Prepping Some Blocks for Slow Stitching

 I had another day home alone last Saturday and cannot for the life of me remember what I did all day. I recall that it rained. And then 2 of the little girl grand children came over for a sleep over. That was exciting and exhausting. I submitted the revised manuscript to my editor Friday and now await the next editing round.
Now I recall what I did all day. I completed the machine quilting in GORF blocks. But something is not right with the tension. It was good on the block I did a year ago but different since it was in for repairs for 3 months. I had to re-draw all the lines because they all disappeared with the humidity.
 

GORF Machine Quilt as You Go

 I am trying to do a bit of hand applique every day. Not much, but some. With the completion of all the blocks for the CCCQ, I ran out of prepped blocks, so I am prepping a whole bunch of them right now before I remember something more important that I should be doing.

 This is one of the Antique Wedding Sampler blocks. I chose this one since it had large leaves that were easy to prep. I will eventually find myself having to deal with a lot of tiny pieces but not right now. I signed up for the Block of the Month from Homestead Hearth and they have sent me 13 kits so far. The fabric in the background is the first print that was sent out for the broderie perse. The colours are beautiful and blend nicely with the different colours in the kits. However, the design does not lend itself well for cutting out a variety of interesting motifs to applique onto the blocks. There was a huge outcry in cyberspace and HH sent out a replacement fabric 

AWS block # 5

 I have been giving serious thought to using this fabric for the setting triangles instead of doing the broderie perse there. We shall see. I do not yet know what HH will send for the sashing strips.

 In the meantime, block #1 has the blue circles cut out but not yet stitched in place. I think I will try Karen Kaye Buckley's method since I have had her circles for years. I had to track down a can of spray starch. I had tried the method before with sizing and Best Press but it was not working for me. Need to figure it out and practice. 

AWS Block # 1

 I had cut out the leaves here for block 9, again, because they were large and easy, hoping for a serendipity effect. The fabric behind it is the replacement fabric, Mary Koval's Tree of Life. It is quite a bit brighter in colour. So far, the greens and oranges have not shown up in the kits. Not sure if they will,. I think I will  wait awhile before getting to the broderie perse. Actually, right now it scares me and I am afraid to make a mistake. Sounds kind of silly I know.  The design elements here are more varied and looks like lots of potential.

AWS Block # 9

 I have not done any work on BTCT since my trip to Australia. I had run out of prepared blocks so I prepped the vase for block # 15. I had been collecting Jinny Beyer border prints for a number of years in anticipation of making one the quilts in her book. Did I mention that I met her at the AQC in Australia? Forgetful me. I had my camera but did not remember to take it out and take some pictures of anything at the quilt show. This one has the correct reds in it and a tiny splash of orange. I had tried to do this block with a red stripy civil war print hoping to mimic the tattered and faded original, but it did not look right so I started again. I hope it is not too formal and intimidating for the rest of the block. If it is, I might have to simplify the flowers that will be layered into this.
 

BTCT Block # 15

 I cut out the vase out of freezer paper then ironed it onto the top of the fabric, then traced around it with a chalk pencil. Cut it out leaving a scant 1/4 inch all around. Hope I don't regret this. Usually I cut it out much bigger then trim away as I am stitching. But this time I wanted to make sure that the design is perfectly centered all around.

BTCT Block # 15

Ta-da! It was fun trying out different options.

BTCT Block # 15

It is the time of year for our National Guernsey Cattle Show which is held at the local fairgrounds just 2 miles up the road from our farm. My Sweet Farmer has been clipping cows for more than a week now in preparation. We will be taking about 18 or 20 animals. One had a baby last night so she will be staying home. She had her baby at the fairgrounds last year. I still have some planning for the display that we always do to promote our cows and farm.

Autumn blessings,
Chris