A quick break this morning from Market pictures. Just a reminder that we have started handing out our first month of our Farmer's Wife block of the month kits. If you've been in the shops lately you've probably seen this stunning display (stunning only because I used my previous elementary teacher bulletin board skills and put in together - ha!).
Our program is a little different from some... for a couple of different reasons. First, we're offering both 6" blocks AND 4" blocks, AND we're paper piecing them (the only way to go with this little beauties!)
Here's a copy of the sheet we're handing out in the shops....
Country Sampler’s - The Farmer’s Wife BOM Informational Sheet
In 1922, a very popular magazine, The Farmer's Wife, held a contest asking one simple question: "Would you want your daughter to marry a farmer?" Author Laurie Hird, using 55 of these letters from the contest as inspiration, created 111 traditional 6" quilt blocks, putting them on point, to make a one of a kind quilt. The book, however, doesn’t give you instructions on how to piece the blocks together and uses the traditional template method.
In our opinion, that’s the hard way to make these little beauties. So we’ve put together a 12 month, block of the month program using paper piecing to make the cutting, sewing, and construction much easier and much more accurate. And don’t worry if you’ve never paper pieced before - we have several Farmer Wife Paper Piecing classes starting in June, that will give you all the basics to make the blocks in the book. Can’t do a class? We also stock a CD in the store called, Carol Doak Teaches You to Paper Piece. This 90 minute tape by the master of paper piecing, shows you every step, with lots of tips on supplies, tools, and tricks for success - just $19.95.
In addition, we offer you the ability to choose either 6” blocks or 4” blocks for your sampler blocks. The 6” size are those illustrated in the book, and with sashing and border, will make a queen size quilt - approximately 83” x 103”. Some of us have elected to do a smaller 4” size, which is similar to the “Dear Jane” blocks. The 4” block size will make a quilt approximately 55” x 69”. The size is up to you!
Here’s how the program will run at both Country Samplers...
Length: This is a 12 month BOM
Cost: There is a $20.00 start up fee when you sign up. Unlike most quilt shops, this fee is refunded, upon completion of the BOM, and will be credited towards your finishing kit. If you drop out of the program, this fee is nonreturnable. The cost each month will be:
4” blocks - $15.98/ per month
6” blocks - $16.98/ per month (bigger blocks - more vellum is used.)
What does that include? : On the first of each month, beginning June 1st, you can come in and pick up that month’s packet. Each packet will include the vellum sheets with the paper piecing layout printed for each block. (Most months you will be making 9 blocks, for three months you will be making 10.) Along with the vellum paper piecing sheets, you will have the directions on how to cut each piece of fabric (for each block) for accurate, no mistakes paper piecing. In addition, you will receive a “helper packet” of twelve - 5” x 21” pieces of fabric to get you started and to help vary the fabric selection you have at home. These packs will not have enough fabric to make all the blocks for that month - but it will give you a great start!
Coloration: We have elected to do this quilt in reproduction fabric. You will find a great deal of the fabric that is in your packets will be from Jo Morton’s lines. All other choices will have a definite repro feel to them. Each month’s packet will contain entirely different fabrics from the previous months.
What if I make a mistake on a block? If you need an additional piece of vellum for a block, they are $ .80 for each block. Be sure you tell us the size you are making and the name of the block.
Other Important Stuff: We do have a “Farmer’s Wife Backgrounds Roll” of fabric available. Because so many background fabrics are needed for the various blocks, we have put together this optional fabric roll, which includes twenty - 5” x 21” strips of fabric. Cost: $18.98
We suggest that you purchase both an “Add a Quarter Ruler” and “Add an Eighth Ruler” for paper piecing. The 6” length is sufficient. The Farmer's Wife book is required.
We can ship this monthly program. You will need to call either the West Center store (402-333-6131) or the Papillion store (402-537-9515) to sign up. We will take your credit card number and autoship your monthly packet on the 1st of each month. A $4.00 shipping charge will be charged to your credit card each month.
I'm going to try to put this program on the website later today or tonight. Now for some of you this would be easy, but trust me, it will probably take me hours to get it up and running; so this isn't something I want to tackle first thing in the morning, but I will try to get it up and running and on the shopping cart at wwww.countrysampleronline.com . If you can't wait... give one of the stores a call - we'd happy to get you started!
I can tell you these little blocks are addictive - kinda like eating potato chips! Once you've made one, you're gonna have to make another!
Don't know how to paper piece??? Think it's too hard??? We've got classes this summer, plus we've got a great CD by Carol Doak that will teach you EVERY thing you'll need to know to get you started!! So, come play with us, it's fun!
I've been making this quilt (or the blocks, anyway) by cutting out the templates, tracing them onto the fabric, and cutting them out. This is so time consuming!!!! Several people have told me that you can paper piece these blocks (which would be far easier for me), but I would need to buy EQ7. I've heard it is quite expensive. Still, it might be worth the investment, before I get burnt out with tracing those templates.
Posted by: Mary | 02/26/2011 at 06:18 PM
Mary,
You dont need to buy EQ7 (and learn how to use it - another big problem), with our block of the month program weve done all the work for you! If youre interested, let me know and I can email you a doc. with all the details.
Deb Cizek
Country Sampler - Omaha, NE
www.countrysampleronline.com
Posted by: Deb Cizek | 03/02/2011 at 08:05 AM
Hello can you tell me if you still have this program bom? I would like to do the 6 inch blocks with paper piecing. Thanks, Pam
Posted by: Pam | 06/10/2011 at 04:19 AM
Hi there! I just came across your blog and I had a question for you. Do you sell the papers for just the 4 inch paper pieced blocks? I just got my book and am starting to make this quilt but I would really like to make a smaller sampler with 4 inch sized blocks. I don't need fabric, as I have a stash of all kinds of scraps, but I would really love to purchase accurate 4 inch paper pieced papers for 4 inch blocks... is that possible? Thanks so much for answering my question! Bari
Posted by: Bari Jo | 09/06/2011 at 12:28 PM