Chicken Feet

Farm Girl Block #12 is complete.

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On 04/01/2016, Barbara Anne said ...

Applause, applause!! Will we soon be able to see the finished blocks laid out together? Do you plan to put alternate squares or sashing between the blocks as you sew them together? No matter which decisions you make about assembly, this quilt is going to be a charmer!

Hugs!

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On 04/03/2016, Pat said ...

I have this book - I should start the blocks! Yours look great!
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A New Duck

Anna brought me a pretty this morning, an Easter Rubber Ducky. He will look great on the window sill with my other duckies. I'll take a new photo when I introduce him to the flock.

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On 03/30/2016, Barbara Anne said ...

How cute! I hope this little charmer is welcomed by your friendly flock. What a sweet gift from sweet Anna!

Today I'm sewing 38 colorful squares to 38 background rectangles. These will become a Dogtooth border a la instructions from a book by Janet Kime called "The Border Workbook".

Hugs!

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On 03/30/2016, Thelma said ...

This may be my favorite!
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Milk Can Block

This is Block #11 in my Farm Girl Sampler Quilt, but I believe Week #13 in the year. So I'm slipping more behind in my goal of making one block a week. Oh well, as someone said long ago, there are no quilt police. So I'm just going to relax and let it happen as it happens.

Daughter Andy, grandson Jesse and I had a good Easter Sunday here at The Yellow House. I made chicken and dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans with onions and mushrooms, rolls, gravy, and cranberry sauce. After lunch, Andy and I watched a mediocre movie, "Hollow Creek," or something like that. Burt Reynolds had a very small part in it, and it was sort of scary--only because there was a dog, and when there's a dog in a thriller movie I'm always on tenterhooks worrying that something bad will happen to him. This doggy character didn't help matters, because he kept running off into the dark woods toward the bad person/people/place/thing/whatever. SPOILER ALERT: The dog come through unscathed.

As is their habit, just as I get in the middle of something (in this case, blogging), Sophie and Skipper have started barking downstairs, which either means they have to go out or there's a person, automobile, or animal going down our street. So I best go see if it's the former.

I hope all of you had a happy Easter Sunday and are ready for a pollen-laden spring, which we already have here.

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On 03/29/2016, Barbara Anne said ...

What a cute milk can block, handles and all! Well done!!

If there were quilt police, I'd be in a world of trouble as many UFOs as I have, along with the several projects I'm working on. Good news is that I'm piecing the outer border for the star quilt and after this border is sewn on, the top will be finished!!

Spring is glorious here, but the low tonight is forecast to be 36*F so no planting yet.

Hugs!
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Rest in Peace, Ronnie

My niece Buffy and her dad Ronnie some time in the early 80s

I'm sorry I've been away from the blog for so long--a week or so. Time just seems to get away from me. The days go by so fast these days. 

Our family suffered a loss yesterday. My niece Buffy's dad passed away. His name was Ron Channell. He and I were classmates in high school, graduating the same year. He and my sister Ramey were married in the late 70s, and they gave birth to Buffy a year or so later. Ronnie and Ramey were no longer married when he died, but they were still friends. Ronnie's current wife is also a friend of mine.

Since our high school years, I remember Ronnie for his big smile (grin, really) and his charming sense of humor. For example, once my sister's Turkish friend was visiting Ramey and Ronnie. She had brought with her a male friend who was also Turkish. I don't remember the exact gist of the conversation, but somehow it came around to the revelation that the friend was having trouble with his visa. 

"Oh, that's no problem," declared Ronnie. "I have trouble with my Visa all the time. They just want you to send them a payment, then they'll shut up for a while." Obviously the two men were not having problems with the same kind of visa.

Ronnie's family and friends are heartbroken, of course--especially his daughters, Jennifer and my niece Buffy. Please say a little prayer for us all or send some healing thoughts our way. 

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On 03/23/2016, Pat said ...

Sorry for your loss...

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On 03/24/2016, Barbara Anne said ...

My sympathy to you and all of Ronnie's family and friends as you deal with the sorrow of his death. May the good memories comfort each of you and bring a smile to your faces and a chuckle as you remember him, his smile, and his humor in the time ahead.

Here again are the words of Peter Marshall that were sent to me by a friend when my father died in 1983:
"Those we love are with the Lord and the Lord has promised to be with us. If they are with Him and He is with us, they cannot be far away."

Grace and peace - Barbara Anne

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On 03/26/2016, Sandy said ...

So sorry for your loss.

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Red Barn

I just finished Block #10 for the Farm Girl Sampler.

