More Farmer's blocks

Susannah. Earn Before Spending. I chose to select some football players, paying attention to the boots. The boy in this letter spent his earning on saving up for a pair of footy boots.

Susannah

Addie. Happier Than Ever Before. I quite liked this block. The family would see deer around the homestead often during their trips around the farm. The brown striped fabric indicates the fencing and the brown floral print are the wildflowers.

Addie

Margaret. Mom's a Whole Menagerie. I really loved how this block came out with its pretty fabrics. I tried to give a "rainbow of love", with a mixture of emerald, ivory, crimson, gold, silver and rose. I chose not to add the paisley fabric for this one.

Margaret

Millie. Blind Flying.  All about having faith. I decided to select soft colours and again chose not to add the paisley fabric.

Milly

A few more Farmer blocks

Old Maid. East, West, Home's Best. I added the coffee cup fabric because it was homely. Note, I'm still using the same paisley throughout. Some of the blocks didn't work very well with it, but I thought, what the heck!

Old Maid

Katherine. From ironclad shoes to Roses. This letter focussed a lot on hard work, children, sacrifice and roses. I decided some rose fabric would be best! Here they are among the green pastures.

Katherine

Granny.  Another Grandmother. The mother's faith and love for her children made me select these fabrics. For an added bonus I added another paisley...

Granny

Jenny. I learned to play. All about playing and having fun. Here, the family are having fun on the farm with the red stripes indicating fences.

Jenny

I had huge issues with Granny. I managed to mix up the templates big time and my points were way out. The above image was my third attempt. Below is one of my failed attempts.

An unusual Granny

I also had issues with Jenny by not noticing that I hadn't caught the seam with enough fabric. A lesson learnt. Use more fabric than you need.

My misplaced Jenny

By the way, I begun these blocks about December 2015, so it's a slow road.

More Farmer's blocks

Betty - A dream come true. I tried to convey "dreamy" colours. I don't think my paisley is working in this one. Can always do again. I don't usually patch with purple, but it tends to go well with green.

Betty

Caroline - When I behold the heavens. Here is my version of Heaven (the light) and Earth (the dark), mixed in with paisley!!

Caroline

Belle - Gift, fun, fellowship. Christmas time sharing the dinner table with family and neighbours.

Belle

Coral - Take time for enjoyment. My interpretation of the "blue jay bird" outside the window, spending time with Mother.

Coral

To fully enjoy the blocks/letters you will need to buy the book!

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