Diversion Into a Wool Embroidery Sampler

Diversion Into a Sue Spargo Sampler 

I am lucky enough to live within driving distance of Sue Spargo's Ohio store. I whole-heartedly recommend visiting if you are ever in the northeastern Ohio area. It's as much a museum of her wool art as it is an enticing store. There are rooms full of threads, fabrics, and projects. It does not disappoint.

Farmer's Wife 1930s: Bride, No. 17

Farmer's Wife 1930s

Bride, No.17

This week has been a flurry of cleaning up leaves, and summer. Rarely do I cut down my perennials preferring to leave them to wither on their own schedule, but something made me go through the gardens and tidy this year. The saying, "Never leave for tomorrow what you can do today," pops up over and over. My compost and leaf piles are enormous. It will be a rich spring for fertilizer.

Civil War Sampler Blocks

New England

Civil War Sampler by Barbara Brackman

My conscience is saying, "Have you no shame?! Yet another quilt along when you have two out there hanging?" And I answer it with, "I need this! I need the adrenaline, the frenzy, the routine." And honestly, I think that's true. I crave joyful sewing right now. I need camaraderie. I want to hear and feel the struggle of other quilters moaning about a difficult block, and not thinking about the world at large for just a tiny bit! 

Farmer's Wife 1930s: Augusta, No.7

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt

Augusta, No.7

Just a quick post to show you sweet Augusta! I made this block with Marti Michell templates, paperless paper piecing, and rotary cutting with a ruler. The more I work with modified paper piecing, the more it's growing on me. It's quick! Holding those tiny templates in place, and working hard not to cut myself with the rotary cutter is trying. Note: It's far easier if you don't remove the adhesive paper from the back of acrylic templates. Add some adhesive dots to give them a little stick-to-it-ness if they get too slippery. So far, so good.

Farmer's Wife 1930's Blocks

Are You Ready for the Farmer's Wife 1930s Version? 9/27/15

The Farmer's Wife 1930s: Week 1: Blocks 8,12,16 10/6/15

The Farmer's Wife 1930s: Week 2: Blocks 20, 14, 18 10/12/15

The Farmer's Wife 1930s: Week 3: Blocks 13, 24

10/19/15

1930's Farmer's Wife: Week 4: Blocks 49, 78, 94 10/25/15

The Farmer's Wife 1930s: Week 5: Blocks 41, 45 11/1/15

The Farmer's Wife 1930s: Week 6: Blocks 1,57: & Christmas in My Heart Blog Hop with Giveaways

11/8/15

The Farmer's Wife 1930s: Week 9: Blocks 2, 39, 46, 57, 62, 76, 79, 80, 90 11/28/15

The Farmer's Wife 1930s: Blocks 3,4 5/18

Farmer's Wife 1930s: Anne, No. 5 10/10/20

Farmer's Wife 1930s: Augusta, No.6  10/15/2020

And on to the next one!

Come on, Doxie girls.

Let's go sew!

Linking up with~

Sarah over at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Finished or Not Finished Friday

Friday Foto Fun

Peacock Party

For the Love of Geese

Photo Roll of Longarm Quilting by Julie Stocker

Quilts, Quilts, Quilts and More Quilts!

One evening as I sat contently reading a book, yes, about quilting, my husband turned to me and asked, "Don't you ever get tired of quilting?" I didn't think that deserved a reply other than the look I gave, but I did think about it for a few days. I never tire of the world of quilts. I love it, and I love what I do. I like old, torn, well-used quilts as well as crisp new ones. I love simple designs as well as complex, and all the technical jibber-jabber as much as talking about my favorite new fabric lines. How does one get sucked in this deeply? Again, a rhetorical question which should not be considered too deeply. I just accept that quilts chose me, and not the other way around. 

Enjoy the montage. Owners/makers and some information may be listed as I remember, but this is all for your eyes more than your brains. This work started sometime in late June, and doesn't include everything I've done. I've been busy, but very happy as my husband will attest to.

Moda Modern Building Blocks Off the Frame

First Round Done

Yesterday was a challenge to get through the last pass on this Moda Modern Building Blocks. I was pretty excited to finally unpin, and evaluate its progress.

Longarm Quilting "Moda Modern in Print"

Loaded Lengthwise: The Starting Block

"Moda Modern in Print"

Long on my list to quilt, Moda Modern Building Blocks is finally in the frame. You can see above that I was all "anti-solid" fabrics, and substituted my beloved prints. 90% were from my stash, but a few odd ones were picked because they matched the shade in the pattern. You can read about individual block construction (and errata) below. This was a fun quilt, but shockingly begun nearly 2 years ago to the day!

Friendly Advice About Quilt Alongs

Isn't that just the cutest little block?

I'm beginning to think that sampler blocks are like children. Each one is so different, but they all belong to you, and there's not an ugly one in the bunch! 

From a critical point of view, some of the points got knocked off, and more will with additional seam allowances around it. Do I care? Nah, no way! I think it's adorable! Yup, me who only liked modern looking fabrics for how long. It's so, so different playing with subtle fabrics. It's like painting with a finer brush, in my opinion. It takes a lighter hand to create the same texture a modern quilter does with larger prints and brighter colors.

The Latest Rounds of Canadian Women Blocks

 150 Canadian Women

The one quilt-along I couldn't turn down was this one. Not only is it 3 blocks a week issued each Tuesday, but each has a historically significant woman at the center of its design. So, a story with each block, and I'm enjoying the idea. While I spent January elbows deep in charity quilting, I vowed not to do any personal sewing or quilting. When February rolled in, I needed to catch up. I made 15 blocks yesterday and this morning.

150 Canadian Women Blocks

150 Canadian Women Quilt Along

Next Step Quilt Designs is hosting a quilt along celebrating Canada's 150th Anniversary next year, and I hopped on board with some friends. The blocks are released 3 per week, and I'm close to being caught up now. The suggested palette is a range of red and white. I'm making this one more of a Glory Quilt palette by adding blues, grey tones, and a some gold.

The Farmer's Wife 1930s: Week 1: Blocks 8,12,16

"Aunt"--It begged for a fussy cut!

The 1930's Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt Sew-along has begun, and it's exciting! There are over 4,000 members now, and the variety of blocks is wonderful to see. I am sticking to my reproduction fabrics, and throwing in some solids. Three blocks were introduced the first week, but from here on out there will be two a week.