Wednesday 1 August 2012

Counting the Blocks

Time for a little look at the farmer's wife quilt blocks i've been making, i think.....every now and then i make some and put them in the little white basket where i keep them....but this week i decided it was time to count them and see how many i'd got now.......and with perfect timing and serendipity two beautiful flower blocks arrived from lovely fee at chipper nelly......the strawberry and rose one  shown here was my heart's desire :) .......
...............these quilt blocks are called basket weave and homeward bound and are two of my favourites.......
...................fee's chipper nelly blocks came wrapped in dotty cellophane and tied with sweet matching ribbon and a vintage button.....they are as delicious as chocolates to open :) ...........
..........the rosy strawberry one looks so pretty on my dresser with the rosy china, as well as with the patchwork quilt blocks made with rose and strawberry fabrics...........
.......so i counted my blocks so far....here is the little pile.......i have made forty three........the lap size quilt needs fifty!!! .....but i'm so enjoying this project and the slow pace of it that i think i'll maybe carry on a bit longer and make it bigger than that......we shall see :)
..........this one is the strawberry basket......some of my old cath kidston fabrics came in nicely for this one....
 ...........these two blocks are also favorites, they are evening star and snowball.......using lecien flower sugar and pam kitty morning fabric.......
 ............my second beautiful block from chipper nelly is this richly decorative floral one shown here with a bit of  lecien yellow paisley fabric and some adorable rosy pink pkm.......
                                           ..........this one is called duck and ducklings................
 ............and here is my latest wip.....the small triangles are all ready to sew together to make up the block called windblown square..........i'll be sewing this watching the olympics tonight .......since i started using the patterns from the farmer's wife quilt book i have improved my traingle making a lot ;) ....they are much more precise now and i have stopped accidentally chopping the points off :)
..........it's been a busy week here this week, filled with friends, children, grandchildren, working on my book's first pages, doing magazine work, and being held up sometimes by an on/off internet connection.....life certainly is BuSy...hope you are having a happy week and enjoying some sweet summer days .........back soon xxxxxxx

43 comments:

Deborah said...

Your Farmer's Wife blocks are exquisite! The colors are so refreshing.

Maria - A Playful Stitch said...

It's all so pretty!
Maria x

Little Nell said...

I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product of all your blocks.Are you hand-sewing them all? BTW Helen your first link to chipper nelly is wrong ;)

Clara {Clover and Violet} said...

LOVE your blocks, I really love how you used the strawberry fabric in the little squares!! Beautiful Helen!!

greenrabbitdesigns said...

Beautiful blocks ( both sorts) !! :)
Your patchwork is so perfect Helen, I admire your patience some of those pieces are so small. The colours are wonderful!
Fee's blocks are amazing, I've just been on with her so I'll have something exciting to show soon too. :)
Happy Wednesday Helen,
Vivienne x

Tangled Sweetpea said...

Ooh Helen your quilting blocks are BeAuTiFuL! And they look just lovely with Fee's blocks too!
Victoria xx

bellaboo said...

So bright and beautiful!
Hope you have a restful weekend to come.
Love Bellaboo :0)

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

So many pretty colors, fabrics, patterns. The blocks are all so beautiful and will be quite striking all put together. 25 more days and I will be back at work so am enjoying the down time now. Watching the swimming competitions at the moment. Happy August to you. Tammy

homemade@myplace said...

love both kinds of blocks!!!!
xxxx Alessandra

Susan said...

Love the fussy cut strawberries in the strawberry basket block! Your FW quilt is going to be SO beautiful.

debbie @ happy little cottage said...

Hi Helen,

Your FW blocks are so pretty! Isn't it fun "watching" the Olympics and crafting at the same time? I will miss them when they are over! Happy stitching! xoxo Debbie

Crafts @ Home said...

Your quilting blocks are wonderful, I wish I was as neat! and the blocks go so well with them :) but the link doesn't take you to them :(
Sue Xxx

PamKittyMorning said...

OMG so pretty! Your lovely photos make everything even prettier?

vintage grey said...

Hi Helen!! Your FW blocks are so beautiful!! You always have the sweetest prints!! Have a lovely week! xo Heather

Gracie Saylor said...

Thanks for taking the time to post, Helen! Visiting your blog is always a treat for me...and I hope I am learning how to better combine colors and patterns by observing your wonderful examples =) Hear my cheers for your beautiful work?
Gracie xxx

Teresa Kasner said...

I admire quilters very very much.. that being said, the bug to make them never bit me. I do have a wonderful antique quilt that I got at auction - it's a star quilt. I adore your colors! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Jane said...

Gorgoeous work Helen...you will know my favourite...of course the strawberries! I love your latest blocks too, what fab props they make for your wonderful photos. enjoy the Olympics...yesterday 2 golds...go Team GB!!!
Jane x

gilly said...

LOVE, love, love... all of it!
xx

SuperMomNoCape said...

The fabrics you are using for your farmer's wife blocks are so beautiful. No matter what size quilt you end up making, it's going to be gorgeous.

