Working On My Barn Quilt

It's no secret that I love quilts! I think that there is something so magical about turning a stack of fabric into a wonderful work of art, that is both beautiful and functional. It takes many hours of work to turn that fabric into a quilt. I love the whole process! I have one quilt that took me 120 hours to make. It is a paper pieced quilt. Paper piecing is magical! The process is very easy. Google it if you are curious. Pinterest is full of wonderful paper pieced examples. 

I am coming along with my Quilty Barn Along. I have two more blocks that are almost finished. I had to order more black on black patterned fabric. I just didn't have any in my stash. Can you find the mistake? Look closely. It is the barn on the bottom right. It's the cupolas. I reversed the roof and cupola "siding". But, it's ok. 

I just love the barn blocks. 

I know, I know......not another one. Yep, I found a Featherweight at an estate sale recently. The price was so amazing, that I couldn't pass it up. It's funny, back when I was really looking for one I couldn't find one at all. Now that I am no longer looking, they seem to find me. Not sure if I am keeping this one or selling it. It is in excellent condition with instruction booklet, case and other odds and ends. I don't think that the lady that owned it used it much. Thankfully she was just downsizing. I like those types of estate sales, they are not as sad to me.

It also came with a buttonhole maker for free. They just threw it in at no charge. Said that it didn't make sense to sell the buttonhole maker and machine separately. 

It's very interesting. I am not sure how it works but it came in a little box with instructions.

I love these old labels.

I have recently stumbled upon this site lostquilt.com. I was shocked and saddened to find that people steal quilts. I guess that I never really thought about quilt theft. Some of these thefts happened at quilt shows. So sad. The site is a great addition to the quilting community. Some of the quilts have actually been recovered. Recently a quilter lost 16 quilts to thieves. They broke into her studio and only stole the quilts. You can read about it here: Quiltville Friends on facebook. You may have to scroll down a little to find the article. I also found out that you can microchip your quilt. If I ever enter a quilt in a show or mail one, I know now to put my name and address on the quilt. It is even suggested that you sew it inside the quilt sandwiched between the batting and backing before adding the binding. Great tips. 

It's been hot here but starting to cool off a little. 

Sometimes all you need is a little pool, a water gun and a wet t shirt to rule the world!

Have a happy day and if you don't quilt I urge you to start! If you have any quilty questions just leave me a comment and I will do my best to answer it.

Holly

Happily Sewing

I just "heart" sewing. I think that out of all the crafts that I do sewing is my absolute favorite! With all of the beautiful fabrics available I just can't help myself. When I was little my mom made almost all of our clothes. Not so much as we grew older. Every year around Easter I would beg her to make my Easter dress, even as a teenage. Laura Ashley was usually the go to pattern. Mom made the most beautiful dresses. I remember loving the sound of her machine whirring as she worked. Sometimes she would work late into the night. I also remember taking the 8 hour trip to my Grandparents' and while dad drove, she would be busily hand stitching the hem or what ever needed to be finished. I even talked her into making a red velvet Christmas dress. I still have that dress hanging in the closet. For senior prom she made a baby blue satin dress. I have that dress too. As soon as I find an antique dress form (I have been on the hunt for one for years now) I will show pictures of the dresses. She did draw the line at making my wedding dress. Oh how I wish that I could have talked her into that :) Anyway getting back to my love of sewing, I am finally back on track with my Quilty Barn Along quilt (by Lori Holt). I have missed this quilt and am glad to get back to it. I have finished all of the "quilts" that are hanging on the barns. Now I just need to build the barn around these 5 blocks.

Lori Holt's Quilty Barn Along

Blocks: Pinwheel, The Water Turn, Summer Star, Bitty Scrap Around Block and Furrows.

The Weather Vane Block. I love this red material. I purchased it in Rome, Ga while visting my sister and brother in law and two sweet nieces. Thanks E for taking me to an awesome quilting shop!

I followed Lori's color scheme closely, it was what drew me to the quilt. I also used her Bake Sale line along with some other fabric lines. Sorry a lot of the fabric I used was just pieces so I don't know the designer of the fabric, but I did use some Bliss fabric too. 

If you want to make your own Quilty Barn then head on over to Lori's blog here. She has detailed tutorials for each block. I would love to see your blocks or quilt, just let me know if you participated in the QBA. 

I have put my Valentine stuff away and am getting out St. Patrick's Day and Easter stuff. I usually decorate with both of them at the same time and after SPD is over I just remove all of the SPD green decorations.

Have a wonderful day and happy sewing,

Holly