I ordered a copy of the pattern that Doris used to make her Halloween Tree that she brought to bee meeting last Monday. The pattern came yesterday, and I'm dying to get started on my own Halloween tree. So I think now I'll scramble around in my stash and find some fabrics to use for it.

The tree is sewn by the method called foundation piecing, which I'm sure most of you are familiar with (fabric pieces sewn onto a paper or fabric foundation. This pattern came with printed tissue paper foundations.

I really don't enjoy foundation piecing, and I'm not good at it. I've never used anything as flimsy as tissue paper when I have done the technique, so I'm going to photocopy the pattern onto something more sturdy before I begin, probably just white computer paper. My plan is to also make a Christmas tree wall hanging when I finish the Halloween tree. How long my nerves hold out doing foundation piecing will determine if I actually do make more than one tree. Or even if I finish the one. I'm serious when I tell you that I DO NOT LIKE foundation piecing.

Spring has arrived in full bloom in this area. The Barlett Pears and the Red Bud (Ironwood) are blooming, as well as some other things, and a very faint hint of green has appeared on the trees. That usually means that in a matter of hours, those trees will be leafed out.

Of course, with spring brings more physical problems for me--allergies. Whole lotta sneezing going on.

All right, I'm going now to dig into my box of black fabric to find prints for my Halloween tree.

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On 03/16/2016, Denise in PA said ...

Susan, I have to tell you, I've made the Tall Tree version twice, and loved using the tissue paper foundation - it was so easy to do and so very easy to remove! I think you will like it!

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On 03/17/2016, Barbara Anne said ...

Applause for your perfect Barn Block! The number of finished Farm Girl blocks is adding up most delightfully, isn't it?

Thank you for the name of the tree pattern as I'd love to make one, too.

I have a love/hate relationship to foundation/paper piecing but find after I've had a bit of a think, it's easy and I am always pleased with the finished projects. Then I resolve to do more foundation piecing but don't so always have to star with that thinking about the process. Good luck!

Spring has arrived here, too, sniffle ... kerchooo! After low 80s*F yesterday, it's in the low 70s*F today and sunny.

Hugs!

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On 03/20/2016, Pat said ...

I always enjoy seeing what you've done. Amazing! Plus a 1000 piece puzzle!
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Strawberry Block

This is Block #9 of my Farm Girl Sampler quilt. I'm still one block behind. I think I'll make the Red Barn next.

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On 03/10/2016, Barbara Anne said ...

Now isn't that just the cutest block?! A strawberry with it's green top and all. It looks like it still needs to ripen a bit. Well done!

Hugs!

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On 03/11/2016, Sandy said ...

Hi, Happy birthday. Hope you had a great day and enjoy many more !!!! God bless you.
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Red Door Decor

For a long time now, I have decorated my front door with seasonal wreaths. When getting ready to hang my spring/Easter wreath, I noticed that it had become a little drab. Time for a new wreath, or maybe even something totally different. And I decided I wanted a cross, the symbol of my Christian faith, to decorate my door for this Easter season. I found this one, which uses hearts in its design, and that was it. I brought it home and mounted it on my front door, and I'm thrilled with it. I may never go back to wreaths.

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On 03/09/2016, Sandy said ...

It's beautiful Susan. Looks like it was special made just for your door. Happy Spring!!!

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On 03/09/2016, Barbara Anne said ...

Lovely! May I ask where you found it? We live far enough apart that if I were to get one, too, no one would suspect I was a copycat!

My Easter things will go up after St. Patrick's day.

Hugs!

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On 03/10/2016, Dolores Tanner said ...

Cross on the door is wonderful!!
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Good Morning

I'm talking about yesterday. I had a really good morning. I got up early, did some laundry, then attended my quilting bee meeting, then did a little shopping. On the way home, on a beautiful springlike day, I was thinking how great I was feeling. I was even doing some fantasy yard work in my head.

Unfortunately by the time I got home and got my purchases put away, I was out of spoons, and I plopped on the sofa until time to make Jesse's supper (chili dogs and curly fries). 

I'm feeling pretty good again this morning, finishing up the laundry. But I'm not so sure about those yard work fantasies anymore. I think I'd better call Steve (my yard man) and get him started back on my yards.

Here are some photos of the bee meeting yesterday. It was great fun to be with my friends after missing a couple of meetings.

Sally's Plus Quilt

Doris's Halloween Tree quilt. I have to make me one of these.

Some of the interchangeable ornaments on Doris's Boo Tree.

