Farmers Wife 1930 Sampler #07 Augusta

Haven't been doing a lot of Farmers Wife blocks as I am doing them by hand now (easier) and only do them when travelling in the van. I keep the making of the templates and cutting of the pieces for home and then store them in zip lock bags in the book, so I am ready to sew the next one, once I've finished one. Just like this.....

In saying that, I am so far behind in the 'sew a long' that I doubt I will catch up - but that's ok! I'm enjoying what I am doing, and that's what counts. This block has 33 pieces and is hand sewn.

"Her Great Granchild" writes in 1931, a letter titled 'When Great Little Grandma Drew the Line' in which she has a really detailed description of Great Grandma and her clothing, including an obvious cherished 'big pocket'. Grandma would tolerate situations, but when enough was enough, she drew the line!

I know that feeling. One can only be pushed so far when that line gets drawn. Enough IS enough! Choices need to be made, and boundaries drawn.

Quote:

There is a difference between giving up and knowing when you've had enough!

 

Farmers Wife #61 May

When I first saw this block I made a note to paper piece it, and promptly moved on to another block. After making a few of my own templates for other blocks, I decided to have a go at making a template for this block. Glad I did. This block has 8 y-seams, but they don't cause a problem when hand sewing.

 

GnomeAngel tutorial can be found here.

My thoughts on the letter - "A Mother's Smile"

by A Mother, 1938.

The letter was a reminder to mums everywhere, to smile, to laugh each day - no matter what one is going through - one needs to make the effort to smile and laugh. 

I start most days with a smile, and it does make one feel more positive.

Laughter, well that does take a little more effort, especially when things are going wrong.

I will try to find something to laugh about each day, not a fake laugh, a real laugh because something is funny. (May need to watch 'The Project' each day LOL)

What will you do?

QUOTE:- Life is better when one is laughing.

Farmers Wife #15 Blossom

I do like this block. I have made a similar one for a family tree quilt. I guess that is why it was not so daunting to make. I used my own graph paper and made templates. Again, I did hand sewing of the pieces.
GnomeAngel tutorial can be found here.

My thoughts on the letter - 'Three Hollyhocks' 

by Flower Lover, 1938.

Flower Lover was saddened by the state of her garden after the ravages of weather and pests. However she ended her day happy and looking forward to her garden after a kind and thoughtful neighbour shared half of her plants. The neighbour said “It isn’t much” but Flower Lover was so overwhelmed and appreciative.
How often do our friends do what they consider 'little things' that we really appreciate. Even a simple smile when one is feeling sad is often a great uplifting expression  that makes one feel they are important to someone.
One does not know how others feel with what one says or does. We should all try to be more kind to ourselves and others.
Quote:

One kind word can change someone's entire day.

Farmers Wife # 6 April

After making the nine mini blocks for April, I had to check that I had made them correctly. I had, but when they were placed together it just didn't look right. I thought about changing the corner blocks, but decided to leave them, but I would not make the same block the same way again. I used my own templates and hand pieced this block.

As you can see it was another block with so many pieces - 53 pieces to be exact.

You can see how small the corner blocks were with the small needle beside it.

You can find GnomeAngel tutorial here.

My thoughts on the letter 'And Beets in a Jar'

by But-after-all, 1933.

But-after-all writes about leaving the home to go to work and as she looks around the home she is happy with the sights and smells - her mother canning beets. She is obviously happier working in the home rather than an office.

I must admit there was a time when I was happy at work and really enjoyed being there, but that was a few years ago. I am much happier now working at home and having 'me' time. "Me' time is very important for all of us.

Quote:

The magic thing about home is that it feels good to leave and it feels even better to come back.

~ Wendy Wunder

Farmers Wife #28 Dolly

Another hand pieced block, with heaps of pieces. Dolly has 61 pieces, and I really enjoyed hand piecing it. I used templates that I had cut from my own template plastic, and will use again. I found it easier than paper piecing. Travelling in the caravan and not staying long in any one place meant that I wasn't able to get the machine out - and we often chose not to have power, to save money - meant that I was hand sewing a lot. It took forever to cut out all the pieces for this block, and once I finished cutting all the pieces, it sat for days on the window sill in the van with me sewing one or two, or if I was lucky, three pieces a day.

