What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

Saturday morning I participated in the World's Largest Polio Walk with Rotarians and friends from my club and the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Club.  One mile from the Lake Bluff park to Lake Forest High School and one mile back was no problem in the golden autumn sunshine. 

 I am on day 6 of a nasty Covid infection and it is the first day I think I am finally feeling a bit better.  Things like doing a load of laundry or cooking dinner exhaust me but I am able to at least get them done.  That is an improvement.

Thankfully, I already have some photos of some finishes ready to go for this post.

 Many Hands and Many Hearts is still working on finding a place we can call its own.  But I am hopeful it will happen by the end of the year.  So I have been working on some projects to make the move a little easier.

I tackled the scraps this week.

We did have someone donate a bunch of small fabric cuts (less than a fat quarter) stored in some plastic tubs to us.  They were already sorted by color.  I decided to start there but add in all our other scraps.  I started with one tub for reds and ...

 Another crazy week!

I had the opportunity to go to a few new (to me) sewing groups around Eugene and meet some new quilters.  One of the groups I crashed, I have known about for decades.  I had met one of the ladies that sews there and I promised her some scrappy strings for a project she is working on.  I decided to take four big brown bags stuffed with scraps in case someone else could use some.  It was so fun seeing all of those quilters sort, pet and stack every single one of those bits of fabric.  Someone ...

Yes, here I am after a long absence.  Sorry about that.  Truthfully, I get so focused on other projects that I forget to post here.  It looks like I even missed Oh Scrap! las Sunday.  I could sure use a clone of myself to get everything done that has been on my list lately.  Every day is full on crazy!

I think it has been a while since I shared some finishes from past block drives.  Many of our blocks are buried in totes and difficult to get to due to lack of space.  But a few quilts do make ...

Mid-morning I was halfway finished composing today's post when the power went out.  The culprit was a downed wire.   Those rechargeable lanterns I got a couple of months ago had lost their charge, I found out.  Rather than stew in the semi-gloom I drove 30 miles to Half Day Forest Preserve and completed another Hike Lake County walk.   On the way home ComEd sent the message that the power was back on.  Whew!  (And now I will find a place to keep those lanterns plugged in.) 

Back to where I was . . .

 It rained all weekend.  No forest preserve walks ...

By pleasant coincidence both Anna and I arrived at the same time Thursday morning. We met at the entrance--we didn't even have to text.  She stays at her brother's cabin.  I had a motel reservation.

I was able to get tickets for two lectures. 

 I had lots of plans for todays post but my Saturday got away from me.  So, I thought I would share one of my favorite scrap quilts that have been donated to Many Hands and Many Hearts.

 It is time for us to release another block drive.  If you get our newsletter, you may have already seen it.  I think it is a fast and fun block to make.  We will have lots of uses for this one.  Some may be made into kid quilts - others will go to adults.  I also think we will try to use these with some of the other blocks we have made in the past.  It just depends on what you send and how it inspires me!

Here are the blocks we will be making.  They are just a low volume ...

 I can't believe it is Sunday already.

All I sewed this week was attaching a few bindings to quilts and a few flannel rectangles into a couple of blocks.  My time was needed elsewhere.  This week we have our big Sew Day!

So All I can share are some completed quilts.  I doubt any of you will mind!

New fridge collage

The trip to Scotland was wonderful!   I got home Friday evening.  I've recovered from jet lag and I'm gradually coming up to speed with regular life.   The travelog is in process (basically a compilation of the daily Facebook posts and photos).  I'll post it in a day or two.

Instead of working on those the past two evenings I made purple coin units for the September RSC.    The pattern calls for 12 blocks with two coin units each.    I ...

 It has been a really long time since I had a chance to play around with some scraps.  I did cut up a bunch of flannel scraps recently.  I am still cutting everything into 4.5" x 2.5" rectangles.

 This last week spun by in a blur!  I know I got a lot accomplished.  We had a board meeting, I met new longarm quilter Phyllis and exchanged some quilt kits, I checked in lots of fabric, kits and blocks, and I finally updated the blog.

But I spent the most time preparing for our upcoming Sew Day on the 10th of September.  

(I will have more information in the upcoming newsletter.)

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On Saturday I treated myself to the matinee performance of The Odyssey, with a jumbo box of popcorn for lunch.  It was on the regular big-screen, not IMAX, but it was action-packed enough for me.   So much of the story was familiar because The ...

 Here I am!  So sorry for missing the last two Oh Scrap Sundays.  I will be sharing soon some news and you will all get to see what we have been up to here at Many hands and Many Hearts.  

I did have some scrappy blocks to share with you but I decided to share some of the MANY photos of finishes quilts I have on my phone.  All of these quilts have already been delivered months ago.

Linda sent in this quilt top.  It is such a lovely shade of coral.  She also sent in this pieced backing.  I ...

Wildflowers at Illinois Beach State Park on Saturday:  monarda, elderflower, lead plant; sawtooth sunflower, mounain mint, swamp milkweed; Queen Anne's lace, spurge, purple prairie clover.

60 x 72.  If I'd taken more time the color balance would be a little better but I mostly wanted to avoid two-same-fabrics-touching.  

108"w ...

 I really can't believe how fast last week flew by.  I felt somewhat in control on Monday and then before I knew it - It was Friday!  

And I feel like I don't have a lot to show for it!

 I got myself all tucked into bed Saturday night and realized I forgot to write the Oh Scrap! post.

See how important all of you are to me?....

I didn't really do any scrap quilting this week so I guess you will have to settle on seeing some scrappy quilt tops sent in by others.

 I haven't been doing any teaching since I started Many Hands and Many Hearts but sometimes, I still get to see a finish that I inspired.