Monday, December 4, 2023

Two More Finishes! Orphan Block Quilts Horatio and Kayleen


Two finishes!
Orphan Horatio and Orphan Kayleen

I'm off to a late start with my post today.  I was up attending to sick hubby a lot last night. He is improving; however, it is a few giant steps forward and a few baby steps back. Reminds me of the game "Captain, May I" (also known as Mother, May I).  One of these days (or weeks or months) he is going to surprise me and make it to the finish line.

Orphan Horatio
Bricks and Stones
40 x 48


I received a big bag of brick and stone blocks a long time ago. The problem was that the "stone" portion of the block was a little short on quite a few of the blocks so I had to do a little "make do" in order to use them.   I blogged about that in October when I made the top



I have enough bricks and stones for another top but only felt like fixing blocks for one quilt so another orphan block quilt will happen another day. 

I quilted this one very simply with vertical lines on both side of the seam lines. 

The backing is an orange piece that was just big enough. And for the binding I used the same fabric I used to "make do" when I added fabric to a few stones that were short. 

Orphan Kayleen
42 x 51

There's lots of different blocks made by lots of different people in this one.  I'm one of those different peoples.   I really wanted to make a quilt of Hummingbird blocks but just did not like the process of making them at the time I tried. I made two blocks and said "no more". One of the blocks is at the top left. 

The arrow block is one of mine too. I made a sample of that one for a Block Lotto (now defunct) and decided I did not want to make more for the drawing that month. I think I did not have enough background fabric to make more. 

I can't claim those gorgeous star blocks. Those were given to me. I almost snagged them for hotpads and then thought they might be too nice for that and better suited to a donation quilt. 

I quilted this one with swirls and the binding was a coral fabric. I was going to make a scrappy binding but didn't have much left in my leftover binding box.  I like to make scrappy bindings when I can so I don't have to decide on which fabric to use for a binding. I usually don't have a lot of big pieces of yardage and when I do I like to save those for backings or backgrounds and not cut them up for bindings. 



And speaking of backings...here's the back! 

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...



 

8 comments:

Linda said...

Both fabulous! You are very clever at putting all those odds and ends into a final shed quilt. Hope hubby is feeling better today.

Tammy said...

So glad to hear that hubby is doing better! Sorry to hear that he was feeling sick. Both quilts are so much fun! I love the Kayleen layout!

gayle said...

Your quilts will bring some joy to the lives of kids who really need it!

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

love the black arrow

Chantal said...

Horatio is well dressed for this time of the year in brown, beige, and orange. Looks so comfy. Kayleen is a fun, cheerful girl. Great job on both. Sorry to hear hubby had a rough night. May his path to recovery be shorter than we think. Sending more prayers. ;^)

WAS Ann D said...

Thank you so much, Cathy, for being such a cheerleader for both Wrap-A-Smile and Quilts Beyond Borders. Both groups have met many new quilters thanks to you! Also your links to PirateShip to save $$ on shipping, and to MerryMabelMarket for tips on vacuum packing all help to keep this river of quilts flowing.

Nann said...

I recognized the arrow block right away! It was not a favorite BL for me, either. But the entire quilt is soooo random and cheerful! And Horatio turned out handsomely.

Hope John's "up" days are more frequent than the "down" days these days.

Nann said...

P.S. IMO the Hummingbird block is easier when constructed as a 9-patch with an hourglass unit in the center, four isosceles triangles, and then plain squares for the corners. Forget about those inset seams!