1930s Farmer's Wife QAL ~ #64 Monette

So behind the scenes I've been beavering away on my Farmer's Wife Blocks...this is officially my longest work in progress and boy have I learnt A LOT since I started.  Where possible I've used quilty maths and where the maths has had me flummoxed I've used the templates contained on the disc in the back of the book.  Today I'm joining Kerry to share Block #64 Monette.

Monette is a pretty block with some very small pieces...57 pieces in a 6 1/2" square..... madness!  I cut pieces 64B, 64C and 64D using the templates and cutting guide in the book, as shown on my previous post HERE.  However for 64A, rather than cutting 48 individual tiny squares as directed (24 in each colour)  I used template 64A as a guide for the depth and cut long strips in each of the two fabrics, which I pieced together and then sub cut these down into two patches, again using the template for the width of each piece.  I found this helped with the accuracy of the piecing rather than having to deal with lots of teeny weeny squares. Another 'little happy tip' is use a spritz of spray starch on the finished block, this really  helps to flatten out all those seams.  My starch of choice is Best Press which is available in our bricks and mortar shop, (sorry it's sadly not on our website for fear of spillage whilst on route.... which as Craig Revel Horwood would say would be "a disaster darling"!)

I've added Monette to my stack of Farmers Wife Blocks..... ohhh so satisfiying..... and I can not help but ponder over just how many blocks to make and also what layout to use...

I swing between the traditional layout from the first book and the chevron layout of the second book.....I was completely swooning over the chevrons when I first saw them, but there is something equally gorgeous over the sashing with cornerstones....oh and do not mention the other layouts that I drool over when searching through the hashtag #fwqal on Instagram!

Don't forget to pop over to Kerry's Blog to see her version of Monette, she has been sharing some amazing information and top tips and you should see all her other blocks, they're stunning!

If you're on Instagram take a look at the following hashtags to see some amazing blocks:

#fw1930sqal
#fwqal
#farmerswifequiltalong

and for individual blocks try

#Monetteblock
#fw64Monette

See you next time

Strawberry Biscuit Blog Hop

Welcome to Day 3 of the Strawberry Biscuit Blog Hop! Oh my goodness.....I was so excited to be to take part in the Blog Hop alongside some amazingly talented designers and bloggers.   Today I get to share my little project made using Elea's gorgeous new collection Strawberry Biscuit.  As a huge fan of Elea's work (hands up if I'm the only one who wished that they had hoarded Milk, Sugar and Flower!) this new collection does not disappoint...... sweet kittens, roses, strawberries, poodles.... oh happy days!  So would you like to see what I made....... after another little peek at the fabric that is......

My inspiration for my project was Penny Rugs, you know the ones which are traditionally made from wool or felted wool from old clothing and blankets.  Typically they incorporate circles made from drawing around coins and some include images from everyday life such as cats, flowers, birds and shapes such as stars and hearts.  When I looked at Eleas gorgeous fabrics, the designs (kittens, flowers, birds)  just called out to me to be fussy cut and appliqued, so here's my take on a traditional Penny Rug........

I used my favourite interfacing method for my appliques and then hand stitched them to the background fabric, which is the Riley Blake Hot Pink Swiss Dot, it was a tough decision as to which colour to go for between the Hot Pink, Aqua or Red let me tell you, all of them looked fabulous!  To give you a sense of the scale, the centre circle measures 9" across, the hearts 3 1/2" across and the small circles 1 1/2" across.

To create that vintage feel, I went for some simple hand quilting around the outer edge and around the perimeter of each circle.

To celebrate the blog hop...cake was in order and to add a little flourish I made some Flutter Flags, it's been so long since I made any .....

They're so sweet, I think this one may permanently live in this vintage bobbin in my sewing room!

They are also super easy to make...... here's how:

1. Make a triangle template out of card, mine measured 2 1/2" wide by 2" high. Fold your fabric in half, press and then cut our your flag, you will have a diamond shape.

2. Smother the wrong side of the fabric with PVA glue.

3. Place a cake pop stick in to the centre of the diamond on top of the crease mark and carefully fold the fabric over the stick wrong sides together to create a triangular flag.  Working quickly, create the flutter, by pressing the flag over a pencil....... then leave to dry overnight.

Believe me, one Flutter Flag is never enough!

'Strawberry Biscuit' is now available in quilt shops worldwide and if you're in the UK at Pretty Fabrics and Trims 

The Strawberry Biscuit Blog Hop continues today with Megan of Quilt Story and tomorrow Minki of Minki's Work Table and Heidi of Fabric Mutt will be sharing their projects, so please do hop over to see what they made!

