The quilting was done in August but the bindings and labels were the project for the first week of the month. I have adopted this schedule for quilting: week 1: labels and binding, week 2: cutting kits, sewing up projects, pulling out UFO's etc to work on week 3: Rainbow scrap challenge and other monthly blocks of the month or steps in a mystery and week 4: quilting.
This plan really works with the way my mind likes to work. I have some friends that think I am crazy, silly, and too schedule oriented but, as long as I am happy with it, I am following it.
First we have the sew a long with Running Doe (Villa Rosa) and this is the pattern she chose for August. The pattern name is Crossroads and am sure this is the third pattern designer using this name. The quilt is made from browns that were mainly leftover backing scraps and the reds are from my scrap bin.
Heartstrings had panels as their challenge of the month and someone suggested using a panel as a backing. I have a few of these panels so they will become backs for Quilts of Valour projects. A super simple way to use a panel.
This is kind of funny... Another Crossroads pattern but, this one is a 3 yard quilt by Fabric Cafe. I had made one a few months ago and had some squares left for another quilt so I copied what I had done in the past. Simple way to set off Canadian themed fabrics. This will be a donation to Quilts of Valour.
A sew along with JQS summer quilt along. This was a group on Facebook and the variety of quilts made using these blocks is amazing. Some used a light sashing, others rearranged the blocks to create such different looking finished quilts. These blocks are all available for free on the Quilts of Valour website under resources. Remember Valour with a 'u' and it is a .ca webpage.
In the February Quilts of Valour sew day, Lisa Compton designed this block as a connector. The blocks finishes at 13" and I had squares of fabric that size leftover from the first time I made this and I also had some connector blocks leftover along with extra fabric so I made more blocks and ended up with another quilt for Quilts of Valour. This is all good because my cupboards of quilts for this cause is empty after sending my collection to Victoria so that the new rep can catch up on presentations requested a few years ago.
Carolyn's block - made from fat quarters with very little waste. Super simple project. I wrote down the cutting directions for this block from something I saw on the internet 5 or 6 years ago and still have the hand drawn diagram. In my stash of kits and fat quarter collections, I had these fabrics which I decided should go from being hidden away to being made into a finished quilt. I am not sure where this will go for donation but I like to have a few quilts on hand, just in case.
In August, I also tackled working with rainbow scrap challenge blocks from previous years. I always stack them in piles of colours as I finish the blocks each month. These are true strip scraps that get used up but the containers are still overflowing? I was trying different settings last month and this month to see which layout I prefer for the rest of the blocks.
I did not make this last quilt. It was donated last summer by Debbie from my local guild when I was collecting quilt tops to send to New Brunswick and Labrador so they could be finished there and used for presentations as they had very low inventories of quilts in those provinces. After I sent one box they let me know that they wanted to deal with the first group before more got mailed and since they haven't shown a need since then, I have been slowly finished the tops so graciously donated to Quilts of Valour. Thanks to Debbie for the quilt top and it is now finished and in my stack of quilts on hand for presentation to an injured Canadian armed forces member.
I have since tidied up, dealt with all the backing and batting trimmings from these quilts and have put away fabrics I pulled out for using for bindings. Everything neat and looking lovely and I almost hate to disturb the perfectly clean space... but many projects calling my name and the race is on to finish up as much as possible before age overtakes me.
In the meantime, radiation for my husband continues daily and that actually has given me more quilting time because his appointments are random which interferes with being able to schedule morning tennis games and far too hot here to play after 11am. It also allows me take over his watering duties as our zucchini and tomatoes are still growing like crazy though cucumbers plants are looking sad at the end of their life.
Back to school but not for me! Am thankful however, for the benefits I reap monthly and though I cursed when we were young and poor, I now see that the money taken away from every pay cheque is helping us to enjoy our retirement.
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