Farmer's Wife 1920's: Finished

Oh tears of joy are being shed.

This finish has been a long time coming. My 1920's Farmer's Wife quilt got started in 2014, last year I purchased the super cute and fitting chicken fabric for the back. Then it sat for a whole year longer.

Pathetic completion rate, I know.

As I sat and bound this quilt, I was reminiscing that these blocks were created in 1922. It's almost one hundred years ago! How awesome is that? So long ago and still relevant.

poor detail shot of my little chicken fabric

Here are some links about the progress of this quilt ...

Farmer's Wife Quilt Sampler, Farmer's Wife, Farmer's Wife Sampler, Farmer's Wife Quilt Sampler,  Farmer's Wife, Farmer's Wife, Final Stretch, Farmer's Wife: Quilt Progress

A little more reminiscing to add.

While compiling all the links for this post I sat and read the comments for each post. Crazy how much time has gone by and friendships that had just started two years ago have turned into so much more. Friends who have continually inspired me through their blogs, and for some of them now in person friends! These two years have been such a wonderful adventure into the quilt world. 

Net: - 4 yards (backing + binding), YTD: - 19.5 yards

1930's Sunday Stash

Is anyone else as excited about the 1930's Farmer's Wife Sew Along hosted by Gnome Angel, Marti Michell, and Fat Quarter Shop? Let's say I squealed with glee when this was posted a while back. I quickly pulled all the 1930's print I had on hand. Then purchased a few more (shhh!). All the orange, yellow, and green prints got removed as I refined my final sections.

Here is the final line up, I did keep the aqua/teal colors but removed anything that was green.  I also included some brown and neutral prints to tone down the rest of the colors. Then I found a layer cake of Storytime Prints, circa 1930, so I added them to the stash.  This layer cake included some of those cute character prints that I love so much.  It was such a great free find! 

Then I pulled this chalkboard out and painted it a mint color. I had a wooden chalkboard for my 1920's Farmer's Wife Quilt, it got passed along as the "Traveling Chalkboard" so a new mint colored chalkboard is necessary for the 1930's round. 

My copy of Farmer's Wife 1930's Sampler Quilt by Laurie Aaron Hird has arrived in the mail, and I have patently waited to start my blocks. Lets just say I am ready to take on this challenge! 

Anyone else joining in the fun?

-Patch & Chels

List o' WIP

Ok this summer it was no secret how I had an epic list of WIPs that needed some control. At one point I was up to twenty, which is a huge amount for me (insert me pulling out my hairs!). Well, months have passed and many quilts did get finished, but I still have quite a list of WIPs to go. In fact, I have started a couple more even before getting to my goal of five. This post is mostly for me to document what needs to be done in terms of WIPs to finish out the year.

Farmer's Wife - top finished

True Pink -  top finished

Sugar Block of the Month - 6 more blocks to go

Aja's Twin - blocks completed, top needs to be assembled

Dapper - binding to be hand-stitched (sorry no progress shots)

Thimble Blossoms - top finished 

Patriotic Star - top quilted, need binding

Fireworks - need to finish blocks, 10 of 19 done

Large Swell - finished, need to photograph and blog

+ Scrappy HST - top finished, no photos

+ Looking Glass - top finished

In case you weren't counting, that's 11 in all. Ok, down from 20 but still I feel it's quite excessive in my world. Looks like the end of 2014 shall be a productive time! Also some of these quilts are going to be gifts this holiday season so that is additional motivation. 

-Patch & Chels 

Farmer's Wife Quilt Progress

My farmer's wife quilt blocks have gone a long time unattended. The blocks were finished back in May. As I was making a perfect little stack of my new blocks, I realized they were not all the same size. Some where a whole half inch off. All the blocks created using the templates were small! I must not have hit actual size when I printed the templates. This created a huge problem, if I cut them all down to size I would lose most of my points. Quite devastated and frustrated I put the blocks away.  

Over the summer I did cut the sashing and the corner blocks, then remembered my error and once again put the whole project away as it was too painful to see all those pretty points that would be lost with the addition of the sashing. All that time spent on the project only to have it look bad in the end. 

Look at the edges near the sashing and you can see all my missing points :(

This last weekend I finally trimmed the blocks to the same size and started putting on the sashing. It was hard knowing there wasn't anything I could do about all my disappearing points, I just worked on through and tried not to over think the process. The top isn't as bad as I had envisioned but it's not my typical level of craft. Overall it looks ok.

