Happy Mother's Day!

"Since my youth, O God, you have taught me,

and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.

Even when I am old and gray, 

do not forsake me, O God, 

till I declare your power to the next generation,

your might to all who are to come."

Psalm 71:17, 18

Farmer's Wife Friday--Sharing His Work, Pleasures and Problems

Welcome to this week's post about a 1920's Farmer's Wife letter and the sampler blocks included. As a reminder, the letters were written in response to the question, "Would you want your daughter to marry a farmer?" Cindy and I began blogging about and making the 111 sampler blocks last June. I counted today and we only have 19 more of the 6" blocks  and 7 more letters to go! Yay, a light at the end of the tunnel!

 Today's wife hales from Pocahontas County, Iowa. She, like many before her, would be happy if her daughter marries a farmer and, in fact, thinks that, "she will have the best opportunity for ideal companionship. She can be his helpmate in every sense of the word, sharing his work, pleasures and problems, and justly earning a share of credit for his accomplishment."

 Friendship Star is the name of this first block. Mrs. Farmer knows from experience that "true friends" are easy to find in the country life. "Lack of wealth will not restrict them, nor lack of "style" prevent their social success." I've always liked this easy-to-make simple  star. 

 I see and hear lots of wild geese flying overhead here in Missouri. I"m thinking that the Iowa farm wife must have had the same experience. This block, called Wild Geese, was a bit more time  consuming to make with it's 32 little pieces but,  happily, it went together  quite easily. It's a bit busy looking with 5 fabrics in such a small block...

 For the first time that I recall, the subject of politics was mentioned in this letter. "More and more, the farmers of this country are acquiring prominence in adjusting the affairs of the nation and of the world. National leaders are discovering that the farmer, with his problems and attainments, is one of the most vital cogs in the wheels of state."

My husband and I could only think of two farmers who have become a U.S. President: Thomas Jefferson and Jimmy Carter. Can you think of any others? 

Holy Wordless Wednesday, Batman!

Super Cinco de Mayo Derby Quilt Retreat

Saturday was quite a special day: Cinco de Mayo celebrations....The Kentucky Derby...the "Super Moon" shone bright... and The Blue Valley Quilter's Guild day retreat! Our sewing day was held at this beautiful old church in Bucyrus, Kansas.

Some gorgeous quilts were being worked on inside the well-lit fellowship hall, including this one by Cindy, my table mate.   

Nikki probably would have won the prize for 'most projects'. She had lots of colorful fabric being made into some fun quilts including this one, which she proudly modeled for us!

There was a lot of conferring over projects. Getting input and problem solving from other quilters at a retreat can really make a difference in the 'fun factor'.

Quilters need fuel to keep up their stamina and there was no shortage. The snack tables were beautifully decorated with a Cinco de Mayo theme and well stocked with chocolate, cookies, fruit, popcorn...every yummy thing that a quilter might crave.

After a catered lunch, we held our own derby race: The 1600 Inch Jelly Roll Race. Nine quilters raced each other and the clock... 

Some even wore fashionable hats as they held their foot to the pedal... 

There were creative ways of dealing with an entire jelly roll sewn end to end...

Some more effective than others....

Just one hour, twelve minutes and 56 seconds is all that it took for Lynn to get her quilt top completed and win the race! Perhaps the hat and a brand new sewing machine were her winning secrets!

Within another hour or so, the rest of the quilters had finished the race. (Except for Ysleta, who stopped sewing half way through, to have a back massage. Where were her priorities, I ask you! )  Aren't they all pretty and fun!

Yes, a good time was had by all. Tomorrow I'll show you the progress that I made on a special quilt for a special someone in my life. See you then!

First Sunday in May

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, 

and He will lift you up."

James 4:10

Farmer's Wife Friday--A Cultured Woman

Our farmer's wife today is identified as Mrs. J. A. M. from Ingham County, Michigan, so I'm going to call her Mrs. Jam! Now, Mrs. Jam is hoping to "see my daughters, three in number, marry farmers...All I ask is that it be a farm in a good productive place..."

"I want my daughter to be a cultured woman: a cultured person must be a thinker and I am sure there is no other place or work which affords the chance for one to think than the farm does." Now, I'm not quite sure how this Bat Wing block got connected to culture, but I have to say that for some reason I just love the look of it and have been looking forward to making it! I will also say that my husband and I have had our own encounter with a bat here in our neck of the woods a few years ago.  It did take some "fast thinking" on our part to figure out a way to get it out of our house one night when it suddenly flew in through the door to the garage! Think open door,  swinging broom, ducking, screaming, and peeking out from behind a door (that was my part). It circled the room, flying lower and lower before finding the open door. Whew! Hope that was a once in a lifetime experience. Freaky!! It's such a cute block though.

 Bat Wing--Block #5

Mrs. Jam (love that name) also says that at times farm women have to "hurry up a little but we have time to read, do fancy work, play with our children and make their clothes in the latest fashion." No doubt, she had wooden spools of thread for her sewing.

Spool--Block #84

 Both of the blocks this week were simple to create and striking to look at....just the way I like them!

 Come to think of it, they really look similar...turn the spool on it's side and you will see what I mean....

 Marble joined me for pictures today. Do you see how fat she is? That's not because we overfeed her or that she's having babies soon. Nope. She's earning her keep, just the way she is supposed to...and it's keeping her fat and happy (if you know what I mean)!  Good cat!

I'm heading over to Cindy's blog to see her blocks and find out which one she has been anxious to make...could it be the Bat Wing block, like me?

Belated Farmer's Wife--A Vote for the Country

I finally got last week's Farmer's Wife Sampler blocks sewn up... gotta keep up with Cindy (Hers were beautiful, as always). Right off the top, I'm going to admit to not being happy with my first block. Thinking that paper-piecing would get me the best result my not have been the best option...wish I had just used the templates instead. Can you say inset seams? This seems to happen to me quite often, actually. My block also turned out about 1/2inch too small (I trimmed something that I shouldn't have apparently.)....but, since I have several hours minutes invested in it, I'm just going to fix that when I add the sashing. sigh. Here it is...

Flower Garden Path-Block #36

Today's Mrs. Farmer is from Marion County, Kansas. Although I did not find her letter to be especially inspiring, there were a couple of interesting things about her that I don't remember reading in any other letters. One was her hoping that, "the privacy and seclusion will appeal to my daughter as strongly as it does to me." She likes not "attracting the attention of neighbors."  The other thing was mentioning not wanting to be seen in public while expecting. "When the little ones are coming, timidity about seeing people does not keep the farm mother from walks in the fresh air and, at the last, the stork's arrival is not a neighborhood affair." My how things have changed!

 Wild Rose & Square--Block #106

Perhaps her walks led her along country roads where she saw many flower gardens and wild roses. Here are my two blocks together...you can clearly see the error in size. I sure don't think that I'll be making block #36 again anytime soon!

See you Friday for another chapter and some easier blocks! Yay!