Strings 2020 Wrap Up

Yes, just short of a year from it's kick off the 2020 string block drive is wrapping up. Thanks to the many of you who participated in this drive, like Beth T. who made the top above and Kathy C. who quilted it!

I love the gingerbread man backing this quilt! The rest of these were assembled by a combination of Pam M. and me and quilted by me.

The seven quilts here plus those previously posted bring us to a total of 23 out of an expected 24 from this drive. There is still one out in the world with a volunteer quilter, but all the ones I was responsible for are done and I'm feeling accomplished!  When #24 comes in I will post it so we can all enjoy it :)

As you know if you have been here a while, I have been experimenting with our traditional string block design over the past few years.  This design grew on me but it's not one of my favorites compared to the ones we've done before.

I do like the variety of layouts that can be made.  Strings are a never ending source of ideas!

For January I'm thinking about going back to basics with a slight twist, you'll just have to wait and see!

Here are most of the quilts in their "family portrait." They have since been delivered to the hospital, helping to push CiL past 700 quilts.

And here is the block drive By The Numbers for those of you who I know enjoy that. Merry Christmas everyone!

Covered in Love is a 501(c)(3) charity that donates quilts to patients dying in the hospital, over 700 so far! The Nov/Dec 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

Thankful for the Helpers

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”― Fred Rogers

Happy Thanksgiving, quilters! I hope you are warm and maybe enjoying some cozier, smaller gathering than usual this year amidst everything that's going on.  This year I'm more thankful than ever for all my helpers! Like Beth T. who sent in this top, and Kathy who quilted it.  The seven quilts in this post bring us to 12 for the March/April block drive.

This top was sent in by Holly and also quilted by Kathy.  As you can tell, I had very golden Fall light the day to took the pictures above.  I know that for Northerners quarantine has gotten harder to deal with as temperatures drop, but for us in the South it has only just become tolerable.  During Summer doing activities outside really wasn't an option, but it's so nice now to be able to take classes, birthday parties, and some community events outside.

Holly also assembled and quilted these block drive blocks into a quilt and quilted it with intersecting lines.  I love the on-point setting.  Since she put them on point she needed to enlarge the backing a bit and did so with neat orphan blocks.

All of us have times in our lives that we couldn't get through without a supportive community, and 2020 has been all of us having those times together, one after another. 

Tammy S. assembled these two quilts from block drive blocks but when it came time to quilt she was struggling with the Covid Malaise.  Feeling low and tired and just in a funk. 

Fortunately, her friends Claudia and Marion jumped in to longarm them with some extra light, poofy batting and this pretty leafy motif while Tammy took some time away.

People helping each other to help me to help other people :) 

Speaking of, Linda D. has recently joined up with CiL and begun assembling and quilting blocks.

She recently upgraded to a long arm and I am only too happy to keep her in top to learn on. I love this design with the multi pointed stars! I have always wanted to piece a design like that. 

The first quilt Linda put together was united by whites with very busy backgrounds.  This second one has yellows all in the same tone and whites with very small dots or similar.

The panto she chose is pretty flowers and leaves, perfect for the Spring-y colors.  Thanks to all you ladies and Happy Thanksgiving to all the CiL family!

Fall weather means cozy sweaters for everyone ;)

Covered in Love is a 501(c)(3) charity that donates quilts to patients dying in the hospital, over 700 so far! The Nov/Dec 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

Pretty Scrappy

We're creeping on through November, still hard to believe it's this late in the year!  The three quilts in this post were quilted by my local quilter friend Kathy C.  This really nice, scrappy 9 patch top came from Amy A.

Since she first contacted me in early 2017 Kathy has assembled and quilted for Covered in Love, completing a total of 102 quilts! That's 14% of CiL's total quilts. She has also spent a lot of hours standing in the parking lots of CVS and Dairy Queen with me chatting about quilts, and nursing, and life in general.

Sandy P. sent in this bright turning 20 top.  A lot has happened in the past 3 years, for both of us. Kathy now has two grandchildren she watches during the week who have hit full toddler stage. With the demands of full time grandparent-hood and two VERY active children Kathy's going to be taking a quilting hiatus until they get into preschool.

Kelly C. sent in this scrappy bowtie top.  Running after toddlers keeps you young, as they say, but it is exhausting! So I'm wishing Kathy good luck and God Speed, and I hope you'll all hope me in giving her a massive thank you for the past 3 years of dedicated service to CiL!

This lady-goat and two of her friends ran away from home and tried to move in with us a few weeks ago.  It took a really team effort to get the ladies back home as they had covered some 3 miles or more!

Covered in Love is a 501(c)(3) charity that donates quilts to patients dying in the hospital, over 600 so far! The Nov/Dec 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

 

Kathy & Co

My goodness it's hot! Heat index of 106F today and it just keeps going.  A little ironic to be making quilts in this weather, but of course we don't just make them for warmth.

This Irish Chain and Nine Patch were pieced by Amy and finished by Kathy.

Lovely colors and a great size!

 

This one in the pretty soft tone and neutrals came from Nettie and quilted by Kathy, too.

I think it has a lot of prints from the Architextures fabric line in it, I loved that line!  Thanks ladies!

The kitties still want their outside time no matter how hot it gets. When I get tired of chasing them around the yard this is one way to slow them down.  You can go where ever you want, you just have to cooperate :)

 

Covered in Love is a 501(c)(3) charity that donates quilts to patients dying in the hospital, over 600 so far! The July/August 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

First Round of Puzzle Block Quilts

The first of the finished quilts from November and December's block drive with the puzzle blocks are ready to go! This first one (above) was assembled and quilted by Beryl. She answered the call in May when I asked for volunteers to help finish block drive quilts! 

Bonnie sent in her blocks already sewn into a top with nice borders, along with backing. I transferred it to Kathy and she quilted it. Thanks ladies! 

The remaining quilts on this page, six of them, were assembled and quilted by me.

You can see that many of the quilts are bound with a blue-green binding. Nicki sometimes sends me large rolls of prepped white binding and I'll dye them to match a particular block drive. This time I tried ice dyeing for the first time. 

All of the Nov/Dec blocks are at least at the top stage. There are three left to be basted and quilted here.

Actually, I take that back. There are three left from the original block drive batch, but Gail C. recently sent 5 completed tops with backing and binding. 

Too many quilts is a good problem to have :) I recently got a new shipment of batting and just placed an order for more cones of thread.

Things are still ok here with covid, mainly due to living in such a rural area. The hospitals are taking care of more and more patients however.  Seems most people here are catching it from family members, especially large family gatherings like birthdays and reunions. Be careful, wherever you are! 

Covered in Love is a 501(c)(3) charity that donates quilts to patients dying in the hospital, over 600 so far! The July/August 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.