Farmer's Wife Friday--Marry a Good Farmer

"A home is not a home unless it is full of cheerfulness and kindness." That's how today's farm wife, from Worcester County, Massachusetts begins her letter.She goes on to describe how valuable farm life is to the raising of healthy children, especially when "every member of the family has his own work to do." 

Snowball-Block #81

All is not work, of course. There's lots to do on a farm that will "build our country boys and girls fair and true". This wife is also ready to admit that "the financial problem is always a problem on the farm." She recognizes the struggles especially of young farmers.

Economy-Block #29

Being an optimist, though, leads her to conclude that, "prosperity and all good come to those who work industriously and have within their souls the love of their work."

Here's a pretty wreath made with the last 12 completed blocks. I"m an optimist myself, and am working industriously to finish all 111 blocks in this sampler. I'm counting on my love of quilting leading to a good outcome and a pretty quilt in the end!

Not having  a large design wall, like my friend Cindy, to showcase all 82 blocks made so far, I lay them all out on a flannel backed tablecloth to admire and then fold it up to store until next time.

Be sure to check out Cindy's solids only blocks and her thoughts on this letter. See you next week for two blocks a bit more complicated than the simple ones in this week's letter.

Retreat!

 Tomorrow I'm heading for the hills. Well, sorta! The KC Modern Quilt Guild retreat begins at noon....I'm trying to get everything round up that I need to drag along. Something usually gets left behind...hopefully, it won't be the foot pedal to my machine or anything significant like that. Saturday morning, I'll be leading a class in making your own Quick Response Code quilt. Here's mine....not too subtle, huh!

These leader/ender blocks need sewn together into a quilt top to send to Nepal with my son in a few weeks....

This morning I cut into my new Flea Market Fancy! I just love it, by the way! I made my own jelly roll, cutting two 2.5in. strips off of each one. I'm excited to try a project with them!

 Two special little boys in my life have requested bat man quilts. I'm planning to make this my main focus for the weekend. They keep asking when the quilts will be finished...poor guys, don't know that all I've done so far is buy fabric!

I"m also taking along my Farmer's Wife Sampler fabrics, hoping to sock away a few more  of those little babies in the next couple of days. The pile is growing...think I'll get to everything?

Between sewing, eating, chatting and shopping, one thing I'm sure of is that it will be a bunch of fun! Oh, I forgot about sleep. Oh, well, who needs that anyway?!

Tag

Having seven grandchildren, age 8 and under, you can bet I get plenty of chances to play a game of tag. Well, today I'm playing again! Andie from Andie Johnson Sews has tagged me to answer a few fun questions...

 I love a good game, don't you? Here goes...
     1.My favorite summertime beverage if I can't have a peach iced tea...I'll take a Diet Coke. (I'm addicted to Diet Coke.)
     2.Am I stalking a famous quilter? Every quilt that Rita, from Red Pepper Quilts, makes is fabulous in my book. I've been following her for several years now and her flickr pics are all in my favorites folder!
     3.My celebrity crush used to be Mel but I've switched to Denzel. 
     4.A favorite book of all time is Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.
     5.My dream car? Oh, easy one....Wouldn't I look good driving an Audi TT? A red one.
     6.What quilt or sewing project am I most proud of?  Well, my first thought is my unusual stick-to-it-ness on not quitting on those blasted Farmer's Wife Sampler blocks!! 80 down and 31 to go! I've got a fabulous quilter lined up to make it beautiful, so have a deadline to get the blocks set together...that makes me pretty excited!
     7.Do I have a secret quilting behavior? If I told you it wouldn't be a secret, now would it? It may or may not have something to do with Junior Mints.
     8.As far as magical powers go...If, with a twitch of my nose, all my blocks would suddenly be sewn together into a quilt top...now that would be truly awesome! That's not my favorite step in creating a quilt....ready to move on by then!
     9.A favorite subject in school? Golly, it's been so long ago...I loved biology in high school. I thought maybe I'd be a scientist. But, then reality hit and I majored in Home Economics Education.
    10.My favorite Bible verse is the one I posted yesterday, Romans 15:13. Where would I be without hope?

My turn to tag....Linda, Flourishing Palms
                             Susan, PatchworknPlay
                             Cindy, Live a Colorful Life
                             Cindy, Hyacinth Quilt Designs
Play if you have time, but don't feel obligated. It's just for fun, so here's my fun questions:
1. Morning person or night person?
2. Do you save the selvages on fabric? If so, have you ever made anything with them?
3. Which color of fabric is most prominent in your stash?
4. What is the smallest scrap that you save?
5. What food do you crave?
6. How often do you change your sewing machine needle?
7. Pre-wash or right off the bolt?
8. What quilting project are you most proud of?
9. How many hours a day do you spend reading blogs? 
10. What's your favorite music to sew by?


Tag! You're it!

