Just Let Me Quilt

Monday, November 9, 2015

Addie, Belle, Betty, And Coral Farmer's Wife Blocks

I'm a slow mover on these blocks, but I shall persevere! Only 92 blocks to go!

#1 - Addie

"When I left town I traded my electric washer for two cows. I have no

modern conveniences...still I am happier than I ever have been before."

~ Mrs. H. S. L., Washington, October 1930

# 13 - Belle

"We observe the old custom of having our whole family together for Christmas dinner.

Last year there were nearly forty of us. Each family brought a basket lunch with service

for its own members. No dirty dishes to mar the womenfolks' good time"

~ Merry Christmas, Nebraska, December 1935

#14 - Betty

"We feel that our lives have been greatly enriched and that our twenty years

together have been much sweeter because of our music."

~ Music Maker, North Carolina, March 1933

#24 - Coral

"They are just 'little whiles' in the midst of busy hours..." But long after other things are

forgotten, they'll look back and remember those 'little whiles' with Mother."

~ For More Fun, Wisconsin, October 1936

The sweet short stories in this book are so precious.

Tomorrow is Trunk Full of Quilts...add your blog post link of your quilts!

Online Quilt Trunk Show | Whims And Fancies

Sunday, November 8, 2015

Seriously I Wrote My First Button Code - Easy!

I made a button code...

Technically, I didn't write the code but Grab My Button Code Generator did...love it!

All I had to do was save my photo to Picassa Web Albums (that's what I use) and then
fill in info boxes at Grab My Button Code Generator. It generated a code for me...easy.
Woohoo! Still learning things at my age is fun.
The code is in my sidebar now and is not fancy or perfect, but I did it!

Want to share your favorite holiday cookie or treat recipe?

Send me an email and I'll add you to the Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange Blog Hop.

Now it's time to get down to some serious sewing and baking!

There's the Trunk Full of Quilts, Christmas In My Heart Blog Hop, Farmer's Wife blocks,
and some cookie baking to do. Then there's Thanksgiving and Christmas coming!
I'm so excited for it all!

Friday, November 6, 2015

Traditions, Quilts, And Cookie Recipes...A Perfect Combination

"Traditions. Without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky as...as a fiddler on the roof!"
"Who must raise the family and run the home...?"
"The mama, the mama...tradition!"
~ Fiddler on The Roof ~

Now I'll be singing this in my head all day, but I love that song!

For me, traditions mean family, Christmas quilts, making cookies, fudge, and treats.

Are they done, yet?

I love to bake and I love to eat, but with that The-Diet-Starts-On-Monday thing going on with me

I can't have sweets sitting around the house. The best alternative is to eat one and give the rest away.

Which is why I love Christmas treats. It's the perfect time to bake and give away!

Please share your recipes so I have something new to bake for friends, family, and me, of course!

Bake up a batch of your favorite cookies, create a blog post, and add your recipe.

You could also include an old or new Christmas quilt and/or some of your Christmas traditions.

Want to come party with me from December 1st through December 4th?

Send me an email letting me know you're in!

Be sure to include:

Your name

Your blog name

Your email address

Your URL to your blog

If you decide to play along...

I'm no button guru, so I have no code for the picture above to add to your blog.

Just right click on it and save it to your computer.

Ritzy Christmas Mint Cookies

I've had virtual cookie exchanges before and loved all the new recipes I added to my baking list.
Here's a few links to yummy recipes from the last virtual cookie exchange:

Deonn shared her Thumbprint/Rosenmunnar Cookie recipe HERE.

Madame Samm shared her White Chocolate/Cranberry Shortbread recipe HERE.

Leesha shared her Spritz Cookie recipe HERE.

Brenda shared her Scandinavian Almond Cookie recipe HERE.

Carla shared her Snowball Cookie recipe HERE.

Marcy shared her Stack and Whack cookies HERE.

Linda shared her Chocolate Dipped Pumpkin Cookies recipe HERE.

Mary Ellen shared her Peppermint Stick Cookie recipe HERE.

I shared my Ritzy Christmas Mint Cookies HERE.

I'd love to have your favorite cookie recipe!

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange Blog Hop

I love cookie exchange parties and think it would be a blast to have all of you over for a party,

but since that isn't possible, how about a Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange Blog Hop!

