Monday, April 18, 2016

FW61: May & FW62: Milly

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So this week I made both blocks. Not the easiest week but I made it. I thought briefly I might fail this week but Sunday I got grumpy and made everything wait until I had done them.

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May Block
I wasn't prepared for the Y-seam action this block had going on. It didn't even occur to me until I started sewing the units together. I don't really have the handle on this technique.

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This block has lumps and bumps and nothing lines up very well. Each unit was all bent up.

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I'm pretty pleased with my fabric choices. I used a bit more of my special Denyse Schmidt fabric. I might have to make it the last block using it as the fabric is so precious.

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Milly Block
I made this block a while a go because it was very much like one I made that I wasn't happy with. I feel like the low volume I used here is a bit murky and dirty which annoys me.

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I laid out some of my blocks, particularly the newer ones and I am really happy with how it is looking.

Sunday, April 17, 2016

FW59: Mary & FW60: Mary Gray

Just one block this week as I just thought Mary Gray was a little weird. I'm not 100% on that, but I need to start scaling back otherwise I will have too many blocks by the end of this project. Plus it's always hard to get back into this project after a break. I just haven't felt the urge to do much so I am in danger of falling behind.

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Block 59 Mary
I almost decided not to make this block but I had a change of heart; I'm not sure why. I mixed the colours up a bit. I would have preferred to keep to the original but I don't have any solids on those colours. In fact, this will be the last time the ballerinas make an appearance. The fat quarter of fabric is well and truly fussy to cut to shreds.

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It's a good one to end on. I am glad I made it.

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I am annoyed that I failed to match up the central bit though. What a pain. Only one point to get right and you balls it up.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

FW57: Margaret & FW58: Martha

A good week in Farmer's Wife land. I really liked both of this week's blocks. They are a bit similar really in a sawtooth star kind of way, but that's one of my favourite blocks so I was pretty happy. I feel like I am going to make the next batch of blocks all out of the same peach and pink combo.

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Block 57 Margaret
Margaret was another block that I have been waiting to make for a long time. It really stuck in my mind even though it is relatively straightforward as a block. I think I liked the contrast people had in their blocks, like this one by Emmy and this one by Kbrusven.

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So I decided to use some of my precious hoard of Denyse Schmidt fabrics which I haven't cracked open since the MapleO quilt. I really didn't want to mess this one up as the fabrics are so precious so I spent a long time choosing the fabrics; probably an entire evening! I couldn't decide between the plain peach fabric and my low volume Paperie fabric. I think it's come out well though and might have been too busy otherwise.

But it was well worth it. I love it! It will have to go right in the middle of the quilt somewhere. It is my favourite block of the entire quilt!

Block 58 Martha
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I used some of my coveted Lizzie House star fabric here. It's just the right shade of dark purple. I also wanted to use a few solids. I was tempted to do it all in solids but I felt like it would stand out too much. I am really happy with the colour combination.

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Here are some of my pink hues all together. Don't they look pretty! I think this week has been one of the best.

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Wednesday, April 06, 2016

FW55: Malvina & FW56: Marcella

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Overall a mixed week. One block I love and one block that doesn't thrill me. The only good thing is that I feel like I knew beforehand which blocks I was into. Maybe I am getting better at predicting which ones I like. I am also amazed I got anything done considering it was Easter, but I took both squares, precut, home with me and did little bits in the mornings when everyone was chilling out.

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Block 55 Malvina
I considered dropping this block as it felt a bit dull being only in two colours. Then I decided to do it but swap out the central square for a different colour; to give it some depth.

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I don't think it worked. I took all my precut pieces home to mums to sew over Easter on her fabulous Juki machine but I didn't take the overall pattern block home so I got my directions all mixed up for the fussy cutting. I assumed I had marked the orientation on the template pieces but I obviously hadn't. So my ballerinas annoy me. Sigh. Not my best effort. But I could use it as a half block

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Block 56 Marcella
I love this block. I have no idea why. I have been looking forwards to it. I really wanted to use my cats and my Paperie fabric as I think they go together so perfectly. I love the end result. And such a quick block to sew together. A definite favourite in my stash.