Noah's Ark Baby Quilt

This was a really fun, yet challenging, quilt to make.  The focus fabric is a cloth book panel.  When Gramma was pregnant with Mama, I used the same fabric to decorate a bassinet skirt for the new baby.  When she became pregnant, they wanted to do something with the Noah's Ark fabric as the nursery is again going to be Noah's Ark theme, but in blue and gray.  I was able to find another book panel on Etsy, so I bought it and turned it into a quilt.  I trimmed the pages to 8 1/2 " (8" finished) square just to make things easier.  I used the box of Crayola solids fat quarters to make the 4 patch blocks, using all but the pink and red fat quarters.  I decided it needed the sashing as some separation between the pages and fat quarters because it was looking way too busy.  The four patches are 4" finished and the sashing is 1" finished, with the border 2" finished.  The panel across the top was a bit more difficult because of the shape, but I made it work!  I chose a blue and red diagonal stripe for the backing.

The new mama loves it.  That is always a good thing!  It's kinda nice that a "tradition" has been carried on for another generation.  But on my way home from the shower yesterday, I realized I will probably not be around to make something for the next generation.  Ahh, well. 

Baby quilts

My goodness, it's been over a year since I've posted!

Well, I have been doing stuff.  I've actually finished and gifted another baby quilt (seems the only things I finish are baby quilts!),  this one for the sister of the new mom that received the Minnie Mouse quilt last year. 

This time a nautical theme was requested.  I went searching online and finally settled on a layer cake, with fabric for the setting triangles and binding purchased from my local quilt shop.

It was a fun quilt to make, but not sure I will use it again.  I get bored repeating patterns.  lol

Now I need to make two more quilts, one for a newborn and one for her big sister.  Mom just said "girly"  so found some "girly fabric" in a layer cake.  It will also be a scrappy design, but I think simpler than this last one.

THEN I have another baby due in November!  Yikes!  Think this one will be Noah's Ark theme for a boy.  The mama had Noah's Ark theme for her nursery when she was born, which I think is pretty cool.  So time to go window shopping online.

Farmer Brown Part II

Well, I had written a post back in November and instead of publishing it, I evidently saved it as a draft!  Sigh.

Oh, well.  Tonight I have an update.  I got the blocks all assembled and actually started the hand quilting today, in between laundry loads.  I am really enjoying the process.  I will take it along tomorrow when Cowboy and I take a road trip to visit some old mines.

In the blocks themselves I am quilting a flower with 4 heart-shaped petals.  And the sashing and borders will be the cable.  I am also doing echo stitch around the perimeter of each block.

Vogart 1930s Farmer Brown Block

I purchased these embroidered blocks from a vendor at the 2016 American Quilt Study Seminar in Tempe, Arizona.  This will be my "seminar souvenir".

They are 12 pre-stamped Vogart blocks.  They seem to be in sets of two, based on the use of different colored stamping ink.  The blocks measured about 8' square before I soaked them to remove some of the yellowing from age.  I will now have to trim them to 6 1/4" square to get them back to all the same size.

I purchased some yellow fabric to use for sashing, border and backing.  I am looking forward to completing the quilt.

Farmer Brown and Mrs. Brown are Set A

Butch Brown and Baby Brown are Set B

Mrs. Brown's Chickens and Mr. Brown's Geese are Set C

Mr. Brown's Pigs and Mrs. Brown's Lambs are Set D

Mr. Brown's Cow and Baby Brown's Pony are Set E

Hee-Haw and Billy are Set F

I've arranged them in pairs, according to their stamp ink color.  At the bottom of the blocks is printed "Vogart for Value  Approx. 8 x 16"  Made in U. S. A. "  and "15-No. 877 - D - QUILT BLOCKS - 100% COTTON - RN19568".

Note: I just noticed that there are six sets:  A, B, C, D, E and F, so I have edited to reflect that.

If you have any additional information about these, please let me know!  There is not much on Vogart blocks online that I can find.

