Posted on by agilejack

That’s an Even Forty — Wensleydale Blocks

I knew it was going to be quite a week at work. And I was right. My revenue and expense budgets are due on Friday. I’m close to having them done, but haven’t checked them off my list quite yet. I’ll certainly be ready for the weekend.

I have no idea what I did on Monday night. I think I worked late and then fell into a pile on the sofa. Last night I went and played pickleball. I had a great time. My favorite thing from the night was when I was playing with three guys. I was all over the place making tough plays and returning hard shots. I heard one of the guys on the other side of the net say under his breath: “She’s really athletic.” It made my day! I can’t remember the last time someone thought I was athletic! I’ve been thinking about it all day!

I was able to step away from my desk late this afternoon to get the dogs out for a quick walk before my last meeting of the day. We got a three mile walk in after dinner. It was so nice out! We’ve been having some really rainy days. Today we had rain, sun, ice balls, more rain, sun and rain at the same time. But our walk tonight was glorious!

Even with that, it still feels like winter. I’m really ready for some spring weather. But I love having the light in the evenings. It’s nice to be able to have our evening walk in daylight.

When we got home I thought I’d hit my sewing room and sew up the last three block kits I had made for my Wensleydale quilt. I timed it the other night and it takes me about a half hour to make one block. That’s way too long! It’s a good thing I like paper piecing!

Here’s the three blocks I got done tonight.

That makes a total of 40 blocks made. And 20 more needed to make it sixty in total.

I counted the paper templates I have left in the first book I bought and there are 20. I guess they gave me one extra.

Those 40 blocks have completely filled my portable design wall. So that means I’m going to need to get my starburst jumble quilt off my roll-up design wall so I can move these blocks. I think I’ll make the backing before I fold it up.

For the twenty blocks I have left, I want to include more dark indigo batiks. I feel like this really needs some darker fabrics and I have plenty dark indigo batiks on hand. Here’s what I’ll probably use next.

I might rethink the one with the lighter leaves. I like the color it would bring to this quilt top, but I’m afraid it will read lighter than I want. I’ll noodle on it for a few days.

I also need some lighter batiks in this quilt top. I’ve ordered a few pieces online. I have no idea when they’re going to get here. Here’s the tone and value I need more of.

I’ll also probably stop at a local quilt store when I’m up in Vancouver this weekend. they have a nice selection of batiks and might have just what I need.

Today is April 12. I’ve had an odd feeling about this date all day today. Then tonight it hit me. April 12 is the birthday of the first dog I owned as an adult. Billie was born on April 12, 1998… 25 years ago today.

She was an Australian Shepherd and I was definitely HER person. Here’s a video I made after I lost her in 2011. (you’ll have to click on that link. for some reason it won’t let me embed the video in this blog post).

This is one of my favorite photos of her. A friend took it once while we were sheep herding. She had to wear a muzzle because she was a little rough with the sheep.

She had a short lived sheep herding career.

A little more spring from the neighborhood. I saw this gorgeous patch of heather on our short afternoon walk today.

On our afternoon walk yesterday we had some glorious sun!

I love all the gorgeous Douglas fir trees in my neighborhood! There are so many of them.

I also noticed this moss covered rail fence on our walk. I thought it looked so cool.

This time of year here can be really beautiful.

Now if spring would just get serious…

51 Replies to “That’s an Even Forty — Wensleydale Blocks”

  1. I can just imagine how chuffed you were overhearing the guy saying you were athletic! Well done, you!
    I love your Wensleydale blocks, gorgeous batiks and is coming together fast.
    I made another Frankenbag similar to my first using up more bits leftover from my friend’s jacket. I messed up the size of the lining so it’s way too small and I’ll need to start again with different fabric. Very annoyed with myself. As it was just too disheartening to start again with that, l sorted some of my vast stash of scraps and ironed the lot ready to crumb piece. I reckon I can make at last 20 bags!

