What a fun weekend!

It's been a busy week and all I could think about was hurry up and get here Saturday! I made plans with one of my best quilting buddies to meet up and go on a shop hop. We all need more fabric...don't we? We made it to three shops (why do they have to be so far apart?) we stopped here, here and last stop was here! I actually had a list of fabrics I needed for various projects, I did pretty good. I didn't buy too much that wasn't on my list. I was completely taken with the patterns in the book I bought, seriously there is milk cans and barns! I married a farmers son, need I say more, I cannot wait to start that project!

All of my treasures from Saturday's shop hop.

 I was on a mission to get fabrics for quilts I plan on working on during the retreat I will be going to in November (with my same quilting buddy who loves to go shopping too!) I have all my fabrics now and the retreat will be here before I know it. One thing we are asked to do is make blocks for a quilt that is auctioned off at a fundraiser that supports the camp that hosts the retreats. They are supposed to be made in batiks in colors found in nature. I found some Bali Snaps that I fell in love with, there is one that has a wood grain pattern, perfect!

I also caught up on my quilt along blocks. This week there were three blocks to make, Susannah, Katherine and Old Maid. All of the blocks had triangles in them, I do not have the plastic templates, I have just been using the print outs from the book and the corners are already trimmed. I have tried both ways and discovered that by trimming those points it really makes a difference.

I found the Marti Michell corner trimmer on my shop hop this weekend and I love it! Most of my blocks have perfect points! I think I may start to invest in the template sets as well now.

I am making the blocks in two different themes, 1930's and Downton Abbey fabrics. I have an abundance of 1930's fabric and reproduction fabrics so for those blocks I am not too worried. But I was not as convinced that my second theme will have enough variation, I picked up a couple of extra fat quarters and may find a few more to round it out. That being said I really love the color and fabric combos I am putting together. At some point I plan to put each set up on the design wall and take a look to make sure I like them all together.

Cutest little bear like critters on the 1930's block!

 




My plan is that whatever I pick is it, I am not ripping out seams, I really dislike doing that, I mean who doesn't? I've had a few seams that just would not cooperate..uhem, cough...belle..cough. I am still dreading those y-seams on future blocks!


Well that was my quilting week in a few pictures. How was yours, I would love to hear what everyone is working on. I've finally figured out how to add all the social media buttons! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook and Flickr. If you use Bloglovin' I have added that as well.

The kids are in bed, laundry is going, my homework is done and I should really work on picking up the house a bit, but Halloween is coming up really quickly. So I'm off to work on costumes for the farmers son and myself, plus I am making some simple patches (hopefully they will be unBEARably cute, hint hint) for my coworkers. We try to dress up each year, nothing complicated, just having a little fun! Housework can wait, got to get my craft on!

Stay crafty!
-Amanda

Farmers Wife 1930's Quilt along and a little card making

Well it's been a busy week! Between College classes, my boy's school activities and work I am surprised I got my blocks done this week. I may have did a little sewing instead of working on a paper that is due next week. 

I've been sewing for quite a few years, but y-seams are not one of my strong sewing skills to say the least. I really struggled with one of the blocks...Belle. I rotary cut the first one which is in the 1930's fabrics, I was not pleased with the results, but I really hate ripping out seams so I am going to leave it and hope the quilting will help this one look okay in the end. Since I am doing two of each block I had one more chance to make it right. I used one of the tutorials (Ms Midge) for paper piecing this block and boy what a difference it made you can find the Tutorial I used here. I was very pleased with my second attempt.

The second block was a beauty named Coral, I could make these blocks all day long. I love the little square of fabric that is off center. I will be linking up over at Gnome Angel who is hosting this quilt along, come join in the fun!

I mentioned above that I had a busy weekend, I also did a little bit of playing with paper. Had to make a couple of gifts and a card for a baby shower (forgot to take pics!) I also made a card for my nephew for this confirmation. For being 16 years old, he was pretty sweet and said he really liked how the card turned out, such a great kid. I do have to agree though I love the colors.

Thanks for stopping by and check out my new features I finally figured our how to add. You can now follow me on Instagram and Flickr. Hopefully I will get Facebook set up soon!

Make some time to get creative!

-Amanda

Farmer's Wife 1930's Sew Along

I am always working on one project or another, but recently I came across a sew along that I just had to participate in. The Farmer's Wife 1930's sew along hosted by Angie of Gnome Angel, it is taking place over the next year, sewing two blocks a week. If you are interested in joining we just finished week two so there is plenty of time to join and catch up! Follow the link to find all of the information you need to join up.  Farmers Wife 1930s Sampler

My 1930's fabric stash

So far we have completed 5 blocks and they are turning out fantastic. I can not wait to make next weeks blocks.

Downton Fabrics and Modern Backgrounds Paper

Because it is only two blocks per week I decided to be ambitious and make two of each block in different colorways/themes. My first is in 1930's fabrics from my fabric stash, using vintage fabric and new reproduction fabrics.

The second set is in fabrics from some of the various Downton Abbey fabrics from Andover  mixed with Modern Backgrounds Paper by Moda.

 So far doing good keeping up, I think it takes longer to pick out which fabrics I am going to use rather then the actual sewing! I have rotary cut and machine pieced all of the blocks so far except for 20 Caroline. Those ones I paper pieced, I wanted to try to get perfect points. They are not perfect, but I am quite pleased with them. Now to go work on some other projects that are just begging to be finished.

Happy Quilting!
-Amanda

Welcome, a little bit of my story

Hi everyone, first I would like to thank you for giving my page a look. Let me introduce myself. I'm Amanda...aka Amanda Panda Bear...aka Bear...aka...Quilting Panda...aka Mom...aka the crafty one. Maybe you're like me, when a friend or co-worker needs something made or needs an idea, they know where to go! I have a passion for all things artsy and crafty. I particularly love to sew, especially quilting.

I was a very lucky little girl growing up, my grandmother was a seamstress for many years and in her retirement became known as the Barbie Doll Grandma at the local craft show circuit. I still have and treasure many of the outfits she made for my dolls. She was always happy to teach me how to work the machine...she used an old Singer Treadle Machine...one of my most prized treasures in my home now.

My grandma Edith with her trusty Singer Treadle machine.

I remember being about 5 years old and sitting on her lap, cutting, pinning and learning to use that machine. Sadly, she passed away in 2001, but the memories and skills she passed on to me have not been forgotten, but are in my life everyday. I am working on passing those skills down to my own two little boys. You might just see a few of their projects featured here in the future...

That's me fixing a button on a dress.

It all started with that first sewing lesson so long ago. I made my first quilt when I was 16, I had no idea what I was doing and didn't want to ask for help so I just read a few books and dove in feet first. That first quilt was sewn on that old treadle and given to my boyfriend at the time (now my husband) sister, and she still has it to this day. I can't believe it has stayed together all these years, must be about 16 years old now! I was hooked and now I have a sewing room filled to the brim with fabric, trims, notions, stamps, papers, paints and threads to make enough projects and not have to go to the fabric or craft shop, at least that's what my husband tells me. He's only joking, well most of the time.

I can't wait to get to know everyone and share my creative journey with you. I do ask for your patience, give me a sewing machine and I can conquer the world (that might be a bit overstated!) but I am just learning all of the intricacies of this amazing blogging world. This will be a learning curve for sure so bear with me while I learn all these new tricks. Thanks for your follow and Happy Creating!

-Amanda