Preparation - Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - 1 day to go

 

New Rotary Cutting Blade

Happy Thanksgiving! What does this mean - it means that there is only one sleep until Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt kicks off tomorrow.  You will have seen my previous post with all my lovely fabrics set to go and today I making some further preparations for the next few weeks.  Firstly, I have put a new rotary blade into my cutter.  There is going to be a lot of cutting in the next few weeks, so lets make it a pleasure.

New Machine Needle

Secondly, I have put a new needle into my sewing machine.  Again, there is going to be a lot of sewing in the next few weeks, so let's start off on a good foot.

Sewing Machine Bobbins

Thirdly, clean out the bobbin case of your sewing machine. It will be interesting to see what it is like after the Grassy Creek Mystery Quilt, but at least I will know it was clean to start with.  Fourthly, wind some bobbins.  We are going to get through a load of these and according to Sod's Law it is usually at the most inconvenient time.  Because this is a scrap quilt, I will probably take the opportunity to empty some half filled bobbins too.

Leaders and Enders Projects

And finally, I am making an assumption that there will be a lot of chain piecing, so if you have a 'Leaders and Enders' project to hand, it might be worth pulling that out in readiness to see what can be achieved with an additional project.
 

Final Stash Pull - Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt - 16 days to go

Just 16 days to go. I have been doing some final preparations for Bonnie Hunter's Grassy Creek 2020 Mystery Quilt by doing a thorough pull from my stash for her colours.  Luckily, I had quite a bit of fabric left over from my Dear Jane quilt in very similar colours, so that is filling the bulk of the stash pull.  However, with most of the sewing being done over the Christmas period, I do not want to go short, so for 'safety' I made an order to The Sewing Studio in Redruth for the colours below.  On the far left there is a grey Grunge -I think it will be a perfect addition.  The others include some Ruby Star fabrics - just because they have metallic shiny flecks on them!

Succulents by Rachel of Greenfields

'Succulents' by Rachel of Greenfields

If you have been following my Facebook page, you will know that I have been using 'Strictly Come Dancing' on a Saturday night to do some hand stitching on this little 'Succulents' kit from Rachel of Greenfields.  This is the second one I have done and it is now hanging on my wall. I love the bright colours and the quick finish!

Stash Pull - Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2020 - Grassy Creek

The anticipation has got the better of me and I had to reach into my stash and pull the colours for Grassy Creek.  I have done about four of Bonnie Hunter's Mystery Quilts and each time I have changed the colours. I looked out of my own window to admire the autumn trees and all the colours were there, so this year, I think I will stick with her colour scheme.

Grey - 5 yds - I have gone for a warm grey.  I have a lot of this as I seem to have been collecting it for something special - think this is it.
Cream - 3 yds -  I always have lots of this too.  Not sure how happy I will be cutting it up for strip piecing.
Green - 1.5 yds- love green, but you have to have the right one
Red - 1.5 yds - love red and have loads
Yellow - 1.5 yds - I have gone for a gold / mustard colour if possible
Orange - 1 yd  - probably have enough of this and wish there was more of it in the quilt.

Having done this audit I went online to buy more fabric - just in case.😁

Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2020 - Grassy Creek

 

Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2020 - Grassy Creek

I think I have been waiting for this day more than ever this year.  Today, Bonnie Hunter has released the details of this years 2020 Mystery Quilt, called Grassy Creek.  The colours are based on the autumn colours of her hometown and I couldn't resist rushing to my stash to see what colours I could find.  I am liking the deep red / orange / gold combination, but think I need to work on the green and greys.

I am really, really going to try and do this mystery quilt this year.  Anyone going to join me?

All the details are here https://quiltville.blogspot.com/2020/10/grassy-creek-quiltville-mystery.html

Welcome Popcorn

 

Popcorn

I have just realised that I have not introduced Popcorn formally on my Fabadashery blog.  He joined us in June and has just had his 6 month birthday.

Nearly Insane Quilt - resurrected

Red and White Scraps left over from my Nearly Insane quilt

These two jars of scraps have been looking at me since I finished my Nearly Insane quilt top back in July 2015. This holiday weekend I decided to sort them out and make them into their own fabric.

