My 3" and 4" 1st 50 Farmers Wife Sampler Blocks

Wow! I wondered if I would ever get this far on these little guys.
These are the Blocks from Laurie Aaron Hird's Book "The Farmers Wife Sampler Quilt".
3inch in 30's Fabrics
Please do not feel like you will offend I WANT your opinion on what would make it better.
I would love to have everybodies help in picking out a sashing for these 30's fabric Blocks. I have taken a picture with a few different choices or if you think they would maybe be better with something else please let me know. Maybe white? tye dyed muslin? I am really undecided and would love any and all opinions.

4" Blocks in Scrappy Prints
I would also like to have any color suggestions for sashing colors on this one. I have decided I think the colors so far are way too dark, so will be adding some more lighter colors in. Maybe I should do more background whites?Or should I do the sashing white to lighten?? hmmmm
Please don't be shy, all opinions matter!!

I'm not sure what every ones weather has been up to lately but ours sure has been interesting! Monday I decided to go down to my folks(about 65 miles from here) When we left our house it was 40 degrees and raining. We stopped at Valley Market (6miles away) and it had dropped to 31 degree and started sleeting. Got into Rapid (6 more miles away) and it had dropped again to 26 degrees and was a full blown snowstorm! Yep! we turned around and went home...
Then yesterday we had our guild meeting in town and was going to leave after it for the ranch. I headed into town and got by the "S" curves (about 8 miles) and was pretty slick and snowing big flakes, Ok, maybe this is not a good idea..... Decided to finish going into town attend the meeting and go home. Well, when I came out of the meeting the "sun was shining"! and the roads were getting pretty slushy.. Hmmm maybe I will chance it (brain decided I could get there and back before it freezes again since was trying to pick up my oldest son you see)and head down to the ranch. I called hubby and said well I'm on my way. The driving lane was clear then we arrive at Hermosa and all they have there is Frosted Grass! Unreal! ! All in all my son is now back, and when we got home I and Casey shoveled 8" of snow off our driveway. We have decided that we are "Blessed" with our own personal Winter Snow.

May you all have a Wonderful Week, and May your Blessings me many!

Design Wall Monday......

On my Design Wall or maybe I should say "Floor" today is My WIP Winter/ Snoman Quilt. At one point I thought I had the top all done and then decided I wanted it more bedspread size so needed to make 24 more block of which I have 3 more in the process.

Then it will be ready to put the sashing and cornerstones in-between the blocks (which are cut and ready to sew) and get on the LA. I haven't quite decided yet how big the borders will be or if it will have one or two. I have been trying to decide if I wanted to change on the last row, how the snomen hang. What I mean is as it hangs off the bed have the hanging so you see them the right way rather then like the main top part will be. "Clear as mud" right? Like in the below picture if you look on the left you can see the ones I have turned so if someone is standing on that side the will see the snoman looking at them.

Close up
Also, on my agenda has been 4 more of the Farmers Wife Sampler Blocks

4" #49 and #50 Farmers Wife

3" Farmers Wife Blocks #49 and #50

I will be getting a picture soon of the 1st 50 and get them posted. Only 61 more to go....Yea!!

Well, you better head over and check out more Design Wall Mondays, just click on the badge to the right and enjoy.

Have a Wonderful Week!!

MIA..Here I am! Catching Up.. lots of pictures

Where oh where have I been?....

Hmmm...I missed the first 2011 Favorite Things Friday and the First 2011 Design Wall

Monday :( be sure and check them out if you get a chance(they are so fun to see what everybody is up to all over the world)You can find their badges to the right side, here on my blog.

Well, actually I am still here, never left.

But my MIA was in part due to starting on my "Spring" cleaning so to speak. I know it's not Spring yet, But I can only hope! it's right around the bend and am looking soooooo....forward to it. Though, yesterday was wonderful..... ( who'd a thought 40 was warm,but after -8, 10 20 30 yea!)until the wind hit 50mph that is! Even then I must it admitt it was even a blessing, it melted most of our snow. Then last night we only received a skiff over the wonderful rain the dripped before, Watch out roads!!

Oh yeah, I was talking about Spring Cleanin'..... you know the not so fun, but needs to be done type of thing.... Above the cupboards, under the cupboards and everywhere in-between where the dust bunnies may take up residence. Where the splatters may end up, and all those pretty little keep me's that hang out in the up above can't reach space? Yeah those ones, that type of cleaning, and NO a week will not be enough...remember I have a basement here too! and quilts wallhangings and such..... that are calling to be made!....Clothes that need to visit elsewhere....Yep you got the idea now. (So if I am MIA look for me there(((giggle.giggle)))I will more than likely be ready for a cup of coffee any time!! and definetly need my quilt fix. Ohhh and yes a couple of project Warmth quilts lurking at the LA looking to be sandwhich'd and stitched upon........

