Good Afternoon

February-

As I sit down this morning to write the post. I realized that soon will need to turn another calendar page; March.  I have been under the weather most of the time in February, big and small. It was probably after a trip I took to the city a few weeks back and didn't dress up warm enough that day. It might had been a flu or just a cold! I didn't pay much attention until I kept running a stream of headache in the mornings as I wake up and later afternoon fevers.  I have not been making a decent meal after that. Mostly just take what we have then heat up and there were some carry outs from our local Hong Kong Style Restaurant.  Last two days, I have finally not getting a single headache and fever and started feeling some good strength back!

Last night, I made a banana cream pie for today and I'll soon making the pie crust after writing the post. We'll do a chicken pot pie for dinner today! It will be so nice that finally a homemade meal and decent meal time together; sit, eat and visit!

Good Afternoons-
I like to say that I am mostly productive during good afternoons this month. I had some good finishes during good afternoons; Illustrator editing, patchworking, responding emails, card making, writing and reading books. Most of the time,  the workroom is warmer during the afternoon hours and I could be in the space that I am feeling warm and get into productive mode! Indeed the little space heater helps!

New Book-
It has been maybe 3 or 4 years since I bough a new pastry magazine. I always like to check out one during the Christmas seasons, but I didn't run into one for awhile.  The new {cake and pie} magazine that I found at the book store last Saturday was perfect; cake + pie. As I walked around the magazine stands and checking out everything, from Cook for two people, Cast iron meal, Pasta making...etc. I spotted the cake and pie title and started reading it. Gosh! I need to have it! I especially love the way how they garnish the cake with fresh fruits. I am looking forward to make chocolate caramel tart after we finish the banana pie. Um.. they also have a couple bundt cakes there, my favorite kind of cake.

Farmer's Wife 1930's Quilt Blocks-
After seeing my dear friend, Kerry aka {verykerryberry}'s Farmer's Wife Quilt finish. I am anxious to get my 99 blocks out and get the quilt top piecing going ! Yesterday afternoon, I finished 8 half triangle blocks from the book {double Yay-Yay}! I managed to print out the paper piecing patterns a few days ago then spent another day maybe 20 minutes to cut off the templates then another good afternoon pick out the fabrics. Have precut all the paper piecing pieces; step by step. Now I look forward a good afternoon start cutting the triangles for making blocks into rows. It will be a truly  sampler quilt to have as I always though I'd make a large sampler quilt someday! Without Kerry's quilt along it wouldn't be happening! Thanks, Kerry for hosing the {quilt along}!

Scrappy Style Ocean Wave Quilt-
It has been pieced into a quilt top by now. The seams in the back are all nicely press and the raw edges of the quilt top has been basted to avoid lose threads. It is such a great accomplishment for me! As I looked back the photos first taken for this quilt making was in August 2016.  I've enjoyed every bit of this patchwork quilt making! Time was well spent during the process,  trimming {not my favorite part, but I learn to enjoy it}, piecing and ironing.  Most importantly is using what I have in the stashes! It has been nice that some of these fabrics are being utilized and put in good use!  I'll save the full quilt view for another post with a simple tutorial for you. Maybe you'll like to make a scrappy style Ocean Wave Quilt.  Stay turn! 

mini Patchwork Sampler- 
It has been a nice journey to finish up the pattern. I have always done a bit more testing on my side before send to the pattern testers. In that, I am knowing my patterns and can be clear on each step and find the best way to approach in the pattern writing. The goal as a pattern designer is when you are reading the pattern it seems/ sounds that I am just right next to you and walk you through each step. I am excited to see some really cute patchwork blocks over Instagram last few days and the positive feedbacks for the pattern. {Thank You}.

Next Quilt- 
There is always a quilt that I like to make. Maybe last couple of years, I started to slow down in quilt making. I have accomplished 2 quilts a year, the most maybe 3. I found myself particular like quilt that involved with longer process and seeing time that have been accumulated through out the patchwork blocks. Mostly the process is more important than the outcome! It is like building a time passage into something to keep. I always like to pull out {the quilt} that I made for myself for my 34th birthday, gosh that sounded young to me now.  That was the first time that I made a quilt for myself! The colors that draw me in the most at the time and it took a lot of steps to make a quilt block. Also I hand quilted it and it is my quilt! I didn't really like to share this quilt with anyone, but myself! There are a few places needed to be repaired and the colors are fade throughout washes. I though I'd make next quilt for myself! It might be another long quilt making process, but I am looking forward a quilt for myself again.

xxc






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Farmer's Wife QAL

Excuse me if you see threads everywhere in the next {many} photos. This is my first attempted to use rotatory cutter to cut the template pieces. It went FAST and saved many hours on drawing the lines on the back of the fabric pieces. Each piece was mostly cut individually; only the squares that I overlapped and cut together. I work a little messy. All the blocks' pieces were cut before assembling.S was a great helper to organized them for me.