New fabric made from the white scraps

The white scraps made this pretty piece which measures about 15" x 15"

New fabric made from the red scraps

For some reason the red scraps were bigger and ended up making a piece which was 25" x 22".  No plans for them yet - I may combine them, I may leave the red one as it is.  This project has reminded me of other 'bags of treasure' I have squirrelled away, which I was going to do something with one day.  Maybe the one day is very near.

New fabric made from the red and white scraps

There are some pieces which are too small for even me to tackle, along with trimmings.  These bits are not thrown away.  I have a large bag of  small scraps which I fill up and take to the local charity shops where I believe they can recycle them into 'shoddy' felt.

Fabric trimmings for recycling

Weaver Fever quilt

Weaver Fever quilt with Be Mine quilt pattern

My Farmer's Wife quilt has been put on the back-burner for the time being whilst I ruminate how I want to put it together.  Also, over the past few years I have been working towards my City and Guilds Patchwork qualification with various assessments to complete.  I haven't shared any of them online as I was waiting for our 'final exhibition' which is due at the end of August - so don't hold your breath.  Luckily, the lockdown gave me the time I needed to finish all the work off and now I am free to sew what I like!

Weaver Fever quilt with Be Mine quilt pattern

First on my list was this Weaver Fever quilt which I started at a workshop with Judi Mendelssohn last summer.  My pink and green  quilt colour choice was guided by some amazing flamingo plush fleece which I picked up at the Fabric Guild in Leicester.  I have made several fleece quilts before and I have a healthy stash of it, mainly picked up when I am in fabric shops in France.  The pink and green fabric was purchased just over a year a go from Hannah's Room and Kaleidoscope Quilts at the Malvern Quilt Show in 2019.  There is also a debate whether to put anything in the middle of a fleece quilt. I like to put something, varying from a brushed cotton sheet to normal wadding.  On this occasion I have put 100% Hobbs Polydown.  I hope to use it in our campervan, so I want it to be warm and cosy.  It is certainly that.

Weaver Fever quilt with Be Mine quilt pattern

I quilted it on my APQS longarm machine using a pretty pattern called Be Mine, which if I am honest, I bought especially for this quilt.Really looking forward to using this quilt.

 'Be Mine' designed by Patricia Ritter and Leisha Farnsworth for Urban Elementz. 

Farmer's Wife Quilt - Easter 2020 update

Farmer's Wife Quilt - 111 blocks complete

As promised, here is the Easter 2020 update on my Farmer's Wife quilt blocks.  The news is that all 111 blocks of the 1920's Farmer's Wife blocks have been completed.  As you may remember I have reduced the size from the original 6" and brought them down to 4.5" square.

Farmer's Wife Quilt - 111 blocks complete

As usual I have enjoyed seeing these little blocks come together, but now they are all done I need to decide what layout I want them to be in. With the smaller blocks, obviously the overall quilt would be a lot smaller than the original, so I need to put a bit of time to think of the options.  Naturally, I have a bag of fabric left over, so the options are quite open.

Farmer's Wife Quilt - 111 blocks complete

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 68 Postage Stamp

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 35 Flower Basket

Believe it or not, this is the last block.  This is he Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 68 Postage Stamp.
This was the last block I cut out because I wanted to make it up from the scraps which I had left over.  I also saved it until last ans I knew it would be my favourite block to do,.  Each piece is 11/16th (18mm) square, a lovely size to work with.
Although the blocks are all done, I don't intend to join them in the prescribed layout and need a bit of time to decide what I want to do with them.  Look out for a full reveal in the next few days!

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 35 Flower Basket

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 35 Flower Basket

This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 35 Flower Basket. I almost completed this little block over a year ago and intended to put something in the basket, but on my final analysis, it was going to look to heavy, so I went back to the original and stuck a handle on it.  In my opinion, there were way too many basket blocks in this quilt - they are not my favourite.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 99 WCTU

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 99 WCTU

This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 99 WCTU.  I am guessing the WCTU is like the WI? 
Once this was finished it looked a bit wobbly.  I gave it a good steam, but it is going to take removing the papers and sewing it to the final quilt to make it work.
Only 3 to go!

