thank you mice

I had a great day off from work last Friday!  My friend Tessie and I went to the Sacramento Quilt show together at Cal Expo.  And... I got my hair cut and colored.  That was a big treat!

I was happy to go to the quilt show.  Just to see what everyone was making.  I did see a lot of cat patterns... really?  And I did buy a bit of fabric.  Could not resist!

But what I was really happy about was running into American Jane aka Sandy Klopp from Moda.  Her fabrics have been one of my favorites to collect for such a long time.  I love the vintageness of her fabrics.  When I opened my shop I knew I wanted to carry her fabrics!

I am even doing my Farmer's Wife Quilt of 111 blocks in American Jane.  I love to fussy cut these little images.  They are perfect!

I hope all of my customers had fun going into the shop for the 10% off while I was gone!  I came in for a peek before I got my hair cut and had just part of this pile of fabrics to put away.  Thank you Cindy and Arlene for joining in on the fun and getting me out for a great day off.

farmers wife - class 3

Block #2 -  Autumn Tints

I was having a busy day in the shop last Friday, so I didn't get as many of my Farmer Wife blocks done as I would like, (great for the shop though!).  I just finished three this time.  But I did have fun doing a bit of fussy cutting.

block #23 - Country Farm

My collection of American Jane fabrics make these blocks come together in a way that I am totally lovin!  I'm trying to not over think my combination choices too much. This block, #23, is fun in the two different plaids, I love how it looks!  I just need to take some seams out and get them all squared up right.

Block #6 - Big Dipper

And sewing up these seams was simple and fun!  I love how nicely my points came out.  And I do love seeing the pinwheel star in the block center.  Are you making any of these blocks too?

farmer's wife

I love sharing these class pictures with you.  

Isn't it fantastic how just the choice of fabrics can make a quilt look traditional  in blues, pale yellows and greens.

Using Kaffe Fasset fabrics make the same quilt look artistic and modern.  The choices are unlimited.  And all up to you!

block 69 - Practical Orchard 

block 81 - Snowball 

I have loved American Jane for such a long time.  I am so happy getting to use it for this quilt! 

block 9 - Box 

It will be at least a year long, to finish this 111 block queen size quilt.  It is an ongoing class and you can join in at any time.

 block  84 - Spool

Right now we are still trying to schedule a second class.  It has been such a popular class request.  I would love to see someone make this quilt out of batiks too!

block 31 - Friendship Star

What fabric would you use?

farmer's wife - meet kaffe

Tomorrow (Friday, June 1) is our second meeting for the Farmer's Wife BOM.  It has been such a popular class that we have added another date to our schedule.  I'll give you that later.

I wanted to share with you this little bit of the class that I am excited about.  One of our new students, Jarina, is going to do her quilt in Kaffe Fasset fabrics.  She brought in a bunch of her fabrics today and let me oooh and ahhh over all of them.


I am so in love with these fabrics that I spent too much time (as usual) on Pinterest, looking up Kaffe fabrics and quilts and pinning them to my Kaffe board.  I think you will fall in love with them too!

And here is the quilt that I want to make of my own Kaffe collection.  This class is being held on June 9, called Diamond Jubilee.

And here is the quilt hanging in the shop with my own Kaffe fabrics for sale.  What do you think?  Do you love him now too?

contrary wife

Calico Puzzle #16

 Contrary Wife #21

Prairie Queen #70 

Railroad #72

So yes, I am having a blast sewing these up!  I would love to take this class twice a month.  I dug through my own stash today and found even more American Jane from collections past.  This is an ongoing class and we would love for more quilters to join in the fun.  Stop by the shop or call to sign up!

farmer's wife

The first Farmer's Wife class was today!  All day sewing - was sew great!

Plus, the night before I finally picked out what fabrics that I want to use. The lovely American Jane from Sandy Klopp and Moda.  I have been collecting some of her fabrics for awhile and now I get to dig them out and start cutting them up.


I was really proud of my work too! I did a little dance every time I finished a block. I finished four of them.  Now I just have 107 blocks left to go.

Plus these Marti Michel templates really did the trick.  I used my tiny 18 mm rotary cutter and it made my blocks so much more precise.  And less stressful for me!  I'll show you my 4 finished blocks next...

do you want your daughter to marry a farmer?

That was the question that a 1920's magazine asked women who were farm wives.  If they had a daughter of marriageable age would they like her to become a farmer's wife?  Mothers wrote back to the newspaper with a heartfelt yes!

This is the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt, letters from the 1920's farm wives and the 111 traditional quilt blocks that they inspired.

It is also a very special Quilt Block of the Month Club that is being started at Sew Katie Jean.  We will be using the special templates created by Marti Michel to create our blocks and the book as our guide.  It will be our goal to sew at least 5-6 blocks per month.  Meeting every first Friday of the month to sit, sew, and share while we create our own lap to king size quilt featuring the 6" blocks.

Friday, May 4

10:30 am - 3:00 pm

cost: $20

Teacher: Cindy Lloyd

For a complete class supply list or any other questions you might have, call {916} 209-3930 or stop in.

For more Farmer's Wife inspiration, just look at my own Pinterest page.