Scrappy 1600 quilt ...

Or, you could call it my own personal 'Scrap Tub Race' ...

When I finished working on the FWS quilt top, I really needed to do something completely mindless, and here is the end result:

I pulled out my 2.5" scrap tub, and just sewed strips together until I had a strip that measured around 1600 inches (which is the normal jelly roll race measurement). I actually made it a bit too long - it was just short of 1800 inches, which has made my quilt a little wider than it would have been.

The result is VERY scrappy, and I have to say ... alarmingly, it has made almost no visible dent in the scrap box. This suggests that the potential for quilts from my scraps is virtually endless! Heavens!!

I'll quilt this up when I have a chance and give it to our guild as a charity quilt.

FWS - Border Print

I promised the other day that I'd share a closer picture of the border print I used in my Farmers Wife Sampler quilt. Finally, here it is!

Clearly I took the picture at night, it's pretty dark, but at least you can see the border print quite well. And you get a better view of the sashing fabric too - the sashing and the border fabrics are from the same range. The name escapes me right now, but it could be Chanteclaire? I do remember that it was a completely different designer to my other fabrics - three of which were by Judie Rothermel, and the tan print by Kaye England.

Update: I just did some research, and found that the stripes are Rosebud Faire by Renee Nanneman - such a beautiful collection!

I love to miter borders, and for this one, I attached the red inner border to the pink outer border first, then sewed the strip set to the body of the quilt, and that way I was able to miter the red and the pink borders both at the same time. Saves so much messing around I think.

And because quilts can evolve based on our fabric to hand, I just thought I'd share this with you: I had planned to make the border a little wider, but when I measured the fabric I had available, I only had enough of the border plus about 1/2" spare at each end to make the border 5" wide without joining the fabric. Trust me, I was holding my breath that I'd centered the fabric correctly when I was sewing it in place, and I pinned so carefully. It all worked out well in the end, and I'm really pleased with the result.

I have one more thing I'd like to share, but I haven't taken a picture yet, so I'll get back to you this afternoon! Chatter soon friends :-)

Mrs Billings ...

I've picked up Mrs Billings again ... sewed a couple of seams. It's going to take me a while to figure out where I left off ...

Thank you all for your kind comments about my FWS quilt top, I'm slowly getting back to you all. If you don't hear from me it means your email address isn't enabled, there were quite a few 'no reply' commenters.

I have more to share on the weekend, so chatter soon.

FWS Top Completely Finished!

Hooray, I'm just thrilled, I've completely finished my Farmers Wife Sampler Top. I attached three of the borders last night, and then the last one today. The last miter was done just minutes ago. As you can see from the picture below, I need to give the top a good press, but once that's done, this baby is moving on to the next stage of it's journey.

It's not easy to see the border fabric in the picture, but it's a pretty border stripe from the same range as the fabric in the sashing strips. If I remember, I'll share a closer picture soon.

I'm just so thrilled to be able to work on something different for a change, I've really focused on this project lately. In my mind I've started working on a Christmas block exchange to put in the mail - a 1600 quilt from my 2.5" scrap bin, and I can get busy on Mrs Billings again. Happy days! :-)

Finally!

I have been notably absent, and my sweet friends have been checking on me, thank you!

Things have been busy busy here, and I've been working hard to get the FWS top together. All the blocks are done now, I just have to attach the borders, and I'm just thrilled!

Rows & Rows

Posting: Not so much. Sewing: As much as I can. Holidays: Very enjoyable. Emails: Way behind.

Chatter soon :-)

Hooray!!

As of four o'clock this afternoon, I have finished all the Farmers Wife Sampler blocks. All 111 of them! How very exciting!

As is my habit, I left the hardest one, 110 - Wood Lily, until last. Here are the final two blocks:

 Block 100 - Weathervane

Block 110 - Wood Lily

Block Total: 111

Because I've decided to make the quilt the twin size length, but with extra width so it's square, I will need to make up two extra blocks at some stage. I'll choose them when I'm assembling the top and see what fits colour and design wise.

