The Farmers Wife 1930's Sampler

I didn't think I would do this quilt, but once a few friends started it up and begun their blocks following a Facebook quilt-along, I was hooked! Firstly I had no idea how to build them using the templates, but once I got over that hurdle I was on my (slow) way.

My first few have the same paisley fabric in them, wanted to keep it slightly connected. I was reading the letters and trying to reflect that in my fabric choices. A lot of people have brought brand new fabrics, but I decided to use what I already had.

Becky

Bonnie

Aunt

Ironing board usage

Having such a small sewing room there is no room for the ironing board so it sets up camp in the lounge. On the days in-between sewing it becomes a nesting place for cats: high up and sunny!  I always tell myself to put a blanket over the top to stop it from getting "fluffy", but I always end up forgetting. Good thing I only iron my fabrics on it and not fancy dancy blouses!

Aztec feeling the warmth

The changing of the bobbin

This remarkable feat always seems to happen when you are either (a) just at the end of the row or (b) doing some serious quilting design that is requiring much concentration!

As much as the changing of the bobbin is a nuisance at times, the threading onto the bobbin is a joy to behold - all that speed and that wonderful zishing sound.

Pussycat minding

If you have a cat and you quilt, the two really go hand in hand.

For some reason, cats seem to be drawn to anything that is on the floor or new. When it comes to laying out your fabric blocks you have to be exceptionally careful so as dirty dukes or fluff doesn't go anywhere on your new creations.

Most of the time I work at my cutting table or on my design wall (cloth pinned to the hall wall!). For this particular quilt I needed to get the layout of how my Caring Hearts quilt would need to be sewn. I kept a beady eye on the door for any paw friends that might be approaching.

Half way through, one puss cat wandered in and thought, "Mmm, something interesting is partaking on the bed, I must jump up and see what it is all about". I was ready for his leap and scooped him up and put him in his sleeping bed. Luckily he decided to stay there whilst I continued with my Hearts.

Aztec content in his bed

Two projects on the go

Nothing like a little confusion on the chopping board! My Caring Hearts quilt is taking a back seat at present whilst I tackle the Farmers 1930's quilt-along.

The jumbo of projects

Deciding on what fabrics to use for my Farmers quilt was a mission at first, but once I decided that I would use a paisley fabric for my base the other fabrics slotted into place every time. I based my coordinating pieces from the Letters to the Editor in the book.

Once I got into the swing of things my chopping board became so more free of fabrics and got into the business and swing of making blocks.

Small calmness for setting out my blocks

I will have to check out the Quilt-along guidelines before I post any blocks here. Of the 99 blocks we are making I am up to number 17, and her name is Patience!

Happy sewing :)

Before you know it....

... it'll be Christmas!!

With that thought in mind, I knew I had better get back to blogging and adding to my patchwork journey. For me personally it is hard to write about exciting new projects and add shiny new photos because lately I have only been sewing two projects; one is the continuation of my Caring Hearts quilt and the other, joining my first Quilt-Along on Facebook for the Farmers Wife 1930's sampler. I didn't start the project till after the New Year and am slowly catching up to the other 6000 quilters!

Not a lot happens in between.

Whilst I find some pics on my latest projects here a few shots of my garden last Spring. Now, I'm no gardener so I can't name the plants/shrubs, but to me they look interesting and at the end of the day, if they don't need watering then that's fine with me!!

This begun flowering after a flood one year, I have no idea what it is.

My Lilac began flowering last year for the first time.

This is Scarlett O'Hara, it begins with "B" and does need water!

Caring Hearts

And so, here is 2016.

Thankfully I am so pleased that 2015 is over. Not that I'm ungrateful, but let's just say sometimes when life gives you lemons and you can't make lemonade, those lemons can become quite tart and distasteful.

On to patchwork. I thought yesterday as I was busy sewing making more hearts for my Caring Hearts quilt that I had better start blogging again otherwise I will forget what I'm up to when I go to look back at my progress... and if I haven't written anything there will be nothing to read!

I've been attending my Wednesday evening sessions at Quilting Quarters with my sewing buddies and haven't stitched anything more in between. No motivation or actually, no vroom was within me to sew at any other times of the week. Luckily Christmas came and I have spent the last week busy in my sewing room catching up on lost time and finally my sewing spirits have found me once again.

When I come to a hurdle, as I have at the moment, I momentarily go "darn it!", then think the process over in my head until I come to a solution. The quilt I am doing at present has been changed a bit and instead of going sewing straight blocks I have tossed it on its head and am sewing on-point instead. I have no pattern to go by so am figuring out how to put it together at the ends as I go along. It may not be the correct format, but I'm guessing in the end, it will work for me!

Back to my machine, until next time - happy sewing!

Blanket stitching a heart

The only time I get my ironing board out!