Farmer's Wife - Going Green.....

I try to make equal amounts of green & blue blocks as I sew along.
But this week, the blocks all spoke to me in "Green" and I'm OK with that.

AVA - Having a Family.
The joy of motherhood thru adoption of her little girls.

DAFFODIL - Happily Married
Taking time to enjoy little walks and small moments together.

GRANDMA - Bravery & Brightness
Upon the passing of her husband, her children opened their homes to her. I chose Rose hips for the conversation print because although the blossoms fade & drop from a rose the rose hips are still lovely to look at and have useful purpose.

every quilt tells a story....

Paint by Numbers - for Quilters

I have fond childhood memories of time spent with my older sister working on Paint by Number pictures. We sat side by side at the table diligently painting away. It was serious business matching the paint colors to the correct number patches.
This is how we spent many cold snowy winter days growing up.

Imagine my surprise and delight when I discovered this amazing fabric line a few weeks ago during the QUEST shop hop! It was like finding treasure - my inner child was jumping up and down. (on the inside of course)
I made my purchase and could not stop grinning all the way to the tour bus. Honestly, some of the ladies must have thought I was nuts.... I was pulling these fabrics out of the bag all day long, gushing over them.

(you can click on the picture below for a larger view of the fabrics)

The line is called Purebred designed by Erin Michael for Moda.
I must not be the only one who loved Paint by Numbers because the shop sold out of the line during Quest week.
Have you found a new fabric love recently?

every quilt tells a story....

A new block and some final finishes

Happy December!
Today is the reveal of Block #3 of the Shenandoah Valley Botanical Quilt Sew Along. This is my Red & Taupe version. You can find information on the original block on the SVBAQ blog found HERE.

As promised - the rest of the blocks I completed in November for the Farmer's Wife:

PATIENCE - Never give up!
This was the saddest letter I've read to date. Despite extreme poverty and illness this farm wife persevered against her adversities.

SARA - A view of Loveliness
A window above the kitchen sink to watch the sky and gardens change thru the seasons.

PATRICIA - napping with her babies.

JEWEL - A gift of flowers to a friend who was a good listener.

I completed 9 little blocks for the month of November. A good month indeed!

Wrapping up November

November seems to have come and gone so quickly this year!
Over Thanksgiving weekend I managed to complete an extra Dutch Treat block. I have 3 block finishes this month.

My goal was to complete 2 blocks per month or 24 blocks for the year.
Happy to say I reached my goal already for 2015!

Also in November I completed Block #3 of my quilt guilds block of the month - a Maple Leaf. I chose to make this scrappy in keeping with the theme of the Sampler Quilt I will make from all the block assignments. (the blocks finish at 10")

And of course there was the Farmer's Wife.
(I will share all of November's blocks in a post tomorrow)

Dawn led the SVBAQ Sew Along this month with the Blue Flag (iris) block.
This was my version of the block.

Tomorrow (December 1st) I will reveal the next block of the Sew Along HERE.
I'm excited to share the new block with everyone! A reminder that it's never too late to join in and always FREE to visit and follow the blog!

I hope you had a very Happy & Productive November!

Catching up with the Farmer's Wife

AIMEE - The Magic round Jar that she saved her pennies in.

The background fabric I chose reminds me of the fancy glass jars of cold cream that used to sit on my grandmother's vanity.   Once the cold cream was gone, my grandmother would wash out the jar and store beautiful buttons in them.

NANCY - A book for Christmas.

I too enjoy books for Christmas, especially Cookbooks and picture laden books about quilts. (grin) I chose a soft green solid similar in color to a White Pine Christmas tree with a background fabric reflective of Mathmatics and Literature.

A bit behind in my sewing this week due to a home renovation project.
Hubby & I are doing all the work ourselves (except electrical stuff)
We are building a small kitchen in the lower level of our home.
Here is the BEFORE picture:

My vision for these Oak Cabinets - soft French Vintage. So far I've spent a couple of days sanding all the wood smooth and I've begun painting. I chose a chalk paint in "Paris Grey" and some relief adornments for a few of the doors. Once painted I will add a faux finish patina to them. We'll see how things go....

Wishing you a Fabulous November Weekend!

Botanical Block for November

It's time for the mid-month Show and Share post for the Shenandoah Valley Botanical Album Quilt sew along. Here is my Blue Flag block for November.

My Iris' are certainly not blue or purple in hue, like those that were growing in the Shenandoah Valley when Esther created her quilt. But I still had fun working this block up in shades of Red & Taupe.

To see more Blue Flag (Iris) blocks created by very creative & talented quilter's please click on the SVBAQ link HERE.

every quilt tells a story....

Farmer's Wife and a little Treat

The first week of November and already lots of projects are in the works.
There were 3 blocks assigned for the F.W. sew along.

ADDIE - trading her electric washer for 2 cows and happier for living a simpler life.

MARGARET - a home filled with chatty children love and laughter.

MILLY - a blind flyer, relying on faith to navigate thru darkness along life's uncertain path.

I finished my first Dutch Treat of 2 blocks for November - Edelweiss

And finally.... the 2nd block of the Shenandoah Valley Botanical Album was revealed on November 1st. Dawn's block turned out beautiful!
You can see her block and read/learn more about the original one HERE.
Here is a sneak peek at my block... I will share the finish later next week.

every quilt tells a story....

Farmer's Wife & October finishes

An even dozen... these are the Farmer's Wife sew along blocks that were assigned for the month of October. Here were this weeks blocks....

GRANNY - her DIL passed away leaving her with 6 small grandchildren to care for. In the book, the block is created with 4 split seams. I decided to make mine like the traditional "grannies choice" block.

JENNY - her children loved to help her with the garden and chickens so she could spend time each evening playing with them.

My final project for October was completing the 2nd block for my guild's Block of the Month Sampler. October's block was Card Trick.

Still playing around with setting options for this quilt, but so far I like the scrappy feel of these blocks.

Wishing everyone a festive end to October!

Farmer's Wife - week 4

It was a bonus week with 3 block assignments instead of 2.
All of these blocks were rotary cut and machine stitched.

KATHERINE - from iron clad shoes to roses, working hard for later rewards.

OLD MAID - being a Happy Homemaker.

SUSANNAH - teaching her children to earn what they buy.

Wishing you all a beautiful October weekend.

every quilt tells a story...