Ta Da!

Farmer's Wife Center Complete!

Yes, it's been awhile since my last post.  Bet you can guess what I've mainly been working on...  Yep, my Farmer's Wife quilt center is now complete!  I absolutely adore it!  Pictures just don't do it justice.  It sparkles!

 

 

 

A girlfriend met me at the quilt shop this morning to hold my hand while I selected the border fabric.  Now that that step is done, guess what I'll be doing today and tomorrow?  Yep.  Good guess.  LOL.

Also, I'm leaving on Thursday to go up north for three weeks to visit family.  I'm really looking forward to it.  I miss them terribly.  It's been almost a year since I've seen my sister.  This time of year is very difficult for me emotionally, as it will be three years since my Chris passed away and also October 6 was our anniversary.  It would have been 34 years.  Sigh. 

 Anyway, I need to get cracking on this quilt.  I have to get it put together so I can drop it off to another girlfriend (and amazing quilter who uses her domestic machine!), who will put the finishing quilting touches on it.  It is going in our guild's Quilt Show this March.  My first quilt to put into a show ever.  Bit nervous here.  :o)

Quilty hugs,
Suzy

Quilters Against Kids Hunger and Homelessness

So proud to be a part of this group of wonderful women...

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My Farmer's Wife Blocks Are D-O-N-E Done!

Happy Dancing here!  This is one of the projects that has kept me from blogging more frequently.  My Farmer's Wife blocks are now DONE!  I'm so happy; yet kinda sad at the same time.  Silly, I know; but I have really enjoyed working on them.

Get ready for a block show:

Blocks 51-60

 

Blocks 61-70

 

Blocks 71-80

 

Blocks 81-90

 

Blocks 91-100

 

Blocks 101-111

If you missed the first show, you can click here for the first 50.

I went to the quilt shop the other day and purchased the fabric for my sashing, cornerstones and setting triangles.  I am going with a nice brown for the sashing, but wanted to brighten the quilt a bit by using a pretty gold for the cornerstones and a gold tone-on-tone for the setting triangles. 

I don't know yet what I will use for the borders.  I want to construct the center first and then take it to the shop to see what speaks to me.  I used all civil war repros in the quilt, so I know it will be a repro fabric for the border.

I see a lot of cutting in my future...as well as figuring out what blocks will go where in the quilt.  I think my first step will be organizing the blocks by colorway and then just playing on my "design floor" (otherwise known as the great room floor).  LOL.

Wish me luck,
Suzy

Memories...

First of all, I can't believe it's been almost two months since I last posted.  Where the heck has the time gone?!?  I know I've been busy doing stuff, so I will post soon about all the happenings around here.

For this post, though, I wanted to share a quilt with you all.  It really brought back a lot of memories...  I have recently been helping my elder daughter (33) redesign her condo in a sort of beachy/shabby chic vibe.  (One of the many things I've been doing these past two months.  LOL).  It is coming along nicely.  We play ideas off of each other really well.  :o) 

Anyway, I was there today running through final touches, and she mentioned that the quilt I made her when she was 19 would look really nice with the décor.  Terrible mother that I am, I couldn't for the life of me remember the quilt.  She even told me I had written a really nice poem on the label.  Man, was I ever scratching my head.  I know I've made many, many quilts since I started quilting in 1997, but you would think I would remember the ones I've made for my own children!  Jeez.  What a bad mommy. 

Anyway, I asked her to get it for me, and as soon as she brought it out all the memories came flooding back.  Some were still a bit foggy, but we're talking 14 years ago, right?  Of course, I wanted to take pics.  So I'm sharing them here for posterity.  The pic of the quilt isn't very true to color.  The yellows are much brighter and happier, not so cheddar looking; and that's a pretty minty/sage green as the contrast.  I'm so glad she still loves it all these years later.  :o)

May I never forget...
Suzy

Puzzlemania

Wanted to pop in and show you a little quilt I'm doing for an auction held by NQA.  It measures 18" square and I just need to stitch on the binding.  The puzzle technique was taught in a class given by our charity guild -- Coastal Quilters.  We all did one and we were told to bring a coloring book drawing (I used a drawing from EQ -- I'm not sure if it came with EQ or was an add-on program--I'm thinking the latter).  Once in class, we traced the drawing onto freezer paper, then just drew random lines around the drawing, cut out all the freezer paper pieces on the drawn lines, and fused our chosen fabric, etc.  I'm sure I'm not explaining it correctly, but it was easy and fun. I did mine in a quilt-as-you-go method, using satin stitching to hide the fused section joins.
 

Everyone's is different, depending on the drawing they used and their individual fabric choices.  Didn't it turn out cute, though?

