The FWS Pony Club Quilt-Along Wk 28 Miller's Daughter & Mountain Maze Discussion Page
 

I have one done for this week!!! go look! H.

I'm so sad I didn't find this board sooner! I'm a new quilter. I am currently working on a sampler quilt (among other things). It's my first sampler and I fell in love with the process of choosing fabrics for just one block and not committing to an entire quilt. I love that each block is in itself like it's own little quilt. So I found myself in the craft section at Barnes and Noble the other day. (because when I'm not quilting, I'm reading!) I found the Farmer's Wife Sampler Book and just had to buy it because I myself AM a farmer's wife and recently learned about sampler blocks. It was like it was put there on that shelf just for me.

So I have this book and I am utterly excited and overwhelmed by it. I've seen two types of FWS quilts. (1) Scrappy Style and choosing fabrics from your stash that fit the block. And (2) Pre-choosing coordinating fabrics and doing all the blocks out of those few colors.

What did you gals choose? Are there any pro's and con's to either way? And if I choose coordinating fabrics, how much do you think i'll need? As a beginning quilter, will I be able to tackle this project? ALL advice is appreciated.

HilaryK8, I'm glad you jumped in here. There are a whole lot of threads from when we did our FWS quilts-same group that's doing this one. If I wasn't a senior blonde I'd post a link but search under FWS finished quilts here and you'll get lots of different ideas. Some did scrappy; I did and like you I enjoyed picking the fabric one block at a time. Don't feel overwhelmed-just take it one at a time. By the time you're 1/3 of the way through you will have learned so much. I've become a much better quilter thanks to practice and all the help along the way from the group. Ask any of us questions either here or by PM.

As a beginner, it's a tough project but if you take your time with each block you'll get it. And have fun with it! I think this is a perfect project for you as a farmer's wife. When I started I didn't know the difference between a pony and a jack ass LOL. Good luck, and keep us posted.

Hilary K8, The Farmers Wife Sampler quilt is the first one that leader Honchey lead us through and the thread is on QB and people are still viewing it along with tips for each week when the goal was 2 per week. Some of us are still trying to finish and post on that thread; mine is ready for the Long Arm Quilter now. I learned a lot from this group...even though I was self-taught with bad habits, they taught me on this board how to do it right.

The Farmers Wife Pony Club is based on Laura's second book by that title. Thus we have this thread. If you have enough patience and persistence, you 'can' attitude, with hints on the threads of QB, you can do the blocks. Des Moines, Iowa, Creekside Quilt Shop started the lessons in their shop, and many other Local Quilt Shops also give lessons and help.

The fabric you choose is whatever you like; as you look through the thread on QB, you will see that we each chose a different path with the weekly blocks. Not all was perfect, in my case, but highly enjoyable. Frustration ruled a bit in the learning process, but we forged ahead to the finish or almost there. You never know your limits until you try, and always ask questions...and keep asking until you are satisfied with the answers.

Well now I'm going to have to go buy that book too! I love the idea of sewing along with friends so I'm going to try to talk my aunt into starting the FWS with me. Two blocks a week sounds fun! Now I'm going to go check out the previous week entries.

HilaryK8, please join in on the fun of the Pony Quilt Club, you won't be disappointed. Lots of good advice and if you need help, just ask. I just posted mine for the week, now I have to get busy on the next few weeks. Lots of color selections also.

HilaryK8--Welcome welcome!! Here's the link Jan was talking about

http://www.quiltingboard.com/blocks-...e-t148904.html

I was attracted to the FWS book too because I am a FW as well. And guess what we got a good solid inch of rain today! Looking out the window to the corn field can't believe how many tassels popped out in the last half hour and the corn leaves opening wide to accept this lovely rain. Sky is still rumbling a bit so maybe more is on it's way. This little bit will help our third crop hay--desperately need this.

Oh and it's okay to chat on this thread, right folks? Because here is why I didn't get my blocks done yet this week. My 8 yo GD is learning to sew. Last winter I bought a small Janome machine just for my little girls and this week we have started. We started in Lynda Milligan's book Sewing Machine Fun for Kids. Em has caught on to threading the machine and putting the bobbin in and has sewn some Christmas ornaments. Tomorrow it's hair scrunchies! (1) Threading the machine. (2) Sewing stars. (3) Christmas in July! Now off to find some fabric for scrunchies and this week's blocks:o[ATTACH=CONFIG]350018[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]350019[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]350020[/ATTACH]

Great job, Oksewglad, teaching granddaughter to sew. Wow. What a proud moment. Please keep up with the progress with photos and show us more...and we can all 'adopt' a granddaughter on this site.

