A Sawtooth Star Finish

It's a finish!

Sawtooth Stars

40 x 60

I started making the 10 inch finished blocks back in June 2024. 

I cut 5.5 inch centers from a little pile of novelty scraps that were red, blue or yellow. I had a little box of 3 inch width scraps and used what I could from those scraps for backgrounds and star points. The rest of the backgrounds were cut from scrap chunks. 

I quilted it on my sewing machine with swirls. 

I had just enough pieces to make the backing.  The binding is a blue tone on tone Y2K fabric. Has it already been 25 years since Y2K? 

And sew on...

***

REMEMBER, TREASURE, GROW, READ (my words of the year)

Finished a book! - The Stolen Sisters by Ann Bennett.  The second book in the series of 2 books, it is WWII historical fiction based on the Lebensborn Nazi eugenics program.  This book focuses on a later part of the program - the "Germanization" of kidnapped foreign children who met "Aryan" criteria. 

Skulks Of Foxes In The Holes In The Barn Doors

It's a finish!

Hole in the Barn Door

40 x 60

The 12 inch Hole In The Barn Door Blocks all have fox fabrics in the center. I just looked up the collective noun for fox and found several --skulk, leash, earth, troop and lead. 

There are several variations of the Hole in the Barn Door block. I used the one at Quilter's Cache.

I used the same red fabric for the "barns" and different green fabrics for the backgrounds. I finished the top back in October 2024. 

I've been accumulating red fabrics and critter fabrics so I can make a series of Hole In The Barn Door comfort quilts for kids. 

I quilted it on my sewing machine with diagonal, vertical and horizontal lines. 

The backing.

The binding is scrappy greens. 

And sew on...

Finished Or Not Finished Friday at Alycia Quilts

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REMEMBER, TREASURE, GROW, READ (my words of the year)

Finished a book! - The Orphan List by Ann Bennett. It is WWII historical fiction based on the Lebensborn Nazi eugenics program.  

"The Lebensborn program was created by the SS in late 1935 in order to promote the growth of Germany’s healthy "Aryan" population. The term Lebensborn itself means “Fount of Life.” The program was designed to be the wellspring of future generations descended from those whom Nazi authorities deemed “racially valuable.” It originally focused on encouraging SS men to have large families and discouraging unmarried, pregnant "Aryan" women from seeking illegal abortions."- The Holocaust Encyclopedia

The Orphan List focuses on the original part program that encouraged unwed women who met "Aryan" criteria to give up their children for adoption to a good Aryan family. In return they were cared for during the pregnancy and birth in a maternity center. It also focuses on unwed "Aryan" women who willingly met at a Lebensborn center and had sex with SS in order to get pregnant and give up their children for the good of the Reich.  

I've started reading the second book in the series, The Stolen Sisters, that focuses on a later part of the program - The "Germanization" of kidnapped foreign children who met "Aryan" criteria. 

 

Happy Critters Make It To The Finish Line

It's a finish!

Happy Critters

42.5 x 59.5

These are 8.5 inch (finished) Happy Blocks. The centers are 5 inch squares of scraps I had with critters on them. The frames are 2.5 inch width tone on tone (TOT) scraps. 

I finished this top and a few others in June 2024.

I quilted it simply with vertical and horizontal lines in the frames.

The backing is a rusty brown and the binding were pieces of different dark browns I had in the leftover binding box. 

And sew on...

***

REMEMBER, TREASURE, GROW, READ (my words of the year)

Yesterday I transplanted some of the seedlings of flowers I winter sowed earlier this year in milk jugs and pots I left out on the deck.  I planted them on the mound in the new Perky Goth/Moonlight Garden that will have pink (perky), black (goth) and white (moonlight) flowers - a memorial garden to honor my Perky Goth granddaughter Kayla who passed away unexpectedly a few years ago.  

