Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Left Holding the Bag

 Left Holding the Bag
58 x 58

This is quilt #3 of 3 I recently finished for the Quilts Beyond Borders latest initiative to deliver quilts to teens and elders of the Navajo Nation in time for the cold winter weather. 

This is another real oldie that's been around as a top since 2011. It started as one of those gallon bag challenges where you exchange a bag of scraps with a partner and have a few months to add in some of your own scraps and make a lap sized quilt top. This was an online challenge with a block exchange group and I was assigned a partner that was new to the group.   She sent me a bag with mostly that blue and orange plaid, some small pieces of some stiff old lady florals and a piece of blue John Deere fabric.  My first thought was ewwww...this is definitely a challenge. 
 I had a bunch of 2.5 inch square scraps so picked through them for mostly blues and reds (because I didn't have many oranges ) to coordinate with that ewwwww plaid fabric. That plaid fabric also had a thin yellow line through it so I also added in a few yellow squares.   I also tried to add in a little love.   And then when it came time to send quilt tops back to the original bag lady I found she had left the group and disappeared and did not answer any emails.  So I was left holding (the quilt top that came out of ) the bag.  And so it goes...
I decided it was time to finish it and move it out where it can give someone a little lovin' and warmth.   

I quilted horizontal and vertical lines in serpentine stitch around the squares. The backing was a gently used and very soft sheet, And the binding was a blue that pretty closely matched the blue in that ewwwww plaid. 

for

16 comments:

Nann said...

That's another "silk purse" quilt -- you took a sow's ear and created a lively design.

Libby in TN said...

SCORE!

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

that is a very nice scrap quilt I hope whoever receives it will appreciate the beauty in it

QuiltGram said...

Very cheerful. At my first glance, the picture of the whole quilt, I ‘saw’ a heart in the center just a tad to the left. It is a large one, where the fabrics read lighter, this quilt makes my heart happy!

Connie said...

This is going to warm their body and their heart. it is beautiful . . . so bright and cheerful . . . I absolutely love scrappy quilts made from many fabrics and colors, they just make me want to wrap up in them and feel the comfort and love.

Cathy said...

Wow, there’s something very striking about the eeeew plaid in the border. You did a great job of repeating the colors. That’s a scrappy home run and says “comfort” and “warmth” all over! On a scale of 1-10, given what you started with, I’d rate it an 11.

Linda said...

I really like this quilt. So bright and vibrant! The plaid reminds me of the sort of skirts that were around when I was a child, so in my mind it has a woolly feel. But you have created a lovely warm quilt (both in colour and I expect in real life), cheerful and will create a smile on the face of the recipient. Great UFO No 3 finish!!!

Susie Q said...

Well done !!!! Fun quilt.....

Quiltdivajulie said...

Someone will appreciate the love you put into this - colorful and cozy and good for cold weather.

Louise said...

That gal missed out on seeing the creative magic you wrought on her rather, ahem, challenging plaid fabric :)

Ann said...

This will be a useful quilt and now is the perfect time for a finish. Congrats.

---"Love" said...

Now that was a lot of scraps! Now they are in one unit --- a pretty quilt that will keep someone warm. I really like your quilting too. ---"Love"

Unknown said...

You did a great job with the fabric you had to work with. I think the recipient will be very happy with it. I don't know why my other e-mail keeps getting attached to my comments or how to fix it but this is from Sharon @ purrfection8@gmail.com

Quilter Kathy said...

I was just thinking what Nann said! Great job creating some scrappy magic!

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

Looove it!!!

Emily said...

It doesn't look ewwww anymore! It looks cozy!