Another Quilts for Kids finish!

I finished the "boy" quilt for Quilts for Kids yesterday! Actually, I started and finished it yesterday! LOL!! It went together quickly because it's small & because of the Heartstring blocks that Sue sent me. I'm hoping to get these boxed up and to the post office within the next few days. It feels good to have a couple finishes!!

AND, I got a squishie in the mail today! I love that!! It was from Carol in MN and there were lots of great pieces in there. I met Carol on the Sunshine Yahoo group and I'm going to use these fabrics for Sunshine projects. Thanks Carol!

Bye,

Another box!

I got another box of fabric in the mail today. This one came from Vivian in NY. Thanks so much!!! The fabric pieces are so pretty!

I've been having fun organizing all the donations. I've decided to sort through and find fabrics that compliment each other. Then I'm going to make kits out of those so they'll be ready for me to grab. Also, I'm cutting strings from some of the fabric as well as foundation squares.

I'm planning on getting a boy's quilt made out of some of the Heartstring blocks that Sue sent me. I'd like to get it done within the next couple days. Then I'll send it along with the kit one back to Quilts for Kids.

Bye,

Picture time!

I got a HUGE box full of fabric and scraps from Mary in Rolling Meadows, IL yesterday. Thanks so much Mary!!! I love all of it but especially the little girl prints - so cute!

I also finished my first Quilts for Kids quilt!!!! Yea! I love how cute and cuddly it is. I decided to leave the border just the way it is and I'm glad I did. I love the effect it gives the corners. I'm so excited about making charity quilts. I wish I could see the little girl's face that ends up with this quilt.

One thing I really like is that there is a label included in the kid. You write your first name and the name of the quilt on it with a permanent marker. There is a website that you can also register the quilt on. After it is delivered to the recipient, they are able to go online and read alittle bit about the story behind the quilt. Plus, if they want to, they can add their own info into the story. Such a neat idea!! Here's my label for the quilt, which I named "Princess Dreams"!

If you haven't requested a kit yet, please go do it now! And for all of you that are working on kits, please try to send a second quilt back made from your own fabric. We can really make a difference when we all work together!

Bye,

OOPPSS Update

First off I just want to say thanks to everyone who commented on my quilt. You all made me feel great!!! I've decided to call my mistake a design element and leave it exactly the way it is. I think you are all right that the child that receives this quilt won't care one bit if the borders are "right" or not.

Also, I got an email back from Quilts for Kids regarding the use of flannel as batting. She said that I need to use regular batting. I was worried because I've never even purchased any but it turned out fine. My husband and I ran out to JoAnn's Fabrics and picked up two queen sized battings - they were even on sale 50% off!! I'm thinking I'll be able to get four kid-sized quilts out of each of the queen battings. So now I'm set!

And finally, I am so happy to hear from so many of you that you are requesting kits from Quilts for Kids. That warms my heart!!! Quilters rock! LOL!

Bye,

OOOOPPPPSSS!

I've been working on the Quilts for Kids quilt today. It's been so fun to play with the little girl fabrics!! I got the top finished today but I made a mistake. I was trying to save time so I sewed the two border strips together. I attached the side border strips to the quilt then the top & bottom ones. But then when I held it up to show my husband I realized what mistake I had made. Instead of the little green border only going around the quilt it went to the edge on the top and bottom. Here are some pictures to show you what I mean.

So, what should I do? I'm thinking I should just leave it the way it is but I don't want to do something wrong. I would hate to send it in for them to just say it isn't alright. But I'm also out of the pink fabric so even if I tried to fix it I couldn't. Man! I can't believe I didn't realize this before I started!

Also, I don't have lots of batting because I usually use flannel for my batting. I'm wondering if that would be alright to use for these quilts too. Or should I go buy some "real" batting? Maybe I'll email someone at Quilts for Kids to see what they say about both questions. If anyone out there has advice for me, please let me know though!!

Bye,

Lots of mail today!!