Can you see the mistake layout? Although I had book open I still make mistakes on layouts. When work with each block, typically I have the block layout next to the book and check if they all are in place. Many time I would sew pieces together then later realized that they were either upside down or wrong sides.

As you know after each project{ the corner} of the sewing room is always clutter. However, this time they are placed in the basket instead and ready to be sort back.  I need more of these file baskets.

It is really fun to revisit {w.i.p.} projects. It gives me a review of where I started and how would I like to ended. As this project is closer to the finish { 46 blocks more}.  It is good time think about sashing ,backing, and binding fabric. Also it is getting exciting to see this quilt come together. I have 17 blocks finished and that added up to 65 blocks in total.

 #77 Seasons

 #84 Spool

 # 81 Snowball

 # 109 Windows

 #111 Wrench

 # 108 Windmill

 # 47 Homemaker

 # 66 Periwinkle

 # 73 Rainbow Flowers

 # 69 Practical Orchard

 # 92 Streak of Lighting

 # 61 Northern Lights

 #96 Tulip

 # 74 Ribbons

 # 60 Noon & Light

 # 103 Whirlwind

 # 71 Puss in the Corner

Are you still farming along? I am really slow! If I am a real farmer's wife;  crops would not survived. It takes long time to decided prints for each block and put the action together.  Glad to have these completed as one of weekending goal! 

xxC

Random: Goodbye October!

It is hard to believe today is last day of October! It is my favorite month of the year. The fall colors are so pretty with mixed of greens, yellows, oranges, and reds! No maple leaves in N.D., but when we lived in Iowa there were many maple trees. We always take them home when we were on the walk!   November will arrive in a few hour, school will go faster and the holidays will approach us very soon! Possible winter wonderland...

This afternoon I had chance to revisited my {Farmer's wife quilt along}. It has been awhile since last visit and it was fun to pull out all the fat quarters and play with colors and prints. I mark 18 blocks that are not so complicated for piecing. It will allow me to added few more blocks to the block stash {46}. I am anxious to have this quilt assemble together!

It is fun to make a mess..... then worry about everything later... I have once considered cut all my prints into fat quarters, but I hesitated!

This is how I stash fabric for each block then work individual block later on. Normally I cut all the piecing pieces at once before assembling. Do you like quilt along?  It is fun to see one pattern,but transfer into different looks.

Did you see S? She is in the Dalmatian costume... She has been called a cow all night, but she didn't minded anymore. It was the first costume I made for her 4 years ago, back then she was a little one. She insisted to wear it this year again. It is a bit smaller, but she had a great time with her new buddy.

Happy Halloween, friends~

xxC

Random: Sew slow!

{Sew Slow}! The log cabin project is putting away for last few weeks. Finally today lay them on the floor and just check to see how they would fit together! I haven't finalized the layout, but though the light and dark contrast grouping is fun! I might try different layout once I have few more blocks.  They all needed a good iron press and small trim on the edges.  Sew far, sew good!?

Are you still in the Farmer's wife quilt along? Here are the blocks that I have made so far, 46 blocks. I still plan on making all the blocks then assemble them together! It sure makes me feel happy to see them put together.

I need to get back to it again! I have been skipped some of complex blocks and work on the simpler ones. I could see myself dive into this quilt once I finish school. I plan on hand quilting this quilt and probably would make it a wall hanging rather than using it for the bed. I found quilt along projects have been wonderful for me! Datelines make me nervous! I love taking time and move my way to the end. Also enjoy visiting others' creation!

After my {Popsicle block} I ordered the August {Dish Treat Blocks} right away! Don't you just love these sweet treats? I am so curious about how this quilt would turns out! I can't wait for the September block to come, but before that I shall have my August block finish!

The sky is cloudy and cool these days! I started drinking hot tea rather than cold iced raspberry tea. I miss the sunny summer days, but I really like cozy Fall season!  This week would be the very last week to return to school. My goal is have a productive week... sew carry on!

xxC

Farmer's Wife QAL

 # Friendship

# 40 Friendship Block

Then she came home and we spent our Sunday afternoon sewing {me} and reading {her}.  

xxC