Feeling fishy,
Suzy

Finally Over The Blues

This project has been in my UFO bin pile since probably the late '90's -- not long after I first started quilting.  When I picked it back up the other day, there were four "9-patch" blocks assembled and 12 of the alternate blocks were done.  I think I was planning on doing more, as I also had a stack of various blue fat quarters also in the bin...and a large amount of yardage of the blue plaid.

Well, after I made 9 more of the "9-patch" blocks and layed them out alternating, the blue just overwhelmed me.  I like blue fine, but it just didn't talk to me.  I knew I needed another color to give it some interest...and so I started playing.  I pulled several different fabrics from my stash closet (yep, trying to use some of my stash here, as well as tackle my UFOs).  At one point I even toyed with the idea of red/white/blue, but didn't have enough of the red/white background that I thought looked nice with it.  This layout with the gold also happens to be the one that I chose first, and it works for me.  I kinda like the "country" feel the gold gives it.

It feels wonderful to have one less UFO taunting me from the closet.

Here's to more UFO progress,
Suzy

Scrappy Trippin'

My Scrappy Trips top is now done!  It's huge -- 96x96!!!  There are 1,460 squares in it.  Yes, that's crazy...but it was so fun!  :o)

On to the next project,
Suzy

Dancing Baskets

I have another UFO finished into top form.  This one will be called "Dancing Baskets," unless I can come up with something wittier between now and when it's time to put the label on it.  LOL.  I'll be sending it out to be quilted as it's queen-sized.  I really like how it came out.  Wasn't sure about the blue borders, but they have grown on me.

I'm currently working on the quilt I will be teaching at Kids Quilt Camp this June.  No pics yet.

Hope you all are having productive days as well.  :o)

Chuging along,
Suzy

Farmer's Wife Blocks 1-50

Hi all!  As promised, I'm finally getting around to posting the progress on my Farmer's Wife blocks.  I'm almost at 60 done, but since I'll be posting in groups of 10, I've got the first 50 for your viewing pleasure.  You can click on the pics to enlarge them.

Blocks 1-10



Blocks 11-20

Yes, that black, red and ecru one is supposed to be pieced like that.  :o)



Blocks 21-30



 Blocks 31-40

Two still need the paper removed.

Blocks 41-50

Three still need the paper removed.

Hope you enjoyed my little block show!  :o)

Quilty hugs,

Suzy

More Info On My Custom FQ Die

A few of you have expressed an interest in my custom FQ die and how you can get one like it.  First of all, I'm flattered.  Thanks, peeps for thinking I've "dun good".  LOL!  Second, y'all are "noreply" so I can't contact you directly, so I'm doing so here on my blog, which may also help those who are interested in the future.

Now on to the important stuff...  Yes, I did design this die myself -- it is custom and not stocked for sale by AccuQuilt.  However, it MAY be possible to obtain one for yourself by contacting AccuQuilt directly with the information I am about to share with you.  FYI -- I drew up my prototype using my EQ (Electric Quilt) program.  Made it easier for me and AccuQuilt was very impressed.  *big grin*  Once I submitted the prototype, the ball got rolling and they quoted me a price ($132.00) and after my approval of their CAD drawing, they sent it on to be manufactured and shipped to me.



My Prototype as drawn in EQ



With that all said, and considering all the "hard" stuff is done, I wouldn't be surprised if they kept my die board in their archives (I mean, what if I use this one to death and need another?  LOL!)  So I will share with you my "die number."  Ready?  It is FQS9200186.  And I called the die "FQ To Scraps."

I hope those who are interested can get one for yourselves.  I'd love to hear from you on the outcome of your inquiry.  Good luck!

Quilty hugs,

Suzy

It's Here!!!

I got my custom FQ die today from Accuquilt!  I am so pumped!

Yes, I've tested it out.  I would have taken a video, but it's just little ol' me (if you don't count my Dad visiting for the winter who is totally techno challenged) and, of course, I need my hands free to crank.  Teehee.  So pictures will just have to suffice...

Here's the die (after my marking the cutting blade lines with my black sharpie).

And here's the die with three FQs folded lengthwise on the die.

And here's the die going through in one pass.  I must admit that it was a little tough to crank when I came to the end of the pass, but I think it's because I need to break the sucker in.  I'll let you know more about that later if it doesn't improve.

And here are the results! 

3 FQ's in one pass = six 2-1/2" strips, six 2" strips, six 1-1/2" strips, six 1" strips, six 1/2" strips (for mini string blocks using scant seams), 30 2-1/2" squares, 24 2" squares, 24 1-1/2" squares.  VERY LITTLE WASTE!

If the FQ I am cutting is short on a side, I put that side on the strip end, so my strips are a bit shorter (which is fine), and I lose that last full 2-1/2" square, but can use them as scraps or recut them into 1-1/2" or 2" squares.

In a FQ frenzy,
Suzy

Do-Over

Isn't it funny how fabric choice can totally make or break a quilt...

