I've Gone Totally Crazy! 6" blocks

 YEP, I have made some more of my Sylvia's Bridal Sampler and Farmers Wife Blocks this week. The SBS are the 5 on the Left.  Four FW Blocks with similar names and templates used to make the SBS Blocks.  What a difference Fabric Placement makes.
The Butterfly at the Crossroads looks a lot like the Sister's Choice and the Farmer's Daughter Block.
It all started with my need to make the Block of the Week F-8 Ladies Aid Album (2nd on the top row) for the SBS Group. And I wanted to figure out which templates I needed to use for  the SBS Birds in the Air (1st on the 2nd row).

 I thought I was keeping track better.   Whoops!  I have made four of the blocks for my SBS two times.  Now I'll have to choose which one to put in the SBS Quilt. When I made my First SBS quilt I had the blocks in order on the wall at Lynn's for most of the time when I was cutting out my blocks.  That helped a lot in keeping me on track. That wall isn't there anymore.  I'll have to get my FW sashings on as much as I can so I can put up the 30's SBS and see how it looks with almost all the blocks.  The order of the blocks and rows won't be too much of an issue on this one. There is NO row G at all.  I think it is funny that I haven't made any of that row.
Below shows the Extra Blocks with their Duplicates...
The top row is Duck and Ducklings, row 2 is Farmer's Daughter, Row 3 are Ocean Waves, Row 5 is The Friendship Quilt (I made the 2nd one in February), last row is The Friendship Block.  I had the Friendship Quilt block made and needed to make the Friendship Block. So confusing. The SBS duplicates are the two rows on the left, same block for FW on the right.

SBS Total = 92 of 140 (includes 4 extra Blocks)

FW Total = 90 of 111 (includes the 3 extra blocks I made from Lynn's Scrap bag)

I'm ALMOST Finished making blocks for these two quilts!!!  I only really NEED 100 total for my 30's SBS to earn another PIN from Jennifer. I'm not planning on making all of them this time. SO, 8 more or 12 more new Blocks if I don't use the 4 extra blocks. Choices, choices.  And the new Loyal Union Sampler Quilt Book will be out around this time 2013. A very LUCKY Annlies from the Netherlands got all 122 Patterns ahead of time to make this quilt.  She used Purples and the pictures of her Quilt in Progress is found HERE .  Her finished quilt will be in the Published Pattern book.  She also had her quilt in the SBS Pattern Book.  That will be another quilt with 6" Blocks to make.  I tested 5 of the LUS Patterns so I have 5 Blocks made already.  They aren't in the same type or color combo of fabrics though. I have  3 Blue and White and 2 in Jennifer Chiaverini's fabric line, she sent the fabric with the last 2 patterns.

For the FW Quilt it's 21 more or 24, if I don't use the Duplicates. I'm still ahead of the FW Group that I am in with my Quilt Buddy. I'm working on Month 9 and10.  I have 9 more that are the Paper-pieced ones
(IF I MAKE THEM...LOL)
I'll put the extra ones on the back or I could add them to the Orphan/Extra blocks I still have from my first SBS. What a Scrappy backing that would be!

And of course there were more Bow ties made while I sewed the FW and SBS blocks.

TOTAL Bow tie Blocks = 380

I went to the Walla Walla Fair- Pictures now

Today was the FREE Day at the Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days. I put 4 Quilts in.  I saw the Lone Star first thing, with a Big Ribbon on it. It got a 2nd Place from the Judge, I didn't think 2nd place could get the big Special Award ribbons.

 I wondered where the other 3 were.  Lynn walked over to see her grandchildren's projects and ribbons and there were my Bargello Quilt, Table Runner and How Much is that Doggy? wall quilt.

 They had put another quilter's name on my Doggy Quilt from my Quilt Design Star Contest last year.
The Superintendent was no where to be found and didn't answer her phone to make the correction.  I was not a happy camper.  They had several quilts and things mislabeled.  In my opinion the Superintendent should have been there to monitor the opening day.  Crazy!  I know they all just volunteers, but get it right people.  That is why I have labels on all of my quilts!  I finally got someone to remove the other ladies name off MY quilt.  There were two Fair tags on the back of it. Mine and hers.