December 1st through December 4th

Bake up a batch of your favorite cookies, take a photo, create a blog post, and add your recipe.

You could also include an old or new Christmas quilt and/or some of your Christmas traditions.

Once I get a few willing participants, I'll email you the date of your special day to show your recipe.

Want to come party with me from December 1st through December 4th?

Send me an email letting me know you're in!

Be sure to include:

Your name

Your blog name

Your email address

Your URL to your blog

If you decide to play along...

~~I'm no button guru, so I have no code for the picture above to add to your blog.~~

~~Just right click on it and save it to your computer.~~

I found a way to make a button with code! It's over in my sidebar.

Come on, you know you want to and we all want your cookie recipe!

P.S. I've been getting lots of "I'm on a diet" emails...just share a recipe, don't make the cookies.
There are children (and adults) who still eat cookies and would love your recipes! :O)

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

The Dog Gone Cute Linky Party

It's a Linky Party at Sew Fresh Quilts! So many of us got hooked on making
Dog Gone Cute blocks and now we can see who else went dog crazy.
Check out all the links HERE!

I was definitely into those pups and made a ruffled quilt with six different dogs.

I took my pups on a road trip for pics...

Dogs on the rocks

Dogs with a view

Life is good with a dog!

Check out Sew Fresh Quilts to see all the links and dogs...so many adorable projects!

Thanks, Lorna, for making me go nuts over these cute pups!

Friday, October 30, 2015

The Aunt, Becky, And Bonnie, Farmer's Wife Blocks

I was finally able to sew a little and I loved every minute of it.

I managed to finish three blocks for the Farmer's Wife sew along.

I'm way, way behind, but it doesn't matter...Aunt, Becky, and Bonnie are finished! Yay!
All three blocks were paper pieced.

The Farmer's Wife book includes stories to go along with each block...they are so entertaining!
The stories are letters that were sent to the magazine, Farmer's Wife, and were
published from 1930-1939 in a column titled "Letters From Our Farm Women."

#8 - Aunt
"Do today's duties, and tomorrow will take care of itself."
~ Aunt Maria, Indiana, January 1933

#12 - Becky

"The precious years pass so swiftly. Before we realize it they are only memories."

~ Emancipated, Nebraska, March 1934

#16 - Bonnie

"Water your soul with loving kindness and reap the reward of content and peace."

~ Lovingkindness, South Dakota, June 1934

The patterns are from this book...The Farmer's Wife 1930s Sampler Quilt

The fabrics are by Moda, Kindred Spirits.

The ring leader for this quilt along is Angie at Gnome Angel.

Only 96 blocks to go!

The big question is...can I do this. Yikes!

P.S. Happy Halloween!

A Trunk Full Of Quilts...What A Great Idea

Soma at Whims and Fancies has created a great idea for all of us.

It's called Trunk Full of Quilts and will be like having our own online trunk show...how cool is that!

Wouldn't you love to show off some of your favorite projects all on one post?

I would!

You can find Soma's instructions for joining in the fun and linking up with her...HERE.

It's not a contest, just a chance to see some amazing projects. I love this idea!

She'll have prizes, too!

It will start November 10th and end November 18th.

You gotta join this chance to show your stuff!

P. S. In case you didn't know...

Tomorrow is Halloween. I can't wait!

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Halloween Is Almost Here And Dog Gone Cute Ends Today

I can't believe it's almost Halloween and that the Dog Gone Cute Blog Hop ends today.
Life goes on, of course, but as for me...
I'm having sewing withdrawals!

There's been no sewing for me, but hopefully my achy back will go away soon.
The head is better, though, which is good. Thanks for all your "be more careful" wishes!

In the meantime, here's me and one of my friends from long, long, long, long ago.
Hey, Frank, I hope you're still looking this good!

I'm sad to see the Dog Gone Cute blog hop end, but today's the last day...darn!
It's amazing how different one pattern can look in different designs and fabrics.

My Dog Gone Cute puppies ended up looking like this...

Check out the rest of the puppies and maybe you'll want to make some, too.
Thanks, Lorna, for such a dog gone fun time with your pattern!

Tuesday, October 6

Karen of Run Sew Fun

Kris of Kris Loves Fabric

Anja of Anja Quilts

Kelly of Quilting it Out

Tish of Tish’s Adventures in Wonderland

Thursday, October 8

Carol of Just Let Me Quilt - this was my day!

