Anyone Can Quilt

But I'm a computer nerd's wife.

If you've had your eyeballs open around blogland lately you will have noticed that everyone is joining in The Farmer's Wife Quilt Along.  She's quite alluring, that saucy farmer's wife.  And with all of the gorgeous blocks everyone has been making, I couldn't stop myself from joining.  Not that I really wanted to stop myself.  Sure, I have plenty of partially made quilts that really should be finished.  But.....who cares?  I sure don't, and I'm sure you don't either.  So join in would ya?  You know you want to! 

I just picked up my book at Borders yesterday.  It's $27.99, but I had a great coupon and got it for 1/2 price.  I've seen it on Amazon for around $18.00, and many have found it at Joanne's and used their 50 % off coupon. The book comes with a cd for downloading the templates.  While perusing flickr I found a wonderful link to download all of the templates by a fabulous gal named Liz.  She's combined them all onto 15 pages which makes it so convenient.  Thank you so much Liz!!  Of course even with Liz's templates you'll need the book for block construction.  The best thing about the book to me is the letters written by 1920's farmer's wives.  They wrote into the magazine answering the question, "Would you want your daughter to marry a farmer?"  The letters are so inspiring to read.  And pretty funny, apparently Jazz music was considered quite inappropriate among the farmer's wives.  Who knew Jazz was the gangsta' rap of 1922?  

Block #1!!  Woohoooo!

Well, I went through my stash and pulled some fat quarters.  My goal is to use what I have.  I really wanted a soft, cheerful, vintage cottage feel to my blocks.  It's fun to rediscover fabrics that I forgot I had!

Like you chickens!  I've only had you punks for about....6, 7, 8 years?  But I'm happy to see you again!  I've had some fabrics in bins under my bed so long it's a nice surprise when I open the bin; like someone sent me a gift.  Is it sad that I feel like I'm receiving a gift from an imaginary friend when I rediscover fabrics that I apparently purchased myself years ago?  Of course not. 

Once again, hello floral stripes.  I forgot you existed. 

I don't know how long it will be before this quilt is finished, it may be a loooong time.  My goal is to just finish a few blocks a week, along with the other quilts I'm working on.  No rushing, just thoroughly enjoying the process.  Let me know if you're making one too!  I'd love to see your blocks!  x

 

 

Treasures all around.

I've been sidetracked again.  Now it's with these fun little dresdens.  Ooooh they're so fun!

Also have some vintage sheet coffee cozies on the assembly line.  They're almost finished! 

So I had my 35th birthday last Friday.   My thoughtful friends always spoil me with the most special gifts.  Look what M.T. made for me!

Isn't it great?  Little sewing machines!  I love love love this quilt so much.  It makes me smile every time I glance at it. 

This quilt is soooo special.  My sweet friend Sabine made something for me too:

Oh gosh!  Could this be any cuter?  I love the little scallops around the cupcake.  She also sent me this very special book.  My friend Sabine is German and I have started to 'try' to learn some German!  It's been really fun.  So imagine how I laughed when I opened this next gift:

This will surely help me!!  It's a kindergarten book from the 1950's.  I have spent so much time looking at the illustrations. 

I love this one above.  The creepy little boy is spitting something and the girl in the yellow dress is running away in disgust.  Warms the heart.  Oooh, and look at the photo above this one, check out the dead fox hanging next to the gentleman in the green coat, smoking his pipe next to the children.  Love it!

Now my friends, brace yourselves for some extreme cuteness.  My girls have new pets.  We just got them yesterday.  Please meet Cher and Mindy, they are two months old.

 

Oh gosh.  Little guinea pigs, or as my friend Sabine calls them, Meerschweinchen. 

Meet Cher, she has crazy red hair and she is very outgoing and eats a lot.

Cher is a cheeky little punk. Now please say hello to Mindy:

Look at her little face!  Mindy is quiet and more sensible than her friend.  She is taking us all in and not showing off like you know who.  And she looks like a teeny little beaver!!

We are already having so much fun with these girls!  Do you think they'd snuggle under little piggy sized quilts?

