Hands to Help, check in number two

This is my second Hands to Help. It is all bound and labelled and ready to donate at the next Scrapbag Quilters meeting. It's final dimensions were 41" by 49". It was originally done as a mystery quilt using nickels.
I have been busy with my Quiltmaker testing and one for Kristy at Quiet Play. The Quiltmaker testing is for their 100 Blocks magazine Volume 10. It delights and amazes me how many talented designers there are and this publication gives many of them an opportunity to shine.  Piecefully, Joanne

The Tooth Fairy had to make a detour to Grandma's House

The boys are here for the weekend, therefore limited sewing happening. They know that one of the things that makes me shudder is a loose wiggly tooth. So Friday night they were showing me Dylan's wiggly tooth when it came out. We had to take a picture to send to his Mom who is supposed to be pampering herself at home this weekend. The all knowing tooth fairy made it here and surprise, just like everything else inflation has hit the tooth fairy business. Piecefully, Joanne

This little quiltlet went to Market, this old quilter is staying home

Early in April Windham Textiles had a blog post offering followers the opportunity to make a mini quilt that would finish 18" square and feature one of their new fabric releases. So I replied to their blog post and ended up with a nice sampling of their new Ava line. It is very traditional in appearance so I thought their would be a disconnect with a thoughly modern design. I went with a star in a star in a star for the background and some origami flowers falling across the background piece. I know it arrived  in New Jersey on time. I hope that somehow I will get to see a picture of their booth.
In other quilty news I have attended two quilt retreats since my last post. The first was in Woodstock and was with the Canadian on-line Quilters group. The hotel we stayed at had set up their well lit meeting room so that we each had lots of room to work. Everyone worked on their own projects but we did do some show and tell, and shared some mini demos. There was a near by quilt show that some attended and a marvelous shopping opportunity. All in all a great time. I went two years ago but life was too crazy at this time last year so even though I had said I would go I had to withdraw.
The second retreat was with some work colleagues. Although we are hardly work colleagues anymore. This year marks our 25th year of get togethers. At first we shared teaching ideas and strategies but gradually as we retired our time together was spent quilting. Finding a window of opportunity for 7 busy women to commit to the time away can be a challenge but in the end this time we had 5 there for the entire time and one who made it for some of the time. Lots of laughs, lots of sewing, good problem solvers always available and of course great food.
Now its time to stay home and get some work done around the house. Piecefully, Joanne

Hands to Help Check In

This is the first of my two Hands to Help quilts finished and at the guild meeting for donation to Project Linus. I cannot remember or find the name of the book the pattern came from but it is a Leisure Arts publication all about nickles or charms. The original book idea was for a square quilt and to use a charm pack. Since I prefer a rectangular quilt and didn't have a charm pack I cut from my nickle collection and yardage. The nine patches are made from nickles cut into four. Each small piece is 2 1/2" square. The centre section of the square in a square block is 4".The white surrounding the centre block is a 5" square cut once on the diagonal. This allows the print square to float. I actually have my second quilt finished and it will be getting donated this Wednesday.It has been a busy month with some extra babysitting. Takes me a while to get back at it once the boys head for home. Piecefully, Joanne

Starting something new and using my tools

I started Freckled Whimsey's Diamond in the Rough Quilt Along. Don't really know why, the design just appealed to me. She is using 3 1/2" squares but since I had previously cut a pile of scraps into 5" strips I decided to work with them. So my squares are 4 1/2" and I am currently squaring up my HST to be 4 1/2". This is the biggest workout my new BlocLoc ruler has had and I must say I am pleased with the results. I am also using my rotating mat. There are 80 HST blocks to square and I am just over half way there. Piecefully, Joanne

If a picture is worth a thousand words.....

Sarah is holding a link up for your favourite tutorial, or recipe to use while stitching or technique. The photo above is a simple attempt to explain my absolute favourite go to block for a community out reach quilt. The block is made using bricks. The ones in the photo are 1 1/2" by 2 1/2" but you can use any size brick...2 1/2" by 4 1/2", or 3 1/2" by 6 1/2". Some of the reasons I like this block for community outreach sewing is that it is relatively easy to organize a kit. All pieces are cut to the same size. As you are sewing it is self correcting. When the blocks are assembled into rows they are set so that the centre pair is vertical then horizontal and the repeat. this means there are very few places where seams have to meet. a bonus for some stitchers.
Steps for the block:
1 Sew two bricks together along the long edge of the brick.
2 Add a brick to the top and the bottom of previous piece.
3 Sew two sets of bricks together on their short ends.
4. Add these pieces to the sides of your step 2 piece.
I like to start with a big pile of bricks and then I can scatter the colours through out the quilt. This one will be a wild a crazy one but they can be made in just about any colour arrangement you could imagine.The quilt below was made with 2 1/2" by 4 1/2" bricks.

Brown bricks

Willow Weave a Mystery Quilt Along Finish

Almost a year ago Doreen of Aunt Reen's Place (here) held a mystery jelly roll quilt along. I thought I would join in and the quilt you see is my result. Of course everyone else finished theirs ages ago. It turned out to be much larger than I imagined. At this time I plan to donate it to a raffle sponsored by my local University Women's group. It was decided that this year two of the interest groups would assemble a basket or container that reflects the interests of the group and that this would be available for an in-house raffle at our end of the year meeting. My book group was on the list for this year. So who does not want to snuggle under a lovely big quilt while reading a good book? There will likely be some liquid refreshment and of course some chocolate in our container. With any luck we will raise some funds for the larger group to help off set our meeting room and speaker expenses. Piecefully, Joanne