Anyways....... On to more FUN stuff......

Most of the following has been done as far back as Christmas timeish and I just haven't gotten updates in the works. Here goes... Enjoy and May you have a Wonderful Weekend!

This first picture is the begining of the "Missy's" Mystery Quilt that I have started with the QB online. I decided to start with just the Wallhanging size, with the option to go bigger later.

This weeks clue #2

Clue #1..........................
Hmmm..........................Oh what oh what may it be?? Do you know??

Then I have worked a bit on my Winter Quilt. In fact I decided that it needs to get bigger, not just borders bigger, but "hiney" covering and warming bigger. So, I will be adding about 20 more blocks. Now when a person decides this and has had the material a little longer than a month or two even, they will more than likely run into the problem of "not enough fabric" (Unless of course they knew what they were doing at the time and had purchased correctly) YEP! you guessed it! Not me! Off to the fabric stores I headed. I have found something that will definetly work. With many "thanks" at the Quilt Guild Meeting with Rosa Lea's help in "Unstitching" and a little resewing a row here and there,I am once again ready to continue adding blocks around the top for the "bigger"ness.

The adjusted top.......................and the new block 19 more to go....hee hee

I am thinking of trying the Dream Wool on the LA on this one. So if any suggestions and tips on quilting dream wool feel free to jump in ANYTIME....

Then we come to these little guys. These are some more of the 3" Farmers wife Sampler blocks

#46 Hill and Valley 30's Prints

#45 Grape Basket

#44 Gentleman's Fancy
#42 Fruit Basket
#41 Friendship Star

Then we have the 4" Farmers Wife Blocks in Scrappy Fabrics

#43 Garden Path

#46 Hill and Valley

#45 Grape Basket

#41 Friendship Star

#37 Flower Pot
#44 Gentleman's Fancy
#38 Four Winds
#42 Fruit Basket

Well, I could probably add some more here,(I am surprised the limit hasn't been reached) lol) but the "Spring"pull is calling, a couple more blocks that want to me made, a load of Laundry, and tons more before head to get boys for physical(basketball tryout coming up), and stuff ready for their 4-H Archery that starts tomorrow.
Yep! I better Get movin'....Take Care.... and remember :::

"Don't let yourself get so busy that you miss those little important extras in life--the beauty of a day...the smile of a friend...

the serenity of a quiet moment alone. For it is often life's smallest pleasures and gentlest joys that make the biggest and most lasting difference..........Unknown Author

Mystery Quilt Choices

Yes, I've done it again!
I added one more thing, well actually I couldn't resist! I love a Good Fabric Mystery! Don't You?

One of the Quilting sites I am a part of www.quiltingboard.com ( A Wonderful Group and contains sooooo much info) one of the gals is hosting (to start December 30th) a Mystery Quilt. From what I understand it will run for about 4 weeks. You can choose to do any from Wallhanging size up to King. At this point I have chosen to do Wallhanging size with the option to change to bigger size as the Mystery comes known. I picked out my fabrics and yes you guessed it!!
My Horsey Fabrics. I had a hard time deciding or should I say breaking it down to just 8 more fabrics so Missy(the gal hosting) helped considerably. I am now ready to go start cutting the Fabrics but thought I would share each step on this wonderful exciting Mystery Journey. If you are interested be sure and check it out. Also, she has recently started a blog so will be adding that info. here too as I will need to get it wrote down so will be adding at a later post.
We were needing to pick out a focal fabric that would work in a 12 1/2" Block and 8 other fabics.

Gotta Run! May you have a Beautiful Week and May your New Year be Bright, Cheerful and Peaceful.

Even More of My Wisconsin Barn Blocks.....

Yes! Even more of My Wisconsin Barn Blocks,,,,
And then there were 4 more.........

Whew hew!! I am officially caught up with these I am soooooo..... excited..
Well ,that is of course unless more has been posted while I have been busy piecing these little guys.
Just in case you don't know: these are some more of the Wisconsin Quilt Blocks on Barns that Jen B from Cre8tive Quilter has posted.You may get directly to her site by clicking her gadget on this blog if you would like.
This one is #43 and is called Cake Stand from Walworth County
Block #44 No place like Home-Walworth County

Block #46 Grandpa's Delight- Green County

Block #48 Sawtooth Star-Green County

These were all quite fun to do, and will have to get them all laid out to see how they are all looking together. Will possible happen "AFTER" the holidays.
Now off to more wonderful and exciting catching ups.......lol

My Next 3 Wisc. Barn Blocks

I have finally gotten back to working on the Wisconsin Barn Quilt Blocks that Jen B from Cre8tivequiltr.blogspot.com is hosting. (You can click on the gadget to get there quickly if you'd like.) So thought I would get some of them posted. Enjoy..... They were fun to make.... Especially the Carpenters Wheel.I counted over 80 pieces in this little 6 1/2" guy. These are all 6 1/2 unfinished blocks
Block # 49 Windblown Square- Green County

Block # 47 Dove At My Door- Green County

Block #40 Carpenter's Wheel-Walworth County

Design Wall Monday...and Floor....and Couch...and LA....

