Thursday 23 March 2023

Free Patterns, Farmer's Wife Quilt, Hockney's Pink Tree, Apple Blossoms

Above is David Hockney's Pink tree Study for Cherry BlossomHere at Art Finder you can read 5 interesting facts about David. Joyous and colourful are two words often used to describe his work. It reminded me of the pretty apple blossoms I found on forgotten and very elderly apple trees at the farm. May 24, 2016.
In the same file was this photo of my Farmer's Wife quilt. Brand new to quilting, I haven't any idea how or why I thought I could sew these blocks. I bit off more than I could chew for quite a few of them. Many were hand stitched because I knew so little about using the machine. And that's my crowded dining room/sewing room there.
Bright colours because I wanted a Springtime on the Farm kind of feel to it which I think it has now looking back. I still shake my head when I look at this...talk about start big!
Speaking of spring, LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's prompt this week was do we plant a vegetable garden or herbs or whatever. Though I've tried often, I've had little success with vegetable growing. The best I've achieved are some tomatoes and green beans. Meanwhile I fully intend to try again this summer. My issue here is all the critters getting into things even before they get a chance to sprout. I would have to figure out coverage for the plantings and I'm not sure I'm committed enough to fool with it all.  But I'm all in to try tomatoes and beans again. What about you?

I finished reading an ebook called The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold, the Lovely Bones author. I enjoyed it very much but I must warn you, there is a strange and horrific thing at the heart of the story. 

Just for fun I looked up apple blossom hand embroidery (you have to specify hand embroidery because there are so many machine embroidery sites these days) and found a page at Clipart Library and downloaded it. BTW, lots of other images to download at that site should you be interested.

Are you seeing Granny Square quilt blocks around the net?  I am. 
Here at the Robert Kaufman you can find the free PDF for a pattern.  Also looking springish in these colours.

At Gathered Quilting is the free pattern for this Chevron Table Runner by Laura Jane Taylor. Really neat how the chevrons are formed.


DMC offers a sweet series of free patterns to embroider called  Bouquets in Vases, like this one for my slow stitching friends.
And for my cross stitching buddies...Whispered By the Wind offers many lovely free designs to cross stitch. Like this one called Finnegan's Flowers...
Thank you, Mari, for sharing your talent with us so generously!
The days are bounding along and another week is almost done. I'm off grocery shopping and will pick up some take out food for supper as a treat. Hope all is well in your world.  

20 comments :

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

I did a Granny Square quilt quite a few years ago and it was a fun to quilt to make - I think I did a border with a zigzag and circles around it. A lot of quilters were making granny's at that time - I hadn't seen them lately but if you are I bet I just haven't seen them yet.

Libby in TN said...

WOW! What an ambitious way to start quilting. I found when I joined a modern guild a few years back that these young gals were doing things they didn't know they weren't supposed to be able to do! Where there's a will, there's a way. We have discovered grocery takeout for lunch when we travel; so much better for us than burgers and fries. I have recently considered getting "starter" veggies that are already cut but don't tell my husband.

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

I hadn't heard of David Hockney, but he sounds like an interesting person, and I enjoyed seeing his artwork! Your photo of the apple blossoms is beautiful, too. I love your farmer's wife quilt top - it looks bright and happy to me. If you enjoyed making it, that's the most important thing!

Brian's Home Blog said...

The cherry blossoms are so pretty and your Farmer's Wife quilt is stunning gorgeous!

Michele McLaughlin said...

Great free projects! I love LOVE your farmer's wife sampler! The colors are delicious and it really does look like springtime! Loved reading about David Hockney! Thank you Jocelyn!

Anonymous said...

I made a granny squares quilt years ago but I have never tackled the Farmer’s Wife quilt. That’s quite a challenge for a beginner! Gail at the Cozy Quilter

Cathy said...

Well that's weird...I started making FWS blocks back in 2011 and never did finish a full set. This month I decided to move what I had made into a top. I made the easiest blocks that did not need a template. I did not like that the author had one set of templates to a page and did not want to waste a bunch of paper printing the ones I needed so my project stalled. This year I just made an alternate block. I'm impressed you finished yours!

I made a Granny Square quilt years ago when it was popular. I guess what goes around comes around.

Jeanna said...

I love the colors in your Farmers Wife quilt. I've always wanted to make one, maybe one day. I've never had any success growing vegetables so I support the local farmers' markets.

Jackie said...

Going to be downloading those free cross stitch patterns and slow stitching ones as well. Perhaps some day I will catch up and be able to start some new things.

God Bless.

PS

If this comes up a second time delete one of them.

Linda said...

I love that apple blossom photo - how sweet to find an old tree with that kind of beauty on it. Your Farmer's Wife quilt is simply amazing, especially considering your newness to quilting. I have a Christmas Granny Square quilt started that has sat in my closet for 3 years. I think Granny Squares are so cute as a quilt. Have a wonderful weekend!

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

I think you totally nailed the spring vibe with that one - but heck fire what a learning curve!! thanks for all the pattern links!

Rosemary Dickinson said...

Your post reminds me that Spring is on the way! Beautiful colors and flowers! I think you did a great job on Farmer's Wife. I bet you learned a lot as you made each block. Love the freebies!

PaintedThread said...

My first quilt was a queen sized one that is still on the bed. It started with just one block. It kind of grew... ;-) I like your cheerful Farmer's Wife.

LA Paylor said...

oooo david hockney. I love that image and apple blossoms
your quilt top is amazing amount of effort!
Love, LeeAnna

Yvonne said...

Love the Farmer's wife. I can not find anything wrong with it. Did you finished it? Or is this what you have made so far?
The colors are so happy, it calls Spring, we all need a little of that right now don't we? I don't know how it is in Canada, but here in the Netherlands it is grey and rainy almost every day. We are longing for sunshine and temperatures rising.....

Karrin Hurd said...

When I first started quilting I jumped into big things too, but I had been sewing since I was 13. Thanks for the links!

Melisa- pinkernpunkinquilting said...

Farmer's Wife looks amazing!!!Such a happy looking quilt and thank you so much for the darling freebies. The Granny's Squares are calling my name. Happy Sunday

TerryKnott.blogspot.com said...

Your Farmer's Wife Sampler looks amazing. Good on you to keep making progress!

Magpie's Mumblings said...

If we had the benefit of hindsight most of us wouldn't have started with the quilts we did. I remember one of my first real 'quilts' was a celtic knot that was being run as a block of the month at our local quilt guild. Why I ever thought it was a good idea to attempt that I'll never know. Never did finish it . I'm impressed with your first effort - well done!

K Reeves said...

You aren’t afraid of anything!!!