Found a new little quilt shop

Al and I went up to Suttons Bay today to shop and found a new shop had opened this year....my favorite kind of store, a quilt shop called Cherry Country Quilts! I met the owner and her husband...both very nice people. She has a nice variety of fabrics...some 30's reproductions,some batiks, a nice assortment of modern fabrics, some Kaffe and some civil war. I bought some of the Kaffe for a border on my Kaffe log cabin. I have 28 more blocks to make and then I'll start the borders.

One more setting....hmmm...think I like it

I made a few more blocks last night and came up with a winner, I think. Taking everyone's opinion into consideration, I decided to do the barn raising setting (setting one from the previous post)...well, I started laying it out wrong...lights to the middle instead of darks....and that took me here. I like it. Thanks ladies...you all always help! Now to make about 45 more blocks:)

UFOs getting finished

It's been a while since I've blogged but I'm back!

Al and I are settling into our new and FINAL house.

He's currently working to finish landscaping and grass before we get into cold weather. He's also starting my SEWING ROOM!!! YEAH!

By winter I should have a nice place to quilt.

So right now when I'm not busy helping him, I'm working on UFOs...un finished objects. 

Here's the first and the oldest UFO...started in the 80s!

This will go to my three brothers for the up north cabin.

Working on setting my Farmer's Wife blocks

I laid out what I have so far and decided that I need at least two more rows long and wide. With those added I'll be at 72" square. It will probably need two additional rows after that to get the length I need for a twin. It would then be 72" x 88"...a decent size. I don't really want to add borders to it. Trying to give it an vintage look.

All of the blocks will have a Snow White border around them. I add oversized scraps of the white...

Then using one of my favorite rulers...log cabin trim tool:

I center the ruler over my block and trim around it...getting a perfect 8-1/2" block.

There's a great 6" marking line on this ruler making it perfect for these...also a nice tool for log cabin blocks. I did a demo for this ruler a couple of years ago. Had to own one after I saw how easy it was to use. It comes in 8" and 12" size. I'm planning on buying the 12" next.

Doing lots of chain stitching today too. This is the quickest way to get the setting blocks made....and I have LOADS to make yet.

Farmer's Wife settings

Today I'm working on settings for Farmers Wife. I am giving a settings class in Febuary at Hearts to Holly and will be showing a few different settings. One will be a popular way I've seen online... One block straight, next on point. These blocks pictured below will be set that way. 

Orphan solid block quilt

 Yesterday I laid out my solid blocks to see how my collection was coming along. Whenever I try out a block to see if I like it or to check the size, I make it in a solid. When I have enough blocks, I'm planning to make a sampler quilt....looks like I have a ways to go.

 Al and I are in the process of building a house...and we've come to a hiccup of sorts. I found our DREAM lot....after we already had started this house..above. SO...we will be selling this one in the spring when it's dry walled...then start ALL over again. So I may not have a house (sewing room) for another year. But I think it'll be worth the wait...below is the new lot. Love our view!

Happy New Years

 With the new year here, I decided to try to get back to my quilting. This sweet little guy has had most of my attention since he came in August. I'm having a great time babysitting him.
Noticing how he's snuggled into a couple of quilts? The one on the bottom was made by my wonderful online quilt friends...his quilty aunties. And the one on top was made by his actual auntie...Lisa. He still hasn't received his airplane quilt from me...soon, little guy, soon.

 So one of my projects the other day was to find my farmers wife blocks that I had made before our move. I figured there was a chance that they were in the storage room....they were...on the bottom of a pile that stacked almost to the ceiling. Was about the 20th box I opened. You could hear the screams of joy for blocks! NOW to get this quilt finished up. We have a final "FINISHING" class coming up in Febuary. This is only one of the possible settings for our 6" blocks.

A couple more farmers wife blocks

Worked on Farmers Wife today. Finished up two blocks...Sawtooth #76 (above) and Darting Birds #27 (below).

Darting Birds has 60 pieces! I used 1" half square triangle papers to make the 24 HSTs....much quicker and very accurate. This block is really four small (3-1/2") blocks to make the 6-1/2" Darting Birds. The 4 small blocks are put together as a 9 patch...3 rows of 3.

Before you start, it really helps to give your fabric a good spray of starch and press well....keeps the fabric from stretching. With all the seams in these little blocks, every bit of acuracy counts.

Before pulling off my triangle papers, I folded it back and trimmed the points. 

The paper shows where to cut by following the edge...also helps because you're cutting off that stitching in the seam from traveling from HST to HST.

To make the 9 patches, I set them up on my board as they will be stitched.

Then I sew piece 1 and 2 from row 1, then 1 and 2 from row 2 and finally 1 and 2 from row 3.

Next add third piece to each row and leave the threads attached.

The threads keep your rows in order. 

Press your rows. I press the seams on row one and three to the outside, press the seams on row two to the inside. This will LOCK your seams as you sew. Sew row one to row 2

Then add row three.

Press the quarter block, repeat 3 more times.

Now you put it all together like a 4 patch.

I make ALL my seams a SCANT 1/4" to make up for the thickness of thread in a seam.

Getting near the end of Farmers Wife blocks

 Our class is on month 19 of 21 months making our Farmer's Wife blocks. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel! The one above is called Hovering Hawks 52, the one below is Strawberry Basket 91.

This one above, is Hovering Birds 51.

And below is Steps to the Altar #89.

Can't remember the name of the one below..?

Above is Birds in the Air #7 and below is Grape Basket.

Above is Boxed Star and below is Honey's Choice #50.

Above is Farmer's Daughter #32 and below is Fruit Basket.

And finally, Star of Hope #88

I haven't been on my blog in a while but as you all probably know, there's a new little man in my life...and I just can't get enough of him. Al and I are also working on our new house...not much to report yet... the hole will be dug this week and then the basement is getting poured a few days later. When we start getting somewhere with it, I'll post pictures.

A new little one in our family!

Lots of you know that I've been really busy the last few months and here is why...this little guy! He's my first grandchild. We moved closer to my daughter to be near to her and her family. Henry was born a few days ago and is an angel! Al and I are in LOVE with him.

This is the first block for the quilt I'm making him. He has an airplane nursery in red, navy, light blue and gray. I'll be foundation pieces 25 of these planes in his colors.

As I was opening up my sewing supplies (which haven't been touched in quite a while), I found this birthday note from my good quilter friends back in Charlevoix. You ladies are sooooo sweet...it was a nice surprise. 

Three more Farmers Wife blocks finished

I'm getting really close to the end of my farmers wife block making. There's probably 20 left to do. Woohoo!!

This one up above is cat and mice #17.

This red one below is Country Path #24.

And my Christmas one is called Wild Geese #104.