Nov/Dec CIL Block Drive

Happy Halloween everybody! It's time for the November-December Covered in Love block drive. If you're unfamiliar with our block drives there will be more details at the bottom of the post. 

For the holiday season I know everyone is busy with preparations and family, so I often slip in a favorite block that a bit harder or more fiddly.  This one definitely fits in that category. I hope you can find a block that suits you, but don't feel bad if you only do one or two blocks or decide to sit this one out! 

We will be doing blocks from this page of tutorials by Teresa Down Under.  Choose any of the "textured" designs you like. You can make all your blocks from the same design or do a variety. The only difference for us will be a color change from red and neutrals to blues and neutrals. For the blues please choose true blues, meaning not aqua or teal at all.  They can be light blue to navy, as long as they don't have any green tones or purple tones. 

You absolutely have my permission to play with the designs and if anything calls for hand sewing you're welcome to convert it to machine sewing if you can. Like in the example tutorials, the blues can be in the central square or the border.

Uncommonly for us, the blocks do measure 11" unfinished (10.5" finished), and we're not modifying that. 

For anyone new to Covered in Love, we run these block drives every two months.  Anyone can participate and make as few or as many blocks as you like. Email CoveredinLoveTx@gmail.com for the address and get your blocks in the mail by the end of December.  Our blocks are combined together into quilts to be given to the families of dying patients in East Texas hospitals. 

No quilts, have a cat

 I'm sorry, Friday snuck up on me this week and I didn't get a post done. The Nov/Dec block drive post will be up in the next few days.  Meanwhile, here is Fudge with his 3 step plan for cool Fall weather.

Cozy blanket snuggles on the couch.

Warm in my handsome sweater

Heating pad for the cold nights

"Free" Quilts

Time for some of my favorite kind of quilts, ones that came in completely finished! Tina C. sent in this pretty quilt with the unique block.

Nancy R. sent in this neutral string braid based on a tutorial I did ages ago. 

I was struggling with the light to take pictures by this point, but I really love the blend of neutrals and the quilting.

And Ann D. sent in two quilts with Betty Boop novelty fabrics.

Too cute! 

Things are improving here with the Delta surge of Covid. We do still have 3 dedicated Covid wards open but that's down from 7 plus overflow. Unfortunately the memorial wall for hospital employees has grown to 9.  Not included in this picture is a 35 year old nurse who left behind 4 kids.  Even though it's a lot better the danger isn't gone, so do continue to be careful and get vaccinated! 

Covered in Love is a 501(c)(3) charity that donates quilts to patients dying in the hospital, over 800 so far! The September/October drive is running now, check out the main post HERE if you want to get involved. 

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

Great Big Quilts

Some big cozy quilts this week from the long armers! Wendy quilted this one that Sherrill pieced. Perfect for the falling leaves and fall weather.

These colors are similar to the ones in our latest drive and I am loving how those blocks are looking at they come in. 

Priscilla pieced this pastel chain top and Pam quilted it.

And this blue and yellow top was pieced by Jeanine and quilted by Pam. 

Pam has an uncanny knack for perfectly flat, smooth bindings. I'm terribly impressed.

Her bindings are so smooth I had a hard time getting my gravity clamps to hold onto the quilts.

Marianne made this pretty patchwork top and Linda quilted it with flowers. 

And lastly, team Pam and Pam. This top was pieced by Pam C and quilted by Pam M.

Beautiful color combo!

Fudge helping to unpack a box of quilts.

Covered in Love is a 501(c)(3) charity that donates quilts to patients dying in the hospital, over 800 so far! The September/October drive is running now, check out the main post HERE if you want to get involved. 

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

Pinwheel Drive Wrap Up

Top assembled by Holly M, quilted by Pam M

It's been a little while for this one. The pinwheel drive was in March-April of 2020, at the very beginning of the pandemic! It seems like longer than a year and a half ago. I picked this design because I thought we could use something easy and happy.  

Most of the quilts from this drive were finished quite a while ago, but these 3 tops were still hanging around, looking at me from their shelf.  Pam rescued me and finished them up.

I loved this novelty backing to go with the top! Looks like summer.  I think I had enough for 3 or 4 quilts.

With these three done it finally wraps up the Pinwheel block drive and brings the total to 25 quilts. 

Speaking of block drives, Tammy posted again on her blog about the May/June drive. She is a trooper and approaching 20 quilts!

Sundae also helped with quilt assembly.

Covered in Love is a 501(c)(3) charity that donates quilts to patients dying in the hospital, over 800 so far! The September/October drive is running now, check out the main post HERE if you want to get involved. 

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