Down on the Farm

The NEW camera is here, in my hands. You are looking at my first post using my new toy. Nothing crazy, but a newer version of my ten year old DSLR. (Whew, times flies.) The weather around here has been dismal in the last week. I finally lost my patience for real daylight, I decided to take out the flash to see what this camera could do at night. There might be a learning curve but not horrible.

Now onto the meat and potatoes of this post. Last year I signed on for the 1930's Farmer's Wife Quilt Along hosted by Gnome Angel and friends. It was a good ambition. Between holiday sewing and other craziness the project was forgotten with only five blocks done. Now, things have settled around here and it's time to get going again. The goal is to get caught up, hahaha. I laugh while writing this. So far, I have made an honorable attempt but not caught up. I did get 9 block finished.

Yes, the corners got sewn on wrong in my attempt to mass produce these blocks.

I must admit these shots would have come out so much better had I used natural light, but I just couldn't wait! Dear sun come out so I can play.

1930's Farmer's Wife - Aunt, Becky, and Bonnie

Here we go! Looks like this quilt along has taking over the quilting community. A couple weeks ago, I posted about my stash for the quilt along. Over the weekend I was able to get some quality sewing time in! It was awesome and very productive. After Gnome Angel released the tutorials for the first 3 blocks, I was determined not to fall behind. This weekend #8 Aunt, #12 Becky, and #16 Bonnie got finished. Now I just need to keep up the pace ... 

If you have not seen the others work head over to the Instagram hashtag #fqs1930quiltalong. It's been awesome to see everyone else's color choices. 

- Patch & Chels

X-Ceptional Finish

Yay! My X-ceptional quilt is finished! At the end of this summer I got some serious sewing done and still catching up on blog posts. With a busy beginning of the school year, it has been nice to have pictures in the queue. This quilt was from the Fat Quarter Shop's Summer Book Tour.  I showcased a book called Quilted Living by Gerri Robinson of Planted Seed Designs. Awesome book, it took me so long to decide which pattern to choose, but in the end I am so happy with the X-ceptional pattern. Here is my earlier post about the project. 

For fabrics I used a bundle of Kona solids called Rhonda Ruth, it's a coordinating bundle to go with the release of Elizabeth Hartman's new line of fabric. The colors were lush, saturated, and amazing. I also mixed in some prints, linen, and low volume from my stash. The binding is done in a Lotta Jansdotter navy print found a Joann Fabrics. The backing in s a Joel Dewberry print. I am in love with everything about this quilt, which almost never happens. 

QUILT STATS: 

• Finished Size: 66 inches x 66 inches 
• Pattern: X-ceptional by Gerry Robinson 
• Fabric: Rhonda Ruth, and stash fabric
• Batting: 80/20 blend
• Thread: Connecting Threads - Parchment

The top is quilted with a dogwood flower. I feel as though it's an easier free motion pattern. This pattern is also one of  my favorites and whenever a quilt as a 4 inch square it's my go to quilting. Also using a blend for the batting helps the quilting show a little more. Now I have been quilting more designs its nice to have them show up! Hope everyone is enjoying some back to school sewing, it's been the opposite for me :(

- Patch & Chels

Quilted Living Summer Blog Tour

Welcome to the second stop on the Quilted Living Summer Blog Tour by the Fat Quarter Shop! This week is all about Gerri Robinson's Quilted Living. The book contains 10 unique projects that have a traditional-country look to them, but also can have a modern feel. Just my style :) These are quilts that go great in a country home, but also can be made with a variety of fabrics to change the feel. Having such versatile patterns is helpful to have in one's stash.

Photos from Fat Quarter Shop's Sew Emma Publication 

When the Fat Quarter Shop asked me to be apart the of this blog tour the hardest part was choosing the project. More like choosing the first quilt, there are so many patterns I want to make. Jenn made the Freedom pattern, which is also on my to do list. This is the kind of book that you put every quilt on the to do list, not just one or two. I ended up starting with the X-ceptional quilt. The blocks were not overly difficult to complete, but did require some time. They were well worth every second! Seeing them all completed just solidified my love of this book. 

