Love 4 Longarmers

Jo's top quilted by Kay and Denise

Happy Friday quilters! I finally woke up at sunrise on one of my days off to take quilt pictures before the sun got blindingly bright and hot.  It's full summer already and it's only June! This post is full of quilt tops that were donated and sent to longarmers to be quilted, so they are mostly very large. 

Top by Karen M's friend, quilted by Kay and Denise

In this heat it's hard to imagine snuggling under a quilt, but I just delivered another 20 the one of the hospitals. The chaplains all said thank you and how much the quilts are appreciated by families. 

I'm taking my latest batch of nursing students to the hospital tomorrow for the first time, so they are all anxious! I was excited recently to hear from a former student who had a very rough semester during her first level.  

Top by Kathy B. quilted by Mel

One thing we see fairly often is students who don't want to be/aren't meant to be nurses but are pursuing it for various reasons (family pressure, they never imagined doing anything else, etc.)  By the time they get into nursing school they're invested so much toward that goal that it's very very difficult for them let go and change majors even if it's obvious that would be the better choice.  

Top by Priscilla, quilted by Mel

We try to support them through that realization and encourage them to make a positive change.  Nursing isn't the end-all-be-all of careers! But I remember how hard it felt to make big decisions as a 20-year-old.   

Top by Amy A., quilted by Wendy

Anyway, this student of mine had been pressured into nursing by her family and was suffering from incredibly difficult coursework in a field she didn't love.  She was one of the sweetest students I've had in a long time and had such a tender, kind heart.

Top by Erin, quilted by Wendy

She contacted me for a reference and a year later she's changed majors and is doing much better! It's always a joy to see my former students succeeding, but especially so when they struggled.

Hope your 4th of July is great! The next block drive will be coming up ASAP. 

Covered in Love is a 501(c)(3) charity that donates quilts to patients dying in the hospital, over 1000 so far! The May/June block drive is live 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

Johanna and the Longarmers

We got some BIG quilts back recently that had been sent out to longarmers.  These tops were all made by Johanna and Tammy quilted this one.

This great big top was quilted by Ray in Florida. I love how I can always identify Johanna's tops by the colors and fabrics.

This slightly more tame to was also quilted by Tammy. Thanks guys! 

We've had a little bit of cat drama around here. Fluffy (who I used to call Rey, but honestly we've only ever called her Fluffy)  went missing for a couple days and came back with a badly broken leg that had to be amputated.

It has been almost 2 weeks since surgery and she's doing really well. She's up walking around the house and jumping onto furniture like usual and her prickly attitude has returned. We're relieved that she's home and safe!

Covered in Love is a 501(c)(3) charity that donates quilts to patients dying in the hospital, over 800 so far! The July/August 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

UFO Rehab Graduates

Happy weekend, quilters! And how the heck did June get here already??  I've got more donated tops finished into quilts to show.  With these delivered up to the hospital recently CiL pushed up to 831 total quilts!

Linda B. sent in this plus top with the interesting pattern.

This really bright brick top came from Linda H.

This southwestern log cabin top that mixes solids with a novelty-print of peppers and onions was sent in by Barb H.

Proof that if you hang onto a backing fabric long enough (on the right), the perfect top will come along.

I had to get a close up of the mini log cabin cornerstones. 

Marianne K sent in this soft, pretty top with butterflies. I had a beautiful fabric that looked like Monet's water lilies to use on the back.

This charm pack quilt with coffee-themed fabrics came from Johanna.

I got these pictures several weeks ago with a sheet stretched out on the ground under a tree.  The same spot is a complete mud pit right now, so I'm praying for dry sunny weather so I can get some pictures again.

Katie D sent in this little green top with backing.

Tina C sent in this cool modern sampler top in solid colors. 

Each of the eight quilts in today's post was an "only child". Meaning that, at least, for now I only had one from that quilter finished. 

Last but certainly not least! Mary O sent in these friendship stars in the bright blue and red plaid.

Whew! 8 awesome quilts! I am still in quilt clearing-house mode.  As I said, we've reached 831 quilts. That count marks how many have been transported up to the hospital. There are actually many more finished here which will be in the next drop off.  The chaplains gave away several last week and we got some sweet notes. I post notes online when I have permission, and whenever I can connect a note or story to a specific quilter I make sure to share it with them. 

Thank you to all of you for all your help! 

Covered in Love is a 501(c)(3) charity that donates quilts to patients dying in the hospital, over 800 so far! During May/June Tammy is hosting our block drive on her blog.  Check out the main post HERE if you want to get involved. 

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

String Things

Welcome to round 2 of Jan/Feb's string quilts!  Long-time volunteer Holly assembled and quilted the first quilt, which has some really lovely colors in it.  She quilted intersecting lines that sort of looks like stars.

These next two quilts were assembled and quilted by Linda D. I'm excited to show you more of her quilting if the future!

Of course none of these quilts would be here without the many people who sent in blocks during the January/February drive...

...And those who have sent in binding and backings! Thank you!  A recent delivery to the hospital has put Covered in Love up to nearly 700 quilts.

I had several string quilt tops sent in by various people on my shelves so I decided to lump them in with this drive and get them finished!

This top was made by Pam C. and came with backing and binding.  Pam's quilts are always neatly pieced and pressed smooth, a pleasure to quilt (my pressing skills are, ahem, lacking.)

This top was made by Johanna, such bright happy colors!

This last top came from Elana and yes, some how we took the picture upside down! If you turn your head you'll see it's a heart!

Just wanted to assure you that absolutely everything you send to CiL gets used :) I recycle your ziploc bags, tissue paper, and especially the boxes!

Covered in Love is a 501(c)(3) charity that donates quilts to patients dying in the hospital, over 600 so far! The Sept/Oct drive is going on 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

 

UFOs Finished for CiL

Kathy broke out of quarantine this week to return these quilts to me! She took the tops that various quilters sent in and finished them into beautiful, cuddly quilts for CiL.

These hand-pieced lonestars were sent in by Holly and I added the slim flower borders. It made such a sweet little quilt!

This quilt with the pretty, bright yellow and red flower fabrics came from Johanna.  I made a pieced backing from yellow and flower-themed fabrics to match.

This cute, almost vintage-looking nine patch top came from Julie W.  She donated a group of tops I posted about before here.

Karen made this quilt and I found flannel to back it with.  I thought it looked modern, but my mom thinks it looks vintage, so I guess it depends on your opinion ;)

Finally, this scrappy pineapple beaut was pieced by Pam.

It has so much movement and life!

Thank you ladies who contributed the tops, as well as the backing and binding that went into these quilts. And thanks to the several of you who have contacted me about volunteering to help assemble and quilt for CiL-- It really helps to keep us moving forward!

A mother vulture is raising chicks in a courtyard at the hospital. They are getting their big feathers now.

Covered in Love's usual every-two-month block drive is on hiatus for the months of May-June. You can see a post here with talking about it and some suggested ways to fill the CiL sized hole in your month!

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