Finishes for CiL

It's been a whole week since I posted.  You know, back in January when I decided to take an 11-day vacation in the middle of the school semester it seemed like a pretty good idea.  Now... not so much!  I know it's going to be fun, and going to be worth it once I'm there.  Right now it's hard to see past my to-do list as I work to get 2 weeks ahead on all my school assignments.

In the midst of spending way too much time on school, I did get the final  String Diamonds quilt done.  That means I'm all caught up on block drive quilts for Covered in Love, just in time to start on February's quilts!

This one measures 60" square, like the others.  I did a quick stipple quilting all over.  The other finish this week I only did the binding on.  Susan, one of the regular block drive contributors, sent me this beautiful bright top for Covered in Love, and Annie did her long arm quilting on it.  Gorgeous!

If you want to contribute to Covered in Love our March block drive is going on now. Check it out by clicking on the block below!

Linking to Crazy Mom Quilts Friday Finishes.

Lots of Tops

Belated Happy Valentines Day!  I worked over Valentines day this year, but one of the male nurses passed out yellow roses to all the girls. Isn't that sweet?

I won't have a Friday Finish this week, but I did get 3 tops done.  First was the last of the string diamonds.  I didn't get a picture of that one, but you've see it on the design wall before.  Then I decided to put some of the February block drive blocks up on the wall to see how they look. I ended up falling so in love with them that I went ahead and sewed the top together.  I know that I just declared November's Falling Leaves my favorite, but this one is my new favorite block drive we've done!

The last top is a sailing theme quilt I put together for a patient I took care of and made a connection with over the weekend.  I have also done some sailing, so we bonded over that.  This guy, though.  He built his own boat and sailed it around the world.  Before that he made a career in the Navy.  He's been sailing since he was 13 and even though he's seen more than most of us will ever dream of, he's not ready to be done yet.

He's part of a group that is not normally covered by Covered in Love.  He's dying (prostate cancer with mets to the bone) but not today or tomorrow, possibly not even this year.  It's a difficult limbo place to be in.  So, I made him his own quilt to remind him of the adventures he's had.  Also I hope that when he takes this quilt to the hospital or treatments with him it will prompt other people to strike up conversations with him about sailing, which he loves to talk about.

Unfortunately that's all the sewing for me this week. Until Tuesday I'm going to be spending all my time communing with my 20lb Patho textbook. Bleh.

Linking to Judy's Design Wall Monday.

Big Quilt Delivery Day!

I've got tons to show you today, most of which I can take very much credit for. It's so exciting to get to take 10 quilts all at once up to the hospital for Covered in Love! This brings our grand total to 58!!  The chaplains are always so excited to get new quilts.  Prepare yourself for a picture heavy post.

First up, I finished the last of the falling leaves quilts from the November block drive. And when I say I finished, I really mean finished, as I put on the binding. That's really all I can say I did on this one. The top came to me already pieced and Annie did her awesome long arm quilting again.

Isn't it great? The colors just glow.

If you look closely at this picture you can make out the free motion design, they are big leaves.

Here they are all in one picture. Five quilts altogether from the blocks you guys made in November, pat yourselves on the back!  I have to admit, I think this is my favorite of the block drives we did last year.

Next up is the quilt actually assembled and quilted myself last week. It's the second of the string diamonds from December block drive.

This one is made from the blocks that had a lighter brown for the background color. And although I loved how the zigzag quilting looked on the first quilt, it's too time intensive to use for them all. This one got a quick stipple.

I think adding the label with everyone's name adds a nice personal touch to the quilt. Sort of to connect the people who made it to the people who eventually receive it.  Just one more of the string diamonds to go and I will be caught up on block drive quilts!

Finally, you may remember that my do. Good Stitches circle has started supporting covered in love.  Carla sent in two of our quilts from the past year which arrived today, to combine with the one Louise sent me a little while back.

Aren't they lovely?   You can see more pics on the blog posts about the blue and orange diamond quilt and the modern pineapple. Carla also sent along two of her own quilts for Covered in Love!

Whew! What blessings!  If you would like to help out with Covered in Love remember our February block drive is going on now! Click on the block below to link to the tutorial.

Linking to Crazy Mom Quilts Finish it Friday.

