Happy Monday!

I had grand plans to sew all weekend long but it didn't really happen. I came across this pincushion pattern on a blog called Fresh Lemon Quilts it was just the project to fit into the time I had to sew. If you want to make one there is a paper piece pattern you can print out.

I am displaying them on a cake plate in my front hallway. It makes me happy to see it as I come and go during the day.

Griffin and Elliot

My grandsons spent the night Saturday and were happy to be my models to show you my finished Farm Girl Vintage blocks. I really enjoyed making these simple blocks and am looking forward to turning them into a quilt. You can find the patterns in the book called Farm Girl Vintage by Lori Holt.

I was pretty focused with my color choices and am happy with the way they play together.

I love that strawberry. It took a lot of trial and error to get the pinks just right.

The only block I did not include was the sheep, I just wasn't feeling it. I opted for a bee (in another book) and still have to embroider the antennas.

I changed the sunflower block from yellows and browns to pink. There is no brown in my quilt. I used gray for stems and such where you would usually use brown. Notice my bee is pink too!
This was a QAL and very doable to make 2 blocks a week. I now will figure out how to set it.
If you are a new quilter this is a great book to learn quick techniques that you will use over and over again.

Kelly

Colour My World

Do you remember that song by Chicago from the 1970's? I was in high school and worked at the Tastee Freeze. Whenever that song came on the radio all the girls working there sang it out with enthusiasm. I found a little tidbit about this song......

• One of the band's most popular songs, "Colour My World" never charted because it wasn't released as a single. It was used as the B-side of the "Make Me Smile" in April, 1970, and as the B-side of "Beginnings" in June, 1971.

I did love the song Make Me Smile too. 

So back to the quilt......I am doing a workshop this fall and needed a sample as I gave away all the other ones I made using the free form stick figure trees. I had this Alison Glass fabric that I was using on another project and decided it might work for this one too. I love all these colors and mixed some other Anna Maria Horner fabrics in too.

Sometimes no planning works and sometimes it doesn't. My blocks did not come out the size I wanted (my mistake in cutting) so I need to give it just a little something. I made some free form triangles as setting strips and do like how it gives it a punch.

Isn't it weird that when you try to be accurate you never are and when you try not to be accurate you are? All of my "free form" triangle are pretty much the same.....

I did some simple straight line quilting that I feel goes with this type of pattern.

Good things can happen when you are not paying attention. The fabric pattern on the binding has a perfect scallop all the way around! If I tried, I couldn't do it again I am quite sure.

I really enjoy a good backing fabric. I have had this in my stash and thought the colors went perfect with the front.

I just finished making a bunch of bow ties for a swap with Barb and am getting ready to mail them out. That acid green with pink in the center is one of my favorites.

but I kind of like these too......

or maybe these are my favorite. I think you get the picture.

The Farm Girl Vintage quilt is coming along too. I highly recommend this if you are a beginner quilter. There are some great techniques to learn and all the blocks are very easy. There are only 12 more to make.

I am on mom mom duty this week (it is so nice to be in demand!). Wednesday is my 5 year blog anniversary! I will have a give away next week when I have some time to figure it out!

Kelly

Stuck

I am stuck in a rut. I have a ton of things to work on but just don't have the umph to work on any of them. I have a hard time switching gears.
I pulled out some scraps today before my workout and just started sewing them together. It was soothing and mindless.
These colors are also way off, it is a gloomy day here and I can't get a decent picture.

This afternoon I dumped out some more and will continue sewing.  Who knows what it will eventually be? Just looking at the colors makes me happy. Good enough.

I did get one more Farm Girl Vintage block made, Butter Churn. I like these colors together.
The next block is pretty easy but I feel like picking out the fabric will be a chore today. Do you ever feel like that? Any other day the fabric would be flying!

Note to self, when you pick out a heavy weight fabric to cover your small ironing board, be sure it is 100% cotton....at least it is pretty.

Kelly

Wednesday Already!

It's very hard to get a good picture today. We are on day 3 of rain.......we need it very much.

These block go fast and are fun.

Whenever I see a baking/cooking block I think of my friend Lynne who is also making these. I can't wait to compare ours!

The next one on the to do list. If you are interested in making them they are by Bee In My Bonnet, Lori Holt. The book is called Farm Girl Vintage.

Rain glorious rain!

Kelly

Dirty Hands

This block (Apron Strings, Farm Girl Vintage) is about the only thing I have sewed in the past few weeks. I had lots of twin babies sewing to do but have to wait until after the shower to show you.

I have had my hands in the dirt for the past 2 weeks. It is very meditative and allows you time to think without distraction. I don't take my phone out with me for fear I will lose it or worse bury it!
The above foxglove is courtesy of  I am guessing a bird. I know they are biennials (the plant grows the first year and flowers the second year) and maybe missed it in the garden last year? No matter I will enjoy it!

This is a gorgeous shrub that is almost black in color, I love the contrast with the green in the garden. I don't know the name of it. Can anyone tell me?

This year it also got these pretty white flowers, a nice surprise!

These hostas are enormous this year and love living in this part shade spot. That really is the key, finding a spot they love and letting them go. They are about 3' across.

These are on my porch and I think the colors will look great together once they grow in. It's a mostly shady spot so I have to be creative!

Out back by my deck are some gerbera daisies......right now only the red is in bloom but there is also orange and hot pink in there.

Not a summer can go by without zinnias. I found this double cherry color and am so excited for them to grow. I also planted lots of sunflowers......

This rose bush was almost dug out this year. For the past few years it was not growing or blooming. This was the year I was getting rid of it. Our cold spring saved it. Imagine my surprise when I saw how much it had grown (tripled in size) and the hundreds of buds all over it. It is an old fashion type that is extremely fragrant, I loved brushing up against it while I weeded.

So as much as I like to think I am in charge of my garden, Mother Nature definitely has the last word! You never know what will happen.

My sewing room is a mess. My goal today is to get it cleaned up and start sewing, I really miss it.
What are you working on?

Kelly