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    1. Hahaha! You sound like me! I wish I’d kept better track of how many of those bags I’ve made. But it must be getting close to 80! That’s a lot of bags Maybe you can beat me!

      Anne

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  4. What a wonderful video! I kept being drawn back to Billie’s beautiful blue eyes. Seems like you had a successful day … work budget about ready to be checked off, an even 40 Wensleydale blocks completed, and a great comment about your athleticism – lots of things to put a smile on your face.

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  5. Howdy from Texas where it is already getting toohot! We are always praying for rain, even have signs in our yard to “Pray for Rain”. I stumbled across your blog on Pinterest during one of my many insomnia episodes. I am loving this post regards pickleball. I also played tonight but no comments regards how athletic I was because I flat out fell while diving for a ball. My ego was hurt more than my elbow. I am also a quilter and am loving your Wensleydale blocks. I have never paper pieced but am now wanting to learn after looking at your beautiful work. Thanks for the inspiration, and the humor.

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    1. It’s amazing to me how many people are playing pickleball. I have fallen a few times, but haven’t intentionally dived for a ball. Those days are in my past!!! But I am enjoying seeing myself get better and better. I love the process of learning something new!

      You should give paper piecing a try. If you do want to try, see if you can find a local class. it’s very helpful!

      Thanks for reading!

      Anne

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  6. The quilt is looking great! You are near the end…loved the video of Billie. We are having summer this week in Wisconsin- 85 yesterday and today will be in the 80’s again. It’s too hot too soon!! At least it will cool down to normal temps on Sunday!
    Keep on being athletic!!!

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    1. I am getting close to having all these blocks done. I’m glad it’s bone relatively quickly. these blocks do take time to make.

      I’d like to have a month of sunny and 55 degrees. That would be perfect!

      Anne

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  7. Oh the beautiful video of Billie brought me to tears, what a tribute to man’s best friend. I wish every dog could have the wonderful life she did!

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  8. What a great time you have been having ! Winter is sure hanging on we woke to a dusting of snow . Your new quilt is sure coming along beautiful colors . I did a paper piecing class at the local quilt store . The end result is very exact in sizing but it does take more time than cutting and piecing , what fun though

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    1. Spring is really taking it’s time here. We’re ahead of a lot of places, but we’re really far behind previous years here. I’m really ready for some sun. it’s been a long and dreary winter.

      Paper piecing does take a lot of time but I love the precision I get. I’d NEVER be able to get that precision with traditional piecing.

      Anne

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  9. The video of Billie was beautiful. Captured her well. When you hit the courts and heard that comment I bet it energized you. What a super busy week you’ve had. Someone once made a comment to me that was very insightful, similar to this. It has motivated me for 30+ years. You just never know what a small comment can do for someone’s ego. You’ll float on this one for a long time!
    Quilt is looking gorgeous.

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    1. I’m trying to get better at pickleball. so to hear someone that thinks I’m playing well or am competitive… that’s like music to my ears! I really love learning something new and seeing myself improve. I can really feel it. Much more competitive and well fought games the last few weeks.

      Anne

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  11. Thanks for all the lovely pics of emerging flowers, budding trees and other evidence that spring has arrived! I live in Mpls, Minnesota and we’ve had a record amount of snowfall – it’s been a long winter! Yesterday it reached 86 degrees which is unusually warm for this time of year, and most yards are now finally free of snow. Hoping to see hyacinths, daffodils and tulips soon. I appreciate that in addition to posting pics of your beautiful quilt work, you also include images of your dogs and nature. It helps us to know the artist/human being behind the artwork😊

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    1. It’s nice to share our spring. While it feels early for some, it’s really taking it’s time getting going here. I’m really needing some sun and am hoping it will show up soon. At least for a few days. it’s even very dreary. the highest temp we’ve had this spring was around 65 degrees. it didn’t last long.

      Thanks for reading!

