Sunday, July 31, 2016

A Pillow & the Pastor's Attic Quilt


In April, my friend Carol asked me to make a pillow. Carol's sister had embroidered quilt blocks and then gave them to Carol. Carol sewed the blocks together and hand quilted the quilt. There was one block left, so she quilted it, then asked me to make a pillow with that block because she had never made a pillow. I said yes but you know what? I've never made a pillow either! I can finally cross this project off the list. I think she turned out pretty good but I don't want to make another one. Carol is going to stuff the pillow, I didn't have to do that.


Slowly, a little sewing each evening, and the next Pastor's Attic quilt block has been completed. I like this block, the embroidered stems are a nice change. The embroidery in the vase looks good too, so much easier than appliquing narrow strips of fabric.


The next block has been prepped and I've started on her. When this block is finished, I'll have completed the first 2 rows of the quilt, just 15 more blocks to go!

Everyone has their own way to applique. I see some people glue all their pieces on then applique them down. I can't do that, I need to just applique piece by piece. The stems for these red buds will be back basted applique. 
When I was in Wakarusa last week, I took a picture of the Quilt Garden. I was unable to get the whole garden in the picture. Sorry.



The design is 1895 Star Puzzle. Click the photo for more information.







What is going on around the farm and garden?

I've always enjoyed driving tractor. One day, while the farmer was running errands, I mowed down a field of hay. The next day I raked the rows double; this is what it looks like. Rows that are already raked are on the left. On the right sides the hay is flat in the windrows. The rake turns one row onto the next row. 


This hay is high moisture hay. The baler bales them into big bales then they are wrapped in plastic. It ferments and turns into baylage which we feed in the winter. The cattle love it!

I wrote a detailed post dated May 28, 2014, about baling high moisture hay on my Word Press blog. You can read that post here
The wheat kernals that fell from the combine during wheat harvest have sprouted. The stems are 3" - 4" tall. Every morning several flocks of Canadian Geese fly into the field and graze. I was able to get pretty close to them for the picture. The different groups do not co-mingle, they stay in their separate flock.


I'm still freezing green beans but the plants are slowing down. I don't pull the plants when they stop yielding. After several weeks they will start blossoming again and there will be more green beans.


In late spring I plant my Amaryllis bulbs in the garden. Some summers some of the bulbs bloom. I would rather they didn't bloom in the summer but save their energy to bloom in the winter. The flowers are more appreciated in the winter than summer. Behind the Amaryllis are potato plants.

I'm linking to - Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching, Quilting is More Fun than Housework, Em's ScrapbagLove Laugh Quilt, Super Mom - No Cape!, Esther's Wednesday WOW!, Sew Fresh QuiltsMy Quilt Infatuation, Confessions of a Fabric AddictA Quilting Reader's Garden

20 comments:

  1. Thank you for that little window into your world. Thanks also for the info on the beans. My lowly bean plant is just blossoming again and I was wondering whether I would get any more beans. Now I know. I love that Pastor's Attic block that you finished. It is beautiful.

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  2. The pillow turned out beautifully and I love that applique block; it's always interesting to hear about your farm activities as well.

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  3. The basket block is very well done. I like the cross hatch embroidery on the basket itself. A very visually pleasing block.

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  4. I planted my one amaryllis bulb in the garden and it has a lot of greenery on it - what do I do next LOL - I knew I read someone did this and it must have been you - when do you move it to the house?

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  5. Your pillow is very pretty. The dark ruffle around it really finishes it off and complements the femininity of it.
    I had not heard of the Pastors Attic quilt. I looked it up on google. It is my kind of quilt-lots of pretty applique and an chance to use lots of different fabrics. Lots of intricacy and lots of stories. How far along are you with this quilt?

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  6. The pillow turned out great, but I'm with you I don't like making them at all!

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  7. Sorry for the two comments I pressed the wrong key! Just wanted to say I love your pastors attic block.

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  8. SO much activity is going on at your place. Hope you are getting enough stitching time!
    Love the texture of the embroidery on the basket block!

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  9. You are one busy girl! Loved seeing all the garden/farm photos. Thanks for linking with Oh Scrap!

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  10. You did not waste any time on that pastor's attic block. it is lovely.

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    1. Sometimes I look at a block and wonder how long this is going to take? I'm always amazed at how time spend appliquing every evening adds up. I started working on the stems last evening and appliquied 4 in less than an hour.

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  11. Your Pastor's Attic block looks fantastic, especially the embroidery in the vase. What stitch did you use? I enjoyed the farm pics, too -- reminds me of visits to my grandparents' farm in New Richland, Minnesota many years ago.

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    1. The cherry stems are 1 strand, outline stitch. The other stems are chains stitched. In the vase I used 3 strand, outline stitch. I think I'm going to try to bring more embroidery into these blocks. Thanks for your comments. Blessings, Gretchen

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  12. Dear Gretchen what a great blog, I do love seeing you out on the farm it takes me back to my farm years when I was growing up. It is lovely to see the windrows as we used to call then I can even smell that grass. Your pillow looks great and your finished block a credit to you how lovely it looks. I did enjoy seeing the Canadian Geese such beautiful birds. Hugs Glenda

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  13. You did a great job on the pillow - I am with you though, no pillows unless I absolutely have to!
    I really do like what you have done with the Pastor's Attic quilt block! It is stunning! I love the embroidery, and the red/gold color combo - so very rich looking!
    I am a traditional appliquer without glue and starch also. I have also done some back basting usually on blocks with large pieces. I am working on circles as small as a dime for the Ms Potts project and could use Karen Kay's circles, but there are so many that I am opting to just "do it", so far I am pleased.
    Love the farm pictures and it would be fun to drive that tractor! Stay cool and keep on stitching!

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  14. What a great post! Your applique is beautiful! And I so enjoyed seeing the farm pics!

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  15. Your basket block is beautiful. I especially like the fabrics you chose for the basket. They look beautiful together.
    --Nancy. (ndmessier @ aol.com, joyforgrace.blogspot.com)

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  16. Wow! That pastors attic block is gorgeous!

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  17. Your pastor's attic quilt is coming along nicely - I love appliquéd quilts, although it isn't my cup of tea to do, so I get to enjoy all of the beautiful ones out there vicariously. And your pillow turned out beautifully - why wouldn't you make another one? Whoop whoop for all your finishes!

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