I am so glad that Lynn and I went in early today and noticed it. Here it is fixed.

Makes me wonder if I really want to enter my quilts in the Fair again...The Adults and Open Class don't get Premiums, just the ribbons.

I got the five day pass and will at least go back with Paul one day. Tonight is the Rodney Adkins Concert and he says they are too loud for him.  Guess I'll turn up my GAC while he's gone.

Design Wall Monday, August 27, 2012

Back to the Bow ties.  

 I counted and sorted them by Dark and Light.  There were more Dark than Light. So, I thought of putting them into 9 patches with the light down the middle.  I'll add a sashing of some solid color to finish these off.

See the box of Bow ties over flowing?  I was asked how many I wanted to make and I'm almost to 400 so I think that will make a good stopping point.  I will have to make a number divisible by 9 at least.  Bonnie Hunter was sewing hers together into 9's and on a WEB CAM session mentioned adding the sashing,

Click on over HERE and see more Design Wall's this Monday.

Grounded :(

My favorite car, the Lumina is on its last legs...sad, sad day at my house. I stayed in my Jammies all day today and sewed!  I was advised not to drive out of town so I didn't go anywhere.  I have 'tested'  and submitted my final block for the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volume 6.  Next challenge is to finish my Tester Quilt for the issue of Quilts from the 100 Blocks issue coming out later this year, or early next year.  The fabric is called Abigail  by Kathy Brown, the Teacher's Pet for Red Rooster.  I got to choose the fabric and they sent me yardage to make the Tester Quilt. I made as many blocks as the fabric would make and tried to think of an alternate Block to add more blocks to the quilt.  9-12 Blocks are needed to submit it for the magazine. 

 I found this block in a book My Stars- quilt patterns from the Kansas City Star.  This block is called Friendship Quilt and was published in the Kansas City Star August 17, 1938.  The book tells of this block being used with a Name written in pencil in the center, then embroidered by the ladies who made quilts with it back then.  Just a few years ago and an long time away.  That time was close to the time my Parents got married.  I can imagine that my Father was picking Tomatoes for my Grandpa Waite and courting my mother.  Taking my Grandma to the Show while my Mother attended High School. 

The top is now done and will be quilted and bound next week, then sent to Colorado for photography.  

10 more Bow ties were made and added to the total. I cut a few out using a Marti Michell template.  That is why the edges are rounded on a few. I will make as many as I can until I get enough to make a nice sized quilt. TOTAL as of today = 370

I looked out the window and what did I see??? Tomatoes growing and ripening.  Time for Bacon, Lettuce and tomato sandwiches with cheese added too.  I ate a late lunch. Paul smelled the bacon when he came home from work and asked what smelled so good.  So, I made him two for his dinner.  Nothing like fresh home-grown tomatoes! Oh and a sliced English Cucumber to munch on. 

 BLT-C...  It's What's for Dinner

If it's the 3rd Tuesday- it's Farmer's Wife Group!

Today I spent most of the day at Lynn's. She wasn't home on Monday when I went, so I stayed twice as long on Tuesday. I'd forgotten she was getting new shoes, (I even wrote the Appt on her Calendar for her). I went home and got my last 3 Farmer's Wife Blocks made for August.

 Not without a few re-cuts to make them correctly.  I need most of them them to put some of the rows together that  go in the Top Right Corner. See, I got some sashing sewn to a few rows?  Only one Block from month 10 left to make to fill the gap in the long row. It will be the Duck and Ducklings Block. 

I am trying to finish all the month's Blocks, and get a picture of them, before I put them in the Quilt.