I transplanted Innocence Evening Primrose described as: "Large and sweetly fragrant white flowers age to apple-blossom pink. The blending of these two shades is extremely attractive. Compact, fast-growing 12-20 in. tall plants flower from late spring to early fall. Use Innocence evening primrose as a ground cover near sitting areas, or add plants to borders and large containers. Winter hardy to zone 4."

I transplanted Black Gem Cornflowers described as: "The cut-edged petals of cornflower 'Black Gem' gather into small thistle-shaped flowers above silvery leaves tailor-made to showcase the dark maroon blooms. Your cottage garden will become a hive of activity as honeybees hum contentedly around the generous flowering of this long-loved hardy annual. Self-sows."

I transplanted Black Magic Cornflowers described as: "With vivid color, 'Black Magic' makes great dried or cut flowers, while edible petals make a stunning garnish to salads, crudités platters, or dinner plates. Bachelor's button, also called cornflower, will "naturalize"; it self-sows for another crop of flowers the following season, and birds love the seed heads!"

 

Working With 2.5 Inch Width Scraps

I mentioned at the beginning of the month that one of my goals for April is to clean up and maybe empty out a box of 2.5 inch width scraps. 

So I've been working on that and thought I would show what I've done with those scraps so far. 

I made 8 - 25 Patch blocks. That was all I needed to reach my goal of 24 blocks. 

It all started with 6 (or was it 8?) blocks I received in a box of orphan blocks last year. Instead of using them as orphan blocks I decided to make a complete set for a child's comfort quilt. I hope I can assemble the top before month end and maybe even get it quilted. If not, well, then there's next month or the month after...

New Start - Four Patches

I already had a baggie of sets of 2 - 2.5 inch squares so last week I pulled out the red sets (because RED is the Rainbow Scrap Challenge color of the month) and made Four Patches.   Since then I have sorted most of that box of 2.5 inch width scraps and now have a little pile of pieces that I think will yield 2 - 2.5 inch squares. I cut all the red pieces and made more Four Patches. I will decide what to do with all the Four Patches when I've made all the box of scraps will yield. 

I was already collecting 2.5 x 3.5 inch rectangles and 2.5 x 4.5 inch rectangles for two different quilts I have in mind so added to those baggies. I also added to a baggie of 2.5 inch single squares.  Those are stored in baggies in a big baggie. 

New Start - Bricks and Stones.

While I was sorting the scraps into piles I noticed some 4 and 4 1/4 inch lengths. I didn't want to put those into the pile to be trimmed for the 2.5 x 3.5 inch rectangles so trimmed all of those to 2.5 x 4 inch rectangles. I cut some of the black scraps in the box into squares and figured I will make them into a bricks and stones quilt laid out horizontally. 

I haven't decided what size quilt they will go into and I haven't counted how many I've been able to make so far. 

I've also cut some 1.5 x 2.5 inch rectangles from the smallest pieces. They go into a baggie and go into the Potato Chip project bag. I already had quite a few rectangles in the project bag that I cut last month when cleaning up some 1.5 inch width scraps. 

For now I've been keeping all the projects and partss baggies in a flat next to the cutting mat so after I have a cutting session I can put all the parts in the right place. I still have more of those 2.5 inch width scraps to clean up but I stilll have lots of days in the month. I hope when all is said and done I only have 2.5 inch width of fabric pieces left in the box. 

And sew on...

***

REMEMBER, TREASURE, GROW, READ (my words of the year)

I shipped 10 quilts to Wrap-A-Smile. 

For significant savings on shipping costs I ship through PirateShip.com - you box up your quilts, measure and weigh box and input into that into PirateShip ap along with sender/receiver info. Then a list of ways to ship and the cost pop up with the most cost effective one recommended. Make a choice, buy a label, print a label for the box, apply to box and then drop off box which in my case is a UPS drop-off location near me. 

 

It's A Finish! Orphan Bertha's Crackers

It's a finish!

