Moda Friendship Quilt Along...

Moda image

 I just want to share a quilt along link I recently found with you today.

If you're a quilter, I'm sure you're always looking for more ideas.

The Moda™Friendship Quilt Along is a great way to increase your

block library with inspiration from a number of quilt designers.

This quilt along will run from February 18th until March 1st, 2013.

I've added the link to my left sidebar so that you can remember to

visit three new designers each day of the quilt along. By the time the
event is finished, you'll have a total of thirty new blocks to sew!

Moda image

 Each designer will share a little story on her blog, along with

a download for her block design. You can click on the designer

links on Moda's page, so make sure you go there first to see who

will be submitting their designs each day of the quilt along.
Oh, and one more thing...each designer will host a giveaway of
Moda fabric that you can enter to win. Don't you just love that?!

Here's a quick link you can use to visit Moda's page from my blog today.

It's always fun to share inspiration with you. You're going to love these blocks!

To my Farmer's Wife friends...

I haven't forgotten our quilt along either. I'm only downloading the blocks from

the Moda link to share for future use! I'm not neglecting you, my friends. I've been

working on new foundation templates for you, and hope to share new ones with you

very, very soon. In the meantime, I hope you're all doing something fun and creative!

I Really Like Paper Piecing...

This is my first attempt at paper piecing and I am really happy with the way the block went together. I had a little trouble with the "reverse" thinking at the beginning, but quickly "turned my thinking around" (I know...narf!) and this Friendship Star block was my first paper pieced block.

Loreen (my friend and our class instructor) shared a joke with our friend, Will. They had all of us laughing. Will is quite accomplished with his machines. He's got more than two Babylocks and was sitting at his Janome for the class. He told us that he earned three ribbons at the Venice (FL) Quilt Show a few weeks ago. We were all duly impressed, even though we didn't get to see the actual quilts.

There were five of us taking the class, but most of the gals were camera shy. That's my Sofia in the foreground, and she was quite happy to help me create my block(s). I like the fact that, unlike Miss Ellie (my Ellisimo) and Prissy (my Espire), Sofie only weights about 12 pounds. It's a truly portable machine, so I don't have to worry about lugging around something heavier.

If anyone needed to cut their fabrics, the main cutting table in the front of the shop was available. It's also where we gathered to watch Loreen demonstrate layout or other paper piecing techniques. There may have been money and merchandise exchanging hands, too, although I was sworn to secrecy so I couldn't possibly comment.

This was as far as I got on the second block yesterday. It's called Kansas Troubles. I used the same fabrics that I've been using in my Farmer's Wife blocks, so I can add it to the blocks to go into my Farmer's Wife quilt when I complete them.

All in all, I think the class was a great success for me. I now understand the concept of paper piecing, and have completed one block, with patterns for three more from the class to finish. They meet every week, so perhaps I'll go back over again. All I can say for now is that I'm happy I took the class, because I've found that I really like paper piecing! If you haven't tried it before, get thee to a class and learn. Who knows? You might like it, too!

Waiting 'til January...

Thank you to everyone who answered my poll this past week about deciding when to start the Farmer's Wife Quilt-along. I really appreciate that you took the time to let me know your thoughts. You've helped me a lot, and the majority of those who responded mirrored my thinking.

I'll wait until January, 2012 to begin the quilt-along. That will give me plenty of time to determine how best to guide the group, and we won't be distracted from our holiday preparations and celebrations as we create the beautiful blocks for our quilts.

In the meantime, if you don't have your own copy of The Farmer's Wife book yet, I've found the best price here (at Connecting Threads) for only $16.79 ($27.99 retail). If you need the templates in a ready-to-print format (as opposed to individual downloads from the cd that comes with the book), just let me know and I can help you with that.

You'll also be able to select your fabrics and find some great sales between now and our start date. I'm going to launch the quilt-along in mid-January. Be sure to mark your calendars for January, 20112. (You want to have all your holiday decorations put away by then so we can concentrate, right?)

 

I've chosen all the major fabrics I'll be using in my quilt. There may be others that are added as I need a darker (or lighter) color value, but the ones I've photographed here will be the "anchor" fabrics. We'll be celebrating the start of the quilt-along with a "Participants Only" giveaway. I'll tell you more about it when we're ready to get started!

Thanks again for your input on my poll. You made my decision so much easier. (I really have the best blog friends!)

I Need Your Opinion...

As I sat in my studio yesterday, I found myself surrounded by the supplies I use to create quilts, clothing, and all my projects large and small...

Fabrics waiting on bolts and rolls...

arranged on shelves next to ribbons and trims...

 nearly finished projects awaiting final borders. 

A Summertime quilt pattern waiting to be written...

 So many ideas swimming around in my head...

a competition piece due next month; 

a quilt-along in need of a start date;

Christmas projects that can't wait until the last minute;

special things for special people.

So many bloggers lament a writer's block or

hitting a creative wall.

Not me. I've got so much going through my mind,

my only problem is that I just don't know where to start.

I think Taggart has a great idea -

just lie down for a while and expose myself to all the possibilities.

Wait for an "aha!" moment.

For all of you who were interested in the Farmer's Wife Quilt-along

I have a question. I'm going to post a poll at the top of my right sidebar.

Please vote and help me make a decision. 

I'll close the poll on Sunday night.

Thank for helping me out.

I'm going to try to clear the log-jam and accomplish something today.

I'll be back tomorrow to let you know how I fared.

One more important thing...Happy Birthday, #1 Son!

More Fabrics For My Farmer's Wife Quilt...

I came across a kit that caught my eye last week. While "window shopping" at a LQS I saw a finished quilt hanging on the wall that I thought was really quite sweet. It had applique' (probably needle-turned - and you know how I feel about that! I did manage to finish a quilt using that technique, so I'm proud that I didn't quit), but this quilt on the wall was so pretty, I had to get the kit.

All these fabrics were included in the "Flutterby" kit.

The pattern is called "Flutterby" by Whimsicals, and the fabric line is called "Heart and Soul" by Whimsicals for Red Rooster Fabrics. Cute, right? The finished quilt was only 45" x 45", and even with the butterfly appliques', I figured it was imminently "doable" for me. 

When I opened the kit, these fabrics jumped out at me. I couldn't help but notice that some of them might be just the right additions for my "PIP" (Pile In Progress) for the Farmer's Wife quilt I'm going to make!

These fabrics are my starting point for the Farmer's Wife Quilt.

Remember, these are the fabrics that started my project PIP. I'll be sure to add more tans and golds, but I think at least some of the new fabrics will coordinate with these. 

Some of you have asked about how I'm going to organize the Farmer's Wife quilt project for anyone who wants to make one of their own at the same time. I think I'll be starting it mid-October (closer to the cooler weather here in Florida), and it will be a Sew-Along. We won't be trading blocks or anything drastic like that. All your work will stay with your own quilt. There will be no deadlines. I know that we don't all stitch at the same pace, but I'll set a goal for myself and you can see if my schedule will fit yours. I'll open a Flickr page where anyone making their own FW quilt can add photos of their blocks. That sort of thing. No one will be pressured or monitored. Fun for all. That's the way I roll at Brynwood.

I'll keep sharing my selections for my PIP, but will fine-tune my fabric choices as I get closer to actually cutting to start the quilt. I'll just keep showing you what I find and see where it goes from there.

Make your week joyful and creative!