Today I'm a little slow at posting.
But I ventured downstairs to see what exactly was on my wall.... and it became apparent that is is getting VERY full! In fact it has creeped to the Floor, the LA, and the Couch......

To many this is No big Deal! and I think I posted this another time "But"to me it is.... Why? you might ask, because "normally" I am a VERY together, Organized, get one thing done before even consider starting another, type of quilting person. For some reason it seems like it has blown up!!

Now mind you I'm not complaining, just wondering why it has changed. hmmmmm..... I guess I may never know...

Anyways, on to the original post.... On my Design Wall for today are all my projects in progress.

Design Wall and part of the floor(except it cut off the floor) sorry

and the couch. These two little projects are the most recent. The one on the left being a 3 bag challenge. With it we were to pick out an item from 3 bags my three items were 1) A sewing Machine 2) The crayon color of Scarlet 3) beading then for our Guild Christmas Party come up with something using all 3 items we from our bag picks. This is what mine is; for the sewing machine I have paper pieced sewing machine that will be one of the blocks. For the color, Scarlet it will be part of the quilting in the quilt the little gal is making, as well as the background in the picture. For the beading, the black that is temporarily pinned is beading on ribbon. The small picture on it to the right is a picture of it when it will be similar to when completed.

The Block on the Right is a Block of the Week that Jen from Cre8tiveQuilter.blogspot (the Wisconsin Quilt Blocks on Barn) has out and will be a 6" PP Carpenters Wheel.... but as you see from mine I got a couple of pieces out of line and have decided it will be easier to do another one that take this one apart ( I believe I counted 82 Pieces in this one)

Then there is this little guy. I have always wanted to try a bargello so; No Time like the Present Right?? LOL... I had a bunch of these 1 1/2" strips left over from my Fantastic Fan Quilt so thought I would use them up. This is as far as I have gotten it. But I will be adding on after Christmas to make a Table Topper of some sort.

This is another in Progress (Nevada Star- Paper pieced- will be queen size- bed spread sized)that seems to get left behind, I started this back in March and then one thing and another happens and so I have brought him out and hung him in vision, as he is so... calling "to be worked on".
Then there are these guys. They are 6" Wisconsin Quilt Blocks on Barns that is a block of the Week. I have about 40 something done and are working on catching them up now too. I think I have about 6 more to do then will be "Officially" caught up. These if you are interested can be found on Jen's site and you can get there by clicking on the gadget marked Wisc. Quilt Blocks on the right.

Then, I also still have my Winter Snomen Quilt blocks, in progress. I need to cut out some more snomen for the blocks, since I decided to make it a touch bigger.( I have this bad habit of having to make quilts over sized to hang down close to the floor rather than just a cover) What can I say I like to be sure and be covered and warm.......

I also have the "Caught" up (40) 3" Farmers Wife done in 30's fabric Sampler Blocks on the wall. This is from Laurie Aaron Hirds Farmers Wife Sampler that am doing as a 2 block a week do along)

Then we have the 4" (just caught up) (40) 4" Farmers Wife Sampler Blocks done in Scrappy fabrics. (This is from Laurie Aaron Hird's Book)

This guy I made 2 of and this is the one that needs to be finished up. Though I'm thinking of adding 2 more to it, to make a Table Runner or maybe I should I just add it to my Christmas Blocks( which didn't get added to the "Walls".hmmmmm.............

And Finally there are these 2. Santa #2 needs a face- trying to decide whether I want to make it a touch different then the last one, and I also need to go to town and buy a nose, but maybe a Yo yo will work. Hmmm..... Well that is why he is still here--- you could say still in design......

The second item is the picture is the quilt top that Santa is laying on. It is propped on the LA frame... and have been deciding exactly what design to put on it. It is a Project Warmth Quilt, and am thinking it is in need of some feathers all over.. (I so love feathers.....)

So between Christmas, Christmas Baking, Christmas Shopping, Boys different goings on, Hubby's Vacation time, Family issues, Christmas Parties, and a Almost year old puppy that like to eat Un-lit Christmas lights, this is what is hanging and laying about on the design wall/floor/couch/LA.

May your Christmas be full of Excitement, Peace, Love and Joy...........and "UNEATEN" Christmas Lights......................hee hee... LOL......

Judy