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This is another quilt that came from Susan Nixon prior to her death. I am trying to tie up loose ends and honor her.

The top is assembled. I had to create a few blocks to get a complete top. Should have the finish to share in a few weeks.

This quilt was finished in February. I have no idea why I didn’t report on it. I can’t even find pictures of the process.

The pieces parts came from multiple sources: some irregular improv pieces from a hand-me-down bag, jelly roll strips from a different hand me down bag, miscellaneous half-square triangles (possibly waste triangles), and some solids from my own stash.

You could make the entire quilt using a jelly roll and some background or low volume (for those HST) and some solids.

Finishes at 39″ square.

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Happy July! The 4th is in a couple of days and I'm looking forward to making my usual treats using blueberries and strawberries. I love this time of year and all the fresh produce. I'm sure to be smoking something yummy, either ribs or a pork butt for shredded pork sandwiches. (Maybe both!) It’s also our 40th wedding anniversary over the 4th of July weekend. It seems crazy, forty years have just flown by! Later this month we'll be going on our annual family vacation up north to the lake. It's always so much fun ...

Happy July! The 4th is in a couple of days and I'm looking forward to making my usual treats using blueberries and strawberries. I love this time of year and all the fresh produce. I'm sure to be smoking something yummy, either ribs or a pork butt for shredded pork sandwiches. (Maybe both!) It’s also our 40th wedding anniversary over the 4th of July weekend. It seems crazy, forty years have just flown by! Later this month we'll be going on our annual family vacation up north to the lake. It's always so much fun ...

Just to get started right, this isn’t a completely original idea. I saw a picture (maybe on Pinterest) but couldn’t track it down again or find a pattern. It started the idea, though, and I would love to give credit where credit is due. So, if you know, please let me know…

That said, I started this quilt in January with the goal of using small scraps of solids and low volume prints.

In my version, the rails are 1-1/2″x3-1/2″ strips. The low volume squares are 3-1/2″. The hourglass blocks started as 4-1/2 ...

Susan Nixon (desertskyquilts) was an angel in my life, and in the lives of many others. I met her online through blogging, and we became friends. She visited me, shared her knowledge, and loved my daughter (Sparkle Jane).

Near the end of her life, she sorted fabric and projects and shared some UFOs (and fabric) with me. This is one of them. So happy to see it finished.

It has been gifted to my aunt, who recently celebrated cancer remission.

Quilters live on through their work and the joy and warmth they bring to the world. Amen.

NOTE: I didn ...

Friend Julia came for a visit from Louisiana. She wanted to make a baby quilt. Her first quilt.

She had Mardis Gras fabric for the back.

We started pulling possibilities from my color bins. She ironed and I cut.

The FIRST BLOCK.

And, before she flew out, a finished top. (Quick info: 3″ squares. Finishes at 40″ square.)

She plans to connect with the quilting community back home. I assured her that there would be people ready and willing to help. I will share the finish when it happens.

There is another quilt kit cut and ready in her baggage ...

After the question about a future quilt design, the responses let me know that many quilters have a supply of bonus/waste triangles sitting around. This did include me.

I pulled out leftovers from the Big Diehl Quilt and trimmed them down to 1-1/2″.

After trying a few options, I settled on a broken dishes block.

Thirty-six blocks later, I had a mini quilt.

It has been delivered to Jennifer, who loves mini quilts. So glad to have the triangles working and off to brighten someone’s day.

PS–I am working to share a variety of projects featuring ...

I have a bin of assorted 2-1/2″ x 4-1/2″ rectangles. They are handy for a leader-ender quilt. Yes, it is a little crazy, but someone will like it.

Here is THE BLOCK. This one finishes at 60″x72″.

Always fun to have a sneak peek at the backing.

It goes in the donation pile to brighten someone’s day.

When the call went out for donations to support my youth sewing class, Susan sent, not only fabric, but a quilt top that needed to be finished.

And now it is. Finishes at 45″ x 60″ Great use of stripy scraps. You can even see where some of the coins were pieced. Whimsy!

The back is a little wild, and I used scrappy binding from my stash.

It will bless the life of someone soon. Thanks to all of you for the generosity you offer the world. I am fortunate to be part of such a community.

June is here! The garden is almost in. The seedlings and seed packets are bought. I hope to get things planted later today. At least the flowers are planted, and we are enjoying spending time outside grilling and relaxing on the patio and deck. 

 In case you are just starting the BOM, the fabric requirements are below. Everything is based on a 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" square and this month's pattern can be found on my website for free this month. 

2 yards contrasting color

2 1/2 yards cream background

3/4 yard for the ...

June is here! The garden is almost in. The seedlings and seed packets are bought. I hope to get things planted later today. At least the flowers are planted, and we are enjoying spending time outside grilling and relaxing on the patio and deck. 

 In case you are just starting the BOM, the fabric requirements are below. Everything is based on a 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" square and this month's pattern can be found on my website for free this month. 

2 yards contrasting color

2 1/2 yards cream background

3/4 yard for the ...

I love it when you share!

Charlene made this striking version of Calico Rose.

Sandy built this 100-patch quilt. And I love that bedframe!

Mary Q. made the cheerful version of Stutter Steps. She was particularly pleased that the math worked out and it was 36″ square when finished.

Mary Q. also made her version of the 100-patch quilt. So much fun!

Cheryl made this stunning Film at Five for her niece. I love the way the center patches are pieced.

Mary made this astonishing version of Irish Stars and entered it into a quilt show.

Marilyn made this baby ...

Two interesting piles came to me in scrap bags: Binding. But not just any binding. A lot of binding. Both were 2-1/2″ wide. The pink was scrappy from a variety of fabrics. The gray was jelly roll strips stitched together.

They languished in my bindings box, constantly overlooked. But, they had potential. Ironed out, I cut 2-1/2″ squares. And pieced 8-patch blocks.

Joined together (and bound with the remaining pink binding) they will keep a baby warm.

I plan to make a larger similar quilt in the future. Great use for a jelly roll. Or a layer cake ...

Quilting

I have three active Works In Progress:

Wedding Quilt for Young Son (wedding in September)

Random scrap quilt–playing with low volume backgrounds.

Patriotic 6″ blocks–part of a seasonal quilt set in the works.

None are close to a finish, but they are closer than they were a week ago…

It's May Day! Spring is officially here! Gardening is in full swing here; I am redoing a perennial garden that is right off my deck. I'm pretty much starting from scratch. I'm going from a shade garden to a full sun garden since we took down a large oak tree last fall. There's lots of prep work to be done before I can start planting anything. I have been finding muscles that I didn't even knew existed and finding that I poop out quicker then I used to. I've been trying to put in ...

It's May Day! Spring is officially here! Gardening is in full swing here; I am redoing a perennial garden that is right off my deck. I'm pretty much starting from scratch. I'm going from a shade garden to a full sun garden since we took down a large oak tree last fall. There's lots of prep work to be done before I can start planting anything. I have been finding muscles that I didn't even knew existed and finding that I poop out quicker then I used to. I've been trying to put in ...

In a hand-me-down bag there were these little bits. A 1-1/2″ strip with 6 1-1/2″ squares attached. Twenty of them. Such cute little bits. They wanted to be a quilt.

Adding 6″ stars in matching colors and some sashing fit the bill. I like the way it makes the stars shimmer with movement.

The polka dot binding was an unexpected decision, and the backing is a little odd, too. But they do work, and it all came from stash, so that’s a win.

Second Chance projects can make one dig deep to find a solution. I do ...