It's a finish!
When I assembled it I called it Orphan Dilbert. Maybe now I'll call it Hey, Mr. Spaceman... But really I usually don't name quilts I give away so what's in a name?
40 x 60
Someone gave me that panel in the middle a couple of years ago. I don't every really know what to do with panels. And maybe that's becaue I'm not a person who adds borders to quilts. First of all I never know what to add for a border and second of all I would really rather piece thousands more blocks than add a border and thirdly I never really have enough of any one fabric to make a border even if I did like making them and knew what to make.
Well, Mr. Spaceman Orphan Dilbert wasn't doing anyone any good laying around in a box so a few months ago I let him and his alien friends out. Time to earn their keep!
I had a few pieces of alien fabric in my box of novelty bits (of course left over from making quilts for grandkids and all their cousins....well, not all their cousins...we have large families and there are still cousins being born or about to be born in the grandkids' generation. We have 31 nieces and nephews.)-- enough for the top and bottom of the quilt. For the sides I decided to mimic the squares in the panel and made a few Happy Blocks that had aliens or rockets or spacey things. I had the center 6.5 inch squares from long ago I Spy swaps and the borders for the Happies mostly came out of the black scraps.
I actually think that planet fabric up at the top may be a scrap of the curtains I made for my youngest son's bedroom when he was a boy. He's 39 now. Can that be true?
I quilted in some stars in black thread. A few times I kind of spaced out and forgot how to draw the stars when the needle accidently took a wrong turn so those might just be black holes (or space debris) in case anyone asks.
The backing has glittery stars and the binding...blue with swirls...kind of spacey looking and matches the backing pretty well.
A little quilting marathon has been going on here. Soon I will have boxes of comfort quilts for two of my favorite charities that provide quilts for kids - Wrap-A-Smile (WAS) and Quilts Beyond Borders. (QBB).
Wrap-A-Smile (WAS) partners with Rotaplast International.
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.
The latest mission was in Luxor, Egypt and if would like to see quilts in action as well as read about the wonderful work done to help children and some adults then you have to read all about it at the Rotaplast website. A few times I have been able to spot one of my quilts with a child. Oh joy!
Quilts Beyond Border (QBB) quilts go to many different initiatives...foster care, refugees, Indian reservations, orphanages...you will just have to go read the QBB blog because I can't remember them all.
And sew on...
That quilt is absolutely adorable!
ReplyDeleteOh this is just a delightful quilt, Cathy;))) I feel like you do about adding borders [this is why I joined Bramble QAL to see what I can learn!!].
ReplyDeleteYou did such a great job on using that panel and all those "space-oriented" fabrics...hugs, Julierose;)))
Adorable quilt to cheer a child. Fabulous finish.
ReplyDeleteAnother great quilt. I love those cheeky aliens. Very appealing for any child I would think.
ReplyDeleteThis one will be some child's favourite blanky, I'm sure. What's not to love. Bravo, Cathy! ;^)
ReplyDeleteI suppose the astronaut's name is Dilbert Spaceman, right? A finish that's just out of this world!
ReplyDeleteWonderful spacemen and aliens indeed! You are certainly getting through your UFOs, give yourself a pat on the back. Or maybe a nice cup of tea/coffee, you deserve it.
ReplyDeleteThat's so cute, Cathy! I never know what to do with panels, either, but surrounding this one with fun space themed blocks and fabric bits is a perfect solution.
ReplyDeleteVery cool quilt. Somebody's gonna love it.
ReplyDeleteI love how you can take a bunch of odds and ends and thises and thatses and turn them into what looks like a planned quilt! What joy!
ReplyDeleteYou did very well adding "borders" to the panel, in spite of what you feel is a weakness when it comes to borders. This is a darling quilt. Thanks for the links to the two organizations; I didn't know they accepted quilts.
ReplyDeleteLove how you finished this one!
ReplyDeletebut 31 more cousins.... whoa boy!!!