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.
 

June 2021 Large Size Throw in blue and gold

 This is a large throw size we put together amazingly in 10 days.  Deanna, my friend, pictured on the left proposed the project to me.  One of the sisters at church has been diagnosed with cancer and will be having treatments and eventually surgery.  This sister is devoted to Relief Society, has taught classes for years, and whenever there was a special dinner or a visiting General Authority, she was called on to plan and provide dinners.  Deanna texted and emailed every sister at church, asking them to find a scripture, a saying, or drawing for a white square we'd provide.  A lot of good response.  Deanna crafted a pattern using gold and blue and the white squares.  She was the one who made sure everyone was contacted, she collected many, but most sisters brought their squares to me.  I sewed them together in 2 days, then quilted in another day and a half,.  Deanna came over on Saturday and we sat knee to knee, stitching the binding.  I never would have finished it in time alone.  It was ready to give to our sister on Sunday at her house.  She was crying, very touched.  She will use it to comfort her as she has her treatments.  We pray she'll be okay.  

May 2021, Small Throw Single Irish Chain

Verleen has two grandsons living at their house, Vere and decided they needed quilts.  I already had a small one ready, and I made another for the older boy from 9-patch blocks.  I usually have a stack of these blocks sewn and ready to go.   

April 2021 Two quilts 40" x 60" for charity

Can you pick out the 20 differences between these two quilts.  Just kidding.  I made the two quilts from stacks of 5 " squares I cut from my novelty fabric.  You sew these squares together into 9-patch blocks.  Then you cut the blocks once horizontally and once vertically, then you turn each quarter a different direction, sew them back together and it makes a complicated looking quilt.  I used 12" squares also from my novelty fabric for the back.  These quilts were sent to my charity, Wrap - a - Smile, for children in third world countries who have surgery to correct facial birth defects.  They like colorful quilts with little or no white.

 

May 2021 Small throw

 This little quilt doesn't look as pretty here as it is in real life.  I picked up the fabric from a UFO exchange we had at the guild.  Someone had made several of the blocks and material for the rest was in the bag.  I finished the blocks and put them together with black sashing.  It is such a pretty quilt.  I'll save it until an opportunity comes up to give it away