Whole Lot of Sewing Going On

Prepare yourself for a long update and many photos.  I've been really busy at home the last couple weeks.  I love being home with Jack.  Together we garden... 

My Garden :: Week 5

and when he naps, I sew...

Swoon Block 4

Swoon Block 5

Swoon Block 6

Swoon Block 6

And... I've finally pulled out my Farmers Wife Book again.  Remember those cute little 6.5" blocks that were inspired by the Farmer's Wife letters that answered the question, if you have or had a daughter would you want her to marry a farmer?  Well here are two more:

[85] Square Dance

Quote from the letter that inspired the block:  "Yes.  I have two young daughters, although not yet of marriageable age but I wish them both to marry farmers.  First, because the country home life is more nearly complete in itself, and therefore productive of real happiness.  Each member has important duties which make him necessary to the whole.  The city draws from the home, not toward it." Mrs. J. J. T., Cascade County, Mont.

Fabrics Used: Bliss, by Bonnie & Camille for Moda;  Hope Valley, By DS Quilts for Free Spirit;  Heath, by Alexander Henry

 [22] Corn & Beans

Quote from the letter that inspired the block:  For my children I covet happiness, development and service and that they may 'live in a house by the side of the road.' Happiness is not a matter of locality but of training and congenial companionship." Mrs. W. R. Hutchinson County, S. D.

Fabrics Used: Peas & Carrots, by American Jane for Moda;  Hope Valley, by DS Quilts for Free Spirit;  a vintage sheet

Here are my 12 blocks.   Only 38 more to go!  Ha ha ha,  maybe I'll pick up the pace a little.  Opening up this book and reading the letters again, really makes my heart long for the open country and a simpilar lifestyle.  Man these ladies really make me appreciate things I often take for granted.  Now that I'm gardening, I feel a little bit more connected to the farmer's wives.  But only just a little.  They did it all without modern conveniences.

Well, my heart is happy to have made so much progress in my sewing room.  I'm truly loving it.

xo,

Lindsay

P!nk Confession :: A Finished Quilt

Okay,  I have a secret to spill about me.  I think I finally like pink! Its so weird because I've never like it before.  Its always been this way, I don't know why.  There have been a few exceptions, like once I owned a mauve a-line skirt, but thats it for at least 10 years now, absolutely nothing else since.  Until I saw this post at Cluck Cluck Sew by Allison.   Maybe its the desire for a baby girl in me, maybe the color is growing on me.  Okay, its probably both!

So two weeks ago I was staring at my fabric stash and all the pink jumped out at me saying "cut me!"  I needed a few more coordinates.  Nothing a trip to Joanne's doesn't fix, right?  There was no waiting this baby wanted to be born.

This was such a fun quilt to make because I really began to fall in love with each fabric.  I especially never thought orange and pink went well together but now I do.  Don't you?

All the fabrics I used are from various line by Denyse Schmidt, who else?  I know, my obsession is getting a little out of control.  But I'm okay with that.  I added the grey print to give the eye a spot to rest on.  I picked that idea up from Rita at Red Pepper Quilts, except she usually uses a black and white print.  I think grey did the trick.

Okay the new love for pink didn't stop with this quilt...I also went and bought a hot pink satin top from F21 with matching nail polish (see above), and a new shade of pink lipstick.  

For the backing I used this calico print I've had for ages also from Joanne's.  I've saved it not know what I'd ever use it for.  It went perfectly. 

P!nk Confession Quilt Stats:

Size: 38" x 41"

Finished blocks are 3.5"square using Hope Valley, Sugar Creek, Aunt Edna and Daisy Mae all by DS Quilts

Binding is Kona Cotton in Charcoal

Backing is unknown

I've updated my Etsy Shop so you'll find this P!nk Conession Quilt listed here.

xo,

Lindsay

Friday Favorites

This weeks Friday Favorites are so fun, from Flea Market Fancy to Mendocino.  Have a great weekend! 

1. all my hand pieced blocks in FMF, 2. Binding the Hope Valley Quilt, 3. Mendocino Quilt, 4. Recess baby quilt, 5. Eating in Bed, 6. Christmas Swap with Angela

Bali Wedding Star

This week, I was contacted by Sandi about a photo of a quilt I took last summer while vacationing in Montana.

Sandi was wondering if I knew any info about this particular quilt.  Who made it?  Where to find the pattern? 

At first I was just gonna let Sandi in on the disappointing fact that I sadly I had NO IDEA!  I was really just lame and just took a photo of this masterpiece and didn't even think of writing down any info about it.  Then a curious hair sprang up in me, and I just had to find out.  So I went to good old Google:D  Google Images actually.  After scrolling for a few minutes I saw this mini quilt:

Wait a second, is that the same design?  It couldn't be?  It is!  The image led me to this forum.

Which lead to me finding out that it is the same pattern and its by Judy Niemeyer.  The pattern is a foundation paper piecing called Bali Wedding Star and can be purchased on her site here. 

This is THE QUILT!  I mean, a double wedding ring with diamond stars!  Can it get any more beautiful?  What a masterpiece!

Then I looked back I my photo, and I realized I was standing in front of the original!  So cool!  Okay, maybe I'm geeking-out right now, but Wow!

Sandi is going for it.  How about you?  Who, me?  Well, I thought having the double wedding ring quilt on my bucket list of things to make was high bar, but Judy Niemeyer takes it up a notch!

Just thought I'd share in case anyone else was interested.  Anyone want to start a QAL or Flickr group?

