Sister's Choice Quilts

I Haven't Abandoned the Farmer's Wife, Really

Well, actually I have sort of.  If not abandoned, neglected for sure.  So, I got out my book, my blocks, and my Marti Michell template instructions and tried to reconstruct exactly where I am in this project.

I have progressed as far as the 27th block, using my Marti Michell template instructions.  Marti received permission from Laurie Hird, the author of the Farmer's Wife book, to produce conversion charts for making the blocks in the book using her special acrylic templates, available on her website.  Marti was able to convert 101 of the 111 blocks using her templates.   And for the ten blocks that could not be converted to her templates, she suggests alternate blocks that can be.  I like being able to rotary cut all my block pieces from the templates, so this method is working well for me.

The templates are not inexpensive, but they are very high quality and can be used to make many other quilt blocks over time.  I did not purchase all the templates I needed for the FW blocks at once.  I started with sets A and B, which kept me going through about 20 blocks, then I acquired set D and a couple of others from a generous blog follower.  I may need to get another set or two to complete all 111 blocks, but really, set A and B seem to be good for most of the blocks in the book.

You can subscribe to receive the template instructions from Marti by clicking here.

Where exactly am I?  It has been such a long time since I had made any of the blocks, it took me some time to find my place!  I don't want to forget about this project, and was determined to get going on it again.

Marti does not progress through the book doing the blocks in the same order as they are presented there.  She skips around, basing her block order on which templates are appropriate for their construction.  My most recent block is Broken Sugar Bowl, block #12 in the FW book.

Next up for me is #98 Water Wheel.

I hope to post regularly next week, but I am having two very special house guests.  My son and his fiance are coming from Ireland for a visit!  I am over the moon excited to see them.  Ahren moved to Dublin to start a new life with Mary Ann last May and I haven't seen him since that time.  I expect we will be on the go and busy getting all caught up with each other, so I may miss a post or two.

Happy weekend everyone!

 

FW Blocks, With New Method

I made a few more Farmer's Wife blocks with my Marti Michell templates, and they continue to come out at the proper 6 1/2". 

Clarification:  In my post yesterday I mentioned that I purchased Marti Michell's Sets A & B templates to make my Farmer's Wife blocks.  Those templates will work with the first two PDF files that you can sign up to be sent on Marti's website.  The PDF files give instructions for making 10-12 blocks each.  I will need additional template sets to make all 101 Farmer's Wife blocks that Marti made with her templates.  All in all, I believe I will need to buy sets D, N & S to complete the blocks with Marti's method.  I only bought what I needed to get started, as the template sets are not cheap, and I wanted to spread the cost out over several months.

If you are interested in signing up to receive the free PDF files on how to use her templates to make the Farmer's Wife blocks, send an email to Marti Michell at cservice@frommarti.com, with "Sign me up for Farmer's Wife" in the subject line.  You must do this prior to August 31 to be included in the mailing that begins in September.

This is what I did with my Too-Small Farmer's Wife blocks.  I had only made a dozen of them, so I turned them into mug rugs (drink coasters).  Too small to use, too cute to waste.

Slightly blurry picture of Evangeline in her polka dot sun dress.  I had just changed her diaper and dressed her and she had pretty much had enough of me manhandling her, and was starting to get worked up.  My hands were shaking trying to hurry and take a picture before she launched into full blown annoyance.  The panties that go with the dress were ridiculously huge on her.  At her doctor appointment yesterday, she weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces.  She behaved like a countess for the examination.  No crying, no fussing, she was stoic throughout it all.  We love her more every day, and are amazed with her wonderfulness.

Getting Started with the Farmer's Wife

Sara and I made mini design boards for our Farmer's Wife blocks yesterday.  We found a tutorial on Lori Holt's blog Bee In My Bonnet.  Lori explains how to do it way better than I can, so do check out her Mini Design Board tutorial.  I love her philosophy, "If you are going to make it, then make it cute".  I think Sara and I need to make a few more of these before ours are as cute as Lori's, but never mind.  We found new ways to make a mess with a glue gun, that is for sure!

The idea behind making a mini design board, just so you know, is to have a surface to lay out your block components, make sure everything is oriented properly, and then sew. 

Every day we have  a new arts and crafts project while we wait for Baby E, who is sinking lower and lower into Sara's pelvic cavity by the minute.

Sara's fabric, Clermont Farms, by Minick and Simpson for Moda arrived, and she is ready to start making her blocks!

For another time filler, we went to see the new Woody Allen movie, Midnight in Paris, and loved it!  This movie is like no other Woody Allen movie you have seen, so if you think you don't care for him, do give this one a try.  The music alone will win you over!