December's String Diamonds

Happy Friday! The first of the string diamond quilts is done!  There are 3 of these, which were made from blocks collected during the December blocks drive for Covered in Love.  The response to the end of the year block drives were so overwhelming that I actually had to take January off to catch up. BUT, I'm ready to go again.  The link to February's block drive is at the end of this post.

Unfortunately I failed once again to wake up early enough to get the really good light, so we have to deal with some sun flare in the pictures.  These pretty, swirled string blocks I quilted with spiral squares in matching thread colors.  I did the in between brown diamonds, too, so the quilting ended up quite dense.

The quilt measures 60" square.  For the backing I used a white print that is busy enough to hide all the places my tensions wasn't quite perfect with the colored threads.

On the back are the labels, one for CiL and one listing the names of everyone who contributed blocks that month.

February's block is an easy one, a traditional split nine patch in nice earthy colors.  Be sure to check out the link if you want to participate.

Linking to Finish it Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts.

Still Diamonds on the Design Wall

If you saw Monday's post I had one of December's string diamonds quilts on the wall.  I got that one sewn up. Then on Tuesday I did the second one.  And today the last one is laid out ready to be sewn!  This top ended up being the one with the least coordination between the browns, but I still think it looks alright.  Somehow this one also ended up with a lot of blues in it.

I realized a couple days ago that I have used up all of my backing fabrics in bright colors, so I ordered some more. I usually order backings from Connecting Threads.  In their clearance section they have a lot of fabrics for less than $3, so I can order enough for a back for less than $10.  Plus if I spend over $50 shipping is free.  I've ordered loads of fabric from them over the years and never had a problem with the quality or the colors running.  I'm not sponsored obviously, just a plug for one of my favorite fabric sources :)

And here's the obligatory Rory photo.  She's holding down that stack of blocks like a champ!

Linking to Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesday.

Diamonds Design Wall

Today I finally got myself in gear and started putting together the string diamonds quilts.  These were December's block drive blocks.  After organizing and counting them it turns out (3) 5x5 layout quilts will make the best use of our blocks.

I grouped them into 3 stacks of 25 by background color.  Here's Rory helping with the sorting process.  One top sewn up, 2 to go!

Linking to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times.

Design Wall Options

Halfway through January already! It doesn't seem possible. I've been making good progress on the Covered in Love quilts.  The string pinwheels are on the wall now auditioning design options.

Top left is a regular setting, below that I offset the rows, and on the right is on point.  I think I like the on point setting best, although it will mean cutting lots of setting triangles.  What do you think?

I'm also working on finishing the quilting on the latest crumb quilt.  Rory's been "helping". 

And of course now I'm sick and I just want to spend all my time napping.  Here's hoping this croup doesn't last too long.

Linking to WIP Wednesday.

December Block Drive

1st Sept block drive quilt

Every month I solicit you guys to send in blocks for Covered in Love so we can make group quilts.  These quilts we make every month are used in the hospital to provide comfort to families who have had a family member pass away.  The quilts not only warm a hospital room, they are taken home by the families as transitional items.

2nd Sept block drive quilt

October's string quilts are coming along and November's falling leaves blocks are drifting in.  Now it's time to meet our December blocks: string pinwheels!  Our color scheme is below, choose one color per block.  Plus, you'll need a brown for the outside corners.

Get into your scraps (or stash if you must) and find strings of at least 15" length, although I recommend a bit more, and between 1"-2.5" width.  Sew these together into a block at least 7" wide and 14" long.  Your string block should have about 4 to 6 strings.

Square off the block and trim to 7"x14", then cut into two 7" squares. Also cut two 7" squares from a brown fabric for background.

Mark the two brown squares on the back with a diagonal line corner to corner.  Place these squares right sides together with the strip blocks, be sure that both sets are the same.  With the strings in the same orientation and the lines on the brown fabric running the same way.  Then sew 1/4" on both sides of the line to make 2 half square triangles from each set.

Cut the blocks along the line you marked and press, then trim to 6.5" square.  There will be two sets of matching blocks, the identical ones go on opposite corners to each other, as shown below.

Your finished block should be 12.5" square.  I am always thrilled with the response to these things :)  If you want to participate you can make one block or ten, just comment or drop me an email for the address.

(Edited to Add: View finished quilts here)

Linking to Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework and Design Wall Monday on Patchwork Times.