Two of my favorite blocks on the right

The original plan was to hand-stitch the whole top, but that would be too slow and I would fixate on all the mistakes. For that reason, I am going to machine quilt the top instead. The backing is going to be an orangey floral backing fabric I was gifted a while back.

Has anyone else ever experienced this level of disappointment on a project that has taken so much of your time?

-Patch & Chels

Traveling Chalkboard

Many people have commented on how I photographed all my Farmer's Wife blocks using a little chalkboard.  I completed my blocks a couple of weeks ago, and decided to pass along the chalkboard for some inspiration/motivation to others who are working on, or starting their FWQB.

Here is the concept, each person will get the chalkboard for a month before sending it along to another blogger.  We will all be linking to one another so you can follow the chalkboard's journey.  How cool, I think my chalkboard might get to more states than me!  You can also follow the chalkboard through our flickr group, named the Traveling Chalkboard.

First stop is Stephanie at Late Night Quilter.  She is working on some beautiful FWQB using many of my favorite prints from Happy - Go - Lucky, just wait until you see them!  They are so great, makes me rethink my color palette.  Stephanie is also coordinating the Supernova Friendship Block Swap.  There is a link to the flickr group.  This block is fascinating.  I have been snooping to see the color combinations people have chosen.  If only I could take on one more project! 

Stephanie also has started the Late Night Quilters Club.  (I hope you're in awe right now of how much she is doing!)   Not sure if any of my readers tend to find themselves at the sewing machine late at night trying to finish up a project this is the group for us.  Yes us, I did join because let's face it, working a full time job leaves me no other option!  The best part is, the group is on Facebook.  You don't even have to be a blogger to join!  Plus, isn't this banner super cute?  

As for now, the chalkboard is in the custody of the United States Postal Office headed to it's new destination.  Stephanie should be receiving the package shortly or already!  Follow along at Late Night Quilter to see what happens next!  (The suspense is already killing me!)

As for progress on my own FWQB not much is happening.   All the blocks did get squared to the correct size, but that is about it. Right now all I can show is this pile of trimmings.  Hopefully, soon I will have a second to sew the sashing and blocks together.  Although, I am in no rush either.

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts and Fort Worth Fabric Studio. 

Sew long for now, 

PATCH & CHELS

Farmer's Wife

Last week I broke down and printed all the templates for the Farmer's Wife quilt.  Some blocks where beyond trying to figure out.  I finally got around to sewing up another group of them.  Ok, I got really carried away here!  Here is a sneak peak into my method of madness.  That poor book binding might not make it through this experience!

Overall sewing with the templates wasn't bad.  They take forever to cut and trace, but not horrible to sew.  It actually is less trimming once I got going.  At first they were pretty intense, then things got easier, or less stressful.  Once all the blocks were laid out on the floor, I realized with only six more I have a good sized lap quilt.  Six more it is!  

Sew long for now, 

PATCH & CHELS

Color Run + Fireworks

I just have to share, I survived my first 5k this weekend!  After months of painful training, and sheer determination it was race day.  My aunt and I did the Color Run.  Even though it wasn't timed, it was still fun.  Now I want to do a 5k that I actually have to seriously run and get timed.  We spent more time taking pictures and goofing off rather than running!

Once home, I fell into a complete sewing coma.  Race stress was gone, and I got sewing fever.  Literally just sat and sewed for 10 hours straight ... it all started with this lot of Fireworks blocks.

The pattern calls for 16 blocks total, and I cut 4 extra.  That makes me half way done!!!  These blocks are quite intense, and take some precious time to make just one!  Although I am still in love with drama of each block.  Pretty sure those piles of cut fabric are going to remain there for a while longer.  I ran out of fireworks steam for the moment.  My aunt picked a monochromatic taupe color theme, and it works really well with this bold pattern!

I also broke down and printed the templates for the Farmer's Wife quilt.  So I started cutting out fabrics for the next group of blocks, most with the templates.  Wish me luck!  It just looks intense.  Hopefully those will be ready to share in the next week or so.  Fingers crossed for success here.  

Sew long for now, 

CHELS

Farmer's Wife

This weekend I had some time to work on my farmer's wife sampler quilt.  I went all out this time around and completed TEN all at the same time!  Yay, me.  Here is how they came out ...

Sorry some of the photo's are dark.  I was racing the sun at this point in the day!

Sew long for now, 

CHELS