Donations and Mysteries

Very full post--I've been procrastinating about photos!

I made a mystery quilt with Kevin the Quilter this summer.

Cherry Mash--75" x 92"

Cherry Mash (detail)

I call it Cherry Mash because the colors reminded me of the old-fashioned candy made here in Missouri.

He called it Simply Sensational Summer Scrap Quilt. Thanks, Kevin, for the fun!

I completed another three donation quilts. The agency to which I donate will be setting up their Christmas room later this week, so I'll be taking several quilts I made this year to them.

Donation Quilts (62" x 74")

All are made with 3.5" squares and these three have pieced backing and binding.


I'm also doing Bonnie Hunter's mystery, Frolic, this year. So far, we have made four-patches. As usual, I made WAY too many. I'm going to save the extras with my extras from past years. At some point, I'll combine them all and call the resulting quilt Mysterious Leftovers!

Just a few of my four-patches.

I think that is enough for now--it is the semester's end and a very busy time around here. Happy Quilting!

Still Solving the Mystery

I've almost completed the mystery from Kevin the Quilter.

This is only a part of the top, but I'll get a better picture when it is done. I'm calling it Cherry Mash after the Missouri-based candy.

Click photo to learn more about Cherry Mash

If you would like to make Kevin's pattern, the clues can be found HERE. Thanks to Kevin for the summer fun!

Mystery Time

As I mentioned last time, my pink scrap bins are full, so when Kevin the Quilter announced this mystery in two colors, I knew one of those colors would be pink.

I chose to pair it with brown--another color of which I have an overabundance.  In the first two clues, we made four-patches.


I did a mystery with Kevin last year with this result.

I'm looking forward to the next clue!

I'm also working on another project that I can't show yet, and I'm putting together more scraps for donation quilts. It is, however, time for the semester to begin, so things are about to get very busy.

Happy Quilting. 😸

Time to Catch Up!

I finally got some photos of the work I've been doing.

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Donation Quilts

I cut flannel scraps to make donation quilts. You can see the first batch HERE. They were kid size and made with kids' prints. The next ones were for adults.

Two with many florals

Three with plaids, stripes, and more

I layered them on the fence to take photos. They aren't identical, but they are made with the same mix of fabrics. All five are 60" x 72" and are backed with flannel.

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I've been using my 3.5" squares as Leaders/Enders this year. Here are three more I've put together for a total of eight. I don't have pictures of all of them, but they are all made the same way with a wide mix of scraps. They are 62" x 74" and are backed with solid colors.

Leader/Ender Project

I'll be continuing with the same leader/ender project this year. Though I've reduced my 3.5" square bin, it still has plenty of fabric left!

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I mentioned that I've been making Bonnie Hunter's quilt Sand Castles. You can see my previous posts here: 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Here she is--

Sand Castles (a Bonnie Hunter design) 84" x 84"

Sand Castles (backing and binding detail)

Sand Castles (detail)

Sand Castles (detail)

Though the design is titled Sand Castles, for some reason, the string squares remind me of birds' nests; thus, I used a backing fabric covered with birds on branches. This was a fun quilts to make--Bonnie Hunter writes great instructions, and it went together without a hitch!

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As I mentioned HERE, I have  been intimidated by Bonnie Hunter's Orca Bay pattern. I loved the quilt, but I was afraid to start it. I have overcome the fear and now I have my own version of the beautiful quilt. 

Meet my Orca Bay: The Christmas Edition.

 Orca Bay 80" x 90"

Orca Bay (detail)

Orca Bay (detail) The fabric with the beaver is from Christmas outfits I made for my kids over thirty years ago!

Orca Bay (detail) Look closely and you will find Waldo.

Orca Bay (detail) Santas, Cardinals, Snow People,...

Orca Bay (detail) Nutcracker, Peppermints, Christmas Goose,...

Orca Bay (detail) Musical Cat, Stripes, Dots,...

Orca Bay (detail) Santa Flamingo

Orca Bay (detail) And a partridge in a pear tree

I have made many Christmas quilts, but I never had one of my own--now, I do! 

Lesson Learned: Take one step at a time, and you can create something amazing, even if you are afraid.
 

 

Sand Castles Quilt Top

I have put my blocks together for the Sand Castles quilt from Bonnie Hunter's String Frenzy.

