Friday, June 8, 2012

Farmer's Wife Friday: Emphatically, Yes!

The farmer's wife this week is from Franklin County, Ohio. I'll be honest and say that my initial interest in giving a little insight into the letters is beginning to wane a bit. They are much the same each week. These women place high priority on the value of a good education in order to be successful on the farm.

This farmer's wife echoes the same sentiment as many before her: "I want my daughter to marry a farmer that they may live and work together in God's free air and sunshine. Here is happiness." And like many before her, she also states that "in no other occupation can there be such co-operation and understanding between the work of husband and wife."

When Carla and I first started doing this series together, I tried to carefully make my fabric choices based on something that stood out to me in the letter, or maybe the name of the block gave me thoughts on color choice.

At this stage of the game, I have gotten a bit lazy. Probably not the best of traits so it's a good thing I'm not actually a farmer's wife.

If you have been making these blocks, you know that they are shown in both fabric and in just a colored-in version.

Well, folks, in the last week that has dictated my fabric choices. It makes perfect sense to me. I'm making my blocks in solids anyway. And the color combinations have been pretty good.

So without further ado, here are the four blocks associated with this week's letter:

#62, Old Windmill. I love the pinwheels in this block--half-square triangles are amazing.

#109, Windows. I really liked this block.
It reminded me of Practical Orchard, a block I really enjoyed. In fact, I'm making an entire quilt using this block:
(This must be when my design wall was fairly new--and not covered with stray threads everywhere!)

#92, Streak of Lightning. This is an easy block using two colors, some squares and rectangles, and no matching seams. Yet it gives the look of a more complex block. I can definitely see myself making this again, maybe in a progression of colors across a quilt top.
#102, Whirlpool. Ah, the versatility of half-square triangles yet again. This is another block that looks a lot more complex than it actually is. Bonus points for this one too.
Here they are together. They look pretty good, don't you think? Considering that all of the color choices were already made for me!
And now the countdown begins in earnest. Under ten blocks, and Carla and I will cross the finish line. I don't know about her, but I can hardly believe it! I think we deserve a medal or something.Confetti at the very least...

The winner of the gingham giveaway is Becky, the Sarcastic Quilter. She definitely needs to play the Name Game. Her comment was one of my favorites so I'm really happy that she won.:

Of course I want to join! My favorite 4th of July memory (and I have many b/c it's a favorite holiday) is most definitely the Blessing Ceremony hubs and I had in Washington, DC.

We married in a civil ceremony in our living room while he was on leave from deployment in 2004, in Jan. He returned from 1.6 years gone in May. In July of 2004, we had all family and friends come to DC, had our marriage blessed by a minister and said family vows (we both brought kids to the marriage). Then we capped the night off by watching the DC fireworks from a balcony at the hotel. It was such a great evening and so wonderful to celebrate the end of the deployment and beginning of our family being together.

thanks for the chance and letting me relive it!
 

 And she promises to have something to show us on July 4th! Congratulations, Becky. To see who the other two winners are, check with Elizabeth and Krista. I know I already have plans for my summery gingham fabrics so be sure to see what all six of us are up to on July 4th.

And be sure to check to see what Carla has to say about this week's wife. While I totally dropped the ball, I know she has some great insights. And super cute blocks!

13 comments:

05 08
Rene' said... #

I can only imagine how ready you are to be finished with all the blocks! Kudos to you and Carla! I especially like the old windmills block in this week's batch. If my half square triangles looked like yours, that is all I would make ;-) Love HSTs (but not so much the making them)!

Unknown said... #

Beautiful. I am already getting tired of being committed to doing my blocks once a week.

Amanda Rose
http://sewmuchtosay.blogspot.com

Susan said... #

First congrats to the winner! I remember reading that comment-she may have been just ahead of me! It was a wonderful July 4th memory!
I can imagine you being 'over' the FW letters ( and the blocks) by now! It's been a marathon! But you have nearly made it! You can 'smell the barn' now!!! It's going to be a wonderful quilt!

artsycraftsyivy said... #
This comment has been removed by the author.
artsycraftsyivy said... #

Hi. This looks like fun. Where would I get the pattern for #92, Streak of Lightning? I've seen done in squares, but squares and rectangles looks a lot easier. No matching points would be marvy :)

randi--i have to say said... #

I LOVE the lightning block! :)

Mrs Flying Blind... said... #

Oh my - can't believe you are almost done!!
Streak of lightening looks so good!

Sarcastic Quilter said... #

Yeah! Thank you so much, again!

I am loving these Farmer's Wife blocks but have successfully (barely) refrained from adding to my project list by starting my own. I live vicariuosly through the rest of you making them up and sharing them! :)

That said, everyone, even the farmer's life gets lazy and I think this also just goes to be an example of how mundane such a life could also be at times. Simplicity in wanting the same things as others and mundane in the repetitive nature of the work, desires and outlook. I hope this is just a lull and there are brighter moments to pull your attention soon.

Katy Cameron said... #

Oooh, so close now!

Carla said... #

Beautiful blocks again, Cindy! I agree that it is getting harder and harder to stay focused on both the letters as well as the blocks! I keep thinking of the little engine: I think I can, I think I can....

Mama Pea said... #

Congrats on being almost finished. I am getting ready to start later this summer. Haha.

Terriaw said... #

Another set of beautiful blocks. These look like a lot of little pieces and fussy patchwork. Good for you for making such a fabulous set of perfect blocks. Great choice with your fabrics for this project.

OPQuilt said... #

Don't you think those farmers' wives felt the same as you, as they ended near the last row of planting bushel and bushels of corn? I suppose some of those last lines were a bit wobbly, but not yours! These are some of my favorite blocks of all--agreed.

Bravo to you!

Elizabeth E.
opquilt.com