July... a busy twelve days so far this month.

 I had/have a purpose and have been motivated by having a birthday and realizing that the years go by and eventually, life as I know it, will come to an end.  

It all started with two kits that I picked up at a guild meeting to make preemie quilts for local NICU.  That has always been near and dear to my heart having been through the experience of having grandsons born at 25 weeks gestation and only one surviving.  He spent 3 months in the NICU and I know that quilts serve a number of purposes.  They keep the baby in the dark which is good for the development of their eyes and they add colour to the nursery as well as helping parents to quickly identify the location of their baby's isolette.  They move the babies as they grow and develop with the most in danger preemies at one end of the room and as they improve, they get moved to the next row and so on until they are mature and healthy enough to go into a small cot.  

I made one of the kits and while making the second realized that it was cut strangely and I messed up so needed some pink girlie fabric to fix it. I dug out my bin of girlie baby fabrics.  Once the top was made, I thought I would dedicate the month of July to making more quilts for the NICU.  I pulled out another container of baby fabrics.  Then a third, fourth and so it goes.  Once I had them all out, I thought it would be a good time organize.  UGH. 

I stopped and thought about how to organize and what I would use so that meant looking at the most common patterns I use for these small quilts.  Most of them are made with happy blocks which need a center square and a frame.  It seems that I really like 3.5" centers and 5" centers.  I did find some blocks made using 10" squares and then there was a stack of 6.5" and 6" squares already cut.  

From there, I figured out that I would first go through and pull out all the larger pieces of fabric that were a meter/yard or longer and put them into a container.  They will be good for borders or making strippie quilts.  Next, I sorted fabrics and pulled out all the fat quarters and filled a container with those.  They will be good for either Yellow Brick Road pattern or Carolyn's blocks.   

After that, anything that was chunky or smaller or a long quarter of fabric, got cut up. I cut into 6", 5" and 3.5"  with a few 4" squares and all got stacked nicely.  I detest cutting squares but I was motivated by Crazy Quilter on a Bike and saw her cutting up a bin of brown fabrics.  If she could do it, so could I! 

Then, any fabric that would work as frames got cut into 2" strips.  Back in February, our Wednesday quilt Diva group had done a big push to make a bunch of 5" surrounded blocks and then quilt tops for preemies, youth and Residential school survivors and I had a nice stack of the leftover blocks for kids.  I kept cutting and then cut the strips into the size needed to surround 3.5" centers. 

Then it was time to start sewing and I worked for a few days making the framed 3.5" blocks, called Happy Blocks by the Heartstrings group I belong to.  I got six quilt tops made.  

This is one of the first ones I put up on the design wall. The blocks measure 6" finished so there are 30 blocks in a quilt. Six quilts made so 180 blocks with a few leftover to get me started next time I have an idea that I should make more of these blocks.  I do have a nice stack of the centers left as well for the next go round.

After these were made, I switched to working with the 5" centers and got 7 quilt tops made with those.  Some of the blocks were leftover from the February block making spree and then I carried on with what I had spent my time cutting. The first one I made, I used alternating frames but the rest were made using a variety of fabrics. 

All seven tops are finished.

So that gives me a total of 15 preemies waiting for me to spend a few afternoons cutting flannelette backing and batting, layering the top, batting and bottom and then I need to get busy doing some quilting.  After that, I need to dig out fabrics for binding and see what is in my stash of striped fabrics as they all seem to work well with scrap quilts.   My goal is to be finished by the end of the month. Besides having 15 tops ready for the NICU, I feel so good about my children's fabric organization. All neatly labelled and stacked so I can see what I have at a glance.  The top bin that the lid doesn't fit on is all fabric that I think will make pillowcases for toddler, children, and older kids and can be used for making the cases for the kids going to burn camp in 2024. 

Even better!!!  Empty bins!  Yippeee.  That feels so good.

I had a great surprise today at our Wednesday Diva group.  One of my friends made me something special.  I love to read for a bit in bed at night and I tuck an extra pillow behind my head and then usually drop my book on the floor when I turn out the light. I love it!  A huge thank you to Marge. 

