H2H....It’s a Wrap

Where did the time go?  I think the craziness of the pandemic had something to do with it.  Now that hubby and I are both working from home, there is less of routine that defines our day.  No one is commuting to work and meals happen whenever and less on a schedule.  So time seems to just pass by.  I have heard many people (and that includes me) say they are having the worst time keeping track of what day of the week it is.  I started marking off the days on my calendar for a reality check 🤣😂.

After making hundreds of masks, I really needed to get my Quilty mojo back.  And I am happy to say, it finally did kick in.  Just in the nick of time.  So without further a do....

I finished my flower quilt that I previously posted about (a fabulously fun Missouri Star Quilt Co. design).  This one went on it’s way to Quilts of Compassion Disaster Relief....the day before Sarah’s email arrived asking us to hold off mailing them...oops 😜.

 Charity #3 : Caregivers Quilt initiative inspired me to do something special for a few people that  were on the front lines of the COVID craziness in my little world.  I wish I could have made a quilt for all of our Heroes of this pandemic.  Every health care worker, grocery store worker, mail carrier, sanitation worker....each is a care giver in their own way.   Let me share with you the ones that I did manage to make.

The first caregiver quilt (Colorblock Love quilt by Hunter’s Design Studio) went to my daughter’s friend Danielle.  Danielle is a cardiac nurse at a local hospital.  What better way to show some love but to spell it out L-O-V-E in some giant quilt blocks!

The next Caregiver quilt (designed by Diane of Butterfly threads quilting)  went to my friend Sharon who is a med tech in a laboratory of another local hospital.  Sharon is still isolating herself from family and friends to help insure their safety.  This one is full of Tula Pink from my stash.  Tula is bound to bring a smile to anyone’s face, don’t you think?  Her fabric lines are just so full of whimsy.  I just love Tula Pink!

My final Caregiver quilt is actually just a single quilt block .  I joined the Love and Hugs from Australia quilt along that came about because of the pandemic.  Although I haven’t had a chance to make all of the blocks, I did complete the one by Anni Downs as it seemed just the message of encouragement to send to another COVID hero (Kim) of mine.

I met Kim who is the director of nurses at a local Nursing home when she put out a plea for masks through our local quilt shop’s newsletter.  I made her hundreds of masks over several weeks and my heart just broke to see all she and her staff were going through.  Making this for her helped me heal the feelings of helplessness that I was feeling, I can’t even fathom all that they were (and still are) going through.

I admire the courage and selflessness of these three women (as well as all whom I’ve heard their stories but don’t personally know).  My hope is that they feel the love and prayers that were prayed with each and every stitch I made.

As my quilt label says.....From my heart to yours.....❤️❤️

Sarah, THANK YOU for the opportunity to spread the love.  And for the opportunity to use up some fabric from my stash.  The best part of using it up is that now I get to shop for more...Wooohooo

H2H for 2020

I found myself a little behind in starting on my quilt for The Hands 2 Help challenge this year.   Like many others in the quilting community I have been spending much of my free time making surgical masks. So time just got away from me.   I had plans of making a fun and scrappy rail fence quilt, but my quilting mojo just was not feeling it.  So I decided maybe a better plan would be to start with a UFO that was well under way.  A while back, I had fallen in love with a quilt made of “giant” tulip blocks while watching a Missouri Star Quilt tutorial.  Jenny Doan does just wonderful how-to tutorials.  I had quite a pile of these fun blocks sitting next to my sewing machine.  So up on my design wall they went.  They make quite a nice garden, don’t you think?

A quilty hug...

Quilts are just the best gift.  They give as much enjoyment to the giver as they do the recipient.  I think all quilters would agree, yes?  Because so much joy was felt during the making, some of that joy is bound to be be felt by the recipient.  At least that is my hope.  

My Hands2Help quilt will be sent off this week to Emily for Quilty Hugs for Happy Chemo.

This lovely pattern is from Diane D. Knott's newest book.....Thank-you Diane for your wonderful scrappy quilts.  They truly are fabulous!  Now to decide which one to make next.  Hmmmm.....  

We finally had some fleeting sunshine so I could photograph outside.  I especially love making a scrap quilt for someone going through a difficult time (like chemotherapy).  Perhaps, they will be distracted from their illness and fears for a little while at least as they "discover" the "hidden pictures" sewn into their quilt.  What better way than this to use up those beloved novelty prints.  It warms my heart to think I may be able to brighten someone's day.  Even if it is for a fleeting moment....

And as everyone knows, a quilt is not complete without a label.  I also thought I would try to show off my new go to machine quilting design, too.  My photography skills are not the best, so hopefully it can be seen in the picture below.  Just in case you have to use your imagination to see it.....This one is a boxy meander.  I'm a novice machine quilter, so I'm trying to slowly build a repertoire of quilting designs.  

