda Jean for Finish it Up Friday.  Full quilt details available on yesterday's post.

 Quilt stats in brief:
Started June 2011
Scraps only
90" x 90"
Quilted by me, straight lines, lots of them in Aurifil white 50 wt
Done.

my favourite backyard stump needed a photo today too!

Have a lovely evening!!!

Farmer's Wife is.... DONE!

My Farmer's Wife Quilt is finished!!!  I am so glad it is done.  I wanted to take some super gorgeous pictures of it outside after work today but it is POURING with rain.  Hopefully it will be nice tomorrow and I can take some proper pictures.  With Husband's help, I hung it up in the carport.  Oh, the things quilters will do!!!!  Standing on chairs, we strung up a string and clothespinned it up for a photo op.

This quilt has a total of 113 blocks, finishing at 90" square. All the blocks are made from scraps.  It is sashed and bordered with a pale yellow cotton.  I have bound the quilt with a small green feedsack print and I used the same for the small cornerstones.  I straight line quilted it between all the blocks and on either side of the seam lines between the blocks.  It looks pretty neat from the back too!  The back is an orange print that actually has little itty bitty quilt blocks on it.  I bought it about a year ago as a bolt end for quilt backs and I had enough for this beast.  I pieced the back with a strip of the binding fabric and one little extra block that was a bit too small for the front.  It was one of the first blocks I made and I was having a problem with scaling of the templates when printing.

I have to say that since last June, when I started this quilt, I have celebrated little blocks and been frustrated with others.  This was a ton of work but it looks GREAT!  And I am so happy it is done!  Better pictures as soon as the rain stops, I promise!

Linking up with Quilt Story for Fabric Tuesday and with Amanda Jean for Finish it Up Friday!

How I Spent Sunday...

I spent yesterday at the sewing machine quilting my Farmer's Wife quilt.  I started at about 9 am and with a break for lunch at noon, a little bit of time on the baby quilt, and some time out for laundry, I finished the quilting by 4 pm.  All in a day's work and many bobbins later it was done. I debated what to do with the quilting but decided to straight line quilt on the sashing and a quarter inch on either side of the seam lines on each block.  Because the blocks are set on point, I was dealing with a lot of bulk when quilting because I was basically quilting on the diagonal the whole time.  My wonderful Janome Horizon handled the bulk of the 90" by 90" quilt just fine.  Last evening, I made and attached the binding so this evening, I will be hand finishing the binding.  Yippee!  I am almost there!!!  I might even be able to get a picture in time for Fabric Tuesday at Quilt Story!!!!  Who knows!!!!!????

Happy Monday!

Famfoozled!

(Said in my Grinchiest, most Seussical voice)

I puzzled and I puzzled and I puzzled some more.  I puzzled until my puzzler was sore!  Then I thought of something I hadn't before...

 I needed two more stinking little Farmer's Wife blocks because of the way I have laid out the blocks.  ARGH!!!!!  But on the other hand, I have spent some quality time sashing all the little blocks and I have actually put almost half of the top together.  Then I got to the point where I had to count blocks and try and figure out why it was not working on two of the corners.  Finally, and this is where I thought of something I had not before, I realized I was creating a square quilt not a rectangle and I needed two more blocks to make it work.  I felt it was easier to make two more blocks than switch up the layout.  I made two easy blocks.  Economy and Puss in the Corner.  Just like that.  And now I am back to sashing.

On an unrelated to quilting note, we woke up to SNOW on April Fool's Day!  And we were not joking!  The snow covered the ground for most of the morning.  It is all gone now but Husband planted a bunch of herbs yesterday including some tarragon and rosemary plants and then it snowed!!!!!!  Tarragon and rosemary are not the hardiest of herbs.  EEK!

I will link up with Judy's Design Wall tomorrow because really this is all I have done all weekend!!!!  It takes forever!

Design Wall Monday: Farmer's Wife Blocks altogether

Here they are!  111 little 6" blocks on the downstairs living room floor!  Made completely from scraps. I am so relieved to have this completed to this stage now I have to work on the sashing.  Decisions!  I am going with the on point layout and will still play with the blocks in terms of colour orientation.  I am lucky in that I can leave this on the floor for as long as I need  it to be there.  Webster, our dog, just avoids it and with just Husband and I rattling around the house, no one will mess with it.

What's on your design wall?  Linking up with Judy's Design Wall Monday!

Farmer's Wife Blitz... the blocks are done!!!

I blitzed the last blocks yesterday.  Oh, my goodness!  I have to say, "PHEW!"  I don't even know what these ones are at this point.  I noticed that one of the blocks is actually a 6" granny square block but in the book, they use an assortment of colours not the patterned granny square.  I made the bottom one with the chickens and chicken wire scrap because I felt that the Farmer's Wife quilt needed to have a chicken.  The block is actually "Economy."  There are several blocks in the book which I did not make because I didn't really like them so I made duplicates in different fabrics of a few of them.  So I cheated.  He he he!  So what?