With yesterday being a holiday, I kinda figured I'd get some deliveries today. I sure was right!! WOW! This first picture is of the 9 patch blocks that I got from Pat in UT. The fabrics are so fun and bright - just perfect for kids quilts. Thanks so much!!

The next picture is of the 6.5 inch crumb blocks that Mary in Chicago sent me. There are 150 of them! They are such a fun block to make and are going to go together beautifully into some quilts. Thanks alot!!!

And last, but not least, I also got a box full of 6.5 inch fabric squares from Barbara in KY. I think there are about 300 of them in there!! And the best part is that they are the same size as the crumb blocks. I'm planning on combining them together for my charity quilts. Thanks so very much!!

I am just overwhelmed by the generosity of quilters!! Thank you all so much, it makes me proud to say that I am in the company of such great people!!

Bye,

Another delivery!

I got another box in the mail today. This time it was from Fran in RI. Thanks so much!!! It was a pretty big box that was crammed full of scraps, fabric and squares. WOW! I'm going to have a ball digging through all of it.

I really need to get working on some actual quilting. The packages have been so great to get in the mail each day and I know alot more are coming. But now I've got to make some time each day to sit down and sew or cut. Period!!

Bye,

Mail call is fun!!

The mailman brought me another delivery today. Thanks so much Sue in MI!!!! I appreciate it so much. I really need to get working now - LOL! I've been feeling alittle under the weather the last two days so I haven't made it to the sewing room yet. I'm anxious though!

Bye,

Another squishie!!!

The UPS man brought me another squishie today!! It's the kit for the Quilts for Kids program. I am so excited about this because it's my first time participating. Everyone should request one of these!!! Just go here http://www.quiltsforkids.org/patterns/request/ and put in a request. You'll be happy you did!!

Bye,

Squishies!!

I've had lots and lots of generous offers of blocks and fabric to get me started in my charity quilt excursion. The first ones came today!!! Thanks Sue for the Heartstring blocks. I can't wait to get started sewing them together. You guys are all the best!

Bye,

Charity quilts

I've recently been feeling as though I should start making some quilts for charity. I absolutely LOVE quilting and I like the idea of helping out people in need. When I put out a request for ideas on the Yahoo groups I belong to, I got lots and lots of gret ideas. I've decided to join the Heartstrings project, which is great because I can make blocks or quilts and donate to whoever I want. Also, I've joined in on the Cancer is Sew Done project. You'll find a button to the side of my blog, go check it out. Once you are on the site you are able to join groups. A fabric company will send fabric and you make that into blocks which you return. The blocks are put together to make quilts that will be sold to raise money for cancer research. I've also joined the Sunshine Yahoo group of quilters. They make blocks and quilts for two different charities - Wrap them in Love and Wrap a Smile. I've added a link for thier group as well. Oh, and I also requested a kit from Quilts for Kids. They will be sending me a kit of fabric, which I put together and return to them. That quilt is then donated to a child in need.

There are so many opportunities out there to help people and give them quilts to make them warm. I like the idea so much! It's nice too because even though I don't have the greatest confidence in my ability, the people that will receive my quilts will be thankful no matter what. Such a nice thing!!!

I really want to spend a good deal of my quilting time making these charity quilts. If any of you have any other ideas for me of places to donate to, or of ways to get materials to use, I would be very appreciative. Thanks!

Bye,

Really good day today!!

Today was such an awesome day!! It snowed a whole bunch so that was beautiful to watch coming down. I made banana bread today, which tasted great and made the house smell delicious too. Ashley had school today and then worked on a French notebook that is due soon. She's really having a lot of fun with it. My wonderful husband worked on his online class and didn't get grumpy any - lol!! AND I got to quilt as much as I wanted to this afternoon.

