Quarantine Sewing - It's What I Do

More quarantine sewing.. I'm getting caught up on some things, but the more I get caught up, the more I find that I'm behind on, so it doesn't feel like progress. I'll keep plugging away at my to-do piles.

These quilts were all mostly finished, just needed some borders added.

This one was made by my sister (the main part), and I just added the HSTs border.

I made this one years ago in a challenge posted by Victoria Findlay Wolfe. I finally chose this Australian fabric for the border. I didn't even own this Australian fabric when I made the quilt top, so I'm glad I waited, as I think it looks pretty cool.

Thank You, Long Arm Quilters!

I love quilters who have long arms! Don't you? Of course, I mean long-arm quilting machines.

Another long-armer has volunteered to finish some tops. These will be going to Wrap-a-Smile. I so appreciate offers like this, because I enjoy making tops but not finishing the quilts. I do what I can to finish some, but I'm slow and very basic, and I can't afford to send them all out to be done professionally. So I rely on volunteer long-arm quilters to help save the day. When a new long-arm volunteer steps forward, I rejoice!

Today I sent these four tops to our new volunteer:

Rainbow

Mendota (made at the Sunshine retreat last June)

8-patch (I copied a block I saw at Covered With Love blog)

Random (made from leftover squares)

Also, my cousin has a new long-arm and is helping. I sent her this one recently. It is for Quilts Beyond Borders:

When these quilts are done, I will bind them and send them off to cuddle some kids.

RSC September Blocks

This month's color is purple. I had fun with these, because I don't play with purple very often. I should make a point of using more purple in my future.

Click here to see lots of other beautiful scrap blocks people have made.

In other project news, I found out about a shelter for men.. they need some large-ish quilts, and ugly is the specific request. I have heard that in the homeless world, ugly stuff has less chance of being stolen. So.. purposely making a couple ugly quilt tops was sort of fun, and used up some yardage of ugly fabrics. These run approximately 55" x 75". My cousin will quilt these for me on her new long arm machine.

Two Quilts for Sunshine

I made this quilt using the block pattern I found at the Carolina Hurricane Quilt Project website (see my sidebar). This pattern is very versatile, and I will probably make more. It's a quick and easy pattern. This one is headed to Quilts Beyond Borders.

This one is going to Wrap a Smile. My friend, CK, sent me the googly-eyed pieces, and I used them to make this pattern that we will be making in multiples at our upcoming Sunshine retreat. You'll see those in a couple of weeks.

Retreat

Four friends at a cabin in Wisconsin. Weather was beautiful. Lake was beautiful. Days were fun and productive. Most days we sewed. Some days we also went into town and hit a couple of quilt shops. This is what I completed:

That's a lot of tops, but most of them were already started. Only one was made totally from scratch.

See the purple and aqua quilt top above? Those blocks were made by someone else. I just had to trim and assemble and add the sashing and borders. I was curious about the block itself, so I tried one of my own in a 12.5-inch size. This is what I created (the green/red one). It was fun to experiment. I like the block.

Some Quilt Tops

As usual, I have been making quilt tops and not finishing many of them. I need a staff that will take care of the quilting step for me. Any volunteers? Pay is my thanks and praise.

and some Sunshine Lotto blocks:

Oh, My Word!

Remember this word quilt? Several very kind souls sent me verbs to use in my 60th birthday quilt. Well... my next birthday is my 65th, so I decided I had to get going and finish this top. I did it!! And I really love it! Big THANK YOU to all who sent me words. I couldn't use all my words. This quilt is nearly ten feet long as it is. So I apologize to those whose words don't show up. Hopefully I'll get some of the leftover words on the back.

What do you think? Isn't it fun?!

Making Quilts

I guess I will never run out of quilt ideas and quilt inspiration. I used to think that some day I would feel that I'd done it all and that I could stop. Nope, I don't think that will happen. Even simple squares are so pleasing, I like to make simple quilts to give away, as well as complicated (to a point, of course) to keep or to give away. I'm so glad I found this fun hobby to fill up my life!

Here's a simple one. I did not make this quilt. It was in a pile at the church where I sometimes join the sewing group. They have some tops that are waiting to be quilted, so I took this small one to finish. Here it is, done and ready to go back to church, eventually to be given to a child who needs comforting. I like how cuddly and cute this one turned out as a finished quilt. (Better than I expected, to be honest.) My cousin is the pastor and will be handing it out. I like that.

Another way I like to contribute to quilts is to make blocks. I send them to Sunshine once a month, and they are used in quilts for kids. It feels good to have a part in making a quilt, without taking the time to do the entire process.

Tomorrow I am hoping to find time to do more quilting work. Doesn't that sound like fun??

Merry Christmas

We celebrated Christmas with husband's family a couple weeks after Christmas. We ate food, had White Elephant gift exchange (lots of laughs), and I had my first meeting with our newest great-nephew. All in all, a fun day.

I gave little guy the quilt I made... with owls on it for his owl bedroom, and he got a toy owl from me as well... and he also got a toy penguin. Such cute, soft toys!

After our late Christmas, I received this Ugly Fat Quarter as a challenge.. make it into something pretty. So I made the quilt top you see here. Do you think I succeeded? I'm OK with it.. it's better than it was as an ugly FQ!

More Sewing and My Prize

I have done a little more sewing, and if you can believe it, I still have not finished reading that book in which I was very nearly to the end! What is wrong with me?? Well, at least I have done some sewing.

This turned out a little smaller than I intended. I could add some border, I suppose. It's waiting in limbo while I decide.

I was very lucky to win a gift certificate at the Fat Quarter Shop from the Hands2Help challenge. They are so generous with their prizes! I used my gift to "buy" this pretty set of strips. I love the colors.

Sold!

SOLD! My friend Diane made the highest bid for this quilt top, and it will soon be hers. Thank you, Diane! Your very generous bid will make a big difference to the Kissy UMC Eye Hospital in Sierra Leone. Thanks a million.

Thanks to everyone for the interest in this beautiful quilt!