The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 32 Farmer's Daughter

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 32 Farmer's Daughter

I have had a few days to prep the next batch of Farmer's Wife blocks and am looking forward to seeing a bit of progress on this project over the next few weeks.  This little block is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 32 Farmer's Daughter and I managed to make use of a little charm square of fabric I had for the background - I wish I had a bit more of it.

Suzi the cat

Whilst I was out in the garden taking the photo, I was joined by my assistant, Suzi, who is enjoying being outside in this hot weather

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 25 Cups and Saucers

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 25 Cups and Saucers

We have had hot summer weather here in the UK which has probably used up our quota for 2018.  Still good weather to take photos of my Farmer's Wife blocks in the garden.  This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 25 Cups and Saucers which is looking fresh and lovely.

MODA Scrap Bag - Fig Tree Fabric

I have been out and about fabric shopping and was lucky enough to pick up a MODA Scrapbag with some Fig Tree scraps in it which are going to add a bit more variety to the blocks.  Another trip is planned soon, so I need to prep a load more blocks for our journey - it seems to be the only time I get stitching done these days.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 16 Calico Puzzle

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 16 Calico Puzzle

This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 16 Calico Puzzle. I turned around the corner pieces on this block whilst it was in production because I felt it looked better.
These are still photos of the blocks I did whilst away and the poor Farmer's Wife quilt blocks haven't been touched since I returned. It makes me think what am I doing with my time?

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 29 Economy

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 29 Economy 

This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 29 Economy.  The Economy block is one that pops up quite regularly and is probably a go to patchwork pattern which in general produces a quick, great looking quilt.  I have tried to fussy cut this one with a pretty rose in the centre.
Do you know where the name comes from?

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 15 Buzzard's Roost

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 15 Buzzard's Roost

When you are working through a book full of quilt blocks, there are some you love and some you love a bit less.  This Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 15 Buzzard's Roost comes into the second category, but on reflection I think I made a good colour choice.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 30 End of Day

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 30 End of Day

Another little block finished on our trip to Ireland. This is The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 30 End of Day.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 8 Bouquet

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 8 Bouquet

There are a lot of basket type blocks in the Farmer's Wife (20's) quilt and this is one of them,  the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 8 Bouquet.  I kept the florals in there and love the deeper red dotted amongst the blocks.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 11 Broken Dishes

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 11 Broken Dishes

Half square triangles - you have got to love them!  Here is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 11 Broken Dishes, showing them off to their best.  I love this pattern and keep being drawn back to it.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 11 Broken Dishes - English Paper Piecing

With my Dear Jane quilt recently on display I was reminded that not everyone realises that the quilt is hand pieced using English Paper piecing.  Here is a photo of the back of Farmer's Wife Block 11, Broken Dishes, with all the papers still in and the tacking stitches still in place.  I am using a light tan thread at the moment so they don't show so well.  I am sure I have said before that if I was required to complete these quilts using a machine, I truly would go insane.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 27 Darting Birds - visits South West Ireland

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 27 Darting Birds

I have been away on holiday in Ireland for the past week which has given me plenty of stitching time to work on my Farmer's Wife quilt blocks.  On my return the garden has burst into bloom so I decided to do an outdoor photoshoot for a change. Here is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 27 Darting Birds,  which is a very well travelled block as it accompanied me on a boat trip to Skellig Michael, a small island on the South West coast of Ireland.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 27 Darting Birds,
visits Skellig Michael, Ireland

Here it is surviving the large 'swells' of the Atlantic Ocean in front of Skellig Michael, recently made famous by being the reclusive home of Luke Skywalker, Jedi Master, in the film Star Wars Episode VIII.  

Dear Jane Quilt Finished!

'Dear Jane' quilt made by Frances Meredith

Did I say I had finally finished my Dear Jane quilt?  There is nothing like a deadline to get things done and as a push I had entered my Dear Jane quilt into the 2018 Quilt UK Show at Malvern this weekend.  The good news is that it has won some prizes including, Best Piecing, Best Sampler Quilt and a first prize in the Bed Quilt category.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 21 Contrary Wife

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 
Block 21 Contrary Wife

This one is pretty, the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 21 Contrary Wife. I have not had much time for this little project lately as I have been very busy quilting quilts for the Malvern Show which is next week.  One of the quilts is my Dear Jane quilt, which I will reveal in due course!

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 17 Cats and Mice

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 
Block 17 Cats and Mice

I can't believe we have reached May already.  The good news is that the Grand Prix Formula 1 has started and that provides a good 3 hours of stitching every fortnight whilst I watch events unfold.
This is the Farmer's wife Sampler Quilt Block 17, Cats and Mice, which is just one of the blocks I completed last weekend whilst watching the race a Baku in Azerbaijan. It's great to make the most of your time doing things you enjoy.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 20 Churn Dash

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 20 Churn Dash

I wonder how many Churn Dash quilt blocks are being made at any one moment in the world? 
This is my latest Farmer's Wife Sampler quilt block 20 Churn Dash, made up of just 17 pieces.  These little blocks turn out quite quickly and are much simpler than the Nearly Insane quilt or the Dear Jane quilt.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 31 Evening Star

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 
Block 31 Evening Star

The Moda Solids I bought a few weeks ago have really helped move this project along.  This is Farmers Wife Sampler Quilt Block 31 Evening Star, where the solids have allowed me to make use of this charm square of pretty Fig Tree fabric.