I started on the September Blocks and made a  'Birds in the Air' block.   I used some of my Tula Pink fabric to fussy-cut the Birds. The birds are lavendar and blue. The dark parts are the Trees from Tulas 'The Birds and the Bees' Fabric line. I like it a lot! i know the Quilt appraisers of the future will shake their heads about all the hidden things in my Farmer's wife quilt. This Block finishes all of the 'K' Row. Total FW Blocks- 85

I made 2 more SBS (Sylvia's Bridal Sampler) Blocks too.  One is the new BOW (Block of the Week) due on Sunday.  I needed to make one for my 30s' version and tried to figure out which templates I would need to make it.  With a little help from Lynn I got it cut and then I took the time to look in the Pattern Book and could have saved a lot of wondering if it was the correct size.  Here are the two "Ocean Waves" in my 30's fabrics I made today.

AND an 'Anvil' block. The green floral fabric is called Mama's Apron Strings. I used the templates from the 'Swallows" FW block. It was a very productive day.  That brings my TOTAL SBS Blocks -74. 

 I have to decide which Quilts to put in the WW Co. Fair and WW Quilt Festival.  The one I choose to go to Portland for Trends can't be shown at the Fair or the Festival.  I have to choose carefully... I am glad I noticed that I take my Fair Quilts in this Thursday.  Next week is the FAIR!

Design Wall Monday August 20, 2012

This week is Farmer's Wife Week at "Thread and Bolts" I only have 3 more August Blocks to make.

It's time to start putting my Farmer's Wife Together. I made my final choice for the sashings and cornerstones.  I thought the PINK would clash too much with the Reds in here so I went with the green.  The Brown cornerstones will POP.   So this week I'll be working from the Bottom Left Corner and see how far I can sew... The next row up of 5 blocks is ready to sew on as soon as I cut more sashing strips and cornerstones.  I'll take my Top Right Corner blocks out to play on Lynn's Design wall.   I can just work from those outer corners and meet up in the middle. "Diamond Rio" Country song playing in my head now.  I love stitching along to my Country music. Have a great MONDAY in Blogland.  Bonnie Hunter posted a new Leader/Ender project this morning.  3" Spools- oh my!  Here's the link to read more about it. She calls it "Spoolin Around".  I will use only one color for the background this time so I don't have the issue I have with all the wild and crazy Bowties. She showed us her Bowties, sewn together in sets of 9, on her 'webcam' the other night.  I'm still debating sorting mine by light and dark and alternating them.

Click HERE to Link up with Judy L

It's Here! & more Vintage shopping...

My copy of the 2nd of the Michael Vey series by Richard Paul Evans. It arrived a day before it was scheduled.  Gotta love Amazon and the pre-ordering so I got it as soon as it was released.  I will read it this week-end so I can get it to my DGS #1 who likes these adventure type books.  

The rats on the cover kinda scare me...

I spent Friday with DD #1 in Richland for a Day Surgery.  While she was undergoing the procedure, for about an hour... I went Antiquing in the Uptown shopping Ctr area.  Only one of the two stores that were closed the last time I went there was open so I got to go and see it.  As I left the store I asked the owner if she ever got in a Featherweight Machine and she said she had one she might be willing to sell.  SCORE! I hope she gives me a call and her price is in my budget- less than $200 - like the one Bonnie Hunter found HERE. She named it 'Doris' after Doris Day who sang "Que Sera, Sera" back in 1957, the year the machine was manufactured.

 I saw several of the same machines and took a closer look at the badly worn Treadle that I showed back in July.  I was very tempted but, resisted buying it.  I really want the Featherweight 221 model.

I found another of the Domed Wooden 'Tombstone' case Singers and the price was right.  

YES, I bought another one!! I made sure the Knee bar was with it and it came with the attachments. I didn't notice the missing belt, they are not too hard to find and put on. I thought the knee bar might work on my other one- it didn't fit, Darn it! Oh well, it was manufactured in July of 1920. I found another site that shows which factory the machines were built HERE.  The pattern on it is called Fillagree. I need to get out the magnifying glass to read the words on the gold seal.