I ended up sewing for four hours!!!! I worked on the Brown Mountain Majesty quilt but I've decided to change the pattern I'm using. I was going to use Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville Mount Majesty pattern. But after making the half square triangles and playing with them some I've changed my mind. I'm going to make random quarter square triangles instead. I love the way it is coming out! I can't wait to sew some more tomorrow and hopefully get some pictures posted too!!

For dinner tonight we had cheese from Pearl Valley Cheese in the Amish country and it was delicious!! Then this evening I've been playing on my computer and checking out quilting blogs while we watch the BCS Championship game. Alabama won and I'm really happy about that!!! I just love Mark Ingram, he's a great player. All in all it's been a great day - I really, really love my life!!!

Bye,

I'm sad today

My mom and dad went back to Florida today. I'm sad and missing them something terrible! They were here in Ohio for two weeks and stayed at our house the entire time. It was so nice to be able to spend such a long time with them. Of course, now it seems really quiet and alittle lonely today! I sure wish they would just move back here!!! Mom, if you are reading, you really need to move back! LOL!

I spent some time tonight working on organizing all my quilting projects. It's nice to have a plan, but alittle daunting too. I've got all the different projects in their own little containers and they are all ready to go. It sure makes me want to jump right in and start sewing. I am going to try so hard to get as many of my projects off the list as possible! Maybe by the next time my parents come to visit my list will be considerably shorter.

I even spent some time organizing the HUGE project of my old Y2K quilt out of 2.5 inch squares. When I decided to make this quilt (which was way after 2000) I put out a request for 2.5 inch squares & was very blessed by lots and lots of squares. I hate to admit it but I quickly got very overwhelmed and put everything away for a time. A month or two ago I decided to just work on it slowly and not try to be so perfect about it - if I get overwhelmed I'll put it away for a bit again. I've been sewing them together as leader/enders for a few weeks now and already have 167 pairs sewn together. I did that without even really knowing I did anything!

It's cold and snowy here and supposed to be staying that way for the rest of the week. I think it's a perfect time to get down to some serious quilting! And my husband just set up the card table near my sewing machine. He's working on an Amish puzzle that he's put off for way too long. I love him being in the same room as me! Tomorrow will be a great day - snow, puzzles and quilting!! :)

Bye,

It's a brand new year!!

Happy new year!!!!! I always love this time of year because I love the fresh start. It seems as though January 1 gives me a reason to start over and do things much better than I have in the past. I know lots of people make new year's resolutions & usually by February all those goals are long forgotten. I admit I am the same way! But just like every other year, I'm hoping this time will be different! LOL!

I have some resolutions in regards to my quilting. I want to really try not to spend any money on fabric this year. I find myself always wanting to buy new fabric for a project instead of making use of my stash. Now, admittedly, my stash isn't very big so that is a big part of the problem. But I have a friend that is planning on giving me some of her fabric so that will help. Plus, I'm always more than willing to take extra fabric or scraps off of any of my internet friend's hands!!!! Anyhow, my resolution this year is to not actually spend any money on quilting. I don't know if I'll get away with it but I'm hoping & praying! Maybe I'll start getting lots of squishies in the mail!

Also, I'm going to try hard to not start anything new. This is the really hard one for me!!!! I love planning new projects, cutting them out and piecing them together. Okay, maybe my resolution will be to actually finish as many of my UFOs as I can. Then, if I've completed some projects maybe I'll allow myself to start a new one. I figured out how to add a list to my blog! So I put all my current projects (that's a better way to say UFO!) and when I started them. Unfortunately, I didn't start keeping track until January 2008 so lots of them are marked as started before then. LOL! Hopefully at the end of the year I'll have a much shorter list!

I also want to resolve to spend at least 15 minutes every day doing something quilt related. My parents have been here visiting from Florida and I haven't been sewing any. I can really tell a difference in my mood. I'm missing my sewing machine something terrible! When they go home new week I know I'll be feeling pretty sad so I'm going to go straight to the sewing machine. That will help me somewhat at least!

I hope all of you have a great new year! It's hard to believe it's already 2010!!!!!

Bye,