Patriotic & Pretty

More finishes for Covered in Love!  Susan and Theresa sent in these two tops and Angie and I quilted them.

Susan from California made this lovely patriotic top with vintage-looking fabrics.  She also sent along backing and binding, so it was a quick finish for me.

This pretty pink and green top is the second to last of Theresa's tops.  I thought we were done already, but I forgot I'd given a couple to other quilters to finish. Angie from Texas did this one.

The tops is flannel and quilted up lovely and soft with swirls by Angie.

Sandra had sent in a perfect pink backing that found a home on this one!

Thanks Susan, Angie, Theresa, and Sandra!

Summer means experiments with tie-dye; I was going for a fish scale design

Covered in Love donates quilts to patients dying in the hospital, over 300 so far! Our block drives are back on track and July/August is the annual "Oh My Stars!" drive.  Check out the main post HERE if you want to get involved.

Linking to  Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Finished or Not Friday

July-August "Oh My Stars" Block Drive

....And we're back! I'm refreshed and ready to go after taking the last 2 months off from block drive.  It's time to dive back in with the 3rd annual "Oh My Stars!" block drive!

This block drive will run until the end of August. Blocks should be:

• red, white, and/or blue
• 12.5" unfinished
• something you would call a star (or stars)

These patriotic star quilts are some of our most popular, which is why I continue to do it year after year. Many of these quilts go to veterans, so they are especially meaningful.

You can look at quilts from the previous drives here and here to get ideas. Also you can check out the original block drive post for a list of some patterns here.

Like all of our block drives, these blocks will be made into quilts to benefit "Covered in Love" which gives quilts to patients dying in the hospital. Families get to take these quilts home to help them mourn and remember their loved one. Anyone can participate and make as few or as many blocks as you like. Email CoveredinLoveTx@gmail.com or comment (make sure you aren't a "noreply" blogger) for the address.  Covered in Love is a 501(c)3 charity, so if you would like a tax receipt just let me know.

The two block drives so far this year produced enough blocks for 47 quilts! They aren't all done yet, but well on the way.  I'm excited to see what we will make together this time!

Scrappy Happy

Another week, some more finishes! Two awesome, scrappy-happy quilts from Katie Q.  Both has the same pattern made from 2.5" squares. She also sent along backing fabrics. Awesome!

Every scrap quilt is an eye-spy quilt.

It's been an incredibly hot summer here so far.  Sounds like most of the US is having unusual heat. For Texas that means 90s-100s and melting humidity.

Holly, I think this binding came from you.  Thanks!

Quilting is an indoor hobby, fortunately. That and studying are keeping me inside to beat the heat.  This is my last semester of school and let me tell you, it's kicking my tail.

Quilting is very relaxing for me, so it's nice to have so many tops ready to go for a quick, rewarding pick-me-up.

I am steadily but surely chipping away at my "to quilt" piles.  Thanks so much Katie and everyone else who sends in donations!

Obligatory cat picture: Fluffy Nugget models string quilt #14

Covered in Love is taking a break from the block drives until July so I can catch up. If you find yourself with extra time consider donating to Jack's Blanket!

Linking to  Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Finished or Not Friday

A Good Read

Happy Friday! I've got another do. Good Stitches quilt for my finish this week. The NURTURE circle makes quilts for Covered in Love and January was my turn to be the "queen bee".

I asked the ladies to each make 2 bookshelf blocks, making a total to 20 blocks.  The books are made from all different fabrics and the spines are decorated with ribbon, decorative stitches, and selvedges.

I put the blocks together with brown sashing to make the shelves and was pleased I still remember how to FMQ wood grain when it came time to quilt!

There are lots of fun surprises on this bookshelf, starting with this sleepy cat curled up on a low shelf.

Book titles include classics like "The Lorax" and "Star Wars".  The quilt finished at about 55" x 72" and the chaplains will place it with the perfect book-worm.

I love my NURTURE circle ladies, thank you all so much for your consistently awesome blocks and quilts!

Covered in Love is taking a break from the block drives until July so I can catch up. If you find yourself with extra time consider donating to Jack's Blanket!

Linking to  Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Finished or Not Friday

Strings, Strings, Strings

Blocks mostly from Michele, assembled and quilted by me

That's right, more string quilts are done!  The January/February Covered in Love block drive was wildly successful and I'm working steadily on getting all the blocks turned into quilts.

Blocks mostly from Linda, assembled and quilted by me

With these finishes I think we are officially, probably, 1/3 of the way though these :)

Assembled and quilted by Kathy

I think basically all of the quilts made from sets of blocks with a particular color or theme are done, from here it's more or less random.

Blocks by Debbie, assembled and quilted by Kathy

Thank goodness for the help of other quilters, including my local rockstar Kathy, who are helping me get these together.  The local Modern Guild is even talking about getting together a sew day to assemble tops from blocks.

Assembled and quilted by Kathy

I absolutely love these string quilts and I'm told they are a favorite among the patients and families who receive them as well.

Assembled and quilted by me

For the more or less random quilt tops I try to group the blocks losely into either bright, somber, masculine, or feminine sets.  I'm not sure what I was going for with the one above... Below is masculine and below that is bright.

Assembled and quilted by me

Big thanks to Sandra, Amanda, Bonnie, and Mary whose backing yardages completed these quilts, Nicki for bindings, and to all of you who sent in blocks!
 

Assembled and quilted by me

These thirteen have already been loaded up and taken to the hospital for distribution.  CiL continues to grow and bless more and more mourning families.  I couldn't do it without ALL of your support!

Ready to go to the hospital!

Covered in Love is taking a break from the block drives until July so I can catch up. If you find yourself with extra time consider donating to Jack's Blanket!

Linking to  Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Finished or Not Friday