This morning I organized the blocks on the downstairs living room floor.  I was being a bit of a nutter and the on-point layout was too much for my early morning brain.  Husband was on the stationary bike and provided loud directions from his lofty position on the bike.  I couldn't have done it without him!  Stay tuned for the whole mess of blocks on the design floor tomorrow!

Now I just have to decide on the sashing and setting triangles.  ERG!  Oh!  It is spring break for me.  I'm off all week. Yippee!  We woke up to a winter wonderland instead of spring.

Yep, this morning.  March 18, 2012

Farmer's Wife Blocks: week 41 (I think!)

Lots of blocks

Block #99 W.C.T.U  (what?)

Block # 74 Ribbons

Block # 38 Four Winds

Block #48 Homeward Bound

Block: Honey's Choice

Well, I got super busy with these little pesky blocks this weekend and I made a whack of them.  The end is so close, I can taste it!

I am well on my way to 111 blocks.  I think one more blitz next Saturday and I will be done!!!!  Then comes the task of sashing and arranging.  I am really wondering if I should stick with white or try something a little out of the box.  I was actually thinking of a yellow pin dot or something.  Nothing super whacky but different nonetheless.  All of these blocks were fine to put together.  There were just way too many little itty bitty triangles for my liking. 

In my ideal world, I would have this finished in time to enter it into Rachel's scrap attack linky party a the end of the month.  It would totally fit the bill since the whole shebang is made with bits and pieces of scrap-tacularness.

On a completely unrelated note, I am obsessed with tracking the shipment of my new iPad.  It has been parked in Louisville, Kentucky, of all places, since last Friday.  Get it moving, Apple!  Apparently they cannot allow people to have them before stores have them, so I wait.  Impatiently.

Farmer's Wife Quilt Along: Week 40

Block #64  Peace and Plenty

Block #  Strawberry Basket or Husband called it Fish on the Bank

Block #78 Shooting Star

Block # 62 Old Windmill

Week 40!  Amazing!  This week I made 4 blocks!  I can almost taste the finish line!  I used very similar colours for the shooting star block as they did in the book.  I did this on purpose because I really did not want to tax my brain anymore than I needed to as this block had all sorts of reversed pieces.  Anyway, I am perfectly content with it.  I fussy cut strawberries for the strawberry basket.  So cute!  And I put on my big girl pants and did the 2 blocks with many half square triangles.  Phew!  So I think I must be very close to 100 blocks and that means the countdown is really on to 111!!!!!!!

Husband likes to guess the names of the blocks when I made them.  As I love sharing (showing off) the blocks as I make them, he has become strangely creative with coming up with block names.  This is why the strawberry basket block is on its side not on point.  He says it should be called Fish on the Bank.  So silly.  But it does sort of look like that!

Other than farmer's wife blocks, don't forget to enter my giveaway to celebrate 200 followers!  

Farmer's Wife Quilt Along: Week 39

Three blocks this week and they got to play on the barn wall Sunday afternoon. I am starting to freak out that the only blocks left are ones with a zillion itty bitty triangles.  Blah!

Block #85 Square Dance

Block # 96 Tulip

Block # 106 Wild Rose and Square

I used some vintage fabric in the Wild Rose block.  The little rosebud print on white.  I try to use some vintage fabric here and there in the blocks, just because it seems to make sense to me.  90 some blocks and counting!  I am getting close and I am seeing finished Farmer's Wife quilts popping up and around blog land!

Happy leap day!

Another Farmer's Wife Block!

Block #65 Peaceful Hours

This is my fourth block this week!  I took advantage of the sunshine after school today and pinned this little block on the barn wall for a photo.  This was a tricky block.  There were lots of pieces that were the reverse of other pieces.  Figuring out where to put the little pieces and their reversals was not fun!  I am glad I can check this one off.  Husband tries to show his quilting knowledge by asking me if I "fancy" cut the centre instead of "fussy" cut.  He was close, of course!

My knitting club went well but there were some really wonky little knitting samples being created!  The kids were super pumped about the little gnarly, lumpy bits they were working on!  One bit was apparently being knit for a blanket for her pet tree frog!  Hilarious!

Have a super day!

Farmer's Wife Quilt Along: Week 38

Block #94 Tall Pine Tree and Block # 49 Honeycomb

Block # 47 Homemaker

Playing together

I actually made 4 blocks this week but I didn't get a picture of the last one made.  I was mad at Homemaker so I made the other two.  Then I thought what the heck, Homemaker will do and then I made another block as well.  I feel that I am so close that I need to put a push on it to just get done.  We will see how that goes!