How about one made in the 1970's 

 These two are just heavy like a door stop.  The one in the blue, (right pic) is the same as the $10 New Westinghouse machine I got in Idaho Falls.

A set of the "Pals" pictures that are like the ones my Grandpa and Grandma Waite made for me one Christmas.

Here's what someone made with a bunch of old Buttons.

 This crazy Quilt was in sad shape.  Pretty stitching, but the fabrics have disintegrated. 

The 2nd picture shows the back.

I made the most of the time I had to browse. and even found an OLD GAME called "Pollyanna".  A frame like the one my mom put my Senior Picture in, a Statue of the "Tuesday" Doll that I have from House of Lloyd, and a Fire King 2 part cassarole dish to go with my bowl with the handles.  These are all that I can show, I found a couple Christmas Gifts too.  Christmas will be here sooner than even I want it to be.  The best part is my Army Boy will be home from Cuba!

I am still in the hunt for winning this Giveaway on December16th.  You can Enter once a day, every day until then HERE!

My Christmas Lone Star is DONE!

I'm so glad I could get this #4 UFO done.  This quilt will grace my bed at Christmas time this year. A Christmas quilt not in the traditional colors of the Season. Many of the fabrics are from my days at Hancock Fabrics. The outer border is Debbie Mumm and the setting Triangles and squares are Nancy Halvorsen.  YEA! I only have 3 left to make to cover all of the beds in our house.  I see on the ticker at the bottom of my BLOG that there are only 130 days until that magical Day.    It only took about 10 hours to Quilt on the APQS with Side Saddle at Lynn's. It's not perfect but done is better than perfect, right.  I don't want to even think of how many rows and hours it would have taken on my Quilt Table. It's my 2nd Lone Star and it took me 6 years to get it finished. I started this at a Guild Sew-in at the Airport.  Thanks to Eddie Walker and her simplified method of making this Lone Star.  There were just enough strips sewn to cut for the center and the extra pieces made it all the way around for the diagonal stripe border.  I love the swirls pattern that echo three of the fabrics in the Star and background fabrics.  I also am happy with the texture that the Tuscany Batting gives it.  I have used the extra strips to make the binding and it is sewn on.  I need to print a LABEL to sew on.

Bargello Fun at Quilt Guild- More Quilting

This was the month for us to show our Bargello with a Twist quilts, I thought... I got my Bargello quilted in time to take to guild.  The Label is on and the binding was sewn on ready to tack it down. I like how the half feathers turned out. I just did a meander in the center of the quilt.  We could have shown them next month, I guess. Guild is before the Walla Walla Quilt Festival, but the quilts need to be delivered before the September Meeting.  I finished tacking down the binding and slept under this quilt last night.  Not my normal color scheme but I like it.

 I told Lynn in the late afternoon and she got hers quilted, but had a big boo on the back so 

she plans to un-quilt it and re-do it, in her spare time. HAHAHA

 She had two other quilts to show.  One was her Son Clayton's "Eye of the Tiger". These are some of the 4-patches from a WASIQ Swap that Lynn hosted back in 2006. She showed her Sister-in-laws quilt too but I promised not to show it until it is delivered to her in September.

Bargello on point

Betty W made two Bargello quilts to show at Guild.

My Secret Pal found a cute Lamb and Purple Fat Quarter. I like the Bag too.  

 I went out to Lynn's to quilt on my Christmas Lone Star. This was a UFO from 2006

Eddy Walker taught us to make the LONE STAR out at the Walla Walla Airport.

It is my UFO #4 and I worked on it in April but now I'm finishing it.

And on the Backing fabric.

 I chose to use the Goldish thread so it would blend in to the Solid squares.  It really shows up on the backing  fabric, (2nd picture).  I only got half way done with the quilt because it does a LOT of retracing over the swirls part. It takes about 50 minutes and 2 Bobbins per 82" pass. The pattern in called "Swirls" by Debra Geissler.

Design Wall Monday, August 13, 2012

On my Design Wall, or as I could say....Back to my Regular routine!