      Anne

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  13. Your quilt is beautiful! I also love batiks and Kaffe fabric together. I don’t think paper piecing is my thing but one of these days…. I also think dogs are wonderful beings to be around and your walks look luscious with green. The moss covered fence reminded me of a picture my Mom painted awhile ago

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    1. I believe you can purchase the templates to cut fabrics so you can make these blocks with traditional piecing. It would take a long time to cut all the fabric! But you should try paper piecing some time. I really like doing it. this is the first full size quilt I’ve made with this method. I feel like it’s a good accomplishment for me.

      Anne

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  14. I’ve really enjoyed how these last blocks are coming together. Maybe it’s because I am working in blues now, to –5 of them! Don’t ask me why!!! And loving your dog walks! We are down to only 1 dog from 4. Funny, when kids go off to college they don’t take them with all their other stuff…

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    1. Yeah. Dogs and college don’t mix! I left a dog at home when I went to college. Luckily my dad loved that dog. So I knew he wasn’t going to be neglected and unloved.

      Anne

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  15. That photo of the boys headed into the evening sun is amazing! The clouds, the sun, everything is perfect! Thanks for including us in your walk!

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    1. I’m struck by my physical surrounding as I walk. I came around a curve in the trail and that view came into view. it was so pretty! I just had to take a photo.

      Thanks for coming along!

      Anne

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  17. Hi Anne, Thanks for posting the video about Billie. She was a beauty and reminds me a lot of my blue merle that I rescued from a neighbor. She was mistreated emotionally and had a lot of fear and the woman was going to put her down as a fear biter. I rescued her and got her out in the world so that she was less fearful. Her whole life though she would head for the bushes when somebody else would approach her on the trail because she was so afraid. She was an amazing athlete and just flew through the air after a frisbee or a ball. A wonderful dog and the second of four Aussies I’ve had.

    She looked a bit like yours but had two blue eyes and a completely symmetrical markings. I’ve never seen more beautiful Aussie. Aren’t they just the greatest?

    Thank you for the memories.

    Marjorie Elliott

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    1. I still have a soft spot for blue merle dogs. Billie was really striking. she had the split markings, but all of her pigment was black (eye lids, nose, lips). Here eyes were blue on the bottom but brown on the top… so they looked blue most of the time.

      She definitely has left a hole in my heart.

      Anne

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  18. I love all the pictures you posted. 1. Yes, that’s quite a compliment that you are very athletic. 2. I love the batiks and blocks. 3. Moss growing, we sure don’t get that. 4. I have rescue dogs and don’t even know what year they are born, much less the day. 5. We remember our loved pets.

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    1. The minute it starts raining her in the fall the moss goes crazy! In no time all the rocks and trees are covered with the green carpet. it’s really pretty and definitely a fain forest feature.

      I can remember all my dogs birthdays! It does help that most of them are spaced out five years! In dog training, it’s common to get a new dog every five years so you always have a dog ready for competition.

      Anne

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  19. Anne, Your Wensleydale 40 are stunning. Spring walk photos shared are encouraging. Love the pickle ball comment! …& ohhh you got me with sweet Billie tribute ❤
    ‘‘‘ ardine

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    1. thanks! I’m not finding spring here very encouraging. It’s very slow at getting going full steam! I’m really craving some sun. But there is not much in sight.

      Bilie was a great dog. She’s been gone more than ten years and I still think about her often. Bender reminds me a little of her.

