What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

The community of quilters is just so awesome! Jo Kramer, of Jo’s Country Junction, receives amazing mailings from her readers which include fabric, blocks, patterns and quilt tops. She recently shared some of her bounty with me, knowing these quilts go to a great cause – Hospice. It was a thrill to receive not only this beautiful quilt top, but the backing and prepared binding too! The colors are so rich. We’ve had a lot of rain, so the pic was taken indoors and really does not do the colors justice.

It was such a quick finish – one of ...

Introduction
I've been quilting for a lifetime, literally, and have come to the conclusion that we do what we love in part because it challenges us to learn. Anyone who quilts can attest to the idea of learning about fabric and supplies, blocks and backings, sewing and making. 
I'm exploring the other things that quilting teaches.

Last week I had the pleasure of quilting 4 quilts for Heart Builders, a charity run by Cotton Cuts. As a longarmer for Heart Builders, I just have to receive the quilt tops pieced lovingly by other members, request materials, and get to work.

First, I received a lovely top pieced by Jan Snyder. I quilted it with swirls because well ... texture, speed, and beauty!

Also, I received 3 quilt tops from Jan Ochterbeck. The first top is a triangle design, and her points are just perfect! I quilted this with a combination design with swirls, feathers, and paisleys ... in ...

My goal for 2018 has been to reduce my Works in Progress (projects that have been started.)  These do not include Hospice quilts.  I had about 25 in January and now I have exactly 11 in project boxes.  In addition, there are  2 quilt tops that need a border, another that needs stitching around the appliques and one quilt top that I will quilt. One quilt top is on the way to the longarm this week and another that I am hand stitching the binding.

Then there are the projects – yummy fabrics and a pattern or sketch in a box ...

Yes! Another Hospice finish.  This quilt top was done when I was first quilting. I found it in the bottom of a bin and finished it for a Hospice – perfect lap sized quilt. My hope is that the lavender will bring calm and peace to the recipient. I really, really like the backing fabric.

Thank you to all of you who participated in The Great Outdoors Blog Hop and Giveaway.  Your positive comments were such a great show of support – thank you!

And now…drumroll please…the winner is:  Anna Brown.  I’ve sent you an email Anna and your ...

The Bees Knees
August – December 2018

This is the first time that I have participated in a Block of the Month (BOM), and so far, it’s a lot of fun! This free BOM project is called Save the Bees and is being hosted by Jacquelynne Steves over at The Art of Home. It is running through December, and there is still time to join – just use the form on the right side of this page.

The first block in this BOM is the one pictured on the left above, and while it called for an appliquéd flower and ...

Looking at my August listing, you might wonder – “what have you been doing?” My Island Batik January project is now a flimsy. The quilting won’t be happening right away. It feels so good to be so very close to completing the year! Don’t forget to stop by on Tuesday, September 4, for my Great Outdoor project for the IB Blog Hop and a giveaway!

Two quilts came back from the long arm professional. I so want to trim and bind them but there just hasn’t been a chance to do that. We were in Chincoteague, Virginia for ...

Hooray! Another Hospice finish.  This fabulous quilt top was pieced and donated by Beverly.  Yes, you’ve seen her generosity here before. The fabrics are so cheerful and are sure to bring cheer to a Hospice patient.

The expert quilting was done by Judy of Goneaway Quilting. She chose the perfect pattern for this quilt!

To finish it off, I did the binding (didn’t I get off easy?!) This quilt makes eleven ready for donation in November! There are several more flimsies to be quilted and bound – here’s hoping I’ll be showing another soon!

Linking up with ...

A friend of mine’s church which was founded in 1765, is having a special breakfast honoring the patriots of the American Revolutionary War. She somehow got volunteered to make 12 table toppers and 3 table runners. Although an amazing seamstress, quilting is not her thing. I was glad to help! We recently got together for about 3 hours. So glad she was all about keeping it simple, simple, simple.  I cut, she sewed.

As you can see, these table toppers are very simple. I did need to do a few after she left because I just didn’t want ...

I still have a huge stash of stamping supplies, and was looking for another way to use some of it.  When I received the gift of two boxes of papers, I found a number of dog and cat related papers, plus little chipboard and cardboard cutouts, and some other charms and such with animal themes.  Last week we got a postcard from the Blue Ridge Humane Society about their fall fundraiser that will include a Silent Auction.  So I emailed the director and asked if she would like to have some handmade cards.  I stole this idea from my friend ...