I am truly obsessed!!!!

The Farmer's Wife has become an obsession!  The past 3 weeks have kept me very busy.  I decided to change my strategy for completing this quilt and it has truly paid off.  I realized I had 4 blocks done that would complete the upper right hand corner of the quilt and so I decided to do the 5 missing blocks to complete that area.

First I worked on block 92 - Streak of Lightening (21 pieces) which went pretty quickly.

 The second block I worked on was block 38 - Four Winds (64 pieces) which took a little while.

 Block 47 - Homemaker (17 pieces) was the most difficult so far with a few Y seams as well as very tricky templates.  I had to do that one twice before I finally got it to work.

 The fifth block needed in order to finish off the 3 rows of the right upper corner was block 32 - Farmer's Daughter (33 pieces) went together like a breeze.

 After completing all the above blocks I added all the cornerstones and sashings and sewed the three rows together.  I am absolutely thrilled with the way it has come out.  It has served as great motivation to continue working.  

My new plan after completing those 5 blocks is to prepare a strip of sashing pieces and then go back and do 5 blocks in order that have not been done yet.  Now I am working on blocks 17, 18, 19, 22 and 24.  That will give me the first 26 blocks done which appear in different parts of the quilt.  I will then go back to working on the next row to add to the rows already done.  Hopefully this plan will keep me focused on the prize (as long as my ADD doesn't kick in!).

Block 17 - Cats & Mice (25 pieces) is done.

 Block 18 - Century of Progress (24 pieces) is also done.

I am almost finished block 19 and 22 and 24 are marked and cut and ready to go as soon as I finish 19.  I am pretty much on a roll and I am really enjoying doing the blocks.

Of the 111 blocks in the quilt I have completed 41 blocks.  That's just over a third of the blocks.  I'm hyped now - gotta get it done!!!! 

So, if you don't hear from me for a little bit you will know I have not fallen into the abyss!  I am hand piecing my Farmer's Wife........I am engrossed!

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann

The obsession continues....

I am truly obsessed and have watched way too much TV this past week.  My strategy changed a little.  I have chosen fabrics for at least a dozen blocks so I just figured I would prep but once I had a block prepped I decided to piece and Voila - another 5 blocks done this week!!!!  I am up to 34 blocks!!!!  I think at this rate I could have this done in no time (maybe 4 years!).....

Tonight is sashing night - I am prepping the sashing pieces and may even put some sashings on blocks - we'll see how it goes......

Here are the blocks I've added this week.....

 Block 7 - Birds In the Air

Block 8 - Bouquet 

 Block 10 - Bowtie

 Block 13 - Buckwheat

Block 14 - Butterfly at the Crossroads

Notice a theme here?  I was cutting and completing the blocks in order this week but I think I have a new strategy so that I can actually start putting the blocks together with sashing and corner blocks.  I think I may start doing random blocks to complete rows!?!  At any rate, there is still lots to do so off I go to prep my sashings.

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann

29 and counting.......

So far I seem to be continuing my Farmer's Wife obsession.  After choosing fabrics last Thursday I took some prep work to do on Friday night at the "No Machine" Sit & Sew.  Admittedly I didn't get too much done that night and Saturday night I watched the hockey game (and slept through the 2nd period, only to wake up to a 4-1 loss for the Leafs).  Sunday I spent the day piecing by machine and enjoying a visit from friends and Sunday night I started doing some sashing and cornerstones - below is Block 1 - Attic Window with 4 sides of sashing and cornerstones....

 Attic Window - Block 1 

I realized that Block 6 was complete and appears below Block 1 in the quilt so....I did the attachment of Block 6 - Big Dipper to Block 1 -along with the setting triangle for this row....it's so exciting to see them start to fit together, even if it is only 2 blocks.

 Block 6 - Big Dipper attached to Block 1 - Attic Window and sashed....

Since I had already completed Block 2 - Autumn TInts, I decided to do the side sashings getting the block ready to be attached to something.

 Block 2 - Autumn Tints with sashing

That was all for Sunday night, but I was impressed with myself.  Last night I really outdid myself and completed Block 3 - Basket and Block 5 - Bat Wings.....That puts me at 29 blocks done. (Only 82 to go....)  If I keep up the pace I could actually get this done in about 5 years......maybe a few days sooner!  Here's hoping!

 Block 3 - Basket                                       Block 5 - Bat Wings

Tonight I sorted all the blocks again and completed prepping and cutting Block 7 - Birds In The Air - 40 pieces.  Seemed like it took forever but some of these blocks have a lot of small pieces.  I now have 6 blocks ready to piece.  Tomorrow night is a piecing night for me so we'll see what I can accomplish!   

Block 7 - Birds In The Air

Of course, once the newsletter goes out and everyone starts signing up for those evening classes my plan goes to pot!!!!  Oh well, like I said - 5 years!  I'm okay with that and I am truly enjoying doing the hand work, it's relaxing, rewarding and just a complete joy to look forward to at the end of the day.

Have a great day everyone!

Jo-Ann