Finally, I have my "Gone Fishing" panel designed into a Queen size...so will halt progress there to do a few more blocks for PC. Cut out two this afternoon; hope to do more tomorrow.

OKSewGlad, hope that shower can happen here....we are sooooo dry, cracks in the ground everywhere and watering just takes the garden so far....tomatoes are dying...new seeds are not growing any...(fall flowers planted in miracle grow soil)..Praying for rain that is not in the long range forecast.

Hi HilaryK8, hope you stay around a while and join us, I joined the FWS group and I must say it was the most enjoyable 12 months of sewing, 2 blocks a week and lots of encouragement along the way. I had no hesitation on starting the Pony Club quilt (although my fabric is a rose theme). Enjoy the book and my only advice is don't get overwhelmed take it 1 block at a time and you'll get there.

No blocks so far this week, hope to get some sewing time on the weekend, gosh where does the time go ?????

OkSewglad...it's so neat when little girls like to spend time learning Grandma's crafts! It's nice they are just down the road! Speaking of road, the mailman brought me some beautiful fabric yesterday. Look for it in my next blocks which will be next week. I've committed myself to quilting this week. I want to gain more skill so I can actually do a quilt from start to finish! So glad for your rain. We got some too this past few days and it's overcast this morning so it's not drying out too fast.

Welcome HilaryK8....I wasn't in the FWS group but they have welcomed me with open arms on this pony ride. They are a wonderful bunch if ladies!

GGal--hmm, anxious to see what "new" fabrics show up in your blocks!
Yes Jeanie she is having a great time. Both she and Ellie played in my EQ program today. They like to take some of my quilt ideas and "color" them with their fabric choices. Kids are never too young to learn.
Em has completed her next project. A hair scrunchie. She wants to wear it the first day of school. Next week's assignment is a little pocket purse.[ATTACH=CONFIG]350143[/ATTACH]

Love that purple color!! Good job!

Fun projects :) I will have to tell my friend about that book...she will be moving near her granddaughter in the next month and was trying to figure out what/how to teach her.

carrie

Hey this is changing the subject but QuiltE was looking for quilt blocks that were named for countries and I happened upon this book while I was looking at quilt books in Amazon...
Mariner's Compass Stars: 24 Stellar Paper-Pieced Blocks & 9 Easy Quilt Projects [Paperback].
It doesn't say what the countries are but maybe you can run across the book IRL and check it out. It's by Carol Doke. I saw a quilt done from her 50 Star book and it was simply gorgeous.

That's the one that I got & made the one for Australia. If ya'll remember I made it too large for it ta be a sub. I do plan on makin' at least 4 o' 'em as subs. Beautiful compasses!
Hilary where are ya from? If ya are out o' the US I'll make one o' my subs ta represent ya.

I'm in the US. I'm from Maryland.

I will definitely be checking out the blocks on the photo pages. I love how everyone does the same block so differently. That's my favorite part of a quilt along.

Are all the Pony Club blocks paper pieced? Because I'm a beginner and I don't know how to do that yet!

Its a chance to learn, HilaryKB. Many of us did not know how to paper piece or do Y seams, but if you read the threads you will find where other members of PC helped the rest of us to learn 'how'. Not to say all of us liked doing it, so many now are 'substituting' a different block instead of the original one of the week...something we can piece that we feel comfortable with in our quilt. It is , bottom line, OUR quilt, so we do it our way...

It all about attitude...'can do' or 'cannot do' never did. This is a wonderful place to learn if you want too. Its all your decision of yes or no.

Hilary--the pony club quilt is my first experience with pp'ing. The CD does include templates and even rotary cutting measurements for some of the blocks, so you do have options besides pp'ing. The ladies in this group are a GREAT help, so if you have a question on a certain block, look through that week's thread (both discussion and photo) and if you still need help, ask! Most of us are subscribed to the threads, so will get new posts and try to help. :)

~~~~~
waves to all my PC and FWS friends!
~~~~~
I'm baaaaaaaaaack!

Oh it was so much fun ... :)
Friday ... 4 shops
Saturday ... 5 shops
Today ... only 1 shop (no others open on Sunday) plus followed the Barn Quilt Trail!

