Posted on by agilejack

Wensleydale Blocks… Three Down, Seven to Go

It was sort of a perfect day here in Portland. Sunny and only a little over 80 degrees. So we started our evening walk a little earlier tonight.

Once we got home I hit my sewing room to dig in on a few Wensleydale blocks. And I got three done. That means I only have seven more to go! Here’s the three I made tonight. I’m posting large photos because I just love looking at them!

It’s kind of hard to believe that I only have seven more blocks to make to hit the magic number — 60!

Here’s all three blocks together.

Over the last couple weeks I’ve been streaming videos from Kate at The Last Homely House on YouTube while I sew. Tonight I watched a video about indigo dying. It’s a great thing to have on as I sew. One of my blog readers (sorry, can’t remember who it was) recommended Kate’s videos to me about a year ago. You should check her out.

Once this quilt top is done I’m going to have a lot of indigo batiks left over. I have an idea of a quilt to make that will use up some of them. I would combine them, again, with KFC scraps but in a different way.

I’d still probably have a lot of indigo batiks left over!

Before I wrapped up tonight I packaged up my recently finished bindings with their backings and quilt tops.

I’ll be meeting with the long armer who is trading some of my finished quilt tops for quilting services this weekend. It feels like it’s taken me forever to get to this point! As a reminder, here’s the six quilts I’m going to have her quilt.

Isn’t it funny that there’s so much red in there.

Jefe will be picked up tomorrow. He has been a really easy and well mannered houseguest. It’s been fun having a little dog sleeping on my lap for a few days.

Bender will be sad to see Jefe leave and take his little bed with him.

And last thing tonight, my snowball tree is in all its glory right now.

The blooms are huge!

Here’s the same bush when I bought my property in 2010. It was under some large Douglas fir trees on the property next door that were removed about 7 hears ago to build a big house.

You can see the Doug firs on the other side of the fence. That snowball bush was the only thing happy to see those trees cut down. Amazing what some sun will do for a plant!

You also see in that photo my Parson Russell terriers Forrest and Skeeter.

I planted four Doug firs on my side of the fence after those trees were removed. They’re over 20 feel tall now!

48 Replies to “Wensleydale Blocks… Three Down, Seven to Go”

  1. Looks like you’ve had good weather in your last 2 posts. Beautiful sunsets and nice evening walks with the boys. Good weather always makes me more productive, even if it’s not in the sewing room. Spent all day working in the yard on a lasagna bed and it is still not finished.

    Lots of red in that set of quilts. I guess you could say you’ve had a red phase. lol. Interesting to trade services with your LAQ. Mine makes her own quilt tops. She’s pretty amazing. I am lucky to have found her.

    The Wensleydale Blocks are looking great. I love the new light ones and look forward to seeing them in the mix. I love the indigo batiks! I love batiks period. The colors, the feel…they play well with others so naturally no wonder the go so well with KFC.

    I think your snowball tree is a viburnum? Looks great, the sun does wonders for most any plant.

    Jefe is a very cute gent. Bender will just have to find a new place to curl up, poor boy.😉

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    1. You were working in teh garden on a LASAGNA bed? What the heck is a lasagna bed?

      I’m really lucky to have this opportunity to trade quilt tops for quilting! Maybe it can be an ongoing thing. We’ll see.

      I love batiks too. I feel like it’s getting close to time to make another batik quilt!

      Anne

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  2. Love the Wensleydale blocks, can’t wait to see it finished!. I follow Kate as well, she is amazing and such a joy to watch her process with different crafts.

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  3. Your Wensleydale quilt blocks look wonderful and the quilt will be fabulous!

    I adore your incredible Snowball Viburnum! It reminds me of where I lived as a child in a stone convict built cottage in Sydney, Australia. We had a snowball bush just like yours beside the verandah. I now live in tropical Brisbane and it’s too hot for them up here unfortunately.

    I’m so pleased I came across your blog. I was searching for info to make up a class on foundation paper piecing for my small quilt group and you featured somewhere! It gives me great pleasure to read of your comings and goings, especially quilting, your border collies (we had one of them too) and your gardens and flowers. Keep it up, it’s always a great read.

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    1. the snowball tree does seem old fashioned. I remember several of them from my childhood. I’m guessing mine is from around 1967 when my house was built.

      I’m glad you found us! And thanks for reading!

      Anne

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  4. I can’t wait to see your Wensleydale blocks put together. I have not enjoyed my very basic exploration of paper piecing but seeing your blocks might make me try again. I would have a hard time deciding which quilts to give the long-armer. All of your quilts are so beautiful. I too watch Kate at the Last Homely House. Her Christmas boxes look incredible. Your Portland weather is even warmer than Virginia this Spring! Thank you for sharing your life and quilting with us! It is a gift when your emails come in!

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    1. It’s definitely a crazy spring here. Really late for us.

      I’m really lucky that I have a friend who is a very accomplished paper piecer. she hosted me at her place on a weekend several years ago and taught me so many things that continue to serve me in paper piecing. I love it!

      Thanks for reading!

      Anne

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  5. Love your work and can automatically pick yours out on Pinterest now. Also love the updates on bender and Rico. The new post with the quilt tops was mind boggling to me as a new quilter because I am so slow and make a bunch of goofs. Could you tell me the name of the pattern for the first quilt in the post with all the red . I too am a fan of Kate and have gotten several people on to her. Look forward to your posts and the progress for each quilt. Have a good day.