As it took so long to cut, I decided the best way to catch up was to cut out each block when we got home, and to continue on my hexies and hand quilting my 'country quilt'.

GnomeAngel tutorial is here.

My thoughts on the letter "That Easy Road"

by Quiet Living 1933

Quiet Living was married at the age of 17, and things were hard at first, but became easier - until they had to 'keep up with the Joneses'. It is hard when one is young to be what other's are, or perceived to be. I'm not sure that I was ever trying to keep up. I didn't want to be 'out of place' so I guess I was somewhere in between. My sister use to lay-buy many items, particularly clothing, but I have NEVER had a lay-buy. I pay cash, or in later years used a credit card, that I promptly paid off each month. Does that make me unique, I don't think so. I'm sure many people do the same. 

Don't get me wrong, we do not do with out, but we are careful with our money. Maybe it is my Scottish ancestry - to be thrifty. Now we are retired, every dollar counts. We still want to enjoy life, but now we do it differently. Fortunately we didn't go through a Depression as bad as "Quiet Living" - but on a limited budget one needs to be aware of what one spends.

Quote:

The easy road often becomes hard, and the hard road often becomes easy.

~ Robert T. Kiyosaki 

Farmer's Wife # 23 Charlotte

Charlotte was hand pieced in two halves. I'm not sure if I should sew them together, or keep them as halves to use in the finished quilt. The problem is that I have not decided how I am going to finish the quilt, other than machine sew it. I could do it the way the book says, or with sashing in between each block with corner stones, or use alternate light blocks. Then there is also the issue of what size to make.

so many decisions......

I guess the block is very indicative of the choices we make, being two sides to everything!

You can find Gnomeangel's Tutorial is here.

My thoughts on the letter 'Vacation at Home' 

by Happy Farm Girl - 1937

I don't recall ever going on holidays as a young child, maybe we did, but all my childhood memories are of spending holidays at home. We had good imaginations back then, and would play for hours and hours, in the house, in the small concrete back yard, or in the back lane.

As I got older I do remember my Mum sending us to our Aunties (in Newcastle and Sydney) for holidays. We mostly stayed and had fun around the house.

Even as a Mum, we often had family vacations home - yes, we did do the odd weekend away which was fun, and we did start tent camping, but staying at home was easy and we could make our own fun. When our children were young, and even teenagers, I use to enjoy them being home on school holidays. We would do whatever suited the circumstance, inside play, outside play or a small excursion to the park. It was fun.

I believe in making the best of what you have (that's why in later life I knew to walk away when circumstances were out of my control - that WAS making the best of what I could do). Making the best of what you have is demonstrated in the letter.

As Angie said in her thoughts '...just because something “bad” happens doesn’t mean we have to let it dictate how we respond' We need to move on and get the power back to do what makes us happy, even if it is a long process!

QUOTE:

Fill your life with experiences, not things - have stories to tell not stuff to show!

Farmers Wife #11 Bea

Another hand stitched block. I guess by now you have guessed that I am not doing the blocks in order of Angie releasing them. One can only do what one can while travelling.  I am 'playing' catch up by going through the book and doing each block that has been released in numerical order.

This 'basket' block was also easy while hand piecing and sewing, and surprisingly quick to do.

You can find Angie's tutorial here.

My thought on the letter "Only Twenty-Four and a Queen" 

by Queen Bee, December 1935.
  Queen Bee writes about wanting nice things and getting sad because she doesn't have them. To resolve her feelings she puts on her best dress and a happy attitude and all her housework doesn't seem so bad.

Mood can have a very big influence on attitude and how others perceive you. 

What makes me feel better when I'm feeling down? Sewing, listening to John Farnham, being with the grandkids, spending time with family. 

Quote:

Do small things with great love and joy in your heart.

Farmers Wife #42 Heather

This was another hand stitched block while travelling. The good thing with hand stitching is that it is easier than getting the Elna out and machine piecing while travelling. I have not trimmed this one yet, but still very happy with the way it turned out. You can find Angie's tutorial here.

My Thoughts on the letter "Just Pass it on" by Mrs F.P. November 1938

Mrs F.P. talks about how grateful she was to have a neighbour who recognised when she was overworked and who would 'borrow' her small children and return them fed, bathed and ready for bed. All the neighbour wanted in return was for Mrs F.P. when her children were older, to return the favour to another young mum.