Last week was crazy and it felt good to finally get something almost done that I can show.

This Bargello with a Twist  (Blogged about at the highlighted link) quilt is due to be shown at Guild this Tuesday. I got the borders on and saw this OPPS in the first Photo I took and had to un-sew and fix it. 

All- better now!  Ready to go on the quilting Table today.  

I'm not sure what I want to quilt on it. This is another thing that takes me a long time.  

Lynn gets frustrated when I take an hour or more to decide what I want.  Taking Suggestions!

I will load it on my table at home since Lynn's machine is busy and she isn't going to be home today.

Here's hoping I can finish it in time for Guild.

 It is going to be shown with the other Guild Member's versions at the 

Walla Walla Valley Quilt Festival in September.

Also on the WALL-  More Bowties.

I had to re-count and verify how many I have total for today's report. 

There are now  360.  

It's going to take a few more to make a quilt of any good size.

 I'm still debating the layout ideas. Comments and ideas welcome.

So many possibilities and Bonnie Hunter hasn't called a quit time just yet.

I had fun watching her Paper piece on her webcam Sunday night.  

I felt a bit like a stalker however...and DH was wondering what I was watching.

It's time to link up to Judy L's Blog now.  Go HERE to check out the DWM postings in Blogland!

In my Spare Time...

I have learned in the almost 36 years I've been a "Crowther" that you can't take the Farm out of the Farmer.  Even with Paul's allergies, he is out working in the yard as much as his work and Church duties allow. I'm so glad he enjoys doing the yard work. He likes that our postage stamp sized lawn doesn't take long to mow.

The past 2 Weeks have been jam-packed.  I haven't made it to the Umatilla Co Fair and probably won't get there at all this year.  I had to make myself a Taco potato.  It was pretty good with fresh grape tomatoes.    

The other tomatoes are soon to be ripe. I hope!

I have onions and green peppers so I can make my Chili Sauce this year. 

This variety is called "Colossal". I got it at the Farmer's Market downtown.

 My favorite thing he planted this year is the English Cucumbers!

 I begged him to buy that variety. YUMMY peeled, and sliced with just a little salt.  

                                      

 Our Grapes have gone crazy and the wasps love them too. Go pollinate- wasps!

We might get some to eat and make jam or raisins from this year.

 Yesterday was the day for Elder Turner to come home from his 2-year Mission to Brazil.  His mom had said something about him wanting an American Hamburger...so I took him a Whopper Value Meal and a Chocolate Milkshake.  They had a Free Whopper deal that came with buying the Value Meal.  I wonder if he shared that 2nd Whopper?? It was a VERY HAPPY DAY for my Friend, Wendy and her family.

I call these days "PAYDAYS".  When your friends children do a good thing, 

it is great to be able to share the joy! 

Elder Turner is hugging his Maternal Grandparents, who flew in to greet him

These are the newest Books on my Bookshelf.  I finished the Emilie Richards one last night. The Quilter's Academy Book is written by Carrie Hargraves, who I met at Trends in Portland this past Spring, and her Mother; Harriet.  The run the Quilter's Academy in Colorado. 

I think I've read two of these but they were a great deal on Amazon and Sandra Dallas' books are 

worth re-reading while I wait for Jennifer Chiaverini's next book- "The Giving Quilt". 

 I'm hoping we get to see her in Colorado for a book signing this November. 

 It would be a bonus to go along with a visit with our Daughter and her family. I'm looking for 'cheap' flights.

The Olympics are over on Sunday so life should get back to normal... Quilt guild is this coming Tuesday and I have a quilt to finish and a Block Lotto Block to make.  August is almost half over and I need to get my things ready for the Fair, Shop Hop and Walla Walla Valley Quilt show.  YES, you read that right, I am putting some quilts in our local FAIR.  I got my entry filled out in time and picked up the cards to fill out.  Last year there were so few quilts to see on the Fair's FREE DAY, it was a shame!