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    1. I’m going to show all those quilts with their pattern names and links if available. The one you’re talking about is from one of Kaffe’s books but I can’t remember which one or what he quilt is called. it’s a variation and not an exact version of the pattern. I’ll cover that when I post it.

      Thanks for reading!

      Anne

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  7. Wow great quilts, interesting how much red , your garden is so beautiful lots of different blooms . We’ve been having dry lighting storms here in northern Utah it has been beautiful. The trees are just now starting to leaf and the tulips are blooming spring is here . The seasonal changes are happening

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  8. Beautiful quilts. I would have to keep the top and bottom ones on the right. Your quilts are always so beautiful. You have such an amazing stash of fabrics. Would be like living in a candy store.

    Love your yard and the snowball bush.

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  9. Love your blue batiks and thank you for the recommendation I went on to The last homely house and was pleased to find she is in Northumberland England and on a farm as I am also from a farming background and was until 10 years ago on an organic farm in Wales with sheep, cattle, ponies, alpacas, hens, ducks and geese. I now have more time to enjoy being creative with lots of different crafts as well as painting and patchwork and quilting. So I’m going to enjoy watching her videos. Thank you for your emails too I really enjoy them xxx

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  10. I had to laugh when u said Bender will be sad to see Jefe leave and take his bed with him. I thought that was funny. I had a Rotti/Basenji mix that had a small round bed where she could curl in. She lives to be 16 years old. I still had her bed out after her passing so my 10 year old Rotti still thinks she can curl up on it when she’s in the house. My Rotti’s have mostly been large females(95+ lbs) and Rottweilers don’t ‘curl’ like most of the smaller dogs. So I found it funny that your BC’s would find Jefe’s bed inviting.
    Your quilts are beautiful. Can you give me the names of the quilt patterns? I may have to start collecting me some red fabric after seeing your beautiful red quilts.
    Thanks for sharing.

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  11. I’m sure I’ve watched every single Lonely House video Kate has ever made. If you like her gardening videos, she just started a new channel. Check it out.
    I love your blog. You cover all my favorite topics – walking, dogs, quilts, dogs… And I also live in the Willamette Valley, in McMinnville.
    Keep entertaining me!
    Laurie

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    1. Hmmm. I’m going to be out near McMinnville this weekend! I love driving home from there on the backroads. I’m really hoping I see some crimson clover while I’m out and about!

      Anne

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  12. Ohhh 5 reds & a frosty, fabulous!
    little Jefe had sweet time with you & sharing Bender & Rico company.
    I’m amazed at your snowball shrub. Could that be the same chartreuse shrub that appeared as tennis balls in an earlier post. Certainly happy in its location. Your sunset walks through neighborhoods were great captures.
    Your posts are most enjoyable,
    ardine

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  13. I love your Wensleydale block pattern. Where is it available ? The combination of F fabrics with batiks is awesome. Yes, you have a lot of red in your quilts, but as quilter Freddie Moran says “red is a neutral color !”

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  15. I love seeing the large photos of the blocks, it is all about the fabrics for me and I love seeing the prints close up.
    Great batch of quilts you are going to have quilted.
    I didn’t realize Snowball bushes got so big. I think we had one on the backside of the farmhouse I grew up in. I know we had Bridal Wreath.

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    1. I love seeing the blocks close up too! I just love finishing the last four pieces, trimming it, and seeing it all done. Love it!

      My snowball bush is really a huge one. And the blooms are so enormous. I basically ignore it and it just thrives!

      Is Bridal Wreath the same thing as spirea?

      Anne

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      2. We had one of the bridal ones when I was very young… like before I was 6. And I remember those long fronds of white blooms. My mother loved that plant too, but not as much as she loved forsythia.

        Anne

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      4. I had some of what I called gold FLAME spirea when I lived in Salt Lake City and I had a hard time keeping it alive! But it was gorgeous. The yellowish/orangish foliage and the pink blooms. Really pretty.

        Anne

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  17. I don’t know that I’d be able to trade sewing for quilts, yours are so special. I especially like these paper pieced blocks as I love sharp points (not that mine ever get it). Maybe you need to get another dog bed for your pooch, he looks to be thoroughly enjoying it. I love snowball bushes, my last one was near the driveway so it had to be trimmed, yours is a monster. It’s such a joy to see all the plants and bushes blooming this spring, I have enjoyed your pictures of your yard and neighborhood, Portland does have beautiful horticulture.

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    1. I’ve made so many quilt tops during the pandemic, it’s actually nice to see them go away where they will actually be finished instead of just sitting in a drawer.

      My snowball tree truly is a monster! And the individual blooms are huge!

      Anne

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  18. You are almost done! Yay! I found Miss Kate a few weeks ago and have been enjoying her so much. She has a very calming, pleasant voice and teaching style. I want to try those small blocks she’s been making, a color wash quilt. May even try epp again 🤣 your snowball bush is so gorgeous!

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  19. Bender is so funny! He can’t possibly be comfortable.
    Those blocks are spectacular 💕
    Awe, little Jefe has to go home. It will be bitter sweet for him. I am sure he had a blast!

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  22. Annie, those Wensleydale blocks are the BOMB! How will they be placed in the quilt? longwise or sideways. (Personally I love them north and south, longwise). They are beautiful however you finish the top. I love your little houseguest and I know you’ll miss that little package in your lap when he’s gone.

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    1. The will be set horizontally. So sideways. But I’ll make another one of these quilts it he future and may consider the N/S orientation.

      Jefe was really quiet, but the house seems even quieter without him. I keep thinking he’s disappeared somewhere that I can’t find him!

      Anne

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