Messy House Catch Up

I started on Sugaridoo Between the Lines sew a long with row 5 - Rush Hour (above). I'm using a grey as my accent and for this row I used a variety of the same tone orange fabric. With this row complete I have an idea of how wide the finished quilt will be. (I'm a visual person -53inches will fit a single bed). So I will be making this for the girls room.

The next row is row nine - Into the Mountains, I started, hoping to finish in time for this blog, but ...... well, footie was on (my team won). This row is paper pieced.

I quite enjoy paper piecing now and seem to do a lot of it lately. There are many different techniques one can use but I like using photocopy paper, and I like to use the folding method. I pre-fold all the papers first.

I also pre-cut all the fabric pieces - saves time at the machine. With this pattern it was easy to make the three templates for cutting.

By folding the paper and sewing right on the edge of the fold I can reuse the same papers again and again - and no messy, and time consuming paper tearing.

I didn't finish the row but got close.

Link Up Parties: 

Wednesday-Wait-Loss – The Inquiring Quilter

Finished(or Not) Friday – Alycia Quilt

Off the Wall Fridays - Creations - Quilts, Art, Whatever

Put Your Foot Down - A Quiltery

A Pageant of Finishes – From Bolt to Beauty 

Scrap Happy Saturday - So Scrappy

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 #2 Aimee

The first block this week is #2 Aimee and when I looked at it before reading the tutorial, I thought this would be a block for foundation paper piecing.

Now I don't dislike paper piecing, I just prefer rotary cutting and piecing. I made a beautiful centre of a quilt, or it could be a wall-hanging, named My Home is my Castle, all paper pieced and it looks great. Foundation paper piecing does take more time, and does 'waste' a lot of fabric, but the points are sharper and the little tiny bits are straight - that wouldn't happen with regular piecing.

I do like to colour my pieces on the foundation paper to keep the colours on track.

 Each piece is labelled in the order that one should sew, but I've done this before many times, so I like to sew two or even three sections at a time.

As each section is finished I lay the foundation sections in place ready for sewing together. Sometimes I take the paper out first before sewing together, and sometimes I don't.

My thoughts on the letter "The Magic Jar" 
by Bookworm, Feb 1934.
Bookworm talks about saving pennies to buy books, her passion. She also mentions the importance of farmer's wives taking some time each day for oneself. I have no doubt that farmer's wives had, and still have, a very busy, hectic day to day life.
In today's fast pace world, one needs to juggle, like the farmers wives, many different aspects of their lives. What many forget today, usually because one is so busy, is to take time for oneself. It is easy to fall into the trap of all work and little 'life' balance because we hear terms like: it must get done tonight; it has to be finished ASAP; you have no choice; everything relies on getting this done; etc. etc. etc.
Doing something for oneself EVERY day is so important for the work / life balance.  
However, it is difficult to not feel guilty about one's 'quilty' pleasure. 
Bookworm had reading. She read every day.
I have sewing and writing. I didn't do both everyday, but did at least one - until I didn't ..... no work life balance, so I had the re-assess my life. I now do something for me every day, and yes felt guilty for doing it, but I've now come to realise what is important to me and my loved ones. 
 I don't feel guilty any more, well not too much anyway. 

I do something I want to do each day, some days I do a lot, some days I do a little, but I do it.

All up to date with 'Castle'

The thing with being up to date with one project means now I have to wait for the next part - 19 days to go........

It is looking good, and I'm starting to enjoy paper piecing - might even do the Craftsy one :)

 Here are the first 4 blocks - starting to look good.

May Block

 Five done - seven to go!

June Block

 

July Block - I placed a fairy with blonde hair in one of the windows and will make her Rapunzal - with golden hair - as Cooper would say.

 

 August Block - now that I'm thinking embellishments, maybe a soldier or two at the gates, and maybe a water well, and maybe ..............

All eight blocks sewn together - now to wait for the last four.

I have been doing a lot of unpicking - still getting use to the fabric charts and symbols.

Happy sewing

Allison

My Home is my Castle

This is a BOM that started in January. I have been collecting each month, but didn't have and couldn't find the right fabric for the sky - that was until I went through a box of pyjama material and found the perfect sky.

So three weeks ago I started with January. The BOM is from Ula's Quiltpage and comes out the beginning of each month. See button on left.

It is a paper piecing project, so I had to check my Craftsy classes to watch Amy Gibson's video on paper piecing. I can do this!

 The beginning fabric I've chosen. I love the sky fabric

Block 1 - January

 So far, so good. Carefully sewing along the lines.

 Finished Block 1 

Block 2 - February

 Finished Block 2 - un-ironed :)

I'm using different fabric for the windows, trying to make it interesting.

LOL - look at DH's legs.

Happy Sewing

Allison