I seem to have a growing pile of quilts to be quilted and I really must get on that!  I did finish my Modern Mini Quilt for that challenge.  Soon to unveiled!  I am totally pleased with it.  

Have a super day!  It was lovely and sunny at school today and they children were rolling around like puppies!  Tomorrow I am teaching a bunch of girls to knit at lunch time!  Wish me luck!!!!

Farmer's Wife Quilt Along...Week 37

Bowtie and Rainbow Flowers

I made 2 very simple blocks this week and they came together like a charm.  I have been avoiding Rainbow Flowers because it is such a simple block that I thought it would be kind of lame.  How wrong I was!  I am totally in love with the fabric I used and I think that makes me just so happy!  I like the bowtie block too!  I actually felt like I was getting some sort of a treat by making these simple blocks.   It was a good time to make simple ones since I was in a rush to finish the donation quilt I was working on.  and that quilt was delivered today and will be opened tomorrow as one of the birthday gifts for the soon to be 8 year old!

I was just interrupted by Mr. UPS who brought me a quilt book that I ordered!  Happy, happy!!!  Stay tuned!

Have a lovely evening!   I am watching the snowdrops open more each day.  Spring is just around the corner!

Design Wall Monday... Farmer's Wife Progress

WOW!  They are starting to look like they will actually grow up and be a quilt!  This is what 83 little Farmer's Wife blocks looks like.  I now have 85 completed after this weekend's sewing!  Only 26 more to go!  Totally scrappy. I love it!  I t was actually good to throw them on the floor because I was able to see what I need more of or less of.  Wahoo!

Have a super Monday and I will link up with Judy's Design Wall Monday.

Farmer's Wife Quilt Along: Week 36

Block 84 and Block 103

Whirlwind

Spool

I counted my blocks today.  I have a mind blowing 83 of those little suckers completed.  I can't believe it.  This week I made 2 simple blocks.  The funny thing is the stinking spool block was such that I unpicked one corner a number of times until it made me happy.  Isn't that just the way that the simplest block, that you think is just going to be a really quick stitch up, takes you way longer because of something silly?  I had fun with the whirlwind block and actually used some green vintage fabric.

Most people took a little holiday break with the quilt along but should be back posting again this week.  It will be nice to see all the little blocks on blogs again!

Happy Wednesday.  Husband is just taking some pizza out of the oven.  Yum!

Don't forget my giveaway.  One more day!!!

Farmer's Wife Quilt Along... Week 35!!!

Whirlpool

Garden Path

And hanging together

I have been avoiding Garden Path because, well, I wasn't sure about it.  Oh my goodness!  Let's just say it was not the easiest block to put together and their was a fair amount of unpicking and maybe even the occasional  muttered word.  Yep, you have to hate those muttered words.  Anyway.  I got it to the "any strangeness can be quilted out" place and that was good enough.  Argh!

After Garden Path, Whirlpool was a joy to put together.  So there. 

I should say that many involved in this quilt along have taken a bit of a break since Christmas.  I wanted to just keep on going and there are others who kept right on going as well.  It will be nice to have everyone back farming again soon!

Pop on over for a giveway here tomorrow, afterall it will be Groundhog Day!  Have a super lovely evening!

Farmer's Wife Quilt Along: Week 34!!!!

Block # 100 Weathervane

Block #107 Windblown Square

Here are my blocks for the week.  I made them during my snow days last week so both blocks have a weather theme.  I am just trying to keep life interesting!  Weathervane and Windblown square were both fun to make.  Luckily the weather this week is much more cooperative and I will find some other influence for the block choices!

I have to say that finding fun scraps to make the blocks with is a lot of the fun.

A big shout out to all my Australian followers on Australia Day!  I have a teacher from Australia on staff and she treated us to pavlova and lamingtons in the staff room!

Have a lovely rest of your day!

Farmer's Wife Quilt Along...week 33

 The pile of these little blocks is growing!  I have no idea how many of them there are but I really should count them.  The obvious guess would be 66 since I do 2 a week and it is week 33 but some weeks I have done more than the scheduled 2 blocks.  Anyway, I have more than 66 blocks and I need about 110!

Block #75 Rosebud

Block #81 Snowball

So here we have this week's blocks.  I used scraps from one of my Swoon blocks for rosebud.  I thought there would have been more contrast but the floral print had a bit more green in it than I anticipated.  The snowball block was a no-brainer for this week considering we are overcome with snow.

I spent the day sewing.  Yep, another snow day for me!  Oh, man, I feel pretty spoiled.  I did, however, make 2 trips to school today to check on things.  Sadly, my school has some frozen and burst pipes that our trusty maintenance people are busy fixing as we speak.  Maybe I will have to make a giant quilt to wrap my whole school up in.  He he he!  It has just been too darn cold for us west coasties.

Have a super day.  Apparently, we have more nasty weather coming overnight.  Good grief!