
Hi there, hope you all had a lovely weekend. The photo above is a block I made on Saturday, which is "Recipe 1" in the Fatquartershop's Sew Sampler box Barn Block Sew Along. You get a pattern, or "recipe" for one block each month in your Sew Sampler box. If you don't want to participate in the Sew Sampler box ($25 per month), you can opt to purchase the blocks individually from FQS for around $5 as I recall. In each block, the basic "barn" is the same, but the "barn block" on the side is more complex and differs each month.
I got recipe 2 in my June box, but purchased recipe 1 separately. FQS offers a kit in the fabrics they chose for their version of the quilt. Black, grey and white. No offense if you love it, but I just have to have some color, and barns are traditionally red, right? And I love red, so I added it in to my version. I am using Primitive Gatherings "Needle and Thread Gatherings" for my project.

Block #1 was pretty painless, and I was thinking how gigantic the finished block was, at 12 1/2". However, the thing one is supposed to focus on, is the "barn block" on the side of the barn, which is much more elaborate and involves trickier and smaller scale piecing. Block #2 was a fine challenge, with the tiny little half square triangles being 1" finished. I managed to sew one of the segments wrong and ended up redoing one of the quadrants.

In the end, my points were pretty much right on, and everything lined up to my satisfaction. It was a little fiddly to make, but I was quite happy with my results. So get this, I posted a photo on Instagram and some woman commented. "Better done than perfect". Excuse me? What minor flaw in my work is troubling you so, that you would leave such a comment?
Honestly, some people think with the anonymity that social media allows, they can say anything they like.
People are so funny. Awhile back, some woman sent me a scathing email, complaining about a pattern she wanted to purchase (that I had mentioned on my blog) and she was getting no response from the pattern designer. Would I please do something about it and get back to her as soon as possible? Whaaat?
When you have a blog, you are somewhat of a public figure, as what you put out into cyber space is, well, out there. Some people attribute far more power and influence than is deserved to a simple blogger who is sharing her projects and opinions with whomever out there choses to read her posts.
I don't do this for money. I have never been sponsored by any person or any product. I have chosen not to have ads on my site because I find them annoying and assume my readers might as well. My blog is my own work and my personal opinions. I receive no compensation from my posts other than the joy I receive from my regular (and some not so regular) commenters. I love the friendships I have developed through blogging, whether they lasted, or didn't. Every positive connection I make with you is reward enough for me. It's a shame not everyone gets that.
We are not always going to agree on every subject. We all have different tastes and preferences, and a good discussion amongst folks who do not see eye to eye can be terrific. Anyway, thanks for reading, and if you take the time to make a comment, I truly appreciate it. Especially if it is nice. lol