      Anne

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  22. Hi Anne –

    Don’t laugh! I’m grateful to you for tackling a project that I finally don’t aspire to make – the Wensleydale block quilt. My quilt room is a mess – littered with project ideas, disorganized batches of fabric, pictures and other inspiration from your blog. I do a lot of dreaming but still haven’t gotten started quilting. I think I’m going to start with a quilt using aboriginal fabrics – that seems doable with my current crazy situation – I LOVE those fabrics and have been slowly collecting them. As you can probably guess, I have no trouble buying fabric. I also want to try a sixteen patch using your methods. I also have a pattern for something called The Libby Quilt which I think you and your friend were going to make using Australian Aboriginal fabrics. My mind seems to be going a mile a minute but the body isn’t keeping up so I’m grateful for all of this relaxing time while you work on the Wensleydale blocks. I’m very grateful for your blog and the pleasure it has given me. Love hearing about your dogs, your weather (we still have tons of snow in Wyoming), your pickle ball, your recipes. Keep up the good work! You are an inspiration – and to think that you have a job too!

    Carolyn

    >

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    2. haha! I’m glad you’re able to restrain yourself and say no to a new project! Sounds like you’re like me.. too many ideas and not enough time!!!

      Did I tell you that my parents were both from Wyoming? My dad’s family lost their farm in Nebraska in the dustbowl and homesteaded near Riverton. My mom’s parents immigrated from northern Italy and ended up in Hudson, of all places! I spent a lot of time there when I was a kid.

      thanks for reading! I hope you land on a project to dig in on soon!!! Thanks for reading!

      Anne

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  23. I purchased the Jen Kingwell Quilt Recipes book and foundation papers and now trying to come up with a fabric scheme. It keeps my mind occupied ! Jen has a very good video about selecting scrap fabrics, not getting too uptight about the process.Tory photos are lovely, especially the fence with the mosses.

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  24. What a wonderful posting! I know the feeling when someone says something positive and you think about it all day… lol… you’re also very fortunate in the fact you’ve created a life that’s full, exciting and fun (except for the work part😞…ha)… I know people who are bored all the time and have no imagination and just sit around all day. Ugh… so not me either..gotta have something happening all the time.. or at least have plans for new things. I might have mentioned my son and his wife live in Beaverton and I cannot see how they stand ALL that rain.. I live in the Los Angeles area and we get lots of sunshine so I assume it’s just getting used to it. Anyway, just wanted to write saying thanks for your lovely postings! You have a writers knack😀

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    1. I definitely don’t have the issue of being bored all the time! I get bored if I do the same thing over and over. I like new things… doing new things, learning new things, etc… Keeps life interesting.

      The rain here can be pretty oppressive. When I moved here they told me that the trade off was the wonderful summers. Unfortunately, they are short! It rains from October through May or June most years. it can be a lot! this year has been a slog. It still feels like winter.

      Thanks for reading!

      Anne

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  25. Hello Ann, I am not sure this is appropriate to ask but if not, hopefully you can direct me elsewhere.  I have bought the tablets of Jen’s Wensleydale block papers to use and watched how it is done.  My question is how big do I cut the fabrics in the first place?  I see you have some measurements on your photos above, are they the sizes you cut those two pieces before sewing them down?  How big is the whole block before stitching them all together?  I won’t be starting anytime soon as I need to gather some more fabric, oh which brings another question to mind.  You always mention your local quilt shop where you seem to find so much fabric.  Do you mind sharing their name?  I wish I were your neighbor but you should be glad I am not, lol!  I might be intrusive Happy piecing and looking forward to anything you can share,Pam McGill

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    1. I figured out how to cut my pieces by digging in and making a few blocks. I’m reluctant to share my measurements because I don’t really have measurements or a method I could describe.

      someone suggested tracing the block onto freezer paper, cutting out the pieces and fusing them to several layers of fabric. Then cut them out with a full half inch of favbric all the way around the piece.

      This blog post (not my blog) has a detailed explanation of how she cut her pieces for these templates:https://sisterofthedivide.blogspot.com/2022/07/tips-when-making-wensleydale-quilt.html

      The blocks are around 8.5 x 11, but not exactly that size. I don’t know the exact size.

      My favorite local quilt store is called Pioneer Quilts in Milwaukie, Oregon. You can find it with a Google search.

      God luck!

      Anne

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