Hands 2 Help

This is my post to show the Hands 2 Help quilt that I made for this year. I chose the Little Lambs Foundation. They were looking for baby quilts this year and the way I was feeling, that was what I felt up to doing. It was tough to stay focused and get this done, but I made I and am very happy with the result. I need to get it packed up and in the mail.

 Made with Little Clementine fabric, perfect for a baby or toddler.

This is the back. A fabric gifted to me from a friend.

I was happy to participate again in this great charity. Thanks to Sarah for putting it out there for all of us.

Monday? Really?

Sometimes the days chug by slowly, but sometimes you look up and it's Monday again! Weird. Well we are over one month in official lock down here and I am okay with that. I keep busy, but there are some days that I don't feel like doing anything at all. Like today. So, let me show you what I did last week.

 This is the beginning of my Hands 2 Help quilt for this year. I bought a bundle of Little Clementine a while back, but then I didn't end up doing anything with it. Not sure why. So when I was looking through my stash, I saw this and thought it would make a cute baby quilt. The colors are soft and the prints are so very sweet.

I finally got off my butt and made the bicycle block for the Penny Sampler Quilt Club. I added flowers to my basket, because that seemed appropriate.

 I have finally finished all five of the pillow covers for my daughter and I mailed them out this morning. I can show you this one, since she has seen it. Each one is different, but made with some of the same fabrics so they go together, but not matchy.

And this is the back with a zipper flap to cover the zipper. I love those bananas.

 This is the front of my Dropcloth Sampler. I am enjoying this bit of handwork.

           And this is the back of the sampler. Almost as pretty.

And this is the pile of oranges we picked, waiting to get juiced and zested and made into lots of yummy treats.
So that was last week. I am crocheting today, and baking cookies this afternoon. Hopefully tomorrow I will feel like sewing again. Have a good week and stay safe.

Hands 2 Help Check In

Time for the first hands 2 help check in and I am ready! I had a big stack of 16 patch blocks that I made from a Kona jelly roll several years ago. Then, I couldn't quite decide what to do with them, so I put them aside. When this year's Hands 2 Help rolled around, I had just found them again, and figured out what to do.

 The first set, I arranged like this. I had two of each block so I made 4 quadrants for the quilt. It wasn't quite big enough,so I went searching for something that would cut at 2 1/2 inches to add a border.

 The second one is a bit more girly. I love the pinks and yellows on this one. I think that both of these will make great baby quilts for Jack's Basket.

And then I searched in my limited drawer of bigger chunks of fabric for backings. My Bernina has been in the shop for the last week being serviced, but we picked it up on Saturday. This week, quilting these is way at the top of the list. I want to get them in the mail before the end of April. I still am no sure about binding, but I will wait until I get to that point.
Thanks so much to Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict for organizing this once again.

And Meanwhile, InOther News...

So I thought I should maybe show you some of the other stuff I have been making lately. I sew almost every single day.

 I am crocheting the Woodland blanket from Attic 24 for my middle daughter. This is usually my evening hand work project.

 I have pin basted the cows and pigs quilt for a sweet little boy I know. These were left from the fabric panel from Farm Fresh. I used the chickens and roosters elsewhere.

 And a nice bright rainbow on the back, using up these fabrics I have had forever.

 The first of my Hands 2 Help quilts. I have enough of these 16 patch blocks to make two baby quilts for Jack's Basket. That is the charity I have chosen. So happy to find a good use for these blocks.

 Still working on the 100 Blocks 100 Days quilting. I had started it two weeks ago, but had to put it aside to finish Light in the Window.

And here are some pin cushions for my craft fair. I have a bunch of other items as well. Several types of zip pouches and such. That is coming up in early May.
Hope you have a lovely day.

Busy Busy Busy

I have so much stuff going on. I finally finished doing my jury service and am back to sewing. I have a quilt pin basted, a quilt ready to be pin basted, back is made and just finished another quilt top. I made a table runner for a friend and am working on small pouches and bags for a craft fair I am doing in May.  And I just signed up for Hands 2 Help at Confessions of a Fabric Addict. Some pictures?

