Farmers' Wife Friday - Block 12 Broken Sugar Bowl

Happy Friday!  This week I was only able to complete one additional block for my Farmer's Wife quilt.  I assembled block 12 which was the Broken Sugar Bowl block.  At least it measured up to the 6" requirement but as usual had some difficulty with the 2 and 7/8th inch block.  Hopefully by the end of all these blocks, I'll be a pro in assembling small blocks.  I Hope you all have a great Friday and weekend!

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Special Visitor

We usually have monarchs on our milkweed plants in the back.  However, lately I had been seeing a more yellowish butterfly fluttering around.  The other day I finally walked out with camera to try and get a photo.  Luckily, I got a decent photo.  It is a Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (after much searching, I found that one out) and supposedly a female.  

Our milkweed plants are huge.  We had 2 huge plants but lost one this week in a recent downpour.  It was just too top heavy with all the flowers and toppled over since it had nothing to support it.  it pulled the roots and all.  Luckily, after inspecting the broken plant, we did find one chrysalis and brought it in for safekeeping.  We hope it makes it after all that. Here's a photo of the Tiger Swallowtail.  I love the blue on the wings

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Layout Change - Breast Cancer Quilts

I'm not a square quilt kind of person.  When the measurements add up to form a square, I do everything to add more height.  Add it to my list of quirks.  But yet, when I see other people make square quilts, I like them.  Go figure. 

I tested out the breast cancer quilt with the horizontal spacer rows between every 4 rows.  Well I did one and then used graphics software to crudely add in the other solid fabric strips.  I did not like how that turned out.  So, since it was digital, no seam ripping needed. 

I went from there to a totally random layout of all the blocks.  I shortened the width from the center panel shown in the previous quilt and added more rows.  Thus, I got the rectangle I was looking for.  Here are all of the blocks out on top of the bed quilt before I started sewing.  I'll show the completed quilt top in a day or two vertically so you can see all the fantastic blocks and sayings!  One more quilt top to lay out.  I think I'll go with the same layout since there are so many colors in that bag of blocks as well.

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Assembly Started - Breast Cancer Quilts

I started the assembly of the first of two Quilt for the Cure quilts I am putting together.  Some of the blocks I received could not be cut to 5" square because they were too small.  I finally came up with cutting those to 4.5" squares and then putting the sponsor block in the center with a border.  The two center rows around the sponsor block are the 4.5 and the outer two rows have the 5" blocks.  I'm shocked that they measured up to match.  I must have paid some attention in my math classes :-)

Now, I have 8 more 5" block rows of 13 blocks each to assemble.  Four more rows above and four below.  I'm thinking of adding a dark pink row above and below these center four rows in the photo.  Maybe I could embroider encouragement words such as Courage, Survivor, etc on the same pink fabric as used in the border of the sponsor block.  Just not sure yet.  I'm hoping to get all the rows/sections completed on this first one today.
Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Farmer's Wife Friday - Wonky block 11

I was at least able to complete one Farmer's Wife block this week.  It was Block 11 - Broken dishes.  I think I've come to the conclusion that I can't cut blocks that have the 3/8th or 7/8th measurements. I'm not accurate in those eighths cuts.   I must have cut some blocks wrong because this block came out so wonky.  Time to cut it down.  I am going to have the most modified Farmer's wife around, I'm sure.  Hope you all have a great Friday!!

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Pretty in Pink

This year's breast cancer quilt blocks are all trimmed and ready for arrangement and sewing.  I've picked out two optional backing fabrics for the quilt backings.  One is a very soft argyle pink ribbon fabric made of flannel and the other is a words of encouragement batik fabric.  I'm hoping the batik fabric behaves when I try to sew with it.  My goal for this weekend is to be able to assemble at least one of the quilt tops.  I just need to finish up on the sponsor's center block framing.

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Baker's Dozen Pillowcases - Caught up in one Weekend

I've been trying to think of things to create with my serger.  I just purchased a bunch of serger books that should be here this week to give me some ideas.  Until then, I figured I would work on the pillowcase challenge that I was 13weeks behind on.  

So far, I had already completed 14 pillowcases up until now.  Based on which week we are in, I should have had 27 completed so far since I wanted to complete one per week.  Well, I shocked myself and finished 13 pillowcases with the serger this weekend.  What a breeze and so clean on the serger.  No more french seams for me, the serger finish is for me on the pillowcases now.  