Fourth Sunday in March

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace

as you trust in Him, 

so that you may overflow with hope

by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Romans 15:13

Farmer's Wife Friday--The Heart of a Farmer

After several weeks of making four blocks to illustrate the farmer's wife letter, it was a treat to only have to turn out two for today's posting....and easy one's, I thought! (It's been cloudy and rainy here, so my pictures are bit strangely colored.) Our letter today is short and to the point, written by a lady from North Dakota. 

 If her daughter wants to marry a farmer, here are the 5 questions she will ask her:
1. Is he fit to be the father to her children?
2. Will they be proud to call him Father?
3. Is he kind and considerate?
4. Has he strength, courage and ambition enough to make a home?
5. Is he willing to sacrifice some of his boyhood pleasures for her sake?
With a "yes" answers to this quiz, I'd say a young man, whether from the city or the country, would make a wonderful mate, don't you!

 Gentleman's Fancy-Block #44

She feels that, "With few exceptions, the heart of the farmer is in his home; that of his city cousin is too often in a down-town club or playhouse."

 Basket Weave-Block #4

Okay, I'm not really loving this Basket Weave block. It looks like a swastika to me. I should have paid more attention to my color placement to avoid this look. Bummer.

Our author expounds that, "Above all, let us not make workshops of our homes."  By that, she encourages more places to go and do to "get out and shake off some of the dust of monotony". 

"Let's get out of the rut!" she says. Cindy is never in a rut with her blocks or musings. I hope that you are following along with her sampler blocks, as well.
Now, if you are feeling in a rut yourself, I've just the thing to help you shake it off today, brought to you by my crazy, non-farmer son-in-law  and my granddaughter, Lula. Watch and smile...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e26qXU1K6po&feature=player_embedded

Have Quilts, Will Travel

Yesterday, I loaded up my Dog and Pony Show of quilts and headed to Jefferson City, Missouri, two and half hours away. It poured rain all the way there and back, but my sweet hubby agreed to be my driver...(I sure picked a good one, with him!).

While he found a nearby Panera and was soon happy with a coke, cookie and WiFi,  I enjoyed sharing 25 of my quilts with ninety plus members of the Missouri River Quilt Guild. My topic was Quilting and the Internet. I shared how blogging, flickr, websites, etc. have impacted my "addiction" to quilting. Hopefully, I inspired some to find some new ways to enhance this wonderful hobby we love.

 Here's a quilt top shown by one of the MRQG members that inspired me! It's a "Dear Jane" quilt all put together with light blue sashing. Patty, the creator, plans to hand quilt it next winter.  These little 4 inch blocks, make my 6 inch Farmer's Wife blocks seem large!

I just love how quilting connects us to others who share the same passion! 

Gifts

One of the best and most unexpected benefits of blogging is the friendships I've made over the last two years. Cindy has become one of those invisible sweet friends. This week I received this fabulous birthday gift from her in the mail: a pattern, 2 fat quarters, a mini charm packet and a beautiful hand-crafted seam ripper... Cindy and I are making plans to meet in person soon...I can hardly wait! Thank you, Cindy!

Another good blogging friend sent me a nice fat gift certificate to Marmalade Fabrics for my birthday. Marmalade loaded up and brought the business to a vendor sale during a local quilt show this weekend. It was super to see all that gorgeous fabric up close an personal, so of course, I cashed in my certificate. Thank you, Linda! Looky, looky!!

Oh, how I love the dishes at Anthropology! My daughter and daughter-in-law must have known, because look at these beautiful bowls and cup that were among my birthday presents....Stunning, I think!

 And then there's this. My dear hubby thinks I can learn to use it...Boy, I sure hope so! I'm pretty excited, to say the least! 

 Enough about me. You all are wondering who won the give-away, I bet! First, let me say thank you for the wonderful response to this little prize package. There were 110 entries, which included 30 different favorite color combos. I wrote them all down, and plan to give some of them a whirl. Are you interested in what were the top favorites? Yes? Okay, thought you might be.....Tied for first: the great combos of red plus aqua and pink plus orange. Close behind with a three way tie: gray plus lime; yellow plus gray; and blue plus orange. The most intriguing and unusual fav to me was orange plus fuchsia plus aqua. Thanks everyone for sharing your ideas on color, entering the contest, and for just coming round every few days!!

The winner of the fat quarters and pattern, (picked at random by my husband) is number 21, Diane Hicks who is a new reader. Congratulations, Diane. Your prize will be there soon.

Have a great week sewing everyone!

Third Sunday in March

"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, 

to mind your own business 

and to work with your hands, 

just as we told you,

 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders

and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."

I Thessalonians 4: 11, 12

Farmer's Wife Friday-High Lights and Shadows

Friday has rolled around again... time for another letter and blocks from the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt. Today's wife, from Grand Forks County, North Dakota gives us a little different outlook on the country life than most of the previous writings.

