Farmers Wife Blocks

I'm really enjoying the Farmer's Wife Quilt book. I work on a block here and there choosing fabrics on a daily whim. It's been a fun side project & process. This quilt will be all mine (which is rare)!  I thought I'd share my blocks so far. If you are looking for perfection, you won't find them here! Tiny piecing is new to me and I enjoy the challenge & embrace my mistakes. When it's finished it will definitely look hand made!

A few things I've decided in the process: I'm not making every single block.  Some blocks have millions of pieces and I just don't enjoy that. My mistakes multiply and I get frustrated spending so much time on something that doesn't line up in so many places. 

I figured out that my Bernina 350 pieces way more accurately than my Juki TL 2000. The Juki is so heavy duty that it's not easy on the delicate pieces like the Bernina. So, after so many blocks, I'm only piecing them on the Bernina.

I'm drawn to navy & red in these blocks often buying fabrics that fit that mold even though I have  SO. MUCH. FABRIC! I decided to make the blocks without regard to my house colors, just fabrics & combinations that excite me.

I love being able to use some fabrics I've held onto because I can use really small scraps. Ideally, these blocks should all be from scraps, but I can't help pulling from my stash!

Those tiny bit of Susan Branch pie fabric is one of my favorites and I had just a teeny piece of it. Perfect use!

Hope you're inspired to make a quilt for yourself! I feel like these blocks reflect me in some sort of way and when it's done it will be a piece of me to pass on to my kids.

Good Company Love

I've been having lots of fun playing with sample yardage from Jennifer Paganelli's upcoming line, Good Company due out in November. I'm crazy for her color combinations and this time around I especially love the periwinkle/pink combo with the shot of yellow. I got out my beloved Casey Scroll fabric and used almost all of it for the exterior of my purse. (I did save some for quilts)

The strap & interior are Jane from Superfly. I used scraps from the random patchwork blanket I made her out of the fabrics. The back pocket was a great place to showcase some of the prints.

Below is the blanket ( I call it a blanket if it's minky backed with no batting in between or quilting).

I am taking preorders if anyone is interested. The fabric line will be out in November!

Love for Clara

When I heard about designer Sandi Henderson's  baby, Clara, was born with congenital heart defect, pulmonary stenosis with an insufficient tricuspid & a fundraiser was started to help cover all costs associated with getting this sweet baby healthy, I knew I wanted to donate a blanket made with all her fabrics. I pulled together fabrics from Farmer's Market, Meadowsweet & Secret Garden.  It's a 32x48 patchwork and minky blanket with medium pink minky dimple dot on the other side.  Perfect for a baby, toddler or child.

 Here is a link to the You Caring site where you can make a direction donation & read updates on Clara. Here is the blog with all the info on the fundraiser including all the items donated. For each dollar you donate, you are entered into a drawing for one of the items on the list. Hope you can help!

Jenny Eliza

Coming to a Joann Fabrics near you in July is Jennifer Paganelli's debut collection for them called Jenny Eliza. I had the privilege of sewing all the prints into one of my random patchwork minky blankets for her. I have to say I really love the quality! They all feel wonderful! The colors are vibrant and eclectic just as Jennifer always designs. You will not be disappointed! Click on the pictures to get a closer look.

Based on everyone's reaction to this line, it will sell out quickly! Right now Jennifer is giving away one of these blankets size 40x56 which is a perfect size for a small throw or it will fit a toddler bed nicely. Pictured below is Holly so you can see comparatively how big it is.

You just need to visit the Jenny Eliza Facebook page and like it. Then, comment on the photo that shows the blanket and you could win it! Then you can see for yourself how amazing these prints are. They are so summery and pretty! They also blend will with Jennifer's other lines, especially 

Beauty Queen Hope you win! If not, it will be available as a preorder in my shop!

Relay For Life Giveaway & Sponsorship

My daughter, Holly, decided to form a Relay for Life team at her high school and walk in honor of me & my breast cancer journey last year. She and her friends came up with the name, "Think Pink". I decided to also join her team and I will participate in all the survivor events. I really feel like this will feel like I am coming full circle in my breast cancer journey. As of today, I've had 3 clear blood tests, praise God! My hair is growing back curly & I'm really enjoying good health with lots of energy!

I decided that I wanted to give something to someone to thank them for their donation to support the team. If you donate $20 or more I will put your name in a drawing to win this messenger bag made by me with all Jennifer Paganelli fabrics. The outside is all of her newest Beauty Queen coming out in May.

The inside is Lucky Girl and Happy Land, both previous Jennifer Paganelli fabric lines.

The inside has 4 divided pockets & the outside 2 small and one large. There is a magnetic closure. The outside is entirely patchwork! It is valued at $95. I will also pay for shipping either within the US or internationally, but if you are international, you are responsible for your customs charges.

If you want to donate, here is the link to my page for Relay for Life. The relay is May 10th & I'll draw a winner that weekend. Any donation in any amount is appreciated! Thank you in advance for your donation! PLEASE COMMENT HERE IF YOU DONATE!

Stitch That Stash 2014

Propeller Block by 

Jennifer Jenkinson 

as a guest blogger on Sew We Quilt (pattern found here)

for Stitch That Stash Quilting Bee Group

I was looking for a fun, but super easy block & first went to Gen X Quilters where they currently have 328 block tutorials, so if you don't have your block picked out, you may want to start there. Then I hopped to Sew We Quilt (link above) to the tutorial by That Girl Runs With Scissors (link above). I'm going for the red, brown, green palette & used Kona white for the background. I like the idea of a fussy cut center, but I'm not looking for a novelty fabric there.  If the fabric you choose doesn't have something to be fussy cut, that's ok too. The reds can range from a dark red to a more true red without being too bright. The browns can be chocolate to a darker tan & greens leaning toward olive to apple green. It doesn't have to be tone on tone if the fabric has the color scheme in it. The only fabric I'm not big on is batiks. You are all quilters, so I'm sure you can see what I'm going for here. The finished block is 8" & if you could please make 2 for me, that would be great! 

If you have any questions, please ask it here so I can answer for everyone. I hope I covered all the bases! Looking forward to what you create! Kris should have my address, but I'll send out a reminder the end of the month with my address again. Don't forget to use the hashtag #stitchthatstash in IG, post your finished blocks on flickr & let me know when you ship yours. Good luck!