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 106 Wild Rose and Square

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 106 Wild Rose and Square

Is this my first outdoor shoot for 2020? I think so.  This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 106 Wild Rose and Square. Very pretty.
The countdown is close as there are only 5 more to go and then I will give you all a BIG REVEAL of the blocks I have done so far.  But then what?  The final layout has not been worked out and I don't have another set of blocks waiting int he wings (but I do have plenty of books with some in!).

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 80 Single Wedding Star

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 80 Single Wedding Star

Today I am presenting the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 80 Single Wedding Star.  The current situation is allowing these to progress at an alarming rate - alarming because I don't know if I have enough to keep me quiet for the next week. I am SO near the end.
Personally I am feeling overwhelmed by the number of Quilt-Alongs and projects that seem to be currently thrown at me from all directions.  As if I don't have enough projects of my own to tackle! At the moment I am taking the situation to take breath and take the opportunity to live a less frantic life. I have plenty of projects waiting in the wings for when the moment takes me.
Joining with Slow Stitching Sunday

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 82 Spider Legs

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 82 Spider Legs

There are 44 pieces in this 4.5" Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 82 Spider Legs.  There is always a little panic when I see such small pieces, but once they are sewn to the next one, it is already a bigger piece, so the worry soon goes.
Current circumstances have meant that I have pulled out my Farmer's Wife bag to do at home.  Usually I save it for trips or waiting rooms, but that won't be happening for a while ....

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 76 Sawtooth

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 76 Sawtooth

It has been a while since I finished a Farmer's Wife quilt block, so I have started to put a bit of effort in as there are so few left to do.
This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 76 Sawtooth.  Lots of little triangles on the edge which needed a bit of persuasion to lie flat, but  it looks OK in the picture.
Meanwhile, my other quilts, including my Nearly Insane and Dear Jane sampler quilts are touring the UK with Grosvenor Shows.  They will be in Duxford next weekend.

Joining up with Slow Stitching Sunday.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 88 Star of Hope

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 88 Star of Hope

While many of you are waiting for the final part of Bonnie Hunter's 2019 Frolic Mystery, I am quietly sewing up the last few Farmer's Wife blocks. The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 88 Star of Hope is the next in line and I was pleased to finish it over one evening.
With the New Year in full flow, do you have a sampler quilt which you have your eye on?

Joining up with Slow Stitching Sunday 

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 77 Seasons

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 77 Seasons

This is the first Farmer's Wife block I have done in 2020 - The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 77 Seasons block.  This was a quick win with just nine pieces, a great way to kick start the piecing for 2020.  I think I just have nine blocks left to do and then to decide how I am going to put them together.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 75 Rosebud

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 75 Rosebud

I had a lucky find this morning - I was looking in my English Paper Piecing travel bag and I found this completed block sitting at the bottom, the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 75 Rosebud block.  It looks like quite a simple block, but there are 28 pieces in it.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 87 Star Gardener

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 87 Star Gardener

Getting all these Farmer's Wife Quilt blocks together is within touching distance with about 10 to go. This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 87 Star Gardener - pretty pinks, pretty greens.
Joining with Kathy at Slow Sunday.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 79 Silver Lane

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 79 Silver Lane

Some of the little Farmer's Wife blocks I am working through at the moment have quite a few pieces.  This one, the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 79 Silver Lane, has over 40 pieces in a 4.5" block.  I cut out the pieces many months ago in April 2019 - I love that I fussy cut the white pieces!

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 49 Honeycomb

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 49 Honeycomb

Here is a block I finished a while ago, which is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  Block 49 Honeycomb.  I thought some bees would appreciate to flowers to collect some honey when I was choosing the fabric.

Joining up with Slow Stitching Sunday!

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 90 Storm Signal

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 90 Storm Signal

Here is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 90 Storm Signal - the same pretty colours I have used throughout the quilt. 

