October Gems

October Gems

October has been a beautiful month...  there have been gorgeous days, filled with little hidden gems (when you get out of the sewing room and walk around to look for them! )

After trimming our overgrown Rose of Sharon bushes, we discovered that the extra sunlight gave some vital energy to encourage this gangly  Evening Primrose plant to bloom extra times...even into October. ( It usually stops blooming in early September!)
(I also see lots of little "starter plants" for next year... they will sprout up tall and bloom!)

Evening Primrose blossom .... late blooming in October ! It blooms at dusk for just one night!  See my pillows  HERE

Blogged here

The sky was a sapphire blue on the day we walked around on a land that has been preserved for farming.....

Blue, blue skies

We found this interesting Milkweed Pod in the dried grass ... that looked like a bird head on a stick!!

Milkweed Pod..... shaped like a bird's head

Isn't this amazing?

Brandywine Creek

Stone bridge

I also have been working on a few projects:

Dog Gone Cute Blog Hop

I am participating in the Dog Gone Cute Blog Hop!   
Lorna,  of Sew Fresh Quilts has this adorable new puppy pattern out.... and 40 bloggers are sharing their Dog Gone Cute projects during October!
   My day of the blog hop is Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015 !

Sew Fresh Quilts "Dog Gone Cute" Blog Hop here

Here's a little peek of my Dog Gone Cute project that I am busy working on  ....

These are 9 1/2 " x 6 1/2 " blocks.   The pattern also has directions for the larger blocks.... 18 1/2 "  x 12 1/2 " .

Two little pups       by Susie's Sunroom

You can check out more pups and projects, on Instagram:  #dgcqal  and #doggonecuteqal


The whole schedule of blogs for the Dog Gone Cute Blog Hop:

You 'll want to check them all out to see their adorable projects!  They are amazing and inspiring!  Lorna also has a Linky Party on Nov 3, for anyone to link up their project! You can get the pattern  {HERE} .   Lorna's patterns and  directions are excellent!!

Tuesday, October 6

Karen of Run Sew Fun

Kris of Kris Loves Fabric

Anja of Anja Quilts

Kelly of Quilting it Out

Tish of Tish’s Adventures in Wonderland

Thursday, October 8

Carol of Just Let Me Quilt

Nina of Inchworming

Doris of The Quilting Queen Online

Brandy of Pampered Pettit

Leena of Creative Instincts

Tuesday, October 13

Ruth of Charly and Ben’s Crafty Corner

Tanya of Tanya Quilts in Colorado

Laurel of Quilts by Laurel

Kathy of Kathy’s Quilting Blog

Deb of New Creative State

Thursday, October 15

Anita of Daydreams of Quilts

Gina of Quilts and Cakes

Beth of Words & Stitches

Rachel of Quiltineering

Julie of Mack and Mable

Tuesday, October 20

Cathy of A Quilting Chick

Selina of Selina Quilts

Shauna of Shauna’s World

Gayle of Pedal Sew Lightly

Kathy of Kayak Quilting

Thursday, October 22

Sandy of Upstairs Hobby Room

Heide of Heide’s Quilty Hugs

Britt-Inger of Hill Valley Quilter

Judy of How ART You?

Louisa of Sewmotion

Tuesday, October 27
Teje of Nero’s Patch and Post

Stephanie of Jak and Will

Valerie of Val’s Quilting Studio

Ellen of Georgia Florida Studio

Cristina of Pretty Little Quilts

Thursday, October 29

Abigail of Cut & Alter

Magdalena of iloveneutrals

Jenn of A Quarter Inch from the Edge

Anne of Batiks by the Bay

Susie of Susie's Sunroom

Tracy of Tracy’s Bits N Pieces

Farm Girl Vintage Sampler Quilt Blocks:    from the Farm Girl Vintage Book (here)

Lori Holt's Book "Farm Girl Vintage"
Sew Along here

Simple Star Block:

 I made four Simple Star blocks, for the corner blocks of the quilt.

I used the Pink Gingham fabric for the star points... this will be my binding and the backing of the quilt.  From my stash!

Simple Star Blocks-   for my corners

Spring Star Block:

This is one of my favorite patterns!

Spring Star Block       

Summer Star Block:

This was a tricky block for me....  I must confess that I made the block twice.   I didn't want to lose the points when I sewed the blocks together.  I marked in the book:  " Need seam allowance space for the points!"

Summer Star Block

Sunday Morning Block:

Sunday Morning Block

Sunny Sunflower Block:

Sunny Sunflower Block

Tumbleweed Block:

This is another of my faves!

Tumbleweed Block

Union Jack:

Now this beautiful block is not in the book!  My talented designer friend, Amanda, The Patchsmith, designed this block!  It is available as a 6 '' block, 12" block and table runner pattern!!   I wanted to include this block in my Farm Girl Vintage block, as Amanda has been making the quilt in this sew along beside me, and  in honor of all of my UK quilty friends!  It is one of my favorites!!

Union Jack block      pattern by The Patchsmith   {Here}

Water Turn Block:

Well, if you know me at all, you'll have guessed that I added a lot of notes on this block!

I did make it twice, to get the flying geese units perfectly sized.... to keep the points from disappearing into the seam allowances.  But I love it!   I wrote:  " Watch points in ALL steps!  Measure and cut exactly in each step!"

Water Turn Block

Welcome Block:

Welcome Block

Winter Star Block:

This is one of my favorites!   And, yes, I did end up making it twice!

(I seem to learn something the second time!)

                                                        Winter Star Block

The 4 Seasons Stars together:

                                     Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter Star Blocks

Woolly Sheep Block:

I fell in love with her!!

                                             Woolly Sheep Block

Next, I added some sashing strips and cornerstones, to sew my blocks into rows.

And before I could say, " Bob's your uncle!".....  it was sewn together!

                        My Farm Girl Vintage Sampler Quilt blocks coming together!

Stay tuned for more finishes!

I'm off to my sewing room!

Linking up at:   Let's Bee Social @ Sew Fresh Quilts and
                       Sew Cute Tuesday @ Blossom Heart Quilts  and
                        Fabric Tuesday  @  Quilt Story   and
                        And Sew We Craft Together @  And Sew We Craft