Now, it takes me more time to cut the fabric then to assemble the pillowcases with the serger.  I completed a set of cheater fabric sets, several red white & black red sets and some blue with vertical stripes and dark blue/light blue sets. Here's the pile completed this weekend:

 
Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Jelly Roll Block Of Month - Block 10

I finished block 10 of the Moose on the Porch Jelly Roll Sampler Quilt Along last night.  When I finish some of these blocks, they are not 12.5" big.  I don't know what I'm doing.  Maybe sometime I forget to reset my machine and don't exactly get a 1/4" seam.  I think my blocks will need to be trimmed down to 12" before assembly, that's OK by me.  I don't follow quilt police rules.  If a point is snipped off, no problem.  Hope you all have a great weekend!

Thanks for stopping by!
~*~Trish~*~

Farmer's Wife Friday

What a slow week for me... It must be the heat.  Even with air conditioning it makes you sooo lazy.  It reached over 100 degrees here this week.  I saw one time/temperature sign show 105.  Whew... that's hot!  When it gets hot like this you'll hear us saying in our home, "God Bless the person that invented air conditioning".  I managed to sew two Farmer's wife blocks this week.  They are blocks 9 - Box and 10 - Bowtie.  I'm not crazy about the color combinations but when they are all together, I'm sure they will all blend in.

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Treasure Chest

One one of my trips home, I helped get up in the attic and clean things out.  There, way in the back was this chest that my  mom believes was my great great Grandmother's chest she used when moving to the US.  It's a little worn in some areas but what a beauty to have restored.

When it was opened, it was like it had not been opened for 40 years.  It had drapery sheers in it that stunk so bad and seemed to be discolored.  I tried to wash them.  However, when removing the items, out popped this little hidden gem.  It was a hand sewn table runner.  Everything made it out of the cycles OK except the outer binding.  It frayed off in some areas.  I'm thinking maybe I can cut it down on the outside rim and add back the outer binding.  I think that resewing on a new binding is really my only option.  I'm excited to find this surprise but disappointed I did not find it before it went through the washer and dryer. 

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Fabric Shopping - Going back for more

I did not spend very much time sewing over the 4th of July holiday.  However, time on the boat and visiting with others also allowed me to take my netbook and complete a little surfing or should I say shopping.  Once I saw that fabric.com was having a "red, white, & blue" with increasing discounts sale, I was hooked, that's all I could think about.  Discounted fabric, Discounted fabric.  I went back 3 times and ordered fabric.  But I'm pretty happy with the discount!  One shipment should be here today.  In this shipment I ordered the Sandy Gervais Awesome fabrics.  I loved her Gobble Gobble fabric so this was so similar.
Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

2010 Quilt for the Cure Warrior Quilt Blocks are here

I received my box of squares to assemble the 2010 Warrior Quilt project.  It is supported by the Neighborhood Ford Store.  The blocks are created by participants in the Pittsburgh Race for the Cure.  Last year, I was able to assemble and quilt 4 quilts from the blocks made.  This year, I will be contributing 2 since life has been so busy lately.    

You can read more about the blocks and see photos of women creating the blocks here.  Last year, I did not know anyone in my immediate circle actively battling cancer.  What a difference a year makes.  I have a dear friend with breast cancer and my dh dealing with his.  The next couple of days will be spent squaring up over 300+ blocks.  Looks like this batch I received may have not all been made at the race since they look more like homemade squares and will need to be squared up.  Early glance shows a lot of squares made by children.  It's so inspiring to read all the squares and messages.  I'll try and share some of my favorites along the way.

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Wishing you a Safe and Happy Fourth of July!!

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Farmer's Wife Friday

Yeah!  The long weekend is here!  And, I'm finally past the bat wing block.  On this set of 3 blocks I completed, I once again attempted the bat wing block.  Believe it or not I had 2 more attempts on this block.  But they are gone and they are now forgotten.  

I finished Block 6 - Big Dipper block first and I cut way too many square fabrics for this one.  So, I reused the fabric for the Block 5 Bat Wing.  I'll move them around on the quilt once it's completed.  And finally, I finished Block 8 Bouquet.  I skipped over block 7 since there were too many triangles, I may come back later. 

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~