 Her letter begins, "I have lived on the farm and in the city. I have found high lights and shadows in each. Life on the farm is not the simple combination of fresh air, flower gardens, butter and eggs that some city sisters envy us for, and yet--I would have my two daughters marry farmers because I think they will be most likely to find there the three conditions that make for a married woman's happiness."

 Steps to the Altar--Block #89

Her first condition for happiness is for the farmer and his wife to be real partners in running the farm..."always know that both are working for what both spend." Good advice for any couple, I say!

Linoleum--Block 55

Second, a happy farm wife "must have a reasonable number of conveniences." Her hope is that her daughters will "have electric power, running water and other conveniences that city housekeepers have", things that this wife did not have herself. My, how times have changed. (I'd probably add high speed internet, but that's just me.)

Puss in the Corner-Block 71

The third important condition is that "her children must have the best possible chance." Living in the country, this farm family has plenty of open space for kids to run and play, "a field, a piece of the woods, a stream of water and pets." Balancing all of this freedom with education in town provides the best of both worlds. What child wouldn't thrive in those conditions! I always love seeing my own grandies run and play when they come to visit me here in the country.

 Storm Signal-Block 90

Realistically she knows that, "happiness does not rest solely on the question of city or country but I do think that, considering the steady improvement in living conditions on the farm, the greatest possibilities lie in that direction."

I liked this practical letter. The author has a good head on her shoulders, don't you think! I wonder what Cindy thought. I'm going there now to find out. Join me?

Birthday Blogiversary Give Away

This week I'm celebrating a birthday that ends in a zero. It's not so bad, I've found, when a surprise party is involved!! 

 My amazing daughter, Megan, (who's name should be Martha Stewart) created color coordinated party decorations in grey, yellow and black. They were hung strategically around the dining room of the historic home recently renovated by my son, Drew and his wife, Lauren. 

 She secretly gathered lots of pictures from my childhood and early married life to hang around the room with clothes pins and ribbon. 

 The room was full of some of my best friends as well as my lovely children and grandchildren. 

She even had cute party favors for everyone!

 To say I was surprised is an understatement!

At the urging of Megan, I began blogging on my birthday two years ago. At the time, I had no idea what an impact that decision would have on my life! The inspiration, encouragement and friendships that have come about through Lollyquiltz delight me every day. Thank you all for reading my jabbering...without you, I wouldn't have any reason to write.Your comments keep me going. To celebrate both my birthday and my blogiversary let's have a Give Away of 3 fat quarters of Sugar Hill by Tanya Whelan in a favorite color combination plus a quilt pattern designed and written by yours truly a few years ago...

If you would like to enter, leave a comment telling me your favorite color combo right now. For a second chance, leave a separate comment letting me know that you are a follower of Lollyquiltz. Be sure that I have access to your email address for a valid entry. I'll choose a winner on Friday morning. Thanks again for making this such a fun hobby!
**The give away is now closed. 

Rainbow Garden

I started making colorful hexagons on a trip to Colorado in 2010. Off and on for months, I continued making them and eventually stitched them together in chains of color...

Most of the fabrics are polkadots with a few stripes and checks thrown in here and there. The hexagons have been to Colorado twice, to Maine (and all states between), as well as  accompanying me during not a few hours of TV watching.

The quilting is a sort of grid pattern that I admit to "eye-balling" and is not particularly  straight. I like the texture that the lines give the quilt, though. The binding is a colorful stripe that I found in my stash. It was my second choice. I originally sewed on a polkadot that really bugged me after I had it on the quilt....the dots were not printed straight and looked like they'd had a little too much too drink as they danced around the outside of the quilt! The stripe is a better choice anyway it turns out!

The Heather Bailey floral has been in my stash for several years and made for a fun back coupled with two Amy Butler dots.

I'm so excited to have my Rainbow Garden hexies finished that I can hardly stand it! Can one have too many photos of a finished project? Not in my book, you can't...especially if you have been working on it for 18 months or more!!

So....I've been seeing this little sign as I drive to and fro, here and there. It stands in front of a cute little house wearing two of my favorite colors...I wonder....

"Knock, knock."     "Who's there?"    "Lolly."     "Lolly who?"     "Lollyquiltz.  Do you mind if I take a picture of my quilt in front of your pretty turquoise house?"    

"Your what?"      "My quilt...it's colorful, like your house!"     

 "Well, sure....your right, that is colorful! and it goes well with the house paint. My daughter-in-law will be so tickled to know that you like her color choices!"

I can't wait to see what treasures will be for sale in the Unique Boutique (in Leawood, Kansas)  when it opens it's doors.  Pretty and colorful stuff, I"m sure!

I guess that's enough pictures for today! Come back tomorrow for a special Give-away celebrating a couple of special days in my life.