I feel blessed to have friends who know me well enough to recognise when and what I need, and provide it. 

Quote: 

Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.  ~ Voltaire

Farmer's Wife # 86 Priscilla

Sorry for the break in blog posts, we have been touring this wonderful country  of ours. Such a good release from the stress of work life.
While travelling we called in to see my auntie, and she re-kindled my old hand sewing habits. #86 Pricilla was the first block in the Farmers Wife Sampler that I hand stitched. I must say I did enjoy it. I hand stitched a few other blocks but then found it would be easier to cut the pieces using template plastic. So off to Spotlight.


I didn't find Pricilla difficult, maybe because I was hand stitching.
See Angie's tutorial here.

My thoughts on the letter 'Dishes with Fairytales' 

by More Fun in Dishes  Dec 1938

As a child my sister and I would take turns in wiping the dishes, we didn't like or dislike it, it was just something we did. I'm not sure if my brother helped, I have no recollection of him helping, but maybe he did. More Fun in Dishes would entice her brothers to help with the washing up by telling them fairy stories. Her brothers thought washing up was girls work, but in the end they wanted to help so they could hear the stories.

When my own children were young, they never had the joy of washing or wiping up. We had a dishwasher! Once when we lived in Canberra we went to my cousins home and our girls actually fought about who was going to wipe up - now they are older, they no longer do that LOL.

Quote: This home runs on LOVE, LAUGHTER, and sweet tea.

Farmers Wife #22 Cat

My first thought seeing Cat was look at all those tiny little pieces. Next it was what fabrics will I use? 
Once I started piecing it wasn't that difficult. However, I did lose some of my points, so don't look too close ☺.
The Gnome Angel tutorial can be found here.

My thoughts on the letter 'The First School Day' 

by Glad - after - all,  1935

Glad - after - all expresses her feelings about dropping her 'baby' to school. She talks about her aspirations and dreams for him in the future.

It is often difficult to leave one's child with 'strangers' and under someone else's control, even when one knows it is the right thing to do. Over the years I have seen many different reactions by parents as they leave their children on the first day of school, all appropriate,  just different. 

Quote: Children grow, and parents will always watch out for their children, but the emotions felt by parents on the first day of school are very strong and very raw.

Farmers Wife #55 Malvina

At this point in the Farmer's Wife sampler, I am trying to use fat quarters that I have already cut. Can you see the selvage that snuck into the block? Think I will write something there.

The Gnome Angel tutorial can be found here.

I'm still playing catch up,  and this block was ok to make, and I didn't do too bad with the points.

My Thoughts on the Letter 'Fun for the Family' 

by Radio Fan 1935

Radio Fan talks about the joy her family gets from the radio. She talks about each family member's favourite broadcast.  Some they share and some they don't. 

I tried to think what today's 'radio' would be - television? Netflix? 

I love television and tv shows and movies. I share my enjoyment of crime and mysteries with my daughter. I wake up to the news in the morning and tv is on most of the day. I record a lot of shows and watch while I'm doing other things - like sewing ☺. 

When the kids were little,  we would watch movies together, and now hubby and I will watch The Block, Master Chef,  and any Star Trek show together. So I guess television has taken the place of radio in today's fast paced, multi-tasking society.

Quote: They say that 90% of TV is junk. But 90% of everything is junk. 

~ Gene Roddenberry.

Another quote: Television is the most perfect democracy.  You sit there with the remote control and vote.

Farmer's Wife # 09 - Autumn

While away camping, I realized that I needed to print out some of the Farmer's Wife templates, so I made a list of what I needed and what I had, and I was able to make this Autumn block. Not a hard block to make, but it did use some small pieces. 

My thoughts on the letter "A Precious Half-hour"

By L.O.L. April 1939

I feel I need to point out that this was written in 1939, well before LOL meant 'laughing out loud'. L.O.L. talks about her busy life and no matter how busy she is,  she still finds 30 minutes in her day to recharge.

This is something I can relate to very well. I have always been someone with hobbies, something that I do to relax and de-stress. 

