More Farmer's Wife Blocks

I managed to get six more blocks done before I am descended on by grandchildren.

Busy Day

I have been a busy camper today.  I got eight blocks cut out for my Farmer's Wife QAL.  I got two of them sewed together.  I have so much fun picking out fabrics for the blocks.  Yeah.  I did get two sewn together.  Spool and Bat wings.

I also got all of my fabric washed, ironed and all the Kona solids cut for my Bottled Rainbow QAL which is ending this month and I am just getting started.  Oh well.  I need to get more scraps in order to do the blocks. Most of my scraps are pastels or civil war and don't match the bright fabrics in this QAL.  I will get it done eventually.

This is a quilt as you go ticker tape quilt.  I am excited to get started.  I might even have enough purple fabric.

On Saturday we went to Buda and I got to pick out some fabric for my Farmer's Wife Quilt at B&B Quilting.  They have the nicest selection of florals.  I love going there.  

Sunday we headed down to Blanco for the Lavender Festival.  They always have good speakers.  This year we learned how to make cleaning products using lavender and how to grow lavender.  Also had a great lunch at the Uptown Cafe.   It was a little warm but not too bad.  There was one quilter there.  She had quilts that were hand-quilted.  They were very nice.  It didn't look like she sold too many even though her prices were reasonable.  

Farmer's Wife Redone

Well call me crazy but I signed up to do a Farmer's Wife QAL.  I guess I am a glutton for punishment.  I completed a lap quilt with 50 blocks earlier this year from blocks I made for my Farmer's Wife class last year.  It was so much fun I guess I am inspired to do it again.

I am doing to blocks in florals and matching solids.  I have lots of fat quarters that are floral.  My husband and I both like floral fabric.  The first block was number 9.

Then I did number 73.  I guess I am going to do whatever strikes me.  That is what I did last time and it worked well for me.  I am going to try to get all 111 blocks done for the king size but the paper piecing of some of them might do me in.  We will see.

Doodle Bricks

I got my Doodle Bricks pieced.  I still have to trim the sides.  It is certainly bright and cheery.  I hope the expectant Mom is going to like it.  I hope it looks less wavy when it is quilted.  I sewed every other row from a different direction like I was supposed to.  I hope this is just the way it is placed on the design wall.

I also forgot to post a picture of a vintage block I found last weekend in Georgetown.  It is a circle with fabric fanning out around it.  I am not sure what I am going to do with it but I have some 1930's reproduction fabric that matches.  I might have to learn how to applique.  

String Blocks

I got all of my string blocks for my Quiltsville exchange.  I made 22 blocks.  Two blocks made a set.  I tried to just pull fabric randomly.  I just could not do it.  I had to have some color theme going.  I know some of the other participants have more random fabrics.  I guess I am not free enough to do it yet.  Hopefully I will get to that point.  I used all scraps.  I did not have to cut into any of my fat quarters.  I guess that means that I had a lot of scraps.  I still have lots left over.  These are my quilt scraps.  I have also purchased scraps from etsy that are from more modern designers. Most of my scraps were Moda, Red Rooster, Civil War or other traditional fabrics.  I have not really used my other scraps.  I am planning on using them for my Bottled Rainbow quilt-a-long which I will eventually get to.

Here are my blocks.  First time to do string blocks.  They were fun but a bit time consuming.

String Blocks

You can see that most of my fabrics are dark.  There are a few light beige, pink and green.  Hope that the fellow swappers enjoy my blocks.  

I finally uploaded the picture of my fix on the square in there block.  See picture.

 

There is a Square in There

I made it so I did not have to match the stripes.  That was kind of cheating but it looks so much better.

I never did put in a picture of last month's solids club from Pink Chalk Fabrics.  Pinks and Grays.

I have my string blocks all bundled up and ready to ship when I get back from my business trip on Thursday.  

I found out that the person I was making a baby quilt for is going on leave next week.  Don't think I am going to have it done on time.  I am still sewing strips together.  I kind of stopped that project to work on my string blocks.  Back to the baby quilt next weekend.

It has been a productive day.  My DH helped me pick out strings for my last four blocks.  I was getting tired of picking fabric.  He is so helpful and has good color sense.

Been Awhile

I have been to St. Louis two weeks ago and then last week out on an audit.  Haven't had much time to quilt until this weekend.  I did work on my baby quilt a few weeks ago.  I had to take one block apart and redo it.  It was way to crooked.

I took a picture but haven't uploaded it yet.  Will try to get that done tomorrow.

I have been working on my string blocks for my Quiltsville swap.  The hard part was ironing my scraps.  The blocks are fun and easy.  I will post pictures tomorrow.  Just wanted to put down in words what my quilting life has been like.  Not too much lately.  I need some relaxing time with me and my sewing machine.

A productive weekend

I managed to accomplish quite a bit on the weekend and today my day off.  First off I finished my "There's a Square in There" blocks.  I was moaning about using stripes.  Well it didn't work too well.  My stripe fabric is a little wonky.  This is probably going to end up in the charity quilt pile.  It was a good introduction in how to do this quilt so it was not a total loss.  Just picked up the rest of the Moda white to finish it up.

Doesn't look to bad far away but close up.  Well...

On Saturday I did an easy peasy quilt from my pattern called "Fat Quarter Shuffle"  You use six fat quarters and cut them all at once.  Then you shuffle the pieces down in the pile and sew it together.  My picture came out a little light but you can get the idea.  I got the fat quarters from ebay and they have been sitting out on my desk for awhile.  Had to end up washing them and so I decided I better use them before I had to wash them again.  Need to find a border still.

Saturday I also made it to Joann's.  They had patterns on sale and I scored Denise Schmidt's new pattern for $1.99.  It was regularly $15.99.  It is all wonky blocks so I did not want to pay too much in case I decide I can't deal with the wonkiness.

Saturday was also a good day in the mail.  I participated in my first fabric swap.  We swapped "Kitchen Sink" 2 1/2 strips.  The fabrics are fairly traditional.  I should be able to make a great scrappy quilt in the future.  The next swap is string blocks.  I am going to practice making a few before I sign up.

Sunday I cut out my fabric for "Doodle Bricks".  I started putting it together today but it is taking me longer than I thought.  I have a picture of progress to date.  I am afraid I am going to lose my light.

As a state employees we got the "opportunity" to sign up for Walk Across Texas where you walk for around 13 miles per week for three months and earn a half day off.  I signed up and of course it is raining today.  Hopefully it will stop before the light gives out.  We do need the rain so it is not a total loss.  At my doctor's appointment I got the "you need to exercise" lecture so I need to follow up on this.

Whew.  This was a long post for me.  I got a lot done.