I hope you enjoy these and I will post pictures of the completed quilt when I have finished it!

Another Baby Quilt!

This quilt was made for a baby girl.  I used Minnie Mouse fabric, with red and white polka dot and a solid yellow for contrast in a Disappearing Nine Patch design, just to keep it easy and fast to do!  I used the Minnie Mouse fabric for the backing and the red and white polka dot for the binding.

Baby Quilt

Went to a baby shower recently.  The nursery theme is Monsters, Inc.  Actually finished the quilt in two days!  Woot!  I had to piece the backing with the leftover block fabric, so needed to buy more fabric for the binding.  I just did a simple cross hatch quilting.  Easy and fun.  And finished! 

Mogollon Rim

Cowboy and I took a road trip last week in hopes of seeing some fall color.  Unfortunately, most of the leaves were already gone.  But we did get so see some beautiful stuff.  Temps were in the 40's and there was very little traffic.  Enjoy!

First Egg!!

Got my first egg today!!  Think it was from one of the buffs.  It's on the small side, about bantam size, but good, strong shell.  Hopefully the other girls will get the hint and start laying!

More chickens!

Well, I went to Tractor Supply for cat food and they had a new shipment of chicks in.  Got home and called Cowboy at work and told him.  He told me to go back and buy a couple of RI reds as that's what he wanted.  The minimum purchase was 6 chicks.  So now I have a total of 14 chicks.  I wanted a total of 6 chickens.  Oops.  Hoping my girlfriend still wants to add to her flock.  The top photo is 4 of the new babies.  The second shows two of them with the older ones.  The bigger ones are getting good wing feathers and have some tail feathers coming in.  They seem to be integrating well.

Chickens!

I finally have chickens!  I have wanted some since I was little.  I picked out 8 at Tractor Supply on Monday and brought them home and set up their new home.  The first picture is them on Monday.  The second picture was taken today.  I can see how much they have grown.  The bigger ones have grown in their wing feathers and I am starting to see some tail feathers.  They all seem to get along just fine.  They walk all over each other or under each other.  And toss the bedding into the water.  And sleep in the feeder.

The coop was delivered yesterday, but was damaged, so I had to call Tractor Supply.  They will have the closest TS store come pick up the damaged coop and will ship me out a new one.  So I have to wait another 5-7 days.  The guys were all ready to assemble it yesterday afternoon.  Oh well,  It will be a few more weeks before they are big enough to be put outside.

First 2015 finish!

Finished!!  I made two of these for a friend for her twin granddaughters.  They were "vintage" kits stamped 1985.  They used DMC thread and some heavy, candle-wicking type thread.  Lots and lots of satin stitch and french knots.  The heavier thread was very hard to pull through the fabric.  The first one, I saved all the french knots for last.  This time, I did them flower by flower.  Much easier on my hands spread out that way.  I don't normally like to do more than one of anything, but she is a very special friend.  Now on to my own embroidery and quilting projects!

The house is finished, as far as the major construction goes.  Yesterday he installed the security door on the back door, so now we have some great cross-ventilation.  And the cats love looking out in the back yard.  Still small things like  hanging towel racks, installing door knobs, light covers, under cabinet lighting.  Stuff Cowboy can do.  :)  He (the contractor) will install my design wall in my sewing room next time he is down.  No more excuses for not unpacking all the boxes and putting everything away.  I am sure I will find more stuff to donate to Good Will while I am unpacking.  I surely do love my new house! 

Happy New Year 2015!

Cowboy and I decided to pack a picnic lunch and take a roadtrip to see the snow that fell in Arizona overnight.  God did a good job frosting the desert!

 We wanted to go up and over Four Peaks, but the traffic was so heavy, we decided to go back home.  We have never seen so many vehicles offroad like we saw today!

The birds were at the picnic area at the river where we stopped to have our lunch of fried chicken, potato salad and brownies.  They were patiently waiting for our leftovers.

 

It was a great outing and we really enjoyed the world covered in snow.