As I mentioned yesterday, I needed a lot of leaders and enders to help me keep the layout of The Peacock in order. In addition to other projects, I made a number of donation blocks.
I picked up a few blue kits at the guild meeting Saturday. My intention was to sew them “sometime” during the next month. Quickly, I realized that I would need leaders and enders while I pieced The Peacock. Very quickly I had the kits out and blocks partially made.
Donation blocks – October 2016
Soon after that, I had 4 blocks made from a combination of my own fabric and the kits. These join the two I made before my trip.
I made several blue blocks with the intention of putting them together into a quilt. I don’t have enough yet, but will will soon. I think I mentioned that the Peacock requires a leader/ender between each seam. One half of the block is in one row and the other half is in the row above. It requires another piece between each Peacock seam so I can keep the different blocks in order. It is a quilt where I will get two quilts out of the piecing.
Red and turquoise donation blocks – October 2016
Previously, I made red and white blocks for a different charity quilt. I like having color themes even if the reds (or whatever colors) aren’t exactly matchy-matchy. I have enough red blocks to make a charity quilt, however, I want to try something new and am waiting to figure out some match and layout before I piece the blocks together. I am still making red blocks as I can pair them with black for boys.
I have been collecting a random assortment of photos of Pulse quilts as I see them posted on Instagram. You can see many, many more by searching the hashtag #quiltsforpulse regularly.
Pulse by Kathy Matthews
Kathy Matthews posted hers. Kathy did a really nice design branching off from the original heart pattern. Kathy’s layout would be a great baby quilt or off-to-college design as well. I can imagine it in blacks and reds. My mind is spinning with the possibilities.
Pulse Quilts waiting for distribution
The Orlando Modern Quilt Guild updated their meeting minutes and included a detailed description of their Pulse Project progress. The scale of this project boggles my mind. I am amazed at what they have accomplished. It is especially moving when the numbers of quilts and what they did to blocks and pieces they received is taken into consideration. The outpouring of love is amazing.
The guild is on schedule and has begun to give out some of the quilts. Click on the hashtag above to see some photos of one of the ceremonies.
BAM Pulse Quilt
BAM Pulse Quilt
BAM sent off two quilts recently and Cheryl posted photos of them.
As I have mentioned many times, BAM does a lot of charity work. Peggy and Michelle work hard to make it fun. Right before the retreat, the guild was the fortunate recipient of a bonanza of fabric. It wasn’t ugly, crappy fabric that people often try to offload. It was relatively new yardage as well as pre-cuts. There were charm packs, large and small jelly rolls and layer cakes.
BAM Retreat Charity Quilt (Joelle)
BAM Retreat Charity Quilt (Kelly O!)
BAM Retreat Charity Quilt (Annemarie)
BAM Retreat Charity Quilt (Joelle)
BAM Retreat Charity Quilt (Mary C)
BAM Retreat Charity Quilt (Mary C)
As a result a lot of new charity quilts were put together at the retreat. The above is a small sampling. They are generally smaller, but so bright and cheerful! Peggy was pushing the Disappearing 9 Patch pattern, so a few of those showed up using the charm squares.
Retreat Charity Block
My pathetic effort to the charity endeavor was one block. the Charity Girls had the regular postage stamp kits available, so I took one when I needed some leaders and enders for my City Sampler blocks and made the block.
Yay for Bron who made this happy Orlando Pulse quilt! I love the scrappy binding.
This is another one that will be sent off to the Orlando Modern Quilt Guild for the families of victims, survivors and first responders of the Pulse nightclub shooting.
The BAMQG meeting was last Saturday. Mike and Jaime brought the Pulse tops we all worked, and they sewed together, on at the last meