Augus 2021, makings of a quilt with state flowers embroidered

 My friend Laura in the quilt guild had started the elements of this quilt, she cut batting and backing for 50 blocks and had imprinted the pattern for 50 states on 50 squares.  She had started to embroider the blocks and done about 10 of them and had also started to hand quilt some to show her intent on finishing each block,  then she gave the huge container to me, filled with all this plus lots of embroidery thread, some needles, the patterns and instructions.,  I've been working on this project for a little more than 2 years and just finished the embroidery and quilting on the 50th block.,  There is still so much to do, to join the blocks with sashing.  There are some dark turquoise blocks to go between there somehow (my daughter Val did some quilting on those blue squares).  It will be a huge quilt and I do wonder what will become of it.  I could give it to Laura's family, auction it off for charity, or save it for one of my kids.  For now it will stay with me.

July 2021, Two 40" x 60" quilts for charity, one for a friend

I saw this idea in a magazine, half square triangles, one side black/white fabric and one side bright fabric.  Of course I was hooked.  Sometimes I sew the blocks together randomly, or like this, together in a bunch.  The back is 12" squares using fabric from the front.  

I had a stack of squares left from another project, so I put them together  for this quilt.  I rather like simple quilts like this.  The back is a pretty pink flowers.  I quilted in straight line on either side of the seam line, vertically and horizontal.  Takes a lot of thread but not as much time as  you would think.  These two quilts will go to the charity, The Linus Project.  They take quilts for children in distress, either ill, or in foster care.  

A friend from church had made this quilt for a new grandbaby.  She asked me to quilt it for her her.  As a reward, I got the left over fabric from the backing and the cotton batting which will be useful for the pot holders I'm making for Christmas presents.  I love this backing material, it'll take me some time to find the best use for it.

 

Closet/ carrying case for doll clothes July 2021

Jill's father in law found a book with this pattern in it, a carrying case, kind of closet for doll clothes. It's made with PVC pipes that needed the cloth inserts to cover the sides and bottom.  Each side and bottom has the bright color outside and a black/white fabric lining.  The linings had the tube attached, bottom and top for the insertion of the pvc pipe.  Luckily, the book had clear, step by step directions for sewing the case.  Very clear, but still needed careful study to get it right.  Jill then took it home and the father in law put it together.  I pulled out my fabric and our little girl's eyes lit up when she saw this piece, bright and just what she wanted.