As usual, when I make a quilt, I don’t just make one. I make many. This way, I get the quilt “out of my system”, I make all that I can, and when they are gone, they are gone. Period. And with the Vermont Farm Baby Quilt, I am making seven baby quilts at once.
Seriously, there must be a twelve step program for this kind of problem. 
So what I am doing is making 42 of the green Christian cross blocks and 14 of the red blocks. These will then be set on point with a fun black and white polka dot sashing. I can hardly wait to show you the farm print that these blocks are getting set into but I have no idea when I will be able to get to it. I have the Hildene Fall Craft Fair in Manchester, Vermont this week-end and next week-end is the Stowe Fall Craft Fair. Both are three day events – four if you count set up.
I do hope to get some shots of the raffle quilt I am piecing together for the new guild I am helping get started here in Central Vermont. The first meeting is tomorrow and I need to get the borders on ASAP. Anyone know a good fairy Godmother?
Well, here she is, my new sewing machine! I did a lot of thinking about what I should get for a machine and test drove several. And I came to the conclusion that I just am not happy without a Pfaff. That dual feed system just cannot be beat! My local dealer had this little gem on sale for $1100 and with my trade in of my old machine, I just could not go wrong. And, if that was not enough, I can trade it in next year for an upgrade with the amount I paid as a trade in allowance. Sweet!
And here is a shot of the pile waiting for binding… Ah, the smell of new plastic!
I received an e-mail last week from a Project Linus coordinator in Michigan who wants to use my free Crib Rails quilt pattern for her blanketeers! How exciting is this?! She plans on distributing the pattern on their Blanket Days and also making up kits for sewing at home with the pattern. I am extremely honored and flattered that I am able to help such a great organization with their goal of giving blankets to “children in need of a hug”.
On a different note, I had a really crazy week last week – I finished up at the school and now I am a free woman (woo hoo!) and I have not been idle. I have finally been able to finish putting together the tops for my tumbling square quilts. All of the 324 blocks are now a twin and 4 baby quilts just waiting to be quilted.
Also, I am working on a new quilt that I haven’t decided if I am calling the “Vermont Farm Baby Quilt” or the “Farm Baby Quilt”. I am kinda leaning toward the first choice. It is the traditional Christian Cross block set on point in barn red, grass green and snowy white with a black and white polka dot sashing that reminds me of cows. Then there is this fun cow and horse fabric I am planning on setting the blocks into. Tomorrow I hope to get some shots posted for you to see, but I am just plain pooped tonight and it will have to wait for later.
I am all for assembly line sewing and maximizing my time usage, but when you start to do the math it can get a little daunting! For example, I am currently making the last 4 Tumbling Squares baby quilts and a twin quilt, too. This means with 36 blocks in each baby quilt and 180 blocks in the twin, there are a total of 324 blocks. Now, each block has 5 pieces to it for a grand total of 1620 separate square/rectangle units I had to cut out for these 5 quilts.
1620! Now you know why I hate math. If you think about it too hard, you will defeat yourself before you even get started!
And when you piece them in the wrong order, you just shrug your shoulders and decide to call this a new “version” rather than seam rip 324 blocks! 
The new version of this quilt will have horizontal stripes rather than vertical. And the blocks are mirror images of the original. Oops! That’s what you get for sewing until midnight.
Only 5 more days to go until I am done with my full time job and can focus on sewing. But who’s counting?!
Yesterday saw two major events – the last Turtle Tracks Quilt and the last (of the original version) of the Ladybug Quilt have been sold. The Ladybug Quilt was the first quilt I ever designed and has been one of the most eye catching and most commented upon quilts that I make. Turtle Tracks was very popular, selling the 5 I made in a matter of months. I wish more of the fabric was available!
The Ladybug Quilt will be making a return appearance soon, just with a different print. The original was a Hoffman print with clover and ladybugs I can’t get anymore. So we will be changing it to one I found with daisies and ladybugs. I hope to get on it soon but with all of the craft fairs, I am not sure when that will be!
The first of my five fall craft fairs are now done and I am glad to finally be starting on them. It takes such an enormous amount of work to prepare for them and then, once you actually get to the event, you realize the work is only just beginning! It is usually well worth it in the end, and I come away from an event really energized with new ideas from talking with fellow artists, crafters, and the wonderful people who come to buy our hard work.
But this event was a bit of a let down. Granted, I wasn’t expecting much since I did $0 in sales there last year, but I was hoping with my increased product line and new booth design I would get more business. Well, let’s just say I made my booth fee (if you don’t count the cost of the goods sold!).
So I think I will be on the look out for a new event to attend over Labor Day week-end next year and I hope that this is not a sign of the tough economy and the craft season ahead. My Internet sales have been awesome, so I have to believe that it is merely the event and beyond my control. Otherwise, it is going to be a loooong craft season! Maybe it is time to venture out of Vermont and into Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut? New Jersey?
As usual, when I make a quilt, I don’t just make one. I make many. This way, I get the quilt “out of my system”, I make all that I can, and when they are gone, they are gone. Period. And with the Vermont Farm Baby Quilt, I am making seven baby quilts at once.
So what I am doing is making 42 of the green Christian cross blocks and 14 of the red blocks. These will then be set on point with a fun black and white polka dot sashing. I can hardly wait to show you the farm print that these blocks are getting set into but I have no idea when I will be able to get to it. I have the Hildene Fall Craft Fair in Manchester, Vermont this week-end and next week-end is the Stowe Fall Craft Fair. Both are three day events – four if you count set up.