Kay said...

Lovely blocks. I have just had your Simple Sewn Gifts arrive in the post this morning and I have been busy planning my first projects. My little niece will certainly be getting a rabbit for christmas. I love the way the projects incorporate my 2 favourite things, cross stitch and simple crafting.

fee @ chipper nelly said...

he he..is it wrong to say how much I love our respective work side by side??
(glad you like them)

I am in constant awe of your 'blocks' and am determined to learn how one day. I'm loving the olympics too - and keep trying to find things I 'need' to do that involve sitting in front of the TV! (it's limited!)
Sending love on what looks like a sunny day round these parts....fee x

♥ Mary Janes TEAROOM said...

Beautiful blocks Helen...I do love this book. Your fabrics are delicious and summery and Fee's blocks are a perfect companion!
Hope you are having a lovely week,
Susan x

Teje Karjalainen said...

Dear Helen, your quilt is going to be the most sweet and beautiful! I have seen so many farmer's wife blocks around and it's amazing how much fabric choice can change them! x Teje

mynestofyarnandbuttons said...

Hi Helen, Your FW squares are lovely. The blocks are just fabulous. All the fabrics and colors go together so beautifully. I will have to get my hands on the that book. We have been watching the Olympics at night on our vacation and it has been so exciting. I do love watching, it does stress me a bit though!!! Last few days of ocean and sun, then back home, I say as I cough up a bit.
See you later next wee, xoRobin❤

KC'sCourt! said...

Lovely blocks, you have a lovely collection of those now. Lovely blocks, can't wait to see it completed
Julie xxxxxxxx

trish said...

Hi Helen.
Your blocks are so sweet.
Such adorable prints and
beautifully pieced.
The Olympics have been so
much fun to watch!!
Have a lovely weekend dear friend.

mags said...

Loving all the strawberry gorgeousness over the last two posts - the red with the pale blue is so cheerful. I've been making my blocks on the machine - so probably much quicker. I'm really enjoying the olympics - so proud of our team.

koralee said...

This is such a pretty post...I love all those fabrics and that rose/strawberry block is stunning...that Fee is as talented as can me...your blocks are going to be beautiful all together. xoxox Happy weekend my friend.

Lori ann said...

all the blocks are just gorgeous, and suddenly helen, i am needing to try to make a quilt. i'm thinking of signing up for a class, i really don't know where to start on my own. but i do know i want mine to look like yours! i hope you have a wonderful weekend!

my4lilgirls said...

oh its going to be a beautiful quilt, I love the farmers wife blocks & your choice of fabrics are perfect
Have a lovely weekend
Karen x

Missy said...

I love your blocks! So inspiring. I'm still at the paper piecing and like you I like the slow leisurely pace of it. And seeing all the blocks piled up. (Piled might be a bit ambitious for the number I've completed!)
I'm all set to take some on holiday with me and have been frantically cutting up squares of card!
Happy Weekend!
xx

Vintage Sheet Addict said...

These are lovely, you are quite right, we don't have to rush everything! Ada :)

Sam I Am...... said...

Your blocks are gorgeous! I love the name too...Farmer's Wife. That quilt will be going in my farmhouse when I get it.
Chipper Nellie's blocks are so pretty. One of these days I'm going to order some along with all your books. I need to save up!
Did I hear you say you're working on another book? How exciting!!!!
Enjoy your beautiful Summer! Ours is all dry and burnt up unfortunately. Take care and happy sewing!

Annie Cholewa said...

All the blocks here are fabulous, yours and Fee's :D

Katie said...

I love reading about your quilt blocks. These are going to look really special all together. fee is so talented, I love the blocks she makes. i'll get me some one day xxx

claire said...

what a productive summer you're having :)

Simone said...

I don't know how I missed this post! Beautiful and inspiring as always! x

Unknown said...

Your blocks are beautiful i love all the fabrics and colours there very pretty, dee x

Jessie Fincham said...

Gorgeous FW blocks Helen, such perfect fabric choices :) glad your enjoying it, I can't get enough of them either, so fun! Have a good week.
Jessie, xo

Mia said...

That quilt will be simply adorable once finished, Helen! And I love the idea you can keep going if you feel like it or just make a smaller one to enjoy...That's the wonder of handmade!

Have a wonderful week!

Yours,
Mia

Vintage Home said...

your work is so delightful...i can't imagine how much work this is, but oh how beautiful it will be!
My favorites are your Lavender Quilt & how soft and cozy it looks...all the way across the ocean I am dreaming about how cozy it would feel! Your Evening Star Quilt block has the best combos... Turquoise & Roses!

Vintage Home said...

oh dear the link to chipper nelly is a bit odd?...i shall continue to search! thanks for the link!

Kondessa artesanatos..... said...

Olá amei muito sua criações e me deu muitas idéias pra eu trabalhar e acrescentar minha renda,fiquei muito grata por nos compartilhar. Deus que te abençoe