When our girls were babies - only 11 months difference, I would make sure 

I was showered and dressed, before I even got the girls out of bed. I always made time for me, back then it was fabric painting and ceramics.
As they grew, and our son was older, I went back to work full time. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed my job. It was my passion, my hobby. I enjoyed writing lesson plans and making resources and PowerPoints to share with my colleagues. I would always put aside Saturday to play an online game - Fairyland,  and to sew. Sunday, and most nights we're all school work. This one day was enough to de-stress. Sadly, increasing work commitments, left no down time - not even 30 minutes a day. 
L.O.L. knew the importance of 'me' time.
I have now left that uncaring, and toxic workplace, as the passion had been destroyed. I don't feel guilty,  although I did, now that I am doing what I want to do. I gave taken back my time,  as my time is precious. 
Quote: - Taking time out each day to relax and renew is essential to living well 
~ Judith Hanson Lassiter. 

Am I in the Autumn of my life? 

Farmers Wife #26 Daffodil

I actually finished this block early December, but with travelling and other projects, I didn't get around to posting about it.
This block was paper pieced and because I don't have a lot of yellow fabric I think I should call it tulip. I'm not a fan of paper piecing, mainly due to the wastage of fabric.
I am not concerned with mirror image,  either way will still look good.

My thoughts on the letter "Snappy Though Married"

 by Mrs. Nineteen. December 1935

This was a lovely letter about one day in the first year of marriage. The house work was not done,  sewing 'mess' was not yet cleared away and hubby came home. 

I can really relate to this - as can my daughters. I do the housework that needs to be done, but my relaxation, my calming mindfulness activity is my sewing.

I am blessed to have a hubby like Mrs. Nineteen, even today after 35 years and 5 months, he still asks me to come for a walk, he still holds my hand, he doesn't say a word about the fabric, and notions and machine on the table. Even camping, we often eat at the table with the machine pushed to one side. 

We don't have 'his' jobs and my 'jobs', we both do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done. What is important is being together,  and doing what we like to do. We have the same dream - to travel together and be happy - AND to win the lotto!!!

We love spending time together and also value the needs of each to have our own relaxing pursuits. Marriage is forever and we love each other dearly. 

QUOTE: A successful marriage requires falling in love many times with the same person.

Farmers Wife #10 Ava

My thoughts on the block. Ava is the name of our 2nd granddaughter, so I chose colours that remind me of Ava. This block was a little more complicated due to the added 'square' in the four half square triangles. 

If you are following my blog you already know that I find it easier to cut squares and sew on the diagonal rather than cutting triangles and sewing on the bias - hence the two smaller squares on the large centre square on my layout.

 Gnome Angel tutorial can be found here, and you can find some great tips in the Farmers Wife 1930's Sampler Quilt videos from Marti Michell

Sew Along Video #1 - tips

Sew Along Video #2 - cutting tips

Sew Along Video #3 - to template or paper piece

Sew Along Video #4 -more measuring with templates

My thoughts on the letter: A Family, Regardless

by Synthetic Mother

Synthetic Mother writes about her and her husband's journey to adopt a child, and how the results were "bliss ... even if they are no flesh and blood of my own."

As I teacher I saw many different types of families and I can say that flesh and blood does not a family make.

Love makes a family.

Trust makes a family.

Caring makes a family.

Sharing the good and the bad makes a family.

Respecting each others views makes a family.

Laughing together, crying together, makes a family.

A family is more than flesh and blood.

Quote: 

The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life. 

~Richard Bach

Farmers Wife #39 Grandma

#39 Grandma was an interesting block. Made entirely of two different sized triangles, it looks harder than what it was. I did make a mistake in some of the measurements, but that will be sorted out when I piece the quilt top together. Speaking of layout, I have decided I will be making a few different quilts, and will be doing most on point. I do think the blocks will look better that way. My problem is choosing what fabrics go together, but in this block I'm happy with my choices.

My thoughts on the letter 'All Bravery and Brightness'

by Grandma, Feb. 1931

Grandma, 82, writes about her struggles and compromises throughout her long life, and looking back she realises she has 'lived a happy, useful life.'

  Really, nothing has changed today. Yes we have more appliances and the world appears much faster now, but the struggles are still there, the compromises are still there (or should be).

Through all Grandma's struggles she always put on a brave face, for the sake of others. How many of us still do that? Many people we know and see each day put on a smile to cover up how they really feel. Sadly some of these people do not reach the age of 82, as life just gets too much. "All bravery and brightness" is often a cover up for what is really going on in one's life or mind. Putting on a 'happy face' does not make it better, it makes others feel better. Sorry to be glum, but we need to look out for each other, each and every day.

