Ideas

http://www.amazon.com/Farmers-Wife-Sampler-Quilt-Inspired/dp/0896898288


Somewhere in the disaster zone that is my living room, I have this book. I got it at Tractor Supply quite awhile back, and enjoyed looking through it and seeing all the various quilt blocks and reading the stories.


At one point, I had made a "project list" of some things I wanted to do, quilting- and sewing-wise. And ... I have accomplished some of these things. That sure gives a person a satisfied feeling! But ... recently I decided it was time to make a NEW project list, as some things I have lost interest in, or they've moved down on the list, and other things have caught my eye. Now that these fair projects are all but done, I've got an idea in mind.


I've seen on many blogs where gals are making the "Farmer's Wife" quilt blocks, and I just love seeing the different patterns and material combinations. One thing on my list is that I've wanted to do something with vintage prints such as from back in the '20's, '30's and '40's and such. I have some originals that I picked up somewhere, plus I have newer fabrics that LOOK vintage-y. Another thing on my list was to make a sampler quilt of some kind, even if it isn't a big one. So, combine the interest in the Farmer's Wife blocks, the desire to make a sampler quilt, and the fabrics I want to use, and ... I think the next thing I'll tackle will be these Farmer's Wife blocks, at least the ones that I want to do. I may not do all of them, and I don't dare follow a "schedule," but I think it will be fun. A different block each time, plus playing with the fabrics, will give a nice boost of variety each time.


Now, if I can just find that book! I know it's here somewhere .......... :)

Almost Done

Quilted, trimmed, and ready to sew the binding on! Then tack that down, add a label to it and the Log Cabin, and I'll have both quilt entries all ready to go for the fair. :) Two weeks from today!

Had To!

Well ... actually, no one twisted my arm!


And just as an update, I AM making good progress on the little postage stamp mini-quilt. The fair is 2 weeks from tomorrow. I think I'll make it!


We had some business in the nearby bigger town this morning, so while we were there, we checked out some stores we hadn't been in for awhile, plus a new one. One I've visited before is a little quilt/fabric store. So ... I just HAD to pick up a few fat quarters and a pack of big squares. HAD TO!


Here's the stack of squares, a couple of old-fashioned prints, and a couple of what I'd call "retro" or "vintage" prints.




The edge of the stack of squares shows the different colors, and there's a multitude of different prints among them. I may try a "twister" quilt with these.




But this is the one that I really latched onto ... I love vintage stuff, and the combo of red and turquoise got my attention! DEFINITELY will find a project for it! After I get this postage stamp thing done. :)

Need To ...

I need to ... GET CRACKIN'!!! I keep letting this little wall hanging block sit, I guess because it's so small. But I've got a little over 2 WEEKS before the fair ... I need to finish the diagonal quilting, sew the binding on, and tack the binding down. And label it. Just because it's small, I'd still better get busy!

Misfit Quilt

A long, long time ago ... I mean YEARS and YEARS ... I found a quilt for sale in a consignment/crafts shop. CHEAP. I'm thinking perhaps in the 50-cent range? Well ... there are a lot of things "wrong" with it. But I didn't care - I was drawn to the cheerful colors and prints in it.





It's kind of a 4-patch in pattern, arranged diagonally across the quilt. Blues and pinks predominate. It's actually not quilted, and it has no batting at all. All it is is the top and the backing, joined at the edge.




I love the fabric patterns and colors in these little 4-patches.




The back is a bold floral print ...




... brought around for part of the border.




But several of the seams are undone and ravelly.




And ... probably why it was so cheap in the first place ... it has a big wax spot in one place. Now ... when I first got it, the wax chunk was HUGE. THICK. I mean it was a regular boulder of wax. I wasn't sure how to deal with it, so I've just had this poor little quilt put away all this time, wondering what to do with it. But during all that storage time, the wax chunk has somehow shrunk to this flat wax spot, and I think perhaps I can scrape this on both sides, maybe try the fels-naptha soap treatment, and see if it will come out. What I imagine is, someone used this as a tablecloth (maybe it was made just for that!), and a wax candle dripped on it.




I just had this flopped over the clothesline, here are some more pretty prints on the other side.




Bigger view of the other side.




So, even with being a "misfit" with a lot of problems (Hey, I identify with that. I'm a misfit with lots of problems, too.), I hope I can try to tackle that wax stain, stitch a few seams closed, and have a colorful table-topper or picnic quilt. Whether it's a person or a thing, give a "misfit" a chance, you might be surprised and pleased. :)

Log Cabin Done!

Ahhhh! The Log Cabin quilt is finished for the fair four weeks from now. :)

Small Fair Project

This "postage stamp" block with a border and binding will be entered in the local fair as a wall hanging.


You can see here how pressing the seams really helps. Left side is unpressed, right side is pressed. A world of difference!




All pressed.




Starting to layer the backing, batting and pieced block. When putting together quilts, I always have this nagging fear that I might accidentally put the backing "right side up" as I'm layering, which would put it to the INSIDE of the quilt! So I'm always EXTRA CAREFUL that I put the backing "right side down" so it will be on the outside where it belongs! The backing fabric is the same as one of the fabrics used in the block.




Backing, batting and pieced block layered together. I like to have PLENTY of margin around the edge, just for my own quirky peace-of-mind. Plus it gives room for the hoop to grab.




A wonky piece of the batting got trimmed, and now it's all pinned together to keep things from slipping.




In the hoop and ready to quilt! I will do diagonal quilting all through the little squares - like an "X" in each square.