Have a wonderful Thursday my friends! x

What the world needs now...

Homemade slippers, with wool insides.  And with yo-yos and buttons of course.

So do you need some new dainty slippers this autumn?  I dare think that you do.  I made a pair for my sweet mom, and this pair here for my liebe Freundin Sabine.  I have grand plans for a pretty basket by my front door full slippers in beautiful fabrics. 

These are another wonderful project from this book.

Now, how about some more of my Montana trip pictures.  We'll start with Idaho.  We stopped at the Cataldo Mission.  It claims to be the oldest building in Idaho.  And it left me speechless.  It's gorgeous.  Prepare yourself, lot's of pictures ahead.  So out of character for me!!  Not.

Look at the wallpaper.  It's made out of fabric.  Here's a closer look.

It was such a beautiful place inside and out.  On the next installment of the Montana trip pictures, I'll actually have pictures of Montana!  Imagine that.  x

Fairy Buns and Frenchy Bags

The Gentle Art of Domesticity.  Have you heard of this book by Jane Brocket of Yarnstorm?  If you have, bless you.  If you have not, listen to me very carefully.  Run, don't walk to your local bookstore and search for this book.  I've been wanting to purchase it for quite a while, and finally saw it at a bookstore this weekend.  It was the only one left, and it was calling to me.  "Take me hooooome.." it said.  I don't often buy books from the bookstore.  I usually look through the books I'm interested in and then buy them online at a much cheaper price.  But this one I had to bring home.   It's amazing.   Jane is amazing. 

This is not a book of patterns.  It's a book of inspiration, and where to find it.  Jane is a great writer.  This girl's got smarts.  She covers everything that has to do with the 'gentle arts', and how valuable and enriching they are to our lives.  I can't say enough about this book.  It's got tons of information, and really makes me feel good about the time and thought that I put into creating for my home and family.  Whether I'm stitching a quilt, knitting socks, baking bread or scrubbing the floors.  It's all meaningful, the large jobs and small.  

And how could you not like a book that has a recipe in it for yummy Fairy buns?   

These were quick, simple, and fun. 

My own little domestic artist in the making gave me one of her specially made bookmarks for my new book.

I also finished a purse for each of my girls.  I used Amy Butler's wonderful Frenchy Bags pattern.  These were fun to make and I know the girls will get lots of use out of them. 

Thank you all so much for the kind words, thoughts and prayers for my sister's baby boy.  He is continuing to recover.  I think I better get working on a special quilt just for him.  He deserves something extra warm and cozy for all he's been through, and for his poofy cheeks. 

Here's to the Gentle Arts.  x

My Patchwork Kitty.

When I was a very little girl my great-grandma Martha made me a patchwork kitty.  She made my brother a patchwork lion.  Ever since I can remember I have had this kitty.  But over the years she has faded a bit, and had become as flat as a pancake.  So this weekend I unstuffed her, washed her, and then stuffed her back up!

She feels much better.  I love looking at all of the little patchwork squares that my grandma Martha chose for her.  I wonder where they all came from.  I imagine from old dresses and sheets, probably just what she had in her sewing basket. 

 

She's all plumped up!  Ready for 30 more years of hugs.

So, I have to tell you about a couple of new books that I got.  The first is Sew Pretty Christmas Homestyle, ooooohhh it's so full of gorgeous projects!  Have a look-see.

You can tell by the cover it's going to be fabulous.

I am in love with the angel's dresses.

Ok, this rug is calling to me.  It wants to live in my house.  It told me so.

The next book is Sew Fabulous Fabric.  It focuses on making projects from recycled fabrics.  It's full of cuteness too.

I love the idea of making some of these door drafty things.  Especially since I live in a drafty old house.  Look how pretty this next one is. 

I just love these books, they are so full of inspiration.  I am really looking forward to making lots of fall and winter projects.  The weather has turned cold and rainy.  Which for me means lots of sewing inside and..... Wearing my Wellies!  Yippee!  And yes, I even wore them to Church on Sunday.  x