I have tidied up all my mess from the last twelve days and will vacuum thoroughly, empty scrap baskets etc and am ready for the next step in finishing these quilts.  I felt a bit like I was in a factory, chain piecing block after block, but all done and am happy. 

This is quilted for a dear friend who has passed away and had started a quilt for her grandson.  Between a few of us in the guild, some stitching was undone that didn't look good, and I quilted it.  Waiting for label information and then I will bind it and a special boy will get a wonderful hug from his departed Grandma. 

Sympathy for those having horrible summer weather while others are melting under extreme heat.  Mother Nature is cranky these days. 

One day left... in June and in my 75th year

 It feels good to have accomplished what I set out to do in early June with finishing some quilt tops and also completing the quilting and binding of some of the tops that were patiently waiting on hangers.  

In the meantime, I have also pieced more tops and the hanging section of my stairwell is full again.  That is a good thing because it means I have accomplished some projects that were waiting but now, time to think about another quilting marathon. 

At the moment, I have a quilt that I am quilting for a dear friend, Rose, that died earlier this year with a quilt for one of her grandsons not quite finished.  That will be done in the next day or two and a label will get added along with the binding.  

The Patterns by Jen was a gray block and I made two, as usual, with lights and darks reversed.  They ae the two in the center of the picture.  The colour for the Rainbow scrap challenge was a repeat and I thought that it would be a good idea to reduce the gray scraps by making my strip pieced and plus blocks the same and hopefully, reduce the gray bin?  

I also got busy and made blocks for Canada Stitches.  That group makes quilts from blocks mailed in and the completed projects are presented to first responders who attend Can Praxis at Rocky Mountain house to get support for their PTSD.  Spouses and significant others are invited to attend and there is a presentation at the end which shows them wrapped in their quilts.  I hadn't sent in any blocks for a year so time to change that.  I made a selection of Churn dash blocks.

There was room left in the box so made some Jelly Roll Ripple blocks, pattern from Fat Quarter Shop and I dug out browns and beiges with a few reds and stitched them up.  The box is full with my contributions as well as some from another guild member who makes blocks for this cause. 

Next on the list was making pillowcases for adolescents heading to burn camp run by our local firefighters.  The wife of one of the organizers is a member of a guild I belong to and for the last few years, she has collected pillowcases to hand out the kids as they arrive and it is a big hit.  I had been collecting fabric that might work for teenage kids, especially boys, and once I got going, made far more cases than I had intended BUT, the bin of fabric is now less than half full!   I think there are seventeen and quite a variety.  She lets the kids choose their case from what she has on hand so nice for her to have a variety.

This quilt top got stitched together after being cut earlier in the year.  I saw a picture (probably on Pinterest?) and it was easy to copy and figure out.  I used 6.5" centers and 3.5" strips.  I ran out of the red so had to add in some brown.  This will be finished (eventually) and become a Quilt of Valour.

Another quilt top completed.  I was worried at first that the red/green combination might look like Christmas but, it worked with the maple leaf print fabric.  It is Square Dance by Fabric Cafe and is a 3 yard quilt although I always use more than that amount of fabric.

One more Fabric Cafe 3 yard quilt is Strip Happy and I included a close up of the Canadian themed fabric that I used. 

So, these are now folded and hanging on the rod, waiting for the next step.  Since I have added quite a few tops to my hanging section, it might be time to quilt a few?  I finished quilting my wall hanging and this was a recent purchase in May at a local quilt show.  Easy and fun! 

One more day in this month and I will have to get my brain to accept that I have a new number when asked for my age.  The good thing about having to renew my driver's license is that seniors get it for a good price and I had the realization that I have been driving for 60 years.  