 These are the blocks, clipped together by rows. I can't show the quilt just yet. But soon.

                         This is the runner back.

This is the front, made with more of the chickens from Farm Fresh fabric panel. The recipient collects small ceramic chickens.

 And last weekend, my iron died and so I went out and bought this one. It got some of the best reviews, but it is hard getting used to a new iron.

 I finished crocheting my Sweet Pea blanket with Lucy from Attic 24. I am loving the colors.

And because I have found that I must always have a hand project, I began another crochet blanket for my middle daughter.
So that's what's keeping me busy. I hope you are all well and surviving the last of the winter. We are expecting warmer sunny days here by the end of the week. Woo Hoo!!!

Pleased As Punch

That is how I feel with the way this week has gone. I did everything on my list and then some. I had hoped to get it all done, but I did leave room for disruptions, as I know that can happen. But it didn't this week. Here is part of what I got done:

 This is the first of the 2 Hands 2 Help quilts. Sewn, quilted and bound. Now it just needs a wash.

 This is the fun back on this one. Love the ombre dots from oh so many years ago.

And the binding is made up of many binding scraps, which only adds to the colorful appeal.

 This is the back of the second quilt. Blogger decided to rearrange the pictures for me.

 Here is the front of the second quilt. Both quilts are made the same and of lots of 5 inch charm squares I have on hand. I seldom buy charm squares any more, but I bet I could make lots more of these with just what I have on hand.

And here again is a binding made up of scraps of other bindings. I was so happy to use up so much from my stash on these. I think I will probable continue to make more quilts like these and then figure out where to donate them. I love thinking of someone using them. These will go out in the mail next week.  This is my first year to join Hands 2 Help and I have really enjoyed it. Got a lovely little thank you not from Little Lambs. I am already starting to think about next year and eyeing my scraps. A great use for them.
Have a great weekend.
linking up to Crazy Mom Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

Happy Monday

I have such a huge sewing list to work on, that I thought I might hold myself accountable here in my blog space. I have made a list and want to work through everything on the list before I start a new project, which I am always itching to do. I am the queen of starts.

 The two most important items on my list are my Hands 2 Help quilts. They must be done and in the mail by the end of May. I would like to ship them off before Mother's Day. That is my goal. Last week I pieced the backs for them, so now it's time to pin baste.

That is my least favorite part of quilting. These quilt tops are 50 inches square, so hopefully won't take too long. On tap this week, not in order of achievement is to pin baste and quilt these two, cut fabric and hem for curtains for my middle daughter. I also have some head scarves to make for her that I have yet to start.

The last thing on my list is some pouches and note cards I am making to sell. I am trying to build up an inventory of these towards selling them. Maybe on Etsy, I haven't planned it all yet. I am using lots of scraps to make these and I just got a new batch of zippers from Zipit.

Gotta go. Lots to sew. Talk to you soon.

I'm Back and I Only Sewed Two Days This Week

Back from my visit to North Carolina. I had a great time with two of my daughters and their husbands and oh, those grandchildren. I can't believe how much they have all grown since I saw them last August. I go home Tuesday night and I was pooped. I only did a bit of sewing on Wednesday and a wee bit on Thursday. The weather here was so pretty I have found several tasks to keep me busy and out of the sewing room.

 I finished assembling this quilt top for the Hands 2 Help campaign that Sarah is hosting on Confessions of a Fabric Addict. This one is either good for a boy or girl.

 Then I cut the neutral squares for this more girly one. I need to get it stitched up this week so I can get backing done and get them finished up. Technically I have until the end of May, but I hate to wait until the last minute. Now that I am more rested, I should be able to get them moving forward this next week

 I also made the binding for the Big Bed QAL that Rachel at Stitched In Color is hosting. I used edges of the wide backing that were leftover after it was quilted.

 Looks a little washed out in this picture, but I got it pinned and stitched on to the quilt.

And now that that is done, I have an evening hand stitch project to work on stitching down the other side. After that, label and wash and dry and on to the bed!! Can't wait to see it all finished up. I will talk to you soon.