Farmer's Wife Friday- My turn!

So I caught the bug and decided to jump on the bandwagon. I've been admiring other people's Farmer's Wife blocks and toying with the idea of taking on the crazy endeavor of 111 very small 6 inch blocks. Then I decided just to go for it. This week I've been more than a little crazy about it. I'm sure that the rest of the quilt won't go together as quickly as the first few I've done, especially when I get to the really difficult looking ones, like Homemake and Jacknife, but I'm excited to try blocks I've never done before, and even though I am sure my seam ripper will be well used by the time this quilt is finished (not to mention that I plan on doing most of the blocks by hand, gasp!) I'm up to the challenge. So without further ado, here are the blocks I've managed to complete this week. (Along with a finished quilt top that I cannot show because it is a gift, once it is gifted, I will post pictures, promise)

Block 1- Attic Windows

Block 2- Autumn Tints

Block 3- Basket (it still needs the handle, so its technically not finished)

Block 4- Basket Weave

Block 5- Bat Wing

Block 7- Birds in the Air (I have skipped block 6 for now, I was excited to jump into this one with all the little triangles.)


 

 I was worried that Block 7 didn't have enough contrast, but now that I look at it, I actually love it! So far I have had a lot of fun piecing these little beauties and I'm even more ecstatic about the fabrics I picked. I'm excited to work on the next few blocks in the coming days and hopefully will make equal progress next week for my blocks. I am trying to balance making this quilt with about a half dozen other projects I am working on.

 

I started cutting fabric for my dad's quilt yesterday. I am using mostly Lake Life by Thimbleberries, with a few other prints mixed in, and I am using the McGuffey Schnibbles pattern, only I am making it bigger. He wanted a quilt big enough for his bed, and I had to put my foot down on that one. There is just no way I can quilt a queen size quilt on my little machine. Well, I could, its physically possible, but I'd be pulling my hair out. So I am doing a short double size quilt. Bigger than a throw, but not quite long enough to be considered a bed size quilt. It will still be the largest one I've quilted on my machine. I'm not sure what I will do with my Farmer's Wife quilt when it is ready to be quilted. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

Farmer's Wife Fabric

My farmer's wife fabric has arrived! I decided to use Breakfast at Tiffany's by Fig Tree Quilts for Moda, and got a good deal on a fat quarter bundle. I may also incorporate some other Fig Tree lines, I was inspired to use Fig Tree Quilt fabrics after seeing these Farmer Wife's blocks. And I'm glad I did, because they are beautiful fabrics.

 

Sorry for the not so good picture, but you get the idea. I'm so excited to start this project, but I have several others I need to get finished or at least start on first. I'm finishing up a flower basket quilt for a family member and also got the fabric for a quilt for my dad, so I have tons of projects going on right now. Not to mention the list of things I want to complete for the holidays! At least once the weather cools off I will have more time inside to sew and get things done, at least that is the plan. It never seems to work out that way, though. For now though I am going to start planning out my Farmer's Wife blocks and spend the rest of this beautiful day with my boyfriend, he wants to do manly things like go to the gun range and teach me to shoot. I'm not sure how I feel about that just yet, but I'm going to give it a shot. (pun intended!)

Purple quilt

I had another finish a week ago and didn't get around to posting any pictures. My cousin wanted a quilt for her daughter, and her only request was that it be purple. So here is the Purple Quilt.

(My wonderful boyfriend took this photo by the way)

I also got my Farmer's Wife book yesterday, and ordered the fabric for it today. I found a good deal on a fat quarter bundle of Breakfast at Tiffany's by Fig Tree Quilts for Moda. I think it is going to be perfect for the Farmer's Wife blocks.

I'm so excited for the cooler weather that we've been having. Fall is probably one of my favorite times of the year. I love the holidays, form Halloween all the way through New Year's. My boyfriend and I had the conversation about it last week, he is less than thrilled, he is a heat lover. He loves summer, the hot hot days of summer. But he doesn't get horrible sunburns like I do. If he did he would prefer fall like me. Plus, fall means quilt weather! Well, it feels more like quilt weather to me anyway. Once I start feeling that little chill in the air I can't wait to cuddle up on the couch with some tea or hot coca and wrap up in a quilt and watch movies or read a book, or do some handpiecing! Plus, I don't feel bad sitting inside all day sewing. In the summer I feel guilty to sit at my machine and sew when its hot and beautiful outside.

I've been working on a quilt for another family member, a pretty pink and purple flower basket pattern. I'll post pictures of it when it is finished and gifted, don't want to spoil the surprise. Hopefully I'll have the top pieced before the end of the week. Its hard to find the time to work on all of these projects right now.

A Farmer's Wife? Why not!

I ordered 'A Farmer's Wife' this week. It should be here this weekend. Am I a little crazy? Yes. As if I don't have enough projects on my To Do List, I'm adding another HUGE project. Over 100, little 6-inch blocks is slightly insane, but I figure it will be a very long work in progress. Something to keep me busy. Heck, I may even do it by hand! How crazy is that!

Finally, some pictures!

I know I haven't posted anything in a while, but I have had alot going on! Now things have finally slowed down, and I have had a chance to take my quilts out and get some decent photos. (For those of you that prayed, I want to thank you, because we have gotten some good news recently on the health front!)

Without further ado, this is what I have been working on lately:

(This one had already been stolen given away when I took the rest of the pictures, so I dont have a finished picture of it, but my sister is the one who has it, so I will steal it back for a quick picture soon.)

I'm actually sewing the binding to the back of a new quilt right now, it's a quilt I am making for my cousin's daughter. I'm also on the lookout for a good quilt pattern for my dad. I want to make him a quilt, but I want to make sure it is "manly" enough that he will actually use it. If anyone has any good suggestions let me know. I may end up just drawing one up on my own.