Orphan Bertha's Crackers

40 x 56

Someone sent me these 8 inch (finished) Cracker blocks a long time ago. I've gotten them out several times to put into a quilt; however, the block sizes, seam allowances, colors, fabrics were alll over the place and I just couldn't put the blocks together so they played nicely with each other. Normally I think Cracker Blocks should go together with all colored corners touching. I even thought of putting them into a few rows for a row quilt alternating with other blocks. Nothing ever satisfied me so the blocks always went back into the orphanage. 

Last December I was working on getting a lot of orphan blocks into tops and finally decided to deal with these blocks. I trimmed the ones that needed it to 8.5 inches trying to keep the seam allowances along the points at 1/4 inch. Some blocks had seam allowances over that, some under and some were just right. When I put the blocks together with the colored points all touching it was very obvious and really bothered me that seam allowances were not all right. Then I tried laying them out on the diagonal and the seam allowance discrepancies was not so noticeable.  Then there was the problem of colors and fabrics being all over the place. Some blocks even had two different colors in them. 

It worked it out so that warm and cool colors could alternate in the diagonal rows and Orphan Bertha was born.

I quilted it on my sewing machine - both sides of the block vertical and horizontal seams and then through the blocks on the diagonals.  

Orphan Bertha got a wild and crazy pieced backing. The top fabric is a multicolor polka dot.  The binding is scrappy and came out of the leftover binding box.

When all was said and done and I was getting Bertha ready for a bath I noticed a small stain on that polka dot backing fabric.  I rubbed in some Grandma's Secret Spot remover, waited a few minutes and then rubbed it with a little water to try and remove stain.  After stain was removed I looked at the front and noticed almost every color of fabric from yellow to purple bleeding. Oh, for Pete's Sake, Bertha, you are such a problem child!  So I boiled some water and immediately put her to soak in a Dawn Bubble Bath.  She came out looking her Sunday Best. 

And sew on...

I just added a page at the top of my blog with pics of orphan block quilts finished within the last year or so if you are interested. 

Now it is ready for donation to Wrap-A-Smile.  There has recently been an urgent call for quilts because there are more upcoming Rotaplast missions than prevously anticipated. That's a good thing.

"Rotaplast International, Inc. is committed to helping children and families worldwide by eliminating the burden of cleft lip and/or palate, burn scarring, and other deformities. Working with local professionals, Rotarians, and other organizations, Rotaplast sends multidisciplinary medical teams to provide free reconstructive surgery, ancillary treatment, and training for the comprehensive care of these children." Wrap-A-Smile provides each child undergoing surgery with a quilt. 

I have donated quilts to Wrap-A-Smile since 2013 (I think) and every once in awhile it is fun to spot a quilt I made with a child. I just added a page at the top of my blog with pics of kids around the world I have spotted with a quilt I've made. 

If you are interested in donating quilts to Wrap-A-Smile (WAS) please read the WAS Guidelines and WAS Shipping Info.  Or you can email me and I'll be happy to answer your questions. 

***

REMEMBER, TREASURE, GROW, READ (my words of the year)

A few weeks ago I started tomato seeds under lights in a corner of my sewing space. 

They are all heirloom tomatoes. The Rainbow's End mix contains Brandywine, Marvel Stripe and Green Zebra seeds. The Summer Feast blend contains Black Krim, Persimmon and Costoluto. I like how they dye the seeds of the varieties in the mixes different colors so you know exactly what to expect. I planted a few seeds of each variety except for the Green Zebra. I planted more seeds of the Jersey Devil because that is a big meaty paste tomato I really like for canning and freezing; sauces and salsas.  I'm trying Peron for the first time this year. The "Peron" or "Peron Sprayless" tomato is a 1950s heirloom variety developed in Argentina known for its disease resistance and high yields, earning it the nickname "Sprayless".  We shall see if that is true!

The seedlings were outgrowing their seed starting tray so yesterday I moved them into bigger pots. 

The "bigger pots" are big plastic cups with holes punched in bottom for drainage. As you can tell I've been using same cups for years. After I plant my seedlings into the garden I wash the cups in Dawn with a few drops of bleach.   I now have 27 tomatoes in plastic cups. That's too many for me especially now that hubby can't swallow and eat real food. I'll be giving some plants away to a few folks but most folks I know prefer that I give them the ripe tomatoes instead. And I'm okay with that too!

