Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

I Haven’t Abandoned the Farmer’s Wife, Really

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Well, actually I have sort of.  If not abandoned, neglected for sure.  So, I got out my book, my blocks, and my Marti Michell template instructions and tried to reconstruct exactly where I am in this project.

I have progressed as far as the 27th block, using my Marti Michell template instructions.  Marti received permission from Laurie Hird, the author of the Farmer's Wife book, to produce conversion charts for making the blocks in the book using her special acrylic templates, available on her website.  Marti was able to convert 101 of the 111 blocks using her templates.   And for the ten blocks that could not be converted to her templates, she suggests alternate blocks that can be.  I like being able to rotary cut all my block pieces from the templates, so this method is working well for me.

The templates are not inexpensive, but they are very high quality and can be used to make many other quilt blocks over time.  I did not purchase all the templates I needed for the FW blocks at once.  I started with sets A and B, which kept me going through about 20 blocks, then I acquired set D and a couple of others from a generous blog follower.  I may need to get another set or two to complete all 111 blocks, but really, set A and B seem to be good for most of the blocks in the book.

You can subscribe to receive the template instructions from Marti by clicking here.

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Where exactly am I?  It has been such a long time since I had made any of the blocks, it took me some time to find my place!  I don't want to forget about this project, and was determined to get going on it again.

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Marti does not progress through the book doing the blocks in the same order as they are presented there.  She skips around, basing her block order on which templates are appropriate for their construction.  My most recent block is Broken Sugar Bowl, block #12 in the FW book.

Next up for me is #98 Water Wheel.

I hope to post regularly next week, but I am having two very special house guests.  My son and his fiance are coming from Ireland for a visit!  I am over the moon excited to see them.  Ahren moved to Dublin to start a new life with Mary Ann last May and I haven't seen him since that time.  I expect we will be on the go and busy getting all caught up with each other, so I may miss a post or two.

Happy weekend everyone!

 

32 responses to “I Haven’t Abandoned the Farmer’s Wife, Really”

  3. I can’t imagine even starting a FW quilt. I am sure yours will be amazing. I wish you a wonderful visit with your son. Visits home are so comforting to those away.

  4. I can’t imagine even starting a FW quilt. I am sure yours will be amazing. I wish you a wonderful visit with your son. Visits home are so comforting to those away.

  5. Great block! I am loving the templates. I bought only A & B but I have made a few templates from the CD. I think that as I progress I’ll need to break down and buy D and N at least… or maybe S. Anyway, Love that you have picked it up again. Enjoy your visit with your Son! That is definitely a treat!

  6. Great block! I am loving the templates. I bought only A & B but I have made a few templates from the CD. I think that as I progress I’ll need to break down and buy D and N at least… or maybe S. Anyway, Love that you have picked it up again. Enjoy your visit with your Son! That is definitely a treat!

  7. You make me wish I had a long-term project like this – beyond my many UFOS! Love your fabric choices, too.
    Have a wonderful time with your dear son and nearly DIL as they come home to your family for this visit. Imagine their delight at meeting Evangeline!! Oh, you don’t have to imagine that for long before it is a reality!!
    Hugs!

  8. You make me wish I had a long-term project like this – beyond my many UFOS! Love your fabric choices, too.
    Have a wonderful time with your dear son and nearly DIL as they come home to your family for this visit. Imagine their delight at meeting Evangeline!! Oh, you don’t have to imagine that for long before it is a reality!!
    Hugs!

  9. Hi, Nicole – I’m so happy that you are going to see your son and his fiance. I know you’re going to have a wonderful time together.
    Karen L.

  10. Hi, Nicole – I’m so happy that you are going to see your son and his fiance. I know you’re going to have a wonderful time together.
    Karen L.

  11. Well, geez, now I might want to do the Farmer’s Wife thing. Such peer pressure, I tell you! Enjoy your visit and we’ll forgive you if you miss a blog or two!

  12. Well, geez, now I might want to do the Farmer’s Wife thing. Such peer pressure, I tell you! Enjoy your visit and we’ll forgive you if you miss a blog or two!

  13. Oh how exciting to have your son and his special lass home again for a little while. Have an amazing time together. I’ll have to pop over to his blog and wish him Bon Voyage!
    Your latest FW block is really pretty. Glad that you are still progressing along with that lovely collection (Annie’s Farm Stand, was it?)….. it will be gorgeous once finished.

  14. Oh how exciting to have your son and his special lass home again for a little while. Have an amazing time together. I’ll have to pop over to his blog and wish him Bon Voyage!
    Your latest FW block is really pretty. Glad that you are still progressing along with that lovely collection (Annie’s Farm Stand, was it?)….. it will be gorgeous once finished.

  15. I have the book, made two blocks, decided I didn’t like the fabrics I had started with… so I’m thinking about starting over with some of my piles of batiks! I signed up for Marti’s instructions (thanks!) but haven’t received the first one yet.
    Have fun with the kids!

  16. I have the book, made two blocks, decided I didn’t like the fabrics I had started with… so I’m thinking about starting over with some of my piles of batiks! I signed up for Marti’s instructions (thanks!) but haven’t received the first one yet.
    Have fun with the kids!

  17. Enjoy your visit – just had my step daugher vfisiting from Paris for a few days and it was lovely to spend some time together catching up – sure we have the phone and e-mail but a personal visit is the best.

  18. Enjoy your visit – just had my step daugher vfisiting from Paris for a few days and it was lovely to spend some time together catching up – sure we have the phone and e-mail but a personal visit is the best.

  19. You DEFINITELY need to miss a post or two so you can soak in all that family time! Enjoy!!! See you when you get back… your tutorial will keep me busy for a while! oh, yes, and the Farmer’s wife reminder… I needed a nudge! :O) HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

  20. You DEFINITELY need to miss a post or two so you can soak in all that family time! Enjoy!!! See you when you get back… your tutorial will keep me busy for a while! oh, yes, and the Farmer’s wife reminder… I needed a nudge! :O) HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

  21. Good to know you can start with just the A & B templates, Nicole! I sure don’t want to shell out all that money at once! Oh, happy day – having Ahren and Mary Ann home! Enjoy your time with them!
    Cheers!

  22. Good to know you can start with just the A & B templates, Nicole! I sure don’t want to shell out all that money at once! Oh, happy day – having Ahren and Mary Ann home! Enjoy your time with them!
    Cheers!

  23. Skip as many posts as you need to! Enjoy every minute with Ahren & Mary Ann! We’ll be here when you get back! Have a wonderful time together!

  24. Skip as many posts as you need to! Enjoy every minute with Ahren & Mary Ann! We’ll be here when you get back! Have a wonderful time together!

  25. Don’t worry about us! Just have a good time with Ahren and Mary Ann and fill us in later :o)

  26. Don’t worry about us! Just have a good time with Ahren and Mary Ann and fill us in later :o)

  29. Enjoy your visit with Ahren and Mary Ann. How awesome for you to have a visit!!
    Love the thread catcher…a dear friend gave me one out of French General – one of my very, very favs. Check out my December 18th posting for a pic – you may like the bag of bags I received from our exchange! itsallaboutsherry.blogspot.com
    Looking forward to seeing your progress on FW.

  30. Enjoy your visit with Ahren and Mary Ann. How awesome for you to have a visit!!
    Love the thread catcher…a dear friend gave me one out of French General – one of my very, very favs. Check out my December 18th posting for a pic – you may like the bag of bags I received from our exchange! itsallaboutsherry.blogspot.com
    Looking forward to seeing your progress on FW.