Summer Solstice

I'm loving the long days since the solstice last week. I am using the time to cut my fabrics for Melissa's Summer Solstice QAL. I just finished it up yesterday. I am so excited to see this one come together.

 Here are all my prints cut and labeled. I love how organized this whole process is.

 And here are my solids for the background. That was a lot of cutting, let me tell you. Over 6 yards of fabric to cut. I am making a queen size.

 And this is the whole stack. Fun to see where we start on a project isn't it? Next week, we sew!

And with that done, I am back to quilting my Heart Quilt #quiltsforpulse. I should have this sweet quilt finished today. I am so pleased with it. Have a lovely summer day. Talk to you soon.

Put a Little Love in Your Heart

Happy Friday to you. I have finished my quilt top for the #quiltsforpulse. It came together so fast and I am loving it. I spent lots of time thinking about who might receive it and hoping they would love it and feel all the love I am putting into it. It cannot take away the grief they feel, but hopefully can offer some measure of comfort.

 This is before I sewed all the blocks together. It took a bit to get a final arrangement.

 I don't particularly like using pins, but it helped all the hearts to come together so much easier, especially the little hearts. I threw those in for interest.

Every fabric in here but three is from my large pieces scrap files. I love the idea of making this with bits from other love filled quilts. So how about you? Can you put a little love in your heart to help out? I will see you soon and show you the finished quilt. I need to pick out a backing. The binding is already finished. Have a great weekend. Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts.

A Conversation with Myself

I work in such a noisy environment that I enjoy the quiet when I am at home. Many days I don't even have background music on. I don't know about you, but when I am sewing I talk to myself...a lot. Not always out loud, sometimes just in my head. Where is this leading? Hang in there with me for a moment.

I saw all the blog posts last week about making rainbow heart blocks for Quilts for Pulse that is being headed up by the Orlando modern quilt guild. I always want to help out in these cases. So my first thought was, "make some blocks to send".

 So I started pulling fabrics from my stash and making blocks. At first I though I would make a rainbow of seven blocks, ROYGBIV and pack them up and send them off. These are my first seven blocks. I took a break for lunch and as I had my sandwich at the computer, I read more about the victims and what the Orlando MQG was trying to do, and even though they said that every single block would help, and was greatly appreciated, I felt that my seven little blocks were pretty small.

 So I went back and started pulling more fabrics and sewing some more. As I sewed I thought that I could sew a bunch of blocks and send them. I told myself I couldn't possibly sew a whole quilt top. Then I asked myself "Why not?: I told myself "Charlotte, you do it all the time. You have done it for friends with cancer and you have done it for friends in need and it doesn't take that long to make a lap sized quilt." So as of this writing I have 13 large hearts and two small ones up on my design wall.

I took everything else off the wall. I have no idea where this will end up, but I feel compelled to keep going right now. I even found a bright piece of fabric I had forgotten about and I made a binding. So I guess that means I am making a whole quilt. And trying to sew love and hope into every block. I will keep you posted on my progress.

If you feel compelled, sew up some blocks. We need all the love we can get to send to these survivors and first responders and putting lots of love out there in the world is a beautiful thing. Talk to you soon.

My Sarah Jane Quilt is Done!

I've been having trouble posting pictures here tonight, and actually for the past couple of months. I know I am not the only one, but I have found a way around it for now. Not convenient, but it gets the job done. So anyway, here is my latest finish: my Sarah Jane quilt. Not a very original name, but using prints from a few of her lines. I think it really shows the fabrics off well.

I love every single stitch of it. It measures at about 60 inches square. Talk to you soon.

Joining Up

Melissa Corry is having a summer quilt along. The Summer Solstice Quilt Along. And I am joining her. Her blog is here. You should check it out and join up too.

Here is my fabric pull:

I am going to use a grey as my background. I just have to purchase that, but the rest is from my stash. I will use a Kona cotton grey, I think. So check it out and join us!

A Sarah Jane Finish

I have been collecting Sarah Jane prints and hoping for inspiration. I finally found it and now my quilt top is done.

I love all these prints and this is the best way to show them off. The block was a freebie from Fat Quarter Shop. I had enough different fabrics to make 16 blocks which made a nice size quilt. I chose the grey gingham for the sashing and the darker grey dots for the corner stones. I love the look. I plan to use some of the leftovers to make the back, I think. Stay tuned.
Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts.