Scrappy English Paper Pieced Stars + Upcoming EPP Summer Series

Carrying on with Americana theme from last week, I thought these scrappy red stars looked quite patriotic sitting on my dining table, don't you think? I've been working on these for a couple of evenings as a change from my other hand sewing WIP's. I happened to come across this Seven Sister's quilt top by Martha, over at Q Is For Quilter blog recently that I instantly fell in love with so I set about copying her exactly! ;-) I'm a big fan of Martha's work; like myself, she has a real passion for antique quilt patterns and fabrics. She makes the most beautiful quilts using traditional templates and true authentic vintage and antique prints, which I adore. Can't go wrong in my book.

I've used the Sewline glue pen method for the last couple of EPP projects I've done, and my gosh it's quick! After cutting the fabrics to use with the 1-1/4" diamond shapes they were all basted in no time at all.This is going to be a table centre or wall hanging using the layout below, adding in some white diamonds to join the stars together. It's so enjoyable to be doing a smaller EPP project, I seem to love taking on giant projects which take forever and a day to complete! 

In other EPP news, I'm in the midst of planning a run of blog posts for a 'Summer Series on English Paper Piecing'. The summer is a great time to play with EPP so I thought I would give a low down covering errything! From a little history, the basics; hexagons, diamonds, finishing EPP projects, patterns and more. Starting possibly 21st July if all goes to plan. Please drop me a comment below if there is anything specific you'd like me to cover and I will add it in ;-)

Farmer's Wife Quilt: Week 122

Yes you read that right, I'm into my 122'nd week of being a Farmer's Wife! I actually bothered to count back from when I started. Yikes. If that's not a motivator to get my butt in gear I'm not sure what is!? This week are blocks; #40 Friendship Block / #42 Fruit Basket.

Since I'm now making the blocks in number order (as apposed to picking and choosing random one's previously) it's making it a lot easier to know where I am, next week I'll have a count up and see how many I've done! I love these two above, I used my first ever civil war print in the fruit basket block, it's so pretty! Notice the flowers all facing the same direction ;-) that was no accident… Hope you're all having a fun weekend. xo

50 States Stitching Project: Week 1

Hi friends, happy Wednesday! I've started a new long term project last week and I'm so excited to share with you today! My family and friends in real life know I love all things American! and can talk endlessly about the many, many different places I want to visit! You only have to take a look at my Pinterest board 'places to see' and realise it's actually just the U.S. I want to see, ha! So of course I love all things Americana - those patriotic red, white and blue colour's always seem to draw me in. 

When I saw that Mollie from Wild Olive had started the 50 States Stitching Club it didn't take much thought other than to jump straight in and join! It's a one-year project that will honour each of the states in the union, while paying homage to state embroidery patterns, American quilts, and kitschy state souvenirs all in the delightfully cute Wild Olive style; so expect a lot of cute smiley faces ;-)  

Each week we get a little embroidery pattern, called a 'teeny weeny'. With a short blurb about that particular state, and why the said embroidery pattern has been chosen - which I completely love, as I get to learn a little fact about the different state's each week. And yes, I have already tried to casually bring into conversion the fact that Delaware was once described by Thomas Jefferson as a diamond, 'small but valuable'. lol.

At the end of the 52 weeks of sewing we should end up with a complete set of state star blocks, and alternating stripe blocks to make a quilt. What also caught my eye with this pattern is the use of English Paper Piecing techniques! Yay! Once you have embroidered the motif it's then mounted on a pentagon shape, with equilateral triangles for the points to form a star. The only snag with the pattern for me is the EPP shapes don't follow a standard size so I can't use my Paper Pieces shapes for them, doh! the 2" size is too big and the 1" is too small... so I had to cut out my own, which I didn't realise takes for-ev-er, and isn't always very accurate I came to learn. Oh how I've spoiled myself with pre-cuts! Mollie has suggested a decorate running stitch to applique the star to the block but I've gone a little more minimalist using an invisible slip-stitch. I've chosen to keep mine with a patriotic feel using traditional colour's, and Kona White for the stars - it just felt right!

I'll be sharing along my progress each week here on the blog to help keep me on track and motivate me to stick with it. If you fancy taking the plunge and joining in the fun you can sign up here. Next week Philadelphia! Hope you can stop by. xo

A Finished Red Letter Day Quilt

Hello! Hope you all had a fun weekend, I had some sewing time and worked on my Thimbleblossoms Red Letter Day mini quilt as planned, finishing up with hand sewing the binding last night. Thought I'd share the finished project with you today.

It looks rather nice with my art wall in the living room don't' cha' think? ;-) I loved making it because I was so excited about my colour and fabric choices, so it ended up taking no time at all! Most of the fabrics are all Sew and Quilt fabrics, with just a touch of Liberty and the brown Pezzy print I got in an IG de-stash recently - love those American Jane pezzy prints! 

After I finished it I thought I would have much preferred it with a border to frame the blocks, but it's growing on me more now. I think I would definitely make it again and probably add a border next time, I might even go bigger and do a 3 x 3 size! I'm not sure where this is going to hang yet, I actually can't put it with my art wall as my quilt ladder sits where it is in the image above. Though I am planning on a quilt wall of mini's in my landing now so I guess I have to make some more to go alongside! You can find the pattern available here, and the fabrics here if you fancy making one yourself. xo

Red Letter Day

I don't think it's a secret that I adore all of Camille's Thimbleblossoms patterns! I can't resist purchasing every mini quilt she releases and eagerly printing it off with anticipation to begin a new project. I've also found it's a great way to get your sewing mojo back ;-) I'm currently in between a couple of big quilts - the nautical quilt, which I'm hoping the quilting fairies might take over for me? and basting my Moda alphabet quilt, both of which I don't really fancy doing right now so this little Red Letter Day mini is a fun sidetrack. 

This is my fabric pull for the rest of the quilt. I really love the colour's in this one so I'm excited to sew up some more blocks! My sewing room wall of mini quilt's is pretty full now so I think I'm going to have to extend my collection into our landing upstairs! I'll be working on this over the weekend, hope you have some sewing time too. Have a great weekend guys! xo

Farmer's Wife Quilt: Week ?

Hello friends! I've not been the most productive sewer - or blogger, for that matter recently. The summer always get's a little busier for me, Sew and Quilt is busier, I work more hours at my day job and take on a part-time Saturday job as well! I generally have more of a social life in the summer months too, oh and there's that fiance Robin of mine who needs attention every now and again ;-) and not forgetting that wedding I have to plan for this October in Maui! Needless to say, sewing sometimes drops to the bottom of the to-do list - though maybe not as often as it probably should though ...

I did squeeze in some sewing time yesterday morning before work and got two more Farmer's Wife quilt blocks done. I prepped them the previous evening and chain pieced them as quick as possible the next day. Of course chain piecing in a hurry isn't a smart idea for me as I managed to incorrectly piece the centre pinwheel in block #38 - only to notice after I had posted a photo on Instagram, oops! Oh well, all fixed now :-) 

Blocks: #37 Flower Pot / #38 Four Winds. 

You may have noticed in the title that I have no idea what week I'm on with the FWQAL... I need to address that asap and get back on track, I like to know where I am on a project otherwise I feel a little bit lost. I'm planning on sharing two new blocks a week with you on Friday's; Farmer's Wife Friday ;-) that should help me along a bit, I think I used to do this but didn't keep it up? I'm also about to embark on a new weekly craft project too, so I will update you each week on this too - more on that soon! and generally get a little more organised. Wish me luck! xo