Thanks so much Elea for inviting me.

Oh and that cake......yes it was delicious and yes it's all gone...but you knew it would be didn't you!

Lovely Little Patchwork ~ Back to School Pencil Pouch

Having worked yesterday, I had today all mapped out..... sewing, sewing and a little more sewing.  Obviously I was in cloud cuckoo land when I'd had that thought........I didn't factor in food shopping, a little housework and the sun was shinning so I hit the garden for a couple of hours.  When I finally made it to the sewing room this afternoon, I needed a quick fix.  My project of choice was the Back to School Pencil Pouch from Kerri Horsley fantastic new book Lovely Little Patchwork (you can find it on the website here)  Seriously there isn't one project within its pretty cover that I do not want to make!!!  I've been stitching some half inch hexies over a couple of evenings this week in readiness......

..... and with those all stitched and appliqued the pouch came together really quickly.  Using a lace zipper from the shop mean't even putting in the zip was a dream......

 I used fabrics from the this month Flirty 30's Club for the hexies and the pretty pink dot is from the Essential Dots collection by Moda, which I teamed with Essex Linen in Natural.  The hand quilting was done in gorgeous Pink Aurifil 12wt.

So the title of this project is the Back to School Pencil Pouch...let me me tell you though, this one is mine all mine and will absolutely not be setting foot anywhere near a school..... evil laugh!

As I said earlier, this is just the first of many makes from this book that I have planned and I really do give it a HUGE thumbs up!

I know I said last time I had another finish to share, well all will be revealed on Wednesday, when it is my turn on The Strawberry Biscuit Blog Hop being hosted by the fabulous designer extraordinaire Elea Lutz and Penny Rose Fabrics.

The Blog Hop will run for two weeks with an amazing array of talented designers (and me) sharing what they have been making with Elea's beautiful fabric.  It kicks of tomorrow with Karen at Creamcraft Goods and Sedef at Down Grapevine Lane, so please do hop along with me.

I hope that you had a lovely weekend! See you soon.

The Flirty 30's Club

Yesterday was a very exciting 'happy' post day, as parcels full of loveliness containing the inaugural 'The Flirty 30's Club' bundles started popping through letterboxes across the country.   Each month, club members will receive ten different 30's reproduction fabrics, carefully chosen by us from our vast collection.  You can read more about the Club HERE.  Here is this months bundle......

Mum and I had a lovely time choosing the fabrics, our picks were inspired by the promise of Spring.....

.....our idea being from the 10 fabrics, various pretty combinations that can be put together for what ever project you fancy making.  We also thought it may be useful to share which solids are a good match should you wish to build a stash of 30's inspired colours.

This month we recommend Bella Solids in Pistachio, Mint, Amelia's Pink, Amelia's Apricot and 30's Yellow.

Obviously, as I'm sure you knew,  I could not resist sewing with these pretties.  I have a plan.......each month, I'm going to make a small project, using snippets from the bundle, this may be a pencil case, mug rug, a mini quilt etc. This months will involve these little half inch hexies which I stitched watching a film marathon with Poppy on Sunday.  I can definitely recommend Matilda if you've not seen it before, Pops and I loved it!  

I also wanted a longer term hand sewing project.  I've got various machine quilts in progress at the moment, which I'm thoroughly enjoying, but some days all I want to do once I'm back from the shop and supper's sorted is collapse on the sofa and do some therapeutic hand stitches.

So as I'm Dresden mad at the moment, I decided to do an EPP version.  My plan is to stitch three English Paper Piecied 8" Dresdens each month for a year.  These will then form the basis of vintage inspired 30's quilt...... (I've been Pinning like mad!)

Unlike my half inch hexies, I'm using a Sewline glue stick, which is fabulous for getting those lovely curves and THESE reusable papers.   These are then hand appliqued on to 9" squares of an Off White solid, which I will eventually trim back to 8 1/2" squares once the Dresdens are in place and I'm ready to piece the quilt top together.  I'm putting together 'a little happy' tutorial of how I'm stitching the Dresdens, so watch this space!

Here's this months completed blocks .......

That's all for now, but I'll be back to soon with pictures of another finish....I'm on a roll!

Happy Stitches ~ FREE Embroidery Pattern

Remember that work in progress I shared last time, well it's officially a finish woohoo!  I loved every happy little stitch that went in to making it. 

I hadn't intended on adding any wording but stitching 'happy' captured my mood perfectly!

I had so much fun making this I thought it would be nice to share a little happiness, so I drew up a little happy pattern for the embroidery, which you can download for free HERE. 

Wishing you lots of happy stitches!