I hope that when I am 82...92...102, I can look back on my life and remember the good and not the bad.

Quote: I'm a strong person, but every once in a while, I would like someone to take my hand and tell me that everything is going to be alright ~ Anon.

Farmers Wife #80 Patricia

I enjoyed making #80 Patricia. I like any form of a nine patch, and again this one would be good for fussy cutting. As I have started a few other projects - 

Simply Colorful Quilt Along (here), San Francisco Santa Club and Christmas Mystery, and Bonnie Hunter's new Mystery Allitare, not to mention the Christmas presents yet to make and the many UFO's to finish, I have decided to do only one of each block, unless it is particularly easy or I really really like.

My thoughts on the letter "A Recipe for Keeping Young"

by R. B. B., Sept. 1937

 I love my nanna naps. R. B. B. asked the question of why a mother looked so young, and the answer was naps. Some years ago 'power naps' were very popular - a short 20 min nap. At first I didn't think one could sleep for 20 minutes and wake up not tired, but it works. Everyone needs sleep and research has shown that power naps of 15-20 minutes can increase creativity, can improve mood, stress levels, blood pressure, and health in general. It is hard to find time each day to have a nanna nap, and some days I don't, BUT some days I do and I don't feel guilty about it.

Quote:

I don't feel old. I don't feel anything till noon. That's when it's time for a nap. ~ Bob Hope

Farmers Wife #79 Patience

# 79 Patience is a simple 9 patch block, that I adjusted to make it a modified nine patch. It is a perfect block, like many so far in the Farmer's Wife 1930's blocks, for fussy cutting. It was also this block that changed my mind about orientation of the blocks. I am now thinking of making the quilt/quilts on point.

 My Thoughts on the letter "Talk About Grit!"

by Renter, March 1930 

This letter was so sad. Renter writes about the hardships she is facing and says she is "...down, and down bad. But I'm not out yet." 

Times were certainly harder back in the 1930's, much harder than today, but even today people are struggling. Struggle can be on many levels, physical, mental, financial, social ... but no matter what level there are always others who may be worse off. 

Some years ago when our son was weeks old, we found out he was profoundly deaf. I recall thinking our cat could hear John Farnham, but our son could not. Not long after that he was diagnosed as autistic. At that time we were fortunate to be living in an area that greatly supported deaf children, and we went to a weekly child therapy play group. It was at this playgroup, sitting in the parents room waiting that we met another couple also waiting. Their daughter was also in the playgroup. This was a lovely young couple who had two children, a girl in the playgroup who had cerebral palsy and major visual problems, and a baby boy who had downs syndrome. Dad had recently been made redundant, and mum was pregnant. I can't imagine what this family was going through. Our son was just deaf and autistic. Our problems were nothing compared to this young family. Yet, they were friendly and cheery and a lovely couple to meet.

Renter writes "... what's the use of worrying ... making it miserable for everyone around you?" Certainly this is true, but when one feels '...down and down bad...' it is difficult to think of others feeling first. Thinking of others comes later, when time has put in place the reality of the situation. 

My quote today is somewhat similar to Renter:

Worrying does not take away tomorrows troubles, 

it takes away today's peace.

Farmers Wife #90 Sara

For this block, #90 Sara, I went back to rotary cutting. I cut strips to make the four patch units. For the four corners, I cut larger squares, drew a diagonal line and after sewing a quarter of an inch either side, cut to make two half square triangle blocks. I cut these blocks in diagonally to make the four corner units.

I really enjoyed making this block.

My thoughts on the letter "Life Has Loveliness to Sell"

 by Wealthy, Sept 1935

 Some years ago a friend, Alica, started a FB page titled 365 days of Gratitude. 

I would love seeing the photo she would post each day and really wanted to record what I was grateful for. I knew I wouldn't have time, with work, to fit in a photo each day, so named my FB page 'Allison's Moments of Gratitude'. I post from time to time, although think each day about what I am grateful for.

Wealthy writes about going through her daily routines, and life was much harder back then. She writes about observing the changing seasons and the passing parade outside her kitchen window. She sees beauty in everything around her, and considers herself wealthy because of it.

Quote:

Every day may not be good, but there is good in every day.