I have one book left in my Patrick Taylor, Irish Doctor series and am reading the last book in the Virgin River series.  Now it will be time to catch up on reading an assortment of books that I have collected recently.  I can't wait to read the next Gil McNeill book because I love her British sense of humour.  Having been raised by a mum that was British, I identify with so many of the terms that she uses in her stories.  And, another book by Kate Quinn - the Diamond Eye and this is another author that writes about Britain during WWII which again I relate to since my mum was a war bride.  Louise Penny and her newest book is also waiting for me to busy reading.  

Reading, tennis, quilting and taking my husband to appointments seems to be my daily routine?  Happy Summer to everyone and hopefully y'all get time to do what you enjoy. 

More June finishes!

 I have been pushing myself to get some of the tops off of hangers and have some finished projects.  So far so good.  Less computer time, less time on my phone and no time at my sewing machine for piecing!  Two Illusion quilts got made... one is for donation to my traditional guild and one to the modern guild.  I decided against one large quilt as the colours were very bright and I wasn't sure about a recipient.

This is Amalie super sized, a pattern by GE Designs.  I used some older batiks for this one.

Two Bento box quilts made from one jelly roll using Kat Potter's directions for making the blocks.  Very bright quilts and again, decided to make two for donation rather than one really big quilt. These look the same but are different.

Meadowland mystery from last year is quilted and bound. 

Hip to Be Square is a rainbow scrap challenge from 2022... this turned out way larger than I had intended and is a bit out of my normal colour choices... using blacks and white is not normal for me.

And some new starts!  A heartstrings challenge for June using fat quarters.

A quick 3 yard quilt is on the design wall.

This is the patterns from Fabric Cafe. 

And strip twist blocks are finished and joined so another top joins the hanger brigade!

I feel good with so many tops turned into finished quilts and now back to piecing before the next quilting and binding marathon.

A few finishes since Saturday

 I have been totally focused on getting some of these tops quilted and then I spent some time on Monday and Tuesday afternoon working on binding four of them.   

So far, this is what has been accomplished: I have the quilt made from the "Parade" block that was designed for Quilts of Valour earlier this spring.  Lots of older Northcott Oh Canada fabrics used as well as some of the new ones for 2023. 

Town Square is a 3 yard quilt and I demonstrated making these blocks at guild last month.  I used up a lot of fabrics in the center along with some red donated to QOV by Hilda.

In March, while at our 'other' house for a few weeks, I put together this quilt top.  I used the idea of the 3 yard quilt called Illusions but used 5 yards and created extra blocks. 

Another 3 yard quilt called Sew Quick used up some older fabric with a Canadian theme.  I included a close up of the novelty fabric with names of places from around our country.

This is the heartstrings challenge for July - use some fat quarters and my blocks are made, just patiently waiting for bindings to get done before I join these blocks into a top.

I still have a huge stack of quilts (it seems) waiting for binding and one more ready to load and get quilted.  It is hot enough here and so much smoke in the air from forest fires that hiding inside seems to be the only option.  

My list progress for June.  I have added to this list, of course, since I wrote it a few days ago. 

My new list for this month:

1. Rainbow scrap challenge strip and plus blocks - colour chosen was blue but we have already had blue so I will work with my browns since the bin is overflowing. 

2. Finish blocks for Strip twist and get the top put together - blocks are finished, just waiting to join them into a quilt top

3. Finish Carolyn's fat quarter blocks (Heartstrings challenge for June) and get top put together

4. PBJ block for June - gray 

5. Quilt two Bento box tops -One is done

6. Quilt two Illusions tops

7. Bindings!  There will be at least 11 finished quilts to bind and more if I get bento box and Illusions quilted in a timely manner   Bindings 1, 2, 3, 4 are done. 

8. Quilt art wall hanging quilted and bound and hung on the wall. 

9. Make a 3 yard quilt (already kitted up) at Saturday modern guild sew in.  

10. Catch up on row x rows for May and June - 4 to get done!  

11. Make a few pillowcases for the kids going to burn camp in July.  

So far, a fabulous June!