I do kind of hope to get the top assembled before the end of the school holidays, but more importantly, I really do need to get up to date with my chores, and spend some q-time with Camo. I promised him I'd have a Lego building day with him this week :-) and they're lots of fun! So, if the top isn't complete, I won't beat myself up over it, I'm thrilled to have the blocks finished, and well ahead of when I thought I'd get them done! Chatter soon friends xox

And Another 2 FWS Blocks

This evening I put together yet another two FWS blocks - when you're on a roll, you have to go with it right? Won't be long now and I'll be able to share something entirely different with you - are you looking forward to it? *lol*

But without further ado, here they are:

 Block 101 - Wedding Ring

Block 87 - Star Gardener

Block Total: 109

Block 87 is a little crookedy at the top there, and I'm completely disinterested in fixing it. Let's pretend it's perfect :-) Can you believe I only have two blocks left to make, it's so exciting! Squeeeee!!

This afternoon I had a lovely afternoon catching up with Claire and Shay. We always chatter and snack too much and get little done, but it's so nice to do. Looking forward to our next visit. Chatter soon peeps! xox

Next 2 FWS Blocks

Here are my next two FWS blocks. I feel like I'm coasting toward the finish line now. I'm watching the first men's semi final at Wimbledon while I'm stitching. It's Federer versus Djokovic, and it feels like it's going to be a long match. I'm hoping to have the stamina to see them play to the end, and maybe that'll mean I can get another block made? Here's hoping :-)

Block 57 - Morning 

Block 79 - Silver Lane

Block Total: 106

I have a busy weekend ahead of me, so let's hope I can keep up my momentum with these last few blocks. Chatter soon :-)

Update:

I did manage to get that next block made while I was watching the tennis, and here it is:

Block 86 - Squash Blossom

This means I have only got four blocks left to make - Oh My Goodness, I'm just thrilled!

Block Total: 107

2 More FWS Blocks

I made up two more FWS blocks today - both of them quite simple ones. The basket is one of the blocks that spooked me a little - a five grid block that finishes at six inches always needs to be cut at wierd sizes, so to make life easier, I foundation pieced it. No accuracy in cutting required at all!

Block 45 - Grape Basket 

Block 59 - Night & Day

Block Total: 104

I'd love to get some more blocks put together tomorrow - I'm watching the tennis now, so I'll see what blocks I have left to make and get some ready. Chatter soon! xox

Hexie update ...

While visiting with Lizzy last night, I began adding the next element of my hexie project. I like where it's heading ...

2 FWS Blocks

Just a quick update before I head to bed. As much as I'd like to stay up watching Roger Federer play at Wimbledon, sometimes a body is weary and just says NO!

Block 83 - Spider Web 

Block 95 - Temperance Tree

Block Total: 102

I'm not sure why I avoided Spider Web for such a long time - it was actually really easy - and given how many Spider Web placemats I've made, you'd think I could do it in my sleep. Temperance Tree has a wonky section in the bottom left corner, and if I feel inclined I may fix it tomorrow - it's just a seam that got a bit narrow at one point and made the square a little crookedy.

I have a little ouch on my finger at the moment - while I was pressing the Spider Web block, my brain had a fade and I pressed my middle left finger a little. It's not terrible, just a hint of pink and smarts a bit. This quilting is a dangerous sport don't you think? :-)

FWS Century

Here is my 100th Farmers Wife Sampler block. It feels like I've taken forever to get here, but really it's not that long at all. My picture of this block is a little crookedy, I think it's square in real life :-) All those seams, who can tell *lol*

Block 38 - Four Winds

Block Total: 100

I didn't quite make my quota of five blocks for last week - I only made four, but now that I'm on holidays I should have plenty of time to catch up. In fact, I'd like to have all my blocks made (and in a perfect world the top put together) by the end of my time off. No pressure *lol*

Chatter soon :-) xox

Amy's formal

Just a quick pic for those of you who haven't already seen on the Facebooks :-) Amy and her boyfie shortly before heading off to formal. They had a great time and are now off to the after party. It's a big day for all involved :-)