Sunday Something

"How sweet are your words to my taste,

sweeter than honey to my mouth!"

Psalm 119:103

Farmer's Wife Friday--Worthwhile and Purposeful Things

Friday has rolled around again....(my, how time flies) and it's time to show you the blocks that I made this week for the FWQAL. Cindy and I are going to try to keep up the pace of posting once a week about our sampler blocks, but  both agree that without this commitment, we probably would have flaked out by now! And not because we don't like our blocks...we both do.....and we have enjoyed making them. It's just that Cindy and I both loooooovvvveee to start new projects and can get in over our heads maybe probably sometimes!

 Without further ado, the first block accompanying this week's letter by Mrs. M.H.M. from Charlotte County, VA, is this, easily recognizable and quickly made, Churn Dash block. I have always liked this block and, a few years ago, made an entire quilt of charming churn dash blocks in the same red and white color range. If you are interested, you can see that quilt here.

 The second block, called Squash Blossom, was the most time consuming of the four blocks this week. My Easy Angle ruler came in handy in cutting the angles properly. The unfortunate position of the big rose on my background fabric blends too much with the piecing. I thought about ripping it apart for about two seconds! Instead, I folded my laundry before my sweetie got home because, like the letter's author, " I find real joy in doing these worthwhile things that need to be done because the world needs the fruits of my labors."!! Hee hee!!

 Mrs. M. wrote several paragraphs about her love of becoming apparel but not really having the time to make a study of it because "other things come first". These next two blocks reflect that interest, however.  Bowtie is a simple block and quickly assembled. Instead of using templates, I used folded corner squares to make the little triangles.

 Ribbons, is a pretty block. The author spent her childhood in the city before living on a large farm for twenty years. I'm sure she tied many ribbons over the years. She says, "An unbelievable metamorphosis has been wrought in my ideas and ways of living and I would not have it otherwise. There is something so good, solid and genuine about farm life, and so much of sham, veneer and hypocrisy about city life. Country life is a great developer of character; the farm woman accomplishes so many worthwhile, purposeful things and never ceases to grow in mind, character and soul."

 To easily create the Ribbon block, I first cut strips the desired width and length. I also cut squares to use for making the small end triangles.

 I drew a line from corner to corner and sewed on the line and then folded back the square to make the triangles. This plan works great, especially when you make the strips and squares the right size. (Ask me how I know!)

 "Whatever lacks there may be in my life on the farm, I can always find greater lacks in the city woman's life and I often make comparisons."says the Virginia farmer's wife who valued her college education. I found myself wondering how 90 years of progress and conveniences have narrow the gap in those comparisons.

"Long life to my sister farm woman!" she ends.

Circle Within Circle

Do you own this book? It's a great one....I've looked though it sooooo many times, but not made anything much from it. That happens to me a lot sometimes!

 For the last month or so, I've been camping out on this page quite a bit....

 Finally, I took the plunge and picked some fabrics to try this fabulous,

 but difficult looking block....

 Turns out, it wasn't hard at all! And, I only had two little places to unstitch and redo where there was a tiny tuck on the back side.

 I'd love a whole scrappy quilt using this block!

These colors make me think of a refreshing swimming pool.

Maybe that's because we broke a 29 year heat record yesterday...

111 degrees at my house! Whew!

Jackie's House

I don't know about you, but I have been spending quite a bit of time watering my

flowers over the last few weeks, trying to keep them alive in this heat wave that

we are experiencing!

Betting that Jackie, from Kansas, has been doing the same, I thought that a house 

 in the shape of a watering can might be appropriate for the July house block

in the Calendar of Houses Bee.

 It was fun to spend a little time in the sewing room yesterday, 

sewing with a bit of my new Flower Sugar fabrics.

Hope you like the results, Jackie!

Farmer's Wife Friday--I Love the Farm

This week's letter, our sixth, written by a farmer's wife from Missouri wishes for her daughter to marry a farmer that is perhaps college or university trained.  One who regards "Agriculture as man's divinest vocation, worthy of the the thoughtful best effort of the highest intelligence."

What a forward thinking attitude, it seems to me!

The Peace and Plenty block speaks to the author's wish, "I want my daughter to bear hardships more bravely, not be relieved of them; 

to meet difficulties more sturdily..."

"I want her to help build a home in which children may grow, who will some day carry on the ideals and continue the service that I shall have to leave unfinished."

Peace and Plenty was pretty easily constructed with half square triangles trimmed to exact size. The other block for this week, Jackknife, took a bit more thinking on my part to avoid cutting templates. It's a great looking block....

The challenge was to come up with an easy way to create the corner units. I began by cutting the triangles and attaching them to strips that were a bit longer than the finished size.

 I then sewed the coordinating strips together ...

 and trimmed off the extra fabric

 to create the needed units! 

The author finishes up her hopes for her daughter this way: 

"To give her an 'easier time', should I deny my child?

Let her know the tingle of nerves and brain and body stretched to the utmost

in her fight for better ways upon the farm! 

Let her learn the joy of real work well done!

Let her be a Farmer's Wife."

The theme of 'real work well done' has echoed throughout all of the letters so far.

The blocks are beginning to look like they belong together.

Have you seen Cindy's blocks sewn up in all solids? They are delightful!

Go take a look!

I Spy Wordless Wednesday!

Visiting

A few days ago, I got up really early in the morning and took a drive to visit these sweet girls at their new home an hour and a half from me.

I really miss seeing my grand daughters, Maelie and Haven, as much as I used to so our time together was extra special.

 While I was there, I also got to visit a few quilts that I have gifted to my son and his wife over the years. It was fun to get reacquainted. I thought that I might introduce you to some of my old friends...

 I love this cheerful lady so much. I made her for Adam and Kodie in celebration of their 5th wedding anniversary almost five years ago.

 I found this little gal hanging out in the kitchen

 where Kodie decorates with a cherry theme.

 The blocks were made in a swap challenge with my quilt guild some years ago...

I can't really remember when. It looks so cute on Kodie's table.

 I made me happy to see this guy was well loved, maybe a bit dated,

  but still looking good

 as he hung out in the family room.

 He was a gift to my son on his 16th birthday in 1993.

 Then in 2000,  when Adam graduated from college,

 I made this modern looking log cabin.

 Remembering all the hoopla accompanying the year

 prompted the message on the label.

 I recall collecting red and black fabrics for quite sometime 

before I started the sewing of this quilt.

 (It took a lot of shopping, but someone had to do it!)

 Haven keeps this quilt at the end of her bed....

 So we got her out and played...

 Which was a good reminder of another I Spy quilt that needs finishing.

Soon!