If you are daring like, my new friend Sandi, please share with me/us.  Love to see your fabric selection and photos along the way.

xo,

Lindsay

Swoon Block 3

Okay, I'm definitely Swooning over these babies.  I didn't think it was possible to crush on yet another block.  You may be detecting a theme by now, but I'm not sure if I'm committed to it.  So far my blocks are quite patriotic, but I'm not sure if I'll keep that going or do the whole Picnic and Fairgrounds line.  Although the thought of having a 4th of July quilt does drop visions of good times in my head.  Oh, I'm thinking of Montana a lot lately.  I can't believe its already mid April, and yet...I can't wait for our summer holiday in August.  Ahh, warm weather please come sooner!

We Have Growth!

I have HAPPY inside.  

I'm so excited!  Coming up here is spinach. 

And here we have cauliflower and red beets.  The corn also sprouted, but I didn't get a good shot of them yet.  No sign of the carrots though.  Or at least, I'm not sure if what I see is carrots or weeds.  I was able to weed the rest of the box, but the carrot section I left alone.  I couldn't decipher where my rows are.  It could all be weeds as I may have planted the seeds too deep. I'll wait and see.

I've been reading The Pocket Guide to Amish Life by Mindy Starns Clark on Kindle.  Last week I read that  "The average Amish farm in Lancaster County has about 70 acres, and the crops commonly include corn, tobacco, alfalfa, and various grains.  Unfortunately, rising land costs and decreased availability are prohibiting many younger Amish from continuing the farming tradition.  Nowadays, the Amish work not only on farms but also in other trades, factories, restaurants, retail establishments, and so on...  

Glenn Rifkin gives this report in the New York Times: The business, which favor such Amish skills as furniture-making, quilting, construction work and cooking, have been remarkably successful.  Despite a lack of even a high school education...hundreds of Amish entrepreneurs have built profitable businesses based on the Amish values of high quality, integrity and hard work. 

...With the shift into entrepreneurship, of course, comes all sorts of challenges to the Amish way of life-new technologies, less time spent at home with family, and even mothers working outside of the home."

I sometimes wonder if the world that surrounds the Amish culture will inevitably infiltrate their way of life as technology competes with skill.  Still they have managed to remain authentic even when they make new exceptions into their culture.  Got to love the commitment & perseverance!

Speaking of growth.  I found this awesome growth chart for my little man on Etsy.  

Abbie's House

Isn't it cute?  It looks like a giant ruler!  I got the decal kit from Abbie's House on Etsy for only $12.  Gonna head to Lowes to get my supplies today. 

Catch ya later,

Lindsay

Friday Favorites

This has been a CRAZY week!  I got hit with a flu virus on Tuesday afternoon and ended up in the ER!  Finally starting to feel better.  Thank God!  I'm so thankful for all the days I'm not sick and that I have such a wonderful husband.  He has been a real trouper and hasn't complained one bit.  I think I chose wisely when I married him.  :D  

Not much sewing going on around here this week although lots of surfing the web.  Bored out of my mind in bed.  I'd like to be productive, but I'm still not quite there yet.  

So I leave you with some Friday Favorites I found this week:

 

1. fiesta pitchers, 2. patience_lieblingsdecke krabbeldecke quilt frankfurt_DSC_3833a, 3. starry skies sampler, 4. sherbet squares., 5. Sneak Peek, 6. Fandango Charming Stars, 7. monogram pocket placemats, 8. TT22, 9. On a Whim Quilt Finished, 10. Wonky Crosses~Finished, 11. Red and White Hand Quilted, 12. Baisakhi Medallion Quilt, 13. Lavender Kiss14. Not available15. Not available16. Not available 

Oh, and if you haven't been invited to church on Easter Sunday, its this Sunday, April 8.  

Please do not hesitate to go.  Celebrate one of the most amazing events in world history – the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (The only competition comes from Christmas when God became a man!)

Happy Easter!

lil of this, lil of that

daffodils

In the last couple weeks, I've been catchin' up with my routine.  

Jack and I finally got those seeds in the ground last Tuesday.  I let that darn box just sit there for a week before planting.  Of course little weeds began to grow in that time.  Now I'm not quite sure how often to water.  I think I'll just stick with checking it every morning for moisture.  Sound good?

Oh, almost forgot to tell you WHAT we planted: sweet corn, carrots, red beets + cauliflower (might be to late for cauliflower), spinach. 

Unfortunately, we had some hard rain Saturday night, I hope it didn't do any harm. 

Indoors we have the tomatoes + cucumbers.  

I'm so nervous...I hope something grows, anything.

Got my second Swoon block finished.  Not totally as thrilled about this pairing, but I'm sure it'll look cute in the mix.

Picnic & Fairgrounds by DS Quilts

I'm really excited about this Little Golden Book.  Remember when I went here, and purchase this fabric panel?  Well, I finally pulled out the panel and some scrap batting and stitched it up.  Finished it in a few hours!  Its available here.

I love cloth baby books, don't you?

Especially ephalents...Yep, thats right I said, EPH-A-LENTS.  Thats what my mom says I called them as a kid.  My dyslexia apparently began before I could read, ha ha.

Just for fun, I also thought I'd share our dinner menu for the week. 

Monday:  Cobb Salad

Tuesday:  Roasted Red Pepper Tomato Soup + Strawberry Pecan Spinach Salad

Wednesday:  Lemon Honey Dijon Curry Chicken + Spinach Orzo Salad

Thursday:  Cream Pasta + Veggies

Friday:  Lettuce Wrapped Hamburgers + Sweet Potato Fries

Saturday:  I have NO IDEA...lets each out!

Sunday: Deviled Eggs, Easter Ham + whatever my family brings to share!

If you'd like any recipes, just email me.  I love to share.

<3

Enjoy your week!