Back in the saddle

 Well well well... so much for trying to get back into a more regular blog posting routine.  I really hadn’t been able to quilt any big projects for a very long time because my machine needed  to be serviced.  I did make Christmas placemats and a bag or two on the machine I borrowed from my daughter and that was the sum total for almost a year.  I finally have my machine back and have managed to quilt three quilts this week before going to work.  I didn’t commit to Hands2Help This year because of my machine needing service but I did send one of the quilts off to Quilty Hugs for Happy Chemo so I was happy about that.  Unfortunately I forgot to snap a photo.  Here are pics of the other two scrap quilts ( old WIPS) I was able to complete.  A quick mention that I ordered custom quilt labels for the first time as I have decided to finally open an Etsy shop😊.  Hope you all are healthy and happy after the difficulties of the past year.

Regards,

Maxine

Hands2Help link up

The time has come for the final link up for Hands2Help 2020 .   As I mentioned in my last post, my  my Janome is being serviced so I was only able to complete three baby quilts and not the original total of about 5 quilts I had planned.  My daughter lent me her machine and I was able to make three pillowcases to supplement the baby quilts I sent to Little Lambs foundation.  I’m linking the same photo of the baby quilts from my previous post as that is the only picture I have and a picture of the pillow cases.  Thank you again to Sarah for your hard work in organizing this event!  I look forward to it every year and I maintain that the quilting community is comprised of  some of the kindest and most generous people I know.  Stay safe and be well!

Maxine

H2H 2020

Hello there!  I hope everyone is safe and healthy during these unprecedented times.  I am happy to participate in Hands 2 Help again this year.  Originally had planned to compete 5 quilts in total but then the lockdown happened and I got distracted by the need for fabric face masks.  In total I have made around 150 and I still have some to make for myself for my eventual return to work.   I was able to pull from scraps and make three baby quilts.  I used the “Stacks” pattern from the book Gowing Up Modern by Allison Harris of Cluck Cluck Sew fame.  I really like this book for easy and yet striking baby quilts.  I made one decidedly girl, one boy and one gender neutral.  I was also able to piece a top and a backing for a large throw intended for gifting to a health care worker but then..... my machine went on the blink.  The tension is off and I tried to remedy it myself and was unsuccessful.  As soon as my machine is serviced I will quilt it and give it to it’s recipient.  Here are the baby quilts I made for Little Lambs.

  I was also able to borrow my daughter’s machine and make some Easter placemats and a runner.  It ate some scraps and kept me busy.  That is a win and I’ll take it.  Her machine is straight stitch only so I hand quilted each one a bit just to embellish them .  I gifted them without getting pictures of them completed, so typical, but they were well received.  Stay well everybody!

Until next time,
Maxine

Thank you cards

These are my thank you cards.   I have a daughter who is an emergency room nurse in NJ and I am doing my part by staying indoors and following all recommendations for slowing the spread of this virus.  I am so very grateful for the sacrifice all of the first responders, medical professionals and essential workers alike.  To hear my daughter is given one mask and they have no gowns etc frightens me beyond belief and she certainly is not alone!  The news highlights the desperate need for PPE and the only thing I know to do is to sew.  I stopped the work on charity quilts and made some face masks.  I am sending them out as a symbol of gratitude and support for those who are working so very hard!  Please stay safe....

Birds of a different feather

Hello out there!  I have been staying busy at the sewing machine.  I finished a long  languishing Goodnight Irene quilt.  It was made of the last earth tone scraps I had from making two prior quilts from same scraps.  These colors are NOT colors that I am drawn to at all and that is probably why this project sat for so long.  As luck would have it my daughter and her boyfriend were in need of an outdoor/picnic quilt so I upsized it with borders and backed it with camo fabric and gifted it to them.  I consider it a win!  I Also gifted a Sailboat quilt to a cute two year old for his birthday.  As of late I have put together my scrappy bird blocks and am currently working on the scrappy borders.  This is an effort to use up my never ending supply of scraps.  This quilt makes me smile not only because of the riot of color but because there are pieces of nearly every quilt I’ve made.  I have several pieces of fabric my eldest daughter brought me back from her trip to Thailand and I plan to use one of the pieces for the back .  Indoor pics due to weather do not do the colors justice but I have to make do.  Until next time,
Maxine

Purple Posies

My daughter-in- law has two friends that she has known since around kindergarten and it is safe to say that the three of them are definitely the Three Amigos personified.  One of these young ladies is due any day with a little girl.  Months ago when discussing the nursery theme and or colors,  she said she had no information because the expectant mama wasn’t sure if they were moving before the babies’ arrival.  She said only that purple was her favorite color and roses were her favorite flower.  Well the light bulb went on almost immediately.  The French roses quilt has been on my quilt bucket list for a long time.  So I set about perusing Pinterest for some inspiration.  There are many different layout possibilities but none that struck my fancy so I grabbed my draft paper and sketched out something a little different.  I love the look of old vintage quilts
and I think this turned out with the vibe I was shooting for.  I made coordinating cloth diaper burp cloths and they will be gifted this weekend.  I was forced to take pictures in the classroom at work because it was raining today so the colors don’t look quite right but they will have to do for now 😉

Hands2Help 2019 wrap up

Hello All !

It has been such a productive and inspiring challenge this year.  Every year seems to surpass the last in the number of participants and quilts donated.  It reminds me that the quilting community is such a generous one indeed.  Like many of you I see so many beautiful tutorials online and then think “I want to make all of them !😀”.  Then reality sets in and do what I can with time constraints.  I am however armed with a bucket list of  quilts I’m going to make as my schedule allows.  Fabric hugs ( quilts) are needed year round so I will use the inspiration I have gotten to make and donate a quilt a month.  That is my goal.  A huge thank you to Sarah and all the participants who gave of their time and talent to make Hands2Help a success!  I completed three quilts this year that have been sent to Emily.  I apologize for indoor pics but the rain just won’t quit.

Thank you again to everyone who participated!  Keep on quilting 😀