 

It's A Finish!

 

It's a finish!

Orphan Winifred

40 x 60

The framed leopard blocks were given to me. 

I added the "jungle" around them. 

I quilted in some leaves and flowers. 

I made this and several other orphan block tops back in December 2024 and now I'm trying to get them all quilted and donated. 

I had to piece the back with an jungle looking collage fabric and a leafy yellow. 

Now it is ready for donation to Wrap-A-Smile.  There has recently been an urgent call for quilts because there are more upcoming Rotaplast missions than prevously anticipated. That's a good thing.

"Rotaplast International, Inc. is committed to helping children and families worldwide by eliminating the burden of cleft lip and/or palate, burn scarring, and other deformities. Working with local professionals, Rotarians, and other organizations, Rotaplast sends multidisciplinary medical teams to provide free reconstructive surgery, ancillary treatment, and training for the comprehensive care of these children." Wrap-A-Smile provides each child undergoing surgery with a quilt. 

I have donated quilts to Wrap-A-Smile since 2013 (I think) and every once in awhile it is fun to spot a quilt I made with a child. I just added a page at the top of my blog with pics of kids around the world I have spotted with a quilt I've made. 

If you are interested in donating quilts to Wrap-A-Smile (WAS) please read the WAS Guidelines and WAS Shipping Info.  Or you can email me and I'll be happy to answer your questions. 

And sew on...

A Kaleidoscope Finish

Kaleidoscope

It's a finish!

40 x 56

I had a few chunks of different yellows. A year or so ago I decided to use them along with 4.5 inch width scraps I had at the time in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) color of the month.  I use a Kaleidoscope ruler to cut parts. 

I quilted it on my sewing machine with swirls. 

The backing is a kaleidoscope of color.  And I found just enough solid yellow pieces in my leftover binding box for the binding so I guess it was meant to be. 

Now it is ready for donation to Wrap-A-Smile.  There has recently been an urgent call for quilts because there are more upcoming Rotaplast missions than prevously anticipated. That's a good thing.

"Rotaplast International, Inc. is committed to helping children and families worldwide by eliminating the burden of cleft lip and/or palate, burn scarring, and other deformities. Working with local professionals, Rotarians, and other organizations, Rotaplast sends multidisciplinary medical teams to provide free reconstructive surgery, ancillary treatment, and training for the comprehensive care of these children." Wrap-A-Smile provides each child undergoing surgery with a quilt. 

I have donated quilts to Wrap-A-Smile since 2013 (I think) and every once in awhile it is fun to spot a quilt I made with a child. I just added a page at the top of my blog with pics of kids around the world I have spotted with a quilt I've made. 

If you are interested in donating quilts to Wrap-A-Smile (WAS) please read the WAS Guidelines and WAS Shipping Info.  Or you can email me and I'll be happy to answer your questions. 

And sew on...

Oh Scrap! at Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework

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REMEMBER, TREASURE, GROW, READ (my words of the year)

I spy ephemerals along my garden pathways. Oh joy! 

Species or Wild Tulips

Wood Hyacinth or Spanish Bluebells

Daffodils

(About that plastic bag sticking up....My husband receives his nutrition via G-tube and a pump with IV bags that hold liquid food and water. Last year I took a bunch of his IV bags and put them over the top of all sorts of trumpet vines with very deep roots that had popped up everywhere and difficult to get rid of. I tied the bags shut with the bag tubing. Of course raccoons had to pull off some of the 30 or so bags but most stayed on from last spring to this spring and it looks like that method MIGHT have finally killed off all those bits and pieces of trumpet vine in unwanted spots.  I do have trumpet vine on a trellis in the middle of the cottage garden but I don't want it anywhere else strangling everything in sight.)

Bloodroot

Large Crocus

Miniature Daffodils

Muscari or Grape Hyacinth