Farm Love Friday 3.20.15

HELLO SPRING!! We have sorely missed you! I had to go out of town for a few days this past week and I could not believe the difference those few days made in the signs of Spring! The jonquils,forsynthias,peach blossoms,bridal wreath and violas blooming so prettily! Robins singing and building their nests! Even kitten rolling around trying to scratch off her winter fur! The grass greening up around an old abandoned farmhouse on a neighboring farm makes it look not so forlorn.
  Next week I will be celebrating the one year anniversary of my shop Featherweight Quilt Company! It started with the Patchwork of the Crosses block pictured above! It is so hard to believe that a year has come about! Be sure to check my company facebook page next week for a giveaway celebration!
 Happy Spring yall!
xo jan

Farm Love Friday 3/13/15

Spring is so close! Only 7 more days! I think the animals are as excited as I am. Lucy and Lily really enjoyed the warm and sunny day we had last Sunday. Although the mud is still everywhere, there are less runny noses around here. I can't seem to keep the fiesty heifer at the barn from laying in the warm, dry hay INSIDE the hay ring. The silver maple is already budding and the daffodils are rapidly growing. Someone asked for a close up of the little black bull calf. I love the little heart on his forehead. And a pair of gray doves are already looking at last years nest in the big pine. Goodbye Snow! I am not ashamed to say I am glad to see you go!Although you did give me some time to work on Patchwork of the Crosses for an Easter runner and a new block for my ETSY shop!
I also want to say a great big welcome to all my new followers! I am so happy to have yall plowing along with me!
Happy Stitching ya'll!
 I hope better weather is in your forecast too! Thank you for stopping by!
xo jan

Farm Love Friday 3/6/15

" Oh,  Mr.Winter, although I love you and your cold beauty, you have outstayed your welcome!
 Your bleak skies, dreary rain and deep, mud laden paths reach out to sap all my strength. 
The cattle straggle along trying to keep their babies clean and away from your grasp.
 Take heed Sir.
Promises of Spring are all around.
She will cast you out
And You shall not prevail!"
jan manley
xo

A Chubby little finish!! Woohoo!!

Woohoo! I love this little mini, especially in the snow nestled against my daffodils. It just screams "SPRING IS ALMOST HERE ! "
   I decided to use a gray pindot for the sashing and binding. And since I was having tension issues with yet another sewing machine, I took the plunge and tried some big stitch quilting! And guess what? I LOVE hand quilting!

 I really like the texture that it gives to the little quilt. And it was so much fun. I used Aurifil12wt Variegated# 4668 for the hand quilting and an Aurifil 50wt dark gray for the binding. I REALLY like the variegated thread. I didn't mark the quilt. I just tried to keep approx 1/4" away.  And hopefully my stitches will get a little more even with practice.

I wanted to brighten up all that gray sashing with a little border print hidden away in my stash just waiting for the perfect project to use it on. I LOVE these little pots of flowers!

I think they add just the right touch. Oh, I wish I had some Aurifloss in these bright and happy colors to outline the flowers!~  I added a strip to the top and bottom.

 And a bright and pretty print from Rashida Coleman Hale for the backing and the hanging sleeve.

This Chubby Churn Dash was so fun to make! I ventured a little outside of my comfort zone with all the bright prints but I am so glad that I did!

If you would like to make your very own Aurifil Mini of the Month Chubby Churn Dash you can find the pattern here! And be sure to enter your mini into the Aurifil Flickr Group for your chance to win a 12 Large Spools Box of beautiful Aurifil thread!

      This was so fun, I think I want to go back and do some more big stitching in the sashings and borders!
Happy Stitching yall!
   Linking up with Kathy for Slow Stitching Sunday! Be sure to pop by and see all the other beautiful projects being shared!
Thank you so much for stopping by!
xo jan