Many moons ago I received a little gift from my blogging friend, Jodi (over at Pleasant Home).  I just love her.  And her blog.  And all the quilty goodness that goes on over there.  

I always loved Jodi's Funky Pinwheel Table Runner (you can see hers HERE).  So I was super excited when she sent me a set of her Funky Pinwheel Templates.  Thanks again, Jodi!

I finally got to making one of my own Funky Pinwheel Table Runners recently ~ to give to a different super sweet friend!  I delivered it today but was sure to snap some picture before I did.  The colors matched her home perfectly (I'm so relieved!)  She literally has a red leather sofa right off her kitchen.

Jodi's runner was super fun to make.  I love the big blocks and it was really quick to put together.  I made mine a little shorter though (mine has 5 blocks compared to Jodi's 7 blocks).  And I think I made my borders just a tad bigger (like 3" instead of 2-1/2").

And look, I even stippled it myself!  

It was my first time doing any kind of free motion quilting and I loved it!  It only took me about an hour to prep it and quilt it and get the binding sewn on the front.  My quilting isn't perfect but it sure was fun trying!  I'm hoping to do a little more of my own quilting now that I got myself a new sewing machine with a proper free motion quilting foot.

Most of the fabrics I used are from Sweetwater's Mama Said Sew line.

I just love that line...don't you?

Birds of a Feather Progress

I have been wanting to make this quilt for years.

You may have heard me mention it before.

The pattern is from American Patchwork and Quilting (April 2009).

I've been collecting fabrics for the past few months.

And I think I waaay over shot what I  needed because I bought enough fat quarters and used a little from my stash to use a different fabric for each bird and feather.

I've made lots of progress on it this week (ironing and such).  Today I am glue basting all the pieces in place and then I'm good to go!  My little hands have been itching for a take-along applique project for quite some time.  I think this will keep me busy for a little while. 

I also got a little itch to start something new so I whipped up some blocks from my Square Dance pattern the other night out of the leftovers.  I need some quilty goodness to go with the new colors in my family room.  I'm planning on making it into a big throw.

I always get these itches when I finish up a big project.  I've got a new finish I'll be sharing with you soon.  I'm really excited about it (and have kept my mouth shut about it for far too long).  I hope you'll like it.  Stay tuned!

~ Amber 

Red and White Farmer's Wife Update [Paper-Piecing]

Hello.  Hello.

Happy Monday Everyone.

Hope you all had a nice weekend.  I've got some sick kids home from school today.  And I, myself, have been in my pajamas for 24 hours.  I was feeling a little worn down Friday afternoon and have been taking it easy ever since. 

I did happen to make some more headway on my Farmer's Wife quilt last week and thought I'd share my progress with you.  I've got 11 new blocks that I'm really excited about.  I really enjoyed making them this time around!  Imagine that :)

 

Maybe it's because I got to do some paper-piecing!?!  I heard about the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt Along Group on Yahoo.  You have to request to be a member but once approved you have access to paper-piecing patterns for all 111 blocks!  Have I told you how much I love paper-piecing?  I really was on-a-roll one day last week and busted out 6 PP blocks!  And I'm itching to do more!

 The blocks featured above are the ones I paper-pieced.  Some of them are quite easy and I probably would have been fine to use templates for them but you don't waste as much time cutting out each piece (you do waste more fabric this way though).

One new thing I tried with these blocks was using sandwich paper instead of regular printer paper.  It's so much thinner and easier on your needle.  And, you can print directly onto the sandwich paper.  I've printed out 9 patterns so far and haven't had a problem with it not feeding through my printer.  You just have to trim it down a little because it's a little bigger than your standard 8-1/2" x 11" paper.  You can buy a big box of the sandwich paper at Costco.

 This block below was probably the hardest of the bunch.  Not because it has tiny or intricate pieces but because it has slight Y-seams.  It was fine once I got over the shock that I still would have to do Y-seams even on paper-piecing.  But the lines on the paper show you exactly where to pivot.  And it all laid flat once I took an iron to it.

[#47 Homemaker]

[#65 Peaceful Hours]

[#77 Seasons]

[#66 Periwinkle]

 [#74 Ribbons]

 

[#59 Night and Day]

 The next four blocks I used the template method.

[#19 Checkerboard]

[#57 Morning - this one was a little trickier than it looks.]

[#49 Honeycomb]

 [#8 Bouquet - I like this block]

And for this block (below) I just used the half-square triangle method where you sew zig zags on two strips of fabric (RST) and then cut the zig zags apart.  Press open and trim to the correct size.  Don't know what that method is called...but it's a fast way to get lots of HST out of the same two fabrics.

[#87 Star Gardener]

I think I have about 54 blocks finished so far.  I know, it feels like I should be getting close to finished by now but I'm only about half way.  I'm starting to second guess my plan to make all 111 blocks.  Any thoughts?  I could probably use a little motivation right now.  I always need a little extra when I realize just how many I've made and how it's not even close to the 111 blocks in the book.

Oh well, I've got to focus on the positive and how much fun these last few blocks were to make!  I really want to get back in my sewing room and sew a few more!  The goal for the FWQ-Along that I'm in at work is to be finished in April so I really need to get my butt in gear and finish the last...fifty-seven.  Oh crap.  That's a lot.

Cabin Fever Quilt Retreat

Oh my gosh.  I'm so excited! 

I really haven't been on too many quilting retreats before but I am sooo ready to get away and sew!

Emily (from Crazy Old Ladies Quilts) is hosting her first ever

in the beautiful Hobble Creek Canyon, here in Springville, Utah.  

Thursday, February 21st - Saturday, the 23rd.

You can stay for all 3 days/2 nights for just $200 or 1 full day for $100.

I think that's a steal of a deal.  Especially because it includes lodging, all meals, classes and tons of swag!

Check out these accommodations:

 This place is beautiful.  Imagine it (covered in snow most likely).

And in here - all warm and cozy

(with the soft purr of sewing machines going crazy!)

Emily asked me if I would be willing to do a trunk show (eek!) and I couldn't turn her down.  Natalia Bonner from Piece and Quilt and Kati Spencer- From the Blue Chair will be doing trunk shows, as well!  It's going to be so much fun!  I can't wait!  I do hope you'll join us. 

There are just a few spots left, so hurry to EVENTBRITE to register! 

You may also want to check out Emily's blog for more details.

~ Amber