Gathering the Crops...

This is what my front room floor looked like this weekend...

a blur of farmers wife blocks.

I laid them all out so I can finally start putting them together...

it's time to bring in the crops!

I've stuck with my original idea of using my 

Yellow Sew Cherry leaves for the border...

Pam's yellow dots for the sashing...

(I'll use my red solid for corner posts)

Annie's Farm Stand seed catalogue print in yellow for the backing

My Sew Cherry Gingham for the binding!

(after all ...what's a farm quilt without red gingham?)

I'm happy with how they all look together:-)

This part really takes a long time doesn't it?

I mean you just can't decide to move one block without

 creating the domino effect of moving 6 more...

or maybe only 2 more...

oh wait...i'll put that back where it was....

I think...wait...now those aqua blocks are next to each other...

move it to the top and switch with the pink.

There.

That's better.

Wait!

Now that pink is too close to that other pink.

Oh brother...:-(

And the switching of block positions continue for about an hour...

or maybe more:-)

Haha...does this sound familiar to you?

I finally got the blocks where I wanted ...

(other than turning a few of the blocks so that they are going the same direction after I took the picture)

and I chose the 4 blocks that will go in the corners of the border.

I was able to get the first 4 rows put together....

but I'll have to wait until next weekend to finish up. 

(I have only the weekends to sew items that aren't work related:-)

I laid the rows that are together on my 

piano bench and took a few pictures for you...

Hopefully I will be able to finish it up soon...

I've been working on the farm for quite a while now ...

and it's time to 

"reap what I have sewn"

Have a quilty kind of day my friends:-)

xx

Lori

The Bee in my Bonnet Row Along...Row 6...Nine Cute Cups of Cocoa!!!

Good Morning cute people!

Yep!

It's time for Row 6 of the 

Bee in my Bonnet Row Along

If you are just tuning in...

it's not too late to join...

You have until next summer!!!

***edit July 2013

The full pattern and instructions for the 

BIMB Row Along Quilt is in my new book

"QUILTY FUN"

click here

if you would like to reserve a copy!

Lately there has been a noticeable chill in the air and the days are getting shorter.

Around here...

that means warm cocoa and fuzzy slipper season:)

And so we are making 9 cups of cocoa!

So pick out 9 "cup" fabrics from your stash.

This block is sew quick and easy...  

You will have them complete in no time at all:)

Background:)

Sew an Easy Corner Triangle square onto the bottom 2 

corners of the cup like this. 

Remember that your cup is tall...not wide:)

Trim...

and press towards the triangles.

Set aside...

And move onto the handles.

Press the seam allowance towards the handle.

*TIP - when working with small pieces of fabric...

I like to use a little spray starch so that my pieces are less likely to distort and it also helps to keep any fraying of the edges to a minimum.

Mary Ellen's 

spray starch is a good one...

or you can easily make your own!

Click here

 for the recipe

and  

for the spray bottle cozy tutorial:)

So give your handle segments a little spray and press at this point only...

 to keep them easier to work with.

(no more starch after this step...it could shrink them)

Now that you have your handle strips sewn...

I suggest that you complete one handle so that you have the method down

 before moving onto the other 8. 

Cut...

Like this.

You will have a bit leftover:)

These are the 3 pieces that will make up the handle.

Arrange your pieces like this...

and sew them together.

Press the seam towards the handle like this.

This is what it should look like on the front.

Now sew the remaining piece to the bottom...

And once again...

press the seam towards the handle.

Now sew a white rectangle to the bottom like this.

Press the seam towards the larger rectangle.

Sew it to the right side of the cup.

If the outside edge of the handle looks too wide to you...remember it will match the top and bottom when you sew the sashings on.

After you have sewn the handle to the side of the mug...

press seam towards the cup like this.

And...

your first cup is complete.

Now you can go onto the other handles and chain piece them

 for faster and funner sewing:)

And there you have 9 cute cups of cocoa!

Just add marshmallows:)

Wouldn't these make a 

darling quilt or a fun pillow?

You can add sashings onto the right side of each cup at this point if you want.

Sew them into a row:)

Cut sashings and sew them to 

the top and bottom of your cup row:)

Then take them into your kitchen...

and tape them to your vintage church pew that you have painted aqua and take a few photos!!!

It was dark out when I took these...

sorry about the lighting:)

Have fun making your "9 cute cups of cocoa"...

and let me know what you think of mine!

Have a quilty...cocoa drinkin'...fuzzy slipper wearin' kind of day!

xx

Lori

P.S. Don't forget to show your cute cups on the Flickr group!

And remember to add the 

Bee in my Bonnet Row Along 

button to your blog!

Stitchy Love and How I Keep and Organize my Embroidery Thread...

It's no secret that I love to stitch.

I have told you that my stitchy love affair began at the

 early age of 6 when my grandma taught me how to do 

my very first Lazy Daisy:)

Thru the years I have used countless ways of storing and organizing my embroidery threads...but keeping them on a clothespin has been my very favorite method.

I simply wrap the floss around a pin...

clipping the end so that it won't unravel.

I write the number directly onto the clothespin with a pigma marker.

 I keep them in a large vintage jar.

I drilled a hole in the lid...

spray painted it and added a glass knob.

A cute...colorful...and easy storage method.

I keep the jar in my studio so that it's close by whenever I'm feelin' stitchy:)

xx

Lori

P.S. My "Daisy Love" embroidery pattern will be ready next week!