This isn't the greatest picture, but I don't like to handle tops too much before they are quilted to avoid stretching the edges (even though I stay-stitched them). So, I simply draped her over the countertop (she's a BIG girl) to give an idea of how she looks. After quilting, I'll hang her outside and get a better photo.

She will likely wait until the end of the semester for quilting--I'm pretty much overbooked for work until then! I'll show her again when she is completely finished.

Still Building Sand Castles

I'm continuing to work on Bonnie Hunter's Sand Castles quilt from her latest book String Frenzy.

I finished all the parts, so I'm now assembling blocks.

Here's a sample block.

 I love the way these are fitting together. The sashing provides a perfect fit for the seams pressed towards it. Everything ends up very flat and neat--front and back.

 

This is the back of the sample block.

For a little extra fun, I included this block. It may be a challenge to find amid the many four-patches when the quilt is done.

Where's Waldo?

This is a project that I'm really enjoying. As soon as I finish making the last few blocks, I'll start assembling them into the quilt top.

Happy quilting!

Happy String Break!

I'm enjoying String...errr...Spring Break this week.

I cleared the decks of projects, so I could start an new one during this week of time off from teaching.


My new project, you ask?

Sand Castles

This quilt is from Bonnie Hunter's latest book, String Frenzy. It includes string blocks and lots and lots (and lots and lots!) of four-patches.

As you can see, I've been working on the string blocks. Today, I'm sewing strips together for the four-patches.

String Blocks and Strips for Four-Patches

I'm enjoying a new project--and I've a long way to go!

Flannel Donation Quilts

In an earlier post, I showed how I cut up a bunch of my flannel scraps and kitted them into quilts. You can see that post HERE.


Here are my first two completed quilts. They are 48" x 60". (They really aren't as wonky in shape as the picture would indicate--I've got vines on the fence behind them!.)

Flannel Donation Quilts

Backing and Binding (detail)

Lots of Different Fabrics! (detail)

Flannel Donation Quilt (detail)

These are made of leftovers from other quilts, nightgowns, and anything else I could find. 😀


I've got more of these to make--stay tuned.

Flannel Scraps

About a month ago, I organized my fabric. I pulled out all the leftover flannel scraps from other projects and started cutting them into usable sizes.


I cut 2.5", 3.5", and 6.5" squares. I put the 2.5" squares together in nine-patches and the 3.5" into four-patches. Now everything measured 6.5", and I kitted them up for throw-size quilts.


I kitted kids' flannel into 80 units per bag. The quilts are/will be 8x10 blocks (48" x 60" finished). The other fabrics, I planned for adult quilts at 10x12 blocks (60" x 72" finished). In the end, I had enough for 4 kids' and 6 adults' quilts.

One kit

Blocks in a kit

I've sewn the kids' quilt tops together and have started on those for adults. The layout is random, so I can just sit down and sew these. I plan to use flannel backing to make these really snuggly and warm.

Kids' quilts

Working on adult quilt

There is a lot of sandwiching and quilting in my future, but I'm glad to have a plan for these flannel leftovers.

Good Fortune Clues 1 & 2 and Donation Quilts

Yay for Mystery Quilts! I'm enjoying Bonnie Hunter's Good Fortune Mystery.

Clue #1

Clue #2

And a selection of each

Five Leader/Ender Donation Quilts--I provide only one picture, but all are 3.5" (unfinished) squares arranged the same way. Sizes: 2@ 67"x86" and 3@ 62"x74"

I'll be linking with Quiltville's Monday Mystery Link-up.


Soon it will be time for Winter Break--yay! I'm ready for some serious quilting time. 😀

Lotsa Dots--A Mystery Quilt

You know me--I love mystery quilts!

A friend of mine on a quilting forum provides mysteries for quilters who enjoy mystery projects. I have made several of her quilts, and though I lagged behind on this one, I did get it finished.

Meet Lotsa Dots!

Lotsa Dots (84" x 84")

Lotsa Dots (detail)

Lotsa Dots (detail)

Lotsa Dots (backing and binding detail)

Most of the fabrics came from scraps and stash, though I did buy the sashing and backing fabrics for the project.




Below are pictures of a few of the other mysteries Judy has designed, and I have enjoyed making.

Lotsa Dots was a fun project--a very happy quilt! Thanks, Judy, for providing such a great mystery.

I'm linking with Fiber Tuesday 154 at The Quilting Room with Mel and Whatever Wednesday at Jo's Country Junction.