 Only three days into the month but, weather is glorious - sunny but not hot.  Our gardens are growing nicely though we need to water daily because May had one rainy day and we broke records for driest and warmest May in 125 years!  Doesn't bode well for forest fires and our reservoirs but Mother Nature has her own agenda.  In the past, June has been unpredictable when I think back on sports days at elementary schools.  We would listen to the radio in the mornings while commuting to work and the list of cancellations for the planned celebrations and activities was long and frustrating for organizers. 

But, here we are, enjoying perfect weather.  

This was my list for the last ten days of May: 

1. Rainbow scraps in orange for my strip and plus blocks - Done

2. Patterns by Jen in soft blue for May - Done

3. Complete two row by rows as per my own challenge to myself for 2 per month NOT DONE

4. Stitch blocks together for Town square. Done

5. Load and quilt 2 tops?  Hoping I can make myself do that... I need to figure out how to bribe myself. Done and I managed to quilt 6 tops and make the bindings.  Am very pleased with my concentrated effort to reduce the quilts on hangers. 

The Town Square, started at a guild class on making a 3 yard quilt, is not only put together, but it is also quilted and waiting for binding. 

May orange rainbow scrap challenge blocks made.  The scraps in my orange bin is actually below the top! 

RSC orange plus blocks done!

This cute panel that I bought at the Langley quilt show from Cherry Tree Quilts is layered, waiting for quilting and the binding is made.

T

This was the stack of quilted quilt tops with bindings made when I had done four.

Happily, the pile grew to 6 by the last day of May. 

 I spent this morning cutting and stitching some backings for four more quilt tops but still need to cut the batting for them.

Quilt #7 is loaded and started - hoping to add it to the pile waiting for binding, later today.

Most of the quilts on hangers are for Survivors of residential schools.  I am waiting to hear if there is a need locally or will I cram them all into a box and mail to Ontario for them to finish?  If there is a need locally, then these will get layered, quilted and bound and ready for presentation.  There are three quilts of Valour on the right that I am in no rush to get completed as I have a decent stack of quilts on hand at the moment.

This is my Gudrun - GE Designs, strip twist.  I decided to use the entire jelly roll and make more blocks.  They are finished and waiting for pressing and trimming and then I can figure out how I want to arrange these blocks.  I am thinking about centering all the lighter blocks in the middle and working out with darker blocks? 

I was in Friday night Zoom sewing with my friends in the modern guild last night and this is what I have to deal with this morning - lots of pressing and trimming.  I think I have all of the strip twist blocks made and I also stitched up a set of Carolyn's blocks from 12 fat quarters.

This was the stack of cut fat quarters waiting to be stitched into blocks that are above.

Lots of weeding was done this past week and trimming the tulips and daffodil stems now that they have finished blooming.  The poppies are glorious in their colour.

The peonies are not very plentiful this year but they are so close to opening.

Since we have had no rain, the rose bushes are fabulous and blooming like crazy.

Am happy with the garden this year even if it means nightly watering. 

My new list for this month:

1. Rainbow scrap challenge strip and plus blocks - colour chosen was blue but we have already had blue so I will work with my browns since the bin is overflowing. 

2. Finish blocks for Strip twist and get the top put together

3. Finish Carolyn's fat quarter blocks (Heartstrings challenge for June) and get top put together

4. PBJ block for June - gray 

5. Quilt two Bento box tops - one is done

6. Quilt two Illusions tops

7. Bindings!  There will be at least 11 finished quilts to bind and more if I get bento box and Illusions quilted in a timely manner

8. Quilt art wall hanging quilted and bound and hung on the wall. 

9. Make a 3 yard quilt (already kitted up) at Saturday modern guild sew in.  

10. Catch up on row by rows for May and June - 4 to get done! 

Sounds easy enough but you never know what can get in my way!  I am about to read the last book in my Irish Doctor series and am sad to finishing my time with my Irish village that I have enjoyed being a part of along with lessons in Irish history.  This is perfect weather for afternoon reading on our upstairs patio... not too hot but sunny and comfortable.  

Happy June to everyone.  Life is good! (at the moment).