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 89 Steps to the Alter

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 89 Steps to the Alter

My Farmer's Wife Quilt continues. As we enter into December it makes me wonder if I could get all the blocks done by the end of 2019? This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 89 Steps to the Alter quilt block which I finished hand piecing last night.  When I was faced with all the little pieces in a bag it was hard to imagine how this block came together, but when I cut it out (back in April 2019), I was sensible enough to take a photo for reference. 

Linking up with Kathy for Slow Stitching Sunday

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 94 Tall Pine Tree

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 94 Tall Pine Tree

This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 94 Tall Pine Tree.  Not the most elegant of blocks, but I tried to make it interesting by having two tones of green and I made sure that the wording in the print was all going in the same direction.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 98 Waterwheel

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 98 Waterwheel

Another outside shot, whilst I catch the last rays of the Autumn sun. Last week here in the UK we had some snow in November - it didn't last for long, but I think it must be the earliest I have ever seen snow.
This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 98 Waterwheel. With the winter nights, my regular weekly slot of watching Strictly Come Dancing on a Saturday night is helping these little blocks come together nicely.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 107 Windblown Square

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 107 Windblown Square

This is The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 98 Waterwheel.  Today I thought I would show you an 'in progress' shot.  I carry my English Paper Piecing around a lot, so for convenience I usually lay my little pieces out on a teatowel. It is quite grippy and if I need to stand up or move it suddenly, they can be neatly folded up and put to the side without too much disruption.
Have a happy sewing day!

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 107 Windblown Square

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 91 Strawberry Basket

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  91 Strawberry Basket

It is the end of October and here in the UK we have a bright sunny morning, so I thought I would take advantage of the lovely weather to do an outside shoot for my Farmer's Wife block today. The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  91 Strawberry Basket is the latest of blocks which I have been stitching whilst the dancing is on the television.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) 84 Block Spool

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  84 Block Spool

I think we must have all done this block at some time in our quilt life.  This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's)  84 Block Spool.  I tried to get the striped fabric in the middle to look like wound thread!

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) - October 2019 Update

Farmer's Wife Quilt blocks

About this time of year I like to give an update on the progress of my current project - The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's).   It doesn't look like much has been done since the last update, but the pile of blocks has definitely got bigger and I know that I have cut all the papers and pieces to complete the final blocks.

Farmer's Wife Quilt blocks

I have done 91 blocks which means there are only 20 remaining.  As I have often said, there is no hurry.  At the moment this project really is a background project, but maybe with the winter nights drawing in, I may be spending some more time by the fire in front of the telly.  Once I have made all the blocks I need to make a decision about how I am going to set them - too many choices!

Farmer's Wife Quilt blocks

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 102 Whirlpool

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 102 Whirlpool

So glad to be making quiet progress with these blocks.  This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 102 Whirlpool. It looks like a traditional block, so I expect it also has some other names - do you know of any?  

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 100 Weathervane

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 100 Weathervane

As well as being a the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 100 Weathervane, this is a traditional block which you may find elsewhere.  My local quilt group had a challenge 'WEATHER' recently and this was the only idea I came up with, but with my slow stitching, it never came to fruition. I will bank it for a future group challenge.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 105 Goose Chase

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 105 Goose Chase

Don't look too closely at this one. The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 105 Goose Chase at this stage is a bit distorted and I am relying on the sashing / neighbouring block to tame it in submission.  I often get queries about this problem with regard to English paper piecing.  As I said, I hope the neighbouring piece will bring it back, then once the paper is removed the fabric will relax a bit, and finally the wadding and the quilting will fill it out.  That's the plan, but meanwhile I will press on with the remaining blocks.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 93 Swallow

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 93 Swallow

Thank goodness for Strictly Come Dancing - I have finally found a regular slot each week to get some of these blocks done. This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 93 Swallow - yeah I guess I can just about see a swallow in that block - what do you think?
Linking with Slow Stitching Sunday

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 103 Whirlwind

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 103 Whirlwind

So many of these Farmer's Wife blocks have similar names, it is easy to confuse them.  This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt (20's) Block 103 Whirlwind, 102 is Whirlpool, then there is 105 Wild Goose Chase and 104 Wild Geese. I think my chart for tracking my progress is correct, but I am ready for any nasty surprises at the end!