Nina of Inchworming

Doris of The Quilting Queen Online

Brandy of Pampered Pettit

Leena of Creative Instincts

Tuesday, October 13

Ruth of Charly and Ben’s Crafty Corner

Tanya of Tanya Quilts in Colorado

Laurel of Quilts by Laurel

Kathy of Kathy’s Quilting Blog

Deb of New Creative State

Thursday, October 15

Anita of Daydreams of Quilts

Gina of Quilts and Cakes

Beth of Words & Stitches

Rachel of Quiltineering

Julie of Mack and Mable

Tuesday, October 20

Cathy of A Quilting Chick

Selina of Selina Quilts

Shauna of Shauna’s World

Gayle of Pedal Sew Lightly

Kathy of Kayak Quilting

Thursday, October 22

Sandy of Upstairs Hobby Room

Heide of Heide’s Quilty Hugs

Britt-Inger of Hill Valley Quilter

Judy of How ART You?

Louisa of Sewmotion

Tuesday, October 27

Teje of Nero’s Patch and Post

Stephanie of Jak and Will

Valerie of Val’s Quilting Studio

Ellen of Georgia Florida Studio

Cristina of Pretty Little Quilts

Thursday, October 29

Abigail of Cut & Alter

Magdalena of iloveneutrals

Jenn of A Quarter Inch from the Edge

Anne of Batiks by the Bay

Susie of Susie's Sunroom

Tracy of Tracy’s Bits N Pieces

I hope you have a very spooky and creepy, but Happy Halloween!

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Just A Few Bumps In The Farmer's Wife Road

There are two different Farmer's Wife 1930's sew/quilt alongs going on right now.
I'm a little late to the party, but I hear it's still okay to join the fun!
But, there have been a few bumps in the road.

I accidently ordered the wrong book. I thought I ordered the 1930's book, but no...
this one arrived. Nice book, but not the right one to be part of the quilt along.

No bump occurred with the arrival of the fabric I wanted to use, thank goodness.
Moda's Kindred Spirits fabric by Bunny Hill Designs rang my bell for this quilt.

Once the correct book arrived, I had it spiral bound for ease of use.
Other than the lazy attitude of the clerk at the office supply store, the book is ready to use.

Here's the big bump, three to be exact.
My hubby and I went out to move a rack in the garage a few days ago and I failed to see this on top.

It landed directly on top of my head and bounced on down to my forehead and eyebrow.
OUCH! It didn't break the skin, but I got three bumps and a nasty headache that still lingers.

Then...

I paper pieced Block #1, Addie, and found the seams not matching up as well as I want them to.
I'll be ripping them out and lining them up better as soon as I can sit at my sewing machine.
Another bump...I've somehow hurt my back. Ugh!

I'm trying not to think I am somewhat cursed with this attempt at The Farmer's Wife,
so I'll take the Pollyanna road and just call it a bit of misfortune that will all work out soon.
I can't wait to fix this block and move on to the other ones!

If you want to join in with this adventure (hopefully, it will go more smoothly for you),
here's both of the blogs who are running the Farmer's Wife sew/quilt along.
Both of them have so many amazing hints and ideas for making all the blocks.

“I cannot afford to cry else I should weep my soul away…” ~ Josephine Hancock Logan, 1932

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

I'll Be Haunting You Today

What a great day to have a Halloween Haunt Blog Hop, especially since it's MY turn to haunt you!
Okay, so I won't REALLY haunt you, but I'll be showing you what I made.

A big HUGE thanks to Marian at Seams To Be Sew for getting this blog hop going!
Whoo-hoo for blog hops!

I love, love, love getting my BLOCK magazine in the mail from Missouri Star Quilts,
mainly because they have some of my favorites from Jenny Doan's YouTube videos.

I decided to just grab a magazine and open it up to a quilt that I would make for Halloween. This
one was it...The Tag Team Quilt. A little Halloween fabric changed it to a Spider Web Tag Quilt.

Spider Web Tag Quilt

I quilted the web with Superior Thread's Glitter thread and I love how sparkly it is!
The Glitter thread color was #111 Pearl/Crystal.
The thread is so thin--almost like sewing with Christmas tinsel! After a few breakage problems,
I went to their website and read what they recommended for sewing with Glitter threads.
They said to take the tension down to 1.0 which totally solved the thread breakage. Yay!