Results: one huge tote bag stuffed to overflowing with fabrics and a few patterns.

Oh it was so much fun ... and I certainly did my part to help the economy!! :)

Hot as .....!!!!!!!!! Though my truck a/c made it quite comfy. Out of the truck? ... sometimes UGH!
Wicked storm on my way home this afternoon ......... and not a drop here!




Yeehaww.... we have another CowGirl here in our midst!

:D </SPAN>Welcome HilaryK8!!!!!! :D

Yes please come and join us on one or both of the quilts. I too was like you and when I saw the FWS threads a year ago June, I just knew I HAD TO do the FWS, being that I was born and raised on a dairy farm, then became a Farm Wife, and did my part in the field and barn .... while of course, still doing all the household and office work for the farm. So I started much later than many and now have my quilt done and posted on the thread that OKSGlad posted for you.

Here's a link to the other FWS threads ...

http://www.quiltingboard.com/blogs/f...res-b1689.html

http://www.quiltingboard.com/blogs/f...ion-b1691.html

If you follow the threads, you will see that we posted our blocks in pairs. Because I was a late starter, often times I was the only one making blocks, as many of the ladies were already done. That didn't matter, as they still supported me along the way and came along with answers to problems I was having ..... and the ooohs and aaaahs for my blocks as I posted them. There were times that I know I would never have continued on, if it hadn't been for the support that I had here!

And please don't be shy about PPing, as I too was one who vehemently detested it when I started FWS and soon discovered what a good friend it was. It takes some patience and persistence, and then pretty soon, you're sold on it!!

As QNSue said, it's all about attitude, and there's no reason why you can't do it ... if you decide you want to!

So come and join us HilaryK8 ... we're glad to have you here with us!

Morning tea is served
 

We haven't had a get together in our virtual RV for some time, SO I made these on the weekend. I am calling them triple decker sincakes.. Chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting, chocolate cup filled with marshmallow and frosting on top of that. I made these for a morning tea on the weekend, I left one behind for DH (have to keep him happy):D
Hope you enjoy, now who is bring the cappuccino;)

OH OH sinfully delicious--have a bite. Thanks mirabelle.:thumbup:

Hmmmm Nearly as good as marshmallows! :) QE I'll join ya w/some tea!

Ok, glad to see Mirabell and QuiltE back on the trial of discussion; missed you guys this weekend as I spent the last two days or three in my sewing room pretending I was in the Virtual RV enjoying the cool air and spirit of all the pony club group. Yep. I moved along on PC blocks will try to finish Morning Star in the morning and post pictures.

Chains of love is back from the LA quilters...now to bind the quilt and finish the "Gone Fishing" design and quilt. Tomorrow I need to pick nectarines and tomatoes before it gets too hot. Have to turn the Quonset huts to move the turkeys and ducks. Now have guineas in two cages in the hen house...one group of 6 in the pent house, other 6 below then. Need to figure out how to built a light weight some cage they can grow in for six to eight weeks, so they will return to roost with the pullets.

Yes , Mirabelle, pass your good looking beauties that probably taste as good or better than they look!! I will bring my Cherry Coke Cola with me and enough to share... Hard to say what tomorrow will bring. May it be a good one for each of you all.

What a beautiful machine Bev, I wish I could find vintage machines over here, would love a Featherweight or similar. Enjoy

QNS I miss my chat time also, I am hoping things quiet down for me now and I can get back to my normal routine. DH and I discussed a design wall in my sewing room today so heres hoping. Tomorrow I hope to get my PC blocks done and be organised again.

Hope you enjoyed the cupcakes

I gained 5 pounds with 2 cupcakes...thanks, Mirabelle. They were truly good. Dudlb. neat machine.

Thank you for the warm welcome everyone! I'm looking forward to playing around with some of these blocks. Is everyone going in order or would it be cheating for me to try to start with the easier blocks?

Hilary--I just jump in with the blocks where the group is at once in a while...otherwise I jump around, so yes go ahead and start with some of the easier ones. :)

carrie

Hi HilaryK8, Welcome to our group...This quilt-Along is a do it at your own pace...I post the new blocks to be done every week on Tuesday evening in the order listed in the book. ...All the previous week's threads will always be available to post photos of your completed blocks...The only request that I have is that you not post photos of completed blocks not yet listed...Some of the members of our group started with the current week then continued to catch up with the blocks already posted....Start wherever you feel comfortable....Honchey