Better?

Lesson learned,
Suzy

Design Wall Monday

I'm making progress on a few of my projects. 

Here's where I am with my Scrappy Trip quilt.  All the blocks are done and now I'll be sewing the rows together.  Not sure if I'll get to these today.  Maybe tonight when it cools down some.  It's already 86 degrees here.  Probably will reach 90.  The thought of the weight of the quilt in my lap as I sew the center together just doesn't appeal to me in this heat.  And I refuse to turn on my air conditioning.  I'm a fresh air kinda girl.  *grin*

Here's my other project.  The workshop quilt that we didn't know what we were getting as they were in paper bags.  Each of the quilts everyone worked on were all different.  I was happy I got oriential fabrics, but I'm just not liking this quilt very much.  That and the fact that there wasn't enough fabric for the bottom border and I had to make do.  The only redeeming factor is that when my daughter picked up my grandson last night, I had it laying on the great room floor wondering if I should remove the one side border and replace it to match the bottom border; and she saw it and seems to love it.  Of course, it being in the purple color family may be a big reason.  She's a purple girl.  I was going to donate it to our guild to add to the charity quilts, but now I think I will send it to be quilted and give it to her as one of her birthday gifts (March 25). 

What are you all working on today?  Share with us on Judy's blog.  :o)

To finishes,
Suzy

I Caved...

Yep, I caved.  I'm weak.  I admit it.  (*hangs head in shame*)  Here are the Scrappy Trip blocks I have done so far...

Yes, they are just like potato chips...you can't stop at one.  There are worse things to be addicted to, I think.  :o)

Addicted and proud of it,
Suzy

AccuQuilt Now Offers GO! Custom Dies!!!!

Oh, heart be still!  I'm am swooning!  Custom dies for the GO!  I've been dying for this option since the beginning of my GO! die obsession!  You'd better believe I hopped on that bandwagon as soon as I opened the e-mail notification.

I've been especially craving a die for my FQs that I can cut multiple shapes from in one pass for my scrappy quilts.  I love me my scrappy quilts!  Yep, I've already submitted my prototype (using my trusty EQ7 program) -- here it is:

I know you're eyeing that 1/2" strip and going "hmmmm" since there would be nuttin' left over after 1/4" seams, but they will be used in string quilts and I will use tiny seam allowances.  I didn't want anything to go to waste.

The overall size of the blades will be 8-1/2" wide by 21-1/2" long, so I'll just have to fold my FQs in half once and I can cut 3 FQs in one fell crank.  I didn't want to make it 9" x 22" in case the FQs are cut a smidge too small.  So whatcha think?

I think I'm in looovvveee!
Suzy

P.S.  I see another FQ die in my future utilizing brick shapes and half-square triangles...(*fans self*)

Setbacks...and Playing Catch-Up

Whew...that was a long blog break.  I've been outta commission in one way or another for longer than I thought.  First was the ribs thing...and just as I was getting all healed up, bam, I messed up the tendons in my left arm and shoulder.  Man!  The pain was worse than labor pain...no lie!  At least with labor pain, you get the slight reprieve between contractions -- not so with this kinda pain!  So after dr. visits and quartizone (sp?) shots and pain meds, I was finally feeling up to snuff again and just in time for my trip up north to spend three weeks over Christmas with my sister and her family.  It was a great visit, up until a week before I left and then, bammm, a lousy cold.  I blame my brother-in-law, he started it.  Then I got home and the cold kept getting worse and worse.  Finally dragged my stubborn butt to the dr's and what do you know -- bronchitis, strep throat, sinus infection and TWO ear infections.  Jeez, can a girl get any luckier?

Anyway, I'm doing much better now, although I still have a lingering cough.  Hope that's it for me in the poor health department for the remainder of the year.  LOL!

On the sewing front, nothing got done while I was out of commission; except for one good week at my sister's when they were at work and my niece was in school.  That's when I managed to get quite a few Farmer's Wife blocks done.  I'm now in the mid-50's!!!!  Honest, I will post pictures soon on that.  :o)

My Easy Street sat stagnant at the four patches (first step), until recently.  Now I'm caught up on all the parts and am starting to put it together.  I have the four corner units done and one of the side units.  I'm getting there!  I'm loving how it's turning out and the final quilts that everyone is posting are gorgeous!

I'm also working on a mystery lap-sized quilt that I had a workshop for this past weekend.  Just have the borders to put on.  It was a fun class and we didn't know what we were getting fabric-wise as all the kits were in brown paperbags.  I'm happy I got oriental fabrics, but not sure yet if I like how they play together.  I'll have to let it marinate.  If I still don't love it, I'll donate it to our guild charity.  Here's a pic of it layed out while it was still awaiting row construction:

Well, that's it for now.  Hope you all are healthy and happy in this New Year!
Suzy