Friday, July 2, 2021

Plus Postage Is Now A Top

 


Plus Postage
It's a top!
60 x 80


I started making these ten inch blocks a couple of years ago as a Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) project to use up some postage stamp sized squares (1.5 inch squares). 

Sometimes fun things show up in a little 1 inch (finished) square.  I spy cake, scissors, musical notes, a bone...

...whales, tomatoes, paw print...


...peppermint candy, and a tiny dancer. I usually give these types of quilts to patients in hospice, nursing homes, or hospital.  It gives the patient and/or visitors something to look at when there is a lull in the conversation.  

And then maybe a conversation gets started and memories triggered by one of those itty bitty squares...remember the year Aunt Marie surprised you and made those horrible tasting peppermint flavored mints she wanted you to put with some mixed nuts in little dishes on the cake table? It was fun to watch the reactions of those who tasted the mints...remember...

Isn't that why some fabrics are called conversation prints? 

The Plus Postage pattern can be found in the April 2016 edition of American Patchwork and Quilting and is designed by Susan Ache. I was inspired but  I didn't follow the instructions. (I looked at the pictures). Susan Ache's version uses strip piecing and only two fabrics per block. I used quite a variety of 1.5 inch squares (postage stamps cut from scraps) and sewed those together one square at a time. 





29 comments:

Julie in GA said...

OMG! I love it! I've been watching your collection of blocks grow over the past many months, but had no idea how wonderful they would all look together. You have a gift for finding wonderful inspiration, then making it your own. This is fantastic!

Julierose said...

this is just stunning--one block at a time with all those little squares--so lovely...beautiful work on this ;))) hugs, Julierose

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

Oh, that's just amazing, Cathy! And so much fun to look at all those little squares. I might have a hard time giving that one away!

swooze said...

I never thought about the name conversation print.

Quiltdivajulie said...

Your scrappy version is SO MUCH MORE INTERESTING than a strip pieced version would be. Love how you think about where certain quilts are donated and the impact they can have.

Linda said...

Absolutely delightful!!!! Those red crosses are such a great contrast to the RSC 4 patch backgrounds. As a result the squares and the crosses show each other off perfectly!

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

I really this quilt! Love all the colors and the happiness in it!! they look like such a fun block!!

gayle said...

Fantastic flimsy! Terrific top!
I'm a big fan of 1.5" squares, too, so this pattern just thrills me!

Gretchen Weaver said...

This is very pretty, a wonderful use of those little 1.5" squares. Thanks for sharing!

SandyPA said...

It's amazing how the smallest fabric pieces can be combined to create such a stunning quilt! Well done! Sandy at sewhigh.blogspot.com

Elle said...

FANTASTIC quilt!

Susie H said...

What a fabulous quilt! Love the way it looks from a distance. Love the surprises on close inspection. Great job!

Nann said...

And I spy one of the fabrics that I sent you oh-so-long ago! (I still have some.) [Third photo, yellow with dark blue paisley. You used two pieces of it in that block.]

Jenny said...

Wonderful! I'm always amazed at your creations, and do wonder how easily quilters can whip up such delights using tiny 1.5in squares! I dont like to sew with such tiny pieces.

Linda Swanekamp said...

Wonderful quilt, lots of thread and fabrics, must weigh a fair amount. It came out lovely.

Cathy said...

Postage Plus is amazing! And so is your patience - the result is so happy!

The Joyful Quilter said...

Wow!! I absolutely LOVE how this one came together, Cathy!!

Quilter Kathy said...

Such an awesome quilt! I think it's my favourite RSC quilt ever!
It must be a heavy quilt with so much piecing in it.

Laura said...

Love, love, love! Takes me back to my Great Grandma's quilting! :)

MissPat said...

I look forward to seeing how you decide to quilt this one, especially inside the plus marks. It looks amazing, but as others hav mentioned, it must be very heavy already.
Pat

Sylvia@Treadlestitches said...

Such wonderful variety! All brought together by the red pluses. It is so kind of you to make this for a hospital patient and family.

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

That is one heck of a lot of 1.5" squares in a top that size! It is sure to make someone very happy as they discover something new every time they look at it.

Wendy @ Wendysquiltsandmore said...

It's so effective, but there must have been a huge amount of sewing in that one. I know what you mean about triggering memories. We had a picnic quilt like that when I was growing up.

grammajudyb said...

That one is fabulous! I’ll bet it will the start of great conversations about memories! So much time spent to sew all those little bits together!

Cynthia Brunz Designs said...

I love love love this one. I am not quite ready to start another postage stamp quilt but this idea is definitely going on my "someday" list.

Emily said...

WOW! This is amazing! So many pieces, and it's so dynamic! What fun, and I'm sure you can start some fantastic conversations with all the fun things hiding in there.

mangozz said...

Wow! Postage Plus is just so awesome! You have an incredible amount of patience. I love the look of 1.5" squares but would never attempt anything this large.

Sherrill said...

Ooo, so pretty. Too many tiny squares for me (I avoid tiny these days..lol) but gorgeous!!!

Megan said...

I hadn't seen the magazine, so I went over to the website to find the pattern. Gotta say that I love your version much more than the original - the variation in the colours in each block really adds sparkly and interest. Fabulous quilt!

Megan
Sydney, Australia