After I chose my backing fabric, I realized that if the recipient is "too young", they might not even know what those "funny looking things" on the fabric are?  My how times have changed (giggle).  I probably should have looked for one with cellphones rather than rotary phones.  But....they could be a conversation starter (giggle).  So maybe my selection is okay after all.   

I hope my quilt brings enjoyment and warmth to whomever's lap it lands on.....

Thank-you Sarah for the countless hours you spend (and have spent) on organizing H2H.  The guest blog posts were wonderful!  I enjoyed them so much.  And I loved the opportunity to try out a new pattern, use up some of my beloved scraps and practice my machine quilting. 

I'm looking forward to next year's challenge 💙💚💛💜!

H2H 2019

Time flies.....It is so hard to believe that we are so close to the end of another H2H season.  My favorite time of year.

I’m very fond of String pieced Quilts.  Making string blocks is like a trip down memory lane.  Each time I dip into my big tub of “strings” and gather a bunch to complete a block, I am reminded of the original quilt from which they came and the wonderful occasion that quilt was made for.  It is amazing how these little bits of scraps can still bring such joy.

I chose a string quilt from Diane D. Knott’s new book.  It’s a spectacular book for scrap quilt enthusiasts.  And I highly recommend it.

I just finished quilting my labor of love which I recently loaded on my quilting frame.

I’m working on getting the hang of my Q’nique.  It is a wonderful little machine from Grace Company.  Perfect for someone like me who really wanted a longarm but wanted a machine that was simple to operate and has just enough bells and whistles.  I’m still just a beginner with this new member of my sewing machine fleet, but am becoming more confident with FMQ on it.

Now on to one of my favorite things....the binding.  It really is one of my favorite things to do.  I know I am probably in the minority here, but I really do enjoy binding a quilt.  It might just be because it means the quilt is finally done 🤣😂 .

H2H

I guess it is true that all good things must come to an end since this is our final link up to Hands 2 Help.   I had a wonderful time meeting new friends and being inspired by their fabulous quilts.  When I signed up to join this party, I had the hardest time deciding which charity to pick and oh my goodness, “What quilt am I going to make?”

This isn’t easy, but I have a confession to make.  I have almost as many quilting books in my bookcase as fabric in my stash.  Phew, glad I got that off my chest.  Afterall, admitting to the problem is the first step, right?

So off to my bookcase I went.  Lately I have had a hankering to make a quilt from Gyleen X. Fitzgerald’s book Bricks, Cobblestones, and Pebbles.

Perfect, decision one was made.  I now knew what quilt I was going to make.  One of Gyleen’s wonderful quilts it is.  Now, what charity?  Hmm...I guess I will just let my quilt select the charity.  I know it will tell me when all is said and done.

And tell me it did......my quilt will be going to Quilty Hugs for a Happy Chemo.  I “built” this quilt with “cobblestones” and each “cobblestone” is made from a different fabric with the exception of the brick red center which is in the middle of each block.  I hope the recipient of my quilt feels the love with which it was made and may pass the time by discovering all the different fabrics from which it was built.

I hope you have enjoyed this journey as much a I have.  Thank you, Sarah for letting me tag along.  Until we meet again, ❤️Paula

Happy Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful woman who have nurtured children whether they are their birth parent or not.  We all have had wonderful strong women in our lives who have made us the people we are today.

So in honor of Mother’s Day.....

I’ve been spending the day feeding my soul with needle and thread....

I’m having so much fun with Gyleen’s book “ Bricks, Cobblestones and pebbles.  This one is for a friend whose husband was recently diagnosed with cancer.  I hope this will remind her that I am holding her in my heart and thoughts and prayers.  And that she is not alone in this journey.

Ilene loves Disney and she and her hubby spend lots of vacations there so I could not resist including Mickey and Minnie.  I hope it invokes lovely memories made and a sign of more to come.  

Until we meet again ❤️Paula

H2H challenge is coming along

Well, my cobblestone quilt is hot off the quilt frame and ready to bind.....

( my previous post has the back story)

This was quilted on the newest addition to my quilting fleet.....

I bought this at Quilt Festival in Houston last fall.  My sweet hubby said we just had to go cuz flights were too cheap to pass up....so I said “okay, if you insist”.  It was such a great buy that I just could not resist.  I still have a lot to learn but I’m enjoying this new adventure sooo much.  Who would have guessed that quilting on my Bernina or my Tiara (I did say it was the newest member of the fleet 🤣😂) could be so different than quilting on this?

Time to go grab a cup of tea and get to that binding....In the meantime, why don’t you hop over to see what others are working on for the.....H2H challenge

Until we meet again.....❤️ Paula