Using up the orphans

 I have really been digging out the orphan blocks, and putting them to use - good use, I think.  Here is an applique centre I took on holiday a few years ago to keep me amused plus various 6” blocks from the orphan bag.  The black Dala horses were made from a pattern in Today’s Quilter, but while I enjoyed making them, I didn’t want to make more!  I had the orange batik border fabric I my stash, and I think it is perfect for the job. 

As I was sewing down the binding I found a small problem. 

Whoops! A little frayed hole!  Have a look on the quilt and see how I resolved it.  A little ‘I spy’ for the recipient! 

Slight diversion

 As Project Linus coordinator I was contacted this week by Rosie, who works with children with life limiting conditions.  She needs more quilts.  That’s no problem, but it made me think about these professionals who are prepared to go the extra mile to make their patients feel good.  So I decided to make her a small gift. 

 I love making these little pouches and find them really secular for all sorts of things.  Since her name is Rosie, I thought I would use some fabric with roses on it.  I looked in my pink drawer and saw this fabric, which is much more fun.  Fabrics all have their own memories, and I remember buying this in New York at ‘The City Quilter’ in 2004.  I was determined to visit this shop and persuaded my husband to fir it into our schedule first thing one day.  He wanted to leave it till the end of the day, but I was concerned that it would get squeezed out if we did that!  It’s happened before! 

If you’ve never made a bag like this, here is the pattern.  It’s very easy.  

What on Earth?!

 I belong to a challenge group, and last year we decided to make some group strip quilts. The idea is that we take turns to select a picture we like and cut it into strips.  These strips are given out to the rest of the group and each person recreates their strip in fabric.  

I have finally finished my strip.  Any guesses as to what it is? 

Does that help? I asked my husband whether the two strips looked the same, to which he replied, “Yes, they do, but I can’t work out what it is!”  Of course, it’s a puffin.  Or at least, a slice of puffin! 

A finish and a new direction.

 I get bored quite easily, and am always looking for new blocks and ideas to try.  I am running out of strips (I know it’s hardly credible, but it’s true!) so fished out one of the donated tops to finish. 

It’s a lovely set of tumblers cut out by Julie.  Julie has an Accuquilt die which cuts these beauties, and since they have all the relevant corners cut off, they go together like a dream.  It needed a small border, and I bound it in yellow for a bit of extra pizzazz.  

Then on to something else.  I saw a YouTube video by ‘Just get it done’ with 10 different scrap blocks, and decided to try this one.  Yet another take on 2.5” squares and strips. 

A centre 2.5” square, then two 6.5” x 2.5” strips and two 2.5” squares of another colour.  Looking good.  I cut a kit out of the scrap pinks ready for one of my willing volunteers to make up.  Then I cam across quite a few brown fabrics.  I often put them in the rummage box as they aren’t very child friendly colour-wise, but this time I decided they could be sophisticated for an older child. 

Not completely sure about it, but I’ll carry on and see how it turns out. 

Why did I ever buy it?

 We have all felt the seductive power of a bargain, and that is the only reason I can think was behind this purchase! 

It’s very American and somewhat religious.  I think I had hopes of using it for backing or with other more suitable blocks.  It’s been in and out of my fabric drawers so many times, and then rejected  that this time I decided to use it!  

As foundation for more string blocks!  As you can see, I’ve already started using it, and since my foundations are 7.5” and this piece is 23” wide, it couldn’t be better! There isn’t enough for a whole quilt, but I can use Vilene for the rest of the blocks.  Clearing out the drawers, one piece at a time! 

A distraction from scraps

 My local group, Piecemakers are currently running a BOM called Hope Stars.  It’s just six months of blocks to hopefully keep us busy until the end of lockdown, and I have been coordinating it.  All the committee have made input, everyone choosing a 12” star block and a 6” star block.  It’s lovely to be part of a true collaboration.  The instructions for the penultimate blocks should be available this weekend, so I thought I’d put all my blocks together to show a possible arrangement. 

There are six 12” blocks and twelve 6” ones.  This is on point.

This is the same arrangement, but with easier pieced borders.  

I’m delighted at how well they’ve turned out, and can’t wait to see other finished examples.