Scrappy Plate Blocks

Remember a couple of days ago I said I would be finishing citting out the pieces for the "Scrappy Plate" project? Well I got the rest of the pieces cut out and was able to get started sewing them together. Then I spent a good hour plus mixing up the pieces to make sure each final "plate" had a random look and all the different colors were distributed evenly. I then cut out the background fabric. I really like the tone on tone stripe as I think it looks like ticking, which kinda goes with the era of the 30's reproduction fabric prints I'm using.

I managed to get three plates done today, but I get to spend the whole weekend in the sewing room, as my husband is off doing one of his shows! Yipee!!

My Easter Eggs

Our chickens started laying about six weeks ago, and between the 12 of them we get anywhere from 5-9 eggs a day. Thank goodness my husband and boys likes eggs.

Our brood is a group of "exotic" hens that I had sent to us in the mail from a breeder about two years ago. This is why they lay such an array of colored eggs. We get green, blue, pink, and all shades of brown.

Can you believe I have had people ask me, "are they safe to eat"? Yep, they are safe and taste like a fresh white egg.

Scrappy Plate Start Up

I guess it's better late than not to do it at all. I am following Ann Sutton over at Bunny Hill Designs and her Scrappy Plate project. HerE is my fabric choice, 30's reproduction with prints that are mostly floral, some already cut out and the Dresden Plate ruler.

It was suggested that you chose 20 to 30 fabrics to give it the scrappy look. What I couldn't believe is that I had that many in my stash. I had over 30 fabrics to chose from and narrowed it down to these. I won't be able to get back to this until Wednesday, as I am working at a real job tomorrow. I will also have to check my background fabric stash then to see what might work, or if I need want to get something else.

Linen Bread Bag

I made this linen bag I found from the site, http://Fabrics-store.com/. (my apologies for not being able to prrovide a link in my post, I haven't quite figured out how to place a link using an iPad)

This site provided the pattern and I purchased the linen from them as well. They specialize in all kinds of yummy linens! On their blog, they have a post and tutitorial about this bag, commenting that it would keep homemade bread fresher longer and better than plastic or paper. Since I have started making bread again, I was excited to see this and made one straight up. I will be giving it a try next week when I bake our weekly loaf. I'll keep you posted on whether it works or not.

College - Oregon Ducks - Key Fobs

I have seen these as projects floating out there in blog land and had ordered the supplies a couple of months ago. So I tried my hand at making them yesterday. Since I already had some scraps out from making the purse, I went ahead and made two! I used a longer length stitch to sew the fabric on the webbing similar to stitching done on leather. I really like the way they turned out! I also am hoping to sell them at my husband's next show.

Another 3 in 1 Purse

I have been busy these last two days! I tend to bury myself in my sewing room, imersed in projects. It is my place of comfort, a place of peace, a place free of stress. I've had a couple of serious things occur to two very close people in my life. Both are named David, one is my father and the other is my oldest son. My dad has been diagnosed with melanoma lung cancer and is scheduled for surgery to remove it next Thursday. I just learned my son is being sent on his fourth deployment within the next few weeks, and he will be back doing combat instead of work inside the camp perimiter. I imagine I will be in my sewing room a lot over the next few months.

Anyway, I made another one of these bags to have ready to sell at my husband's next show in April. His show is in the college town, Eugene, Oregon, home of the Oregon Ducks. This will be the first time I will be selling something at a show. All of my past sales have been custom orders. I tried to take pictures of all the different fabrics I used to give you an idea of how many changes / ways this purse can be done.

Same Block in Different Colorways

Isn't it interesting how much color effects the block? Color is very important to my Mom, she has always said color makes her happy. If she were to chose between these two blocks, it would be the one with the bright blue. Her favorite color is blue. I like both colorways, but I think because of her influence (and my Grandma's) all my life, I would probably choose the blue one over the other one.

The Last One for March

Well today I got my last March block done! Now I will be moving onto other projects.

Only One

I have only accomplished one more block for the Farmer's Wife QAL. I have one more to complete to be done for this month. I don't believe in excuses, so I won't bore you with any as to why I didn't get more done this week.

So to recap.....I got one block done this week! Yipee!!! Oh, I did get a few more blocks cut out though. I am cutting them out in order from 1 to 111, except when I get a new monthly list to work on, then I have to jump around a bit. This way I figure I can have them all cut out soon, and all I have to do is pull the blocks for the QAL and can just spend the time sewing.

Couple More Farmer's Wife Blocks

Here are a couple more blocks for my March's QAL done in my Breath of Avignon colorway.

This Is about all I have gotten done for the last few days, as the weekend was filled spending both days (all day each day) with my husband at his shows. I did get in some handwork, but nothing completed to show and tell.

First Completed Project

This is my first completed project after I started quilting. I just love this piece, because 30's prints are some of my favorites. I've had it hanging in my office over the years, and have never grown tired of it.

It did however, take about two years to realize that one part of it is not right. Oh well, it makes me remember I am not perfect, I only know God who is perfect!

Garden Fever

This past weekend we planted our early crops. Carrots, peas, lettuce, spinach, beets, and radishes.

The pictures below are some of our harvests last year. I am amazed how stuff just grows and grows and grows here in Oregon. The only con here is when the good stuff grows so well, so do the weeds. I do have to say though, having the raised beds has cut weed production to almost nothing. The last picture shows the raised beds we built two years ago, and we've had nothing but bumper crops since!

March QAL Farmer's Wife Blocks

I work part time (I was let go at the start of the downfall of the economy, which is a book in of itself), so I can spend lots of time in my sewing room. Today I worked on my "Breath of Avignon" colorway for the QAL of the Farmer's Wife. I have six of the nine for this month done!

Mad kitty

I was working on this baby quilt for my son's co-worker. The pattern is from the Moda Bakeshop, with a little twist. He had me add the first line "Baby 1.0", because his work has versions of programs coming out all the time, and he wanted something relating to their work, but be relative to the first born of his co-worker. It was a big hit!

But, while I was working on it, I had it laying on my ironing board, (I swear I only turned my back a couple of minutes), when out of no where my cat, Junior, jumps up and starts his circling to lay down. Well, I was not going to have it, so I clapped, and patted his backside and shooed him away. My punishment was a mad kitty. Below is what he did when I made him get off the baby quilt. He has his back to me! I thought it was too funny, just like what a spoiled child would do!

I've said it before, my cats have a built in honing system for work in progress quilts, leading them to make a bed for a nice nap!

5th "Birdie Stitches" block

Today I was working a show with my husband, so I worked on the May "Birdie Stitches" block. After I get another block completed, I like the project more and more!

More Civil War Colorway Farmer's Wife Blocks

Repeat activities as yesterday. Sewing Farmer's Wife blocks in the Civil War colorway. My goal is to complete at least 9 blocks a month. With these blocks I have met my March goal! Now back to working on the other colorway, Breath of Avagnon, because the leader of our QAL, Donna sent us our block numbers for March this morning.

I would like to get these done quickly so I can work on my other goals projects!