Another quilt by Doris

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On 03/08/2016, Barbara Anne said ...

Cheers that you're feeling so much better at the start of these spring days and that you got to go to your delightful bee meeting yesterday! Love the pictured quilts and I'd like to make one like Doris' Boo! quilt, too.

I hear you on the gardening ideas and unrealistic dreams. Sigh. My spoons are in too short a supply for me to accomplish what I've written on my "to do " list. I need to sweep the bird seed off the front porch where we provided a birdie buffet during the snow days. But we had snow last Friday, so would sweeping be premature?

Today I want to pin, pin, pin and sew the upper right side of Brian's star quilt to the bottom left part of the quilt and the center will be finished - once the edges are squared up!

Hugs!
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Farm Girl Progress

Block #8, Churn Dash

Turns out, Anna is good for more than housecleaning and friendship. Her visits also spur me to go into my sewing room and get some work done. I have to go someplace to get out of her way, and this is the only room she isn't allowed to clean--except the little room upstairs where lives the litter box. And who wants to spend several hours in there?

So this morning, I have already got one block made for My Farm Girl Quilt. Churn Dash, shown above, is Block #8. By my goal of making one block a week, I still have this week's block to make to get caught up. But since I'm making the larger 12" blocks instead of the tiny 6" ones, it won't take as many blocks for my quilt. Whereas I would need 48 of the smaller blocks, I'm thinking that, with the borders I have planned, I'll need only 20, possibly 25, of the larger blocks to make a nice quilt--not counting the small blocks that I already made that I will use as border cornerstones. In that case, I have only 17-22 more blocks to make. So if I keep up with my schedule of one a week, I should have enough blocks made by late summer.

Turns out, my sister and I didn't make it to the thrift store after voting yesterday, nor to lunch, nor to coffee. We did make a quick trip to the library. The sky was ugly and threatening, and the weather forecast was for severe storms, so we fled to the relative safety of our homes. It rained off and on all afternoon, but the strong storms didn't get here until early evening, and then they didn't last long. One community to the south of Leeds got hit by a tornado, and I understand the damage is extensive. But I didn't hear of any deaths or serious injuries, thank God.

All right now, back to the cutting mat to get another Farm Girl block ready for sewing.

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On 03/02/2016, Barbara Anne said ...

Love the Churn Dash Farm Girl block and its fabrics! Applause for using some of your spoons to make this cute block and I wish you well in getting the next block finished before the week is out. Getting caught up is a worthy goal.

The antique shops and a lunch or dessert out are delightful destinations for another day.

It's chilly, sunny, and very windy here so I hope to sew more of Brian's star blocks together.

Hugs!

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On 03/03/2016, Joanne said ...

I love that churn dash block! My favorite colors.

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On 03/04/2016, Valerie said ...

Oh my goodness! I LOVE your farm quilt blocks!
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Super Tuesday? That Remains to Be Seen.

I'm going to pick my sister up this morning, and we're going to vote. I don't think I've ever been so ambivalent about voting day before. It usually feels like something special to me, like a holiday or going to communion. But today I woke up with an oppressive sense doom. It's bad feeling. Sort of like I expect going for a chemo treatment would feel.

After voting, if I still have a spoon or two in my drawer, we're going to the thrift store. I guess. Or lunch. No, not lunch. It'll be too late for lunch. Coffee maybe.

I still haven't done any sewing lately. I'm behind with my Farm Girl schedule. Anna comes to clean tomorrow, and I'll retreat to my sewing room to stay out of the way. So maybe I'll get some sewing done then.

Happy March, everyone.

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On 03/01/2016, Barbara Anne said ...

We just got home from voting and I know just how you feel. Some of the candidates are scary, rude, and/or crazy and too many seem to not care for our Constitutional rights as long as their cronies get rich. Where are the honorable statesmen and stateswomen? Sigh.

Hope you had enough spoons left so that you and your sister could go to the antique shop AND for dessert and coffee afterwards.

My calendars have been changes, two loads of laundry are in the washer and dryer, and it's sunny and warm. I hope to sew more of Brian's stars to each other and to their setting triangles.

Hugs!

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On 03/02/2016, fatcatnomore said ...

Yes, I have two boys who will be voting for the first time this year and it's an awful way to begin their civic duty. I applaud you for taking the steps to vote, despite the climate in this election. It's easy to get discouraged and give up but you didn't so kudos to you. You certainly deserved dessert and more after that activity!!! We must make sure that the person who does end up running our country is worthy of the job...because some of those candidates having their finger on the button just can't happen!
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