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The original block came in a hand me down bag. Awkward. Someone was, perhaps, experimenting? However it came to be, it wanted to be…something.

Blessed that the bag contained a small amount of the fabric used in the center of the block, I added corners.

And more scraps and borders from my own stash. Around and around…

Until it was…Ta-dah! A quilt.

Jennifer made it even better with the custom quilting. Someone will love it!

ps–Just because it didn’t turn out the way you wanted doesn’t mean it isn’t beautiful.

This started out as leftover partial blocks Cheri shared with me.

It was based on 2-1/2″ strips, so with a very little fiddling, the blocks came together very quickly. You will note that the long rectangular block pieces were able to be cut into the needed parts without using a seam ripper. Just slice and sew!

Each block is a 2-1/2″ square in the center. The frame is 2 2-1/2″ squares and 2 2-1/2″ x 6-1/2″ strips. Easy peasy!

Yes, it is an unexpected back, but it had been languishing in the stash for long ...

Susan is still leaving a mark on the quilting world. This small baby quilt started as 7 blocks from her. Seven blocks is not an easy number to turn into a quilt, unless you set it on point. That was the big insight for me.

I had two add a few more blocks and setting triangles and an outer border.

Matching the binding and the sashing on some of the blocks helps to tie it together.

I do hope it will find the right owner. Someone who will love the quilt, and who will love this country, as much as ...

Daughter (Sparkle Jane) is still quilting, but with a 2-year old and a second baby due any day now, her time on social media is limited. I wanted to share a recent project of hers, though, because I got to be a part of it.

She had twelve “figure” blocks made by Susan Nixon (her quilting grandma) that she wanted to turn into something special. With the addition of 13 9-patch blocks (and a truly inspired backing) she now has a throw quilt.

Some of the blanket stitching on the figure blocks wasn’t finished, so Sparkle did that part ...

There was a bag with eleven Christmas themed blocks–ten that measured 12-1/2″ and one that measured 15-1/2″.

Hmmm…what do I do with that? They are beautifully constructed, just like Susan always made. Yes, this is another finish in honor of Susan Nixon.

I created some pinwheel blocks and some strips of 2-1/2″ squares. Also, added 1-1/2″ sashing around the 15″ block.

The blocks are joined with 2-1/2″ sashing. Then a triple border of 2-1/2″ background, a pieced border of 2-1/2″ squares and a final 2-1/2″ border.

It is a fun ...

Yep, you guessed it: Started as a handful of scraps in a hand-me-down bag. Maybe someday I’ll get tired of these, but it hasn’t happened yet. It gives a sense of freedom and creative challenge.

That said, some go better than others. I chose to experiment with the quilting on this one. I do believe the red was a good choice, but maybe a different design, something more floral to match the back?

Either way, it is done now. The blocks measure 12″ finished. The entire top is 38″ finished.

Another one for the donation pile. Though it ...

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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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 ...

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 ...

This is a great pattern to use up jelly roll leftovers. In fact, a bunch of those (already conveniently sewn into sets) is what inspired this pattern.

The strip sets are 6 strips high and 12-1/2″ wide. The stars are also 12 inches (finished). I used a plan similar to THIS TUTORIAL: https://www.createwithclaudia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/CWC-Mystery-Quilt-Along-2020-November-Block.pdf

I matched the star centers and the binding. I would like to do this again and highlight a focal fabric in the star centers.

This quilt will be donated to the local childrens hospital.

As many of you know, I love Second Chance Quilts. They come to me as pieces-parts, or partial finishes, or groups of blocks. This one has its own story, as it is made from two different block sets from two different people.

The larger blocks are 12″ (11 of those) and the smaller blocks are 8″ (32 of those). They sat around for a while until I realized they could be one quilt: Just add borders to the smaller blocks!

To keep it from looking clunky, and to tie it all together, a double border seemed best. Half of the ...

It started with a box of hand-me-down Half Square Triangles.

And an IDEA (this is based on the layout she called Diamonds).

Finally a flimsy.

And now a quilt! As the original maker likely didn’t plan for this to happen, some of the Half Square Triangles didn’t have much contrast. I am still pleased with the results.

It finishes at 56″x64″, a nice size lap quilt.

And, finished IS finished.

When the bag arrived, I was immediately excited. The fabric is lovely, and the strips would save a lot of cutting and piecing time.

A variation on a Churn Dash block seemed a good solution.

Cutting directions for each 12″ Dash block follow.

1. Background: 2 5″ squares, 4 2-1/2″x4-1/2″ rectangles
2. Primary Fabric: 2 5″ squares, 1 4-1/2″ square.
3. Inner Dash Bar: 8 2-1/2″ squares (or, separate the strips already sewn together into sets of 2). NOTE: If you have a charm pack, it could be a good starting place for this quilt. Just cut into ...

It started out as an untidy pile of promising pieces.

Now it is a finished quilt.

The common denominator number is 4″. That is the finished size of the blocks, except the star blocks, which are 8″. It went together fairly quickly, once I had the idea.

I am so happy with the finished product. Someone out there will be happy to receive this piece of sunshine.

I received a bag of 2-1/2″ HST, carefully made and even seams pressed open. But a little dated. And maybe some odd fabric choices. But, I wanted them to be…something.

It isn’t perfect, but it is a flimsy. And a good reminder that finished (or nearly finished) is better than perfect.

I inherited a pile of 9-patch blocks. Sort of I-Spy style. Maybe a block exchange?

The point is that they deserved better than the trash. But, just joining them together would make a quilt that was too busy and too small. (Sorry for not enough pictures. I don’t know where they went…there are many mysteries.)

The solution was to add quarter square setting blocks. Using solids adds a unifying factor and keeps from adding to the busy-ness of the 9-patch blocks.

The 9-patches are based on 2-1/2″ squares, so the blocks finish at 6″. The quarter square ...

Friend Cheri shares her leftovers with me from time to time. It is always exciting to get a new bag of possibilities.

Sort and straighten and ask, “What do you want to be?”

Somehow, I was seeing stars. And that gave me a place to start.

I added a few fabric scraps from stash and adjusted as I went along. I don’t know how I would write a pattern, or even a tutorial for something like this. It is an interesting process, though. A discovery every step of the way.

And the, Ta-dah! A quilt!

Finished size is 33 ...

You know by now how these things get started: someone gives me something. In this case, as part of a larger bundle of possibilities, there were three matching 6-1/2″ applique hearts. Much too cute to trash. I did consider pot holders, or a table runner, or a banner. But what they wanted to be was a baby quilt.

I had a little bundle of fat eights that “happened” to match perfectly. I love it when that happens. All that was needed was some background fabric and something to make centers for 6-1/2″ star blocks. I really wanted to ...

I really like hand-me-down projects. They introduce an element of mystery and challenge my skills and assumptions.

The bag held a pile of friendship stars. Some had names written on the seam allowance, leading me to believe they were part of a long-ago block exchange. Some spin one way, and some another. Maybe that is what held the original maker back?

They finish at 6″ square, so, to make something of a usable size, something would need to be added. Sashing is an easy go-to. But, what color? Not white. Not cream. Not black. None of them worked. Oddly, as ...