When I was pulling/purchasing fabrics for this quilt I wanted it to have a modern fabric scheme that would showcase the X-ceptional blocks. Solids with some prints that read as a solid eventually won out. I started with Elizabeth Hartman's new solid pack, Rhonda Ruth and added from there. The backgrounds are a variety of low volumes, my favorite is this texting print from the line Modern Minis, mixed with some Essex Linen, Kona Snow, Kona White, and a variety of other prints. I was really happy with the overall scrappy feel of this quilt. 

If you haven't already check out the Fat Quarter Shop and the rest of the blogs in the Quilted Living Summer Blog Hop you should check them out! Also the Fat Quarter Shop is offering a huge giveaway this summer to TWO winners. Click to see how you can enter! 

Monday July 13th
Fat Quarter Shop

Jennifer of Never Just Jennifer

Wednesday July 15th
Chelsea of Patch the Giraffe

Thursday July 16th
Melissa of Happy Quilting

Friday July 17th
Gerri Robinson

Jane of Quilt Jane

Paula of The Sassy Quilter

-Patch & Chels

{Fat Quarter Shop} Joyful Jelly Roll Tree Skirt Love

If you're coming over from the Fat Quarter Shop WELCOME! If not, glad to have you back :). 

When I was asked to be apart of this tree skirt project I, of course, said yes! If you would like to get your hands on this beautiful pattern you can purchase it at the Fat Quarter Shop! They are also offering a kit and a video tutorial to help you through the pattern. In the whole process, the only part I was concerned about was binding around the circle, and that ended up being very easy. So, give it a try! 

Disregard my lack of Christmas tree, they are not in season!! 

Last fall I made a quilt top using some of my favorite Christmas fabrics I had collected and had a bunch of scraps left over.  This skirt pattern was too cute to pass up! I ended up using the same fabrics so it would match. The background is Essex Linen in Natural. I wanted something that would make the white prints pop and add texture.  The linen was a great choice. 

Knowing the quilt top wouldn't get heavy use, I went with some light hand quilting in red.  The quilt ended up having a nice drape to it, which will look great around a tree. The big stitching was just enough to add detail but not take away from the fabrics. 

If anyone is looking for Christmas fabric, in my search I found the Fat Quarter Shop has a Christmas Cloth Store.  Pretty spectacular! Some people are probably laughing at me, but for those of you who didn't know, it's awesome. Also, if you haven't already, head to the Jolly Jabber to see other versions of this tree skirt. 

-Patch & Chels

Layers of Charm

A while back the Fat Quarter Shop contacted me about participating in their newest pattern release.  Well, duh. I said yes! Layers of Charm uses one layer cake and one charm pack.  Hence the name :). After much debate a layer cake of Pedal Pushers by Lauren & Jessi Jung was my final decision, paired with a charm of Kona white. The line is just happy. Everything about it brings a smile to my face. If you would like to make your own head over to the You Tube video, here, to find out how.  

The past couple of weeks the weather has not been cooperative. The view form my window right now looks more like a snow globe. 48 inches of white fluffy snow plus epic wind gusts is not ideal photo conditions. Neither is inside, but it's the best option right now. Sadly, the photograph doesn't do all these pretty fabrics justice. 

The ease and simplicity of the pattern makes it a good afternoon project. All you have to do is sew from corner to corner across the charm square and the block is done. If you hate waste like me, then sew another line a half inch from the center for a bonus HST. Arrange the blocks and sew the rows together. The backing is pieced using white strips and leftover squares. I do enjoy pieced backing for a couple reasons. One, it adds a bit of pizzaz to the quilt. Two, it uses up extra fabric from the same line and reduces scraps. For the quilting an all over stipple pattern with aqua thread did the trick. 

With the additional HSTs birthed two decorative pillows. Some backing was made into binding for these two and hand-stitched the tops for additional decorative flair. If you absolutely hate scraps this was a great little extra. From each quilt you can get an additional 36 - 4 inch HST after trimming.  

What layer cake would you use to make this quilt? Have one already with no project in mind, I highly recommend this pattern :) 

-Patch & Chels