Fat Quarterly Issue 6 is out!

And I'm in it! Yay!

I was so happy to be asked to contribute to the Designer's Challenge in the latest issue of Fat Quarterly. It was a Churn Block challenge, and I so enjoyed coming up with variations on the block (which I've also heard referred to as the Monkey Wrench, thus my monkey theme).

I turned my blocks into a soft baby book. More of my step-by-step process can be found in FQ issue 6 in the Designer Challenge, starting on page 39. And, as always, the rest of the issue is filled with wonderful project ideas and inspiration. I really enjoy this sewing e-zine.

If I inspire you to make a soft baby book like mine, I'd love to see it! You can share in the Fat Quarterly Flickr pool and in my Wendymoon Designs Flickr pool. Happy sewing!

Farmer's Wives and Tough Times

 

In the letters included in The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt book, those farmers' wives are all so... plucky! They are positive about all the joys of being on the farm, working hard and enjoying nature and family. But I know they also had tough times. Times when the rain didn't come or when too much rain came or when money was tight or when they were tired. But it seems they pressed on and kept cheerful. I'm trying to be like those farmers' wives. Because it was a tough week for me with these blocks.

The process was not so fun with the sewing this time. I kept having issues with my bobbin thread getting tangled up. I'd stop and sort it out only to have it happen again. And again. I took everything apart, made sure things were clean, and had a crazy time trying to make it stop! I've been worried that my old machine is wearing out and just not working like it used to. I should probably take it in just for a checkup (tuneup, whatever you call it for your sewing machine). 

Anyway, I think I finally figured out my problem. It seems that the little replacement bobbins I bought for extras are just a teeny tiny bit too loose, making things skip and jump and generally messing me up. Grr.

 

Overall I'm happy with how my blocks came out, I just wish I had enjoyed making them more. I'm planning on breaking into templates with my next batch. So hopefully next week will be all smooth sailing!

Here's all my blocks together so far!