Suzi the Cat on the Butterfly Quilt

I thought it was time that we had a picture of Suzi.  The weather is on and off at the moment, but Suzi  is managing to follow the sun whilst remaining on the bed.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 9 Box

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 9 Box

I tried to do this one before, but it ended up as Block 41, the Friendship Star.  I welded some of the bits together to reduce the number of total pieces in this block.  It meant there were some Y-seams, but they are really no trouble when you are hand piecing.
I usually start a project knowing what I am going to do with it, but in this case I had the fabric and the Farmer's Wife book sitting there and thought I might as well start constructing the blocks and work out the layout as I went along.  Lots of ideas have passed through my mind, but I am thinking I might make up an applique border.  Any thoughts? 

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 2 Autumn Tints

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 
Block 2 Autumn Tints

This little Farmer's Wife Quilt project had reached a standstill because I hadn't prepped any blocks.  A pending weekend away, with plenty of travel time to get some sewing done meant that I really needed to spend some time getting the bit and pieces together.  Just as well that I did as I managed to complete four blocks. This one is Block 2, Autumn Tints and makes the most of some fussy cut roses.

The trip away was to the 2018 British Quilt & Stitch Village, Uttoxeter, UK, where I had entered my Nearly Insane quilt into the Traditional Quilt category.  I won a 2nd rosette, but was also pleased to receive the People's Choice Award, which was a great surprise - thanks to everyone that voted!

Exeter Quilt Show 2018 - American Jane fabric haul

American Jane Fabric

I expect you are all wondering when you will see my Dear Jane quilted.  So am I.  I am procrastinating and yesterday I managed to find some displacement activity by going to the Exeter Quilt Show at Westpoint.  You will see from the picture the magnificent haul which I largely managed to pick up at the charity stall. Instead of concentrating on finishing Dear Jane, I am already starting to focus on the next project which I had planned.  I am looking for American Jane (Moda) fabrics and I managed to pick up some old ranges in the form of a Frivol box (Bread and Butter), a deconstructed Jelly Roll (Recess) and a tiny charm pack (Hop, Skip and Jump).  I supplemented it with a layer cake from the current range (Merry Go Round).

I'm not allowed to start until, she is quilted ....

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 7 Birds in the Air

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 
Block 7 Birds in the Air

Wow,  I think this Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 7 Birds in the Air, has had the most pieces in it so far.  Forty in total.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 19 Checkerboard

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 
Block 19 Checkerboard

These little chequerboard (or checkerboard) blocks look straightforward, but the number of triangles that go around the edge always amaze me. There are 25 pieces in the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 19 Checkerboard, but it has the illusion of less.

It is good to be back to some regular blogging.  I realise why I enjoy blogging, it keeps me on track with a project.  

Kim Diehl Half Square Triangle Cat Mat

Half Square Triangle quilt layout

In a change to the usual Farmer's Wife Sampler quilt blocks I have another little project to show you.  It is another mat for the cat, using up the left over half square triangles from last years 'Scrappy Challenge'.  You won't remember that because I haven't shown you yet.  I am interested in trying out different layouts for HST's and there were enough left over to make this mat.

Quilting Feathers

I also wanted to use the project to test my quilting skills.  For over a year I have been practising  drawing feathers, but did not have the courage to try it on an actual quilt.  The muscle memory you gain from drawing really does help and when I took to my machine, they came out naturally - what had I been waiting for!

Quilted Cat Mat - Kim Diehl fabrics

The fabrics are the Kim Diehl leftovers from the Dear Jane quilt, which is still waiting to be quilted. Even with Dear Jane, my 2017 Scrappy Challenge and this small project, I still have plenty of fabric to make MANY more quilts.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 97 Waste Not

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 
Block 97 Waste Not

Another block has been completed, largely thanks to getting stuck in three traffic jams on one journey this week.  This is Block 97, Waste Not. As I have mentioned in the comments before, I have been making these blocks at 4" instead of the usual 6" and I seem to spend most nights thinking about what layout I should use.

Bella Solids Fig Tree Bundle

With so few pieces in each block I have been struggling to make them work, so I have invested in a Bella Solids Fat Quarter bundle which co-ordinates with all the Fig Tree fabrics I already have.  Let's hope this will move this project along more swiftly.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 6 Big Dipper

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 
Block 6 Big Dipper

I had a request for some of the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt blocks to be shown off in the snow that we have had in March this year.  We have had almost a foot of snow, the most since 2010. It has taken until today to actually have a block finished to show you, but here it is , Block 6 Big Dipper, sitting on the snow which is now rapidly melting as the temperature has resumed its normal level and sun is actually shining.

Suzi cat

There was also a request for photos of Suzi in the snow.  I think the expression on her face answers that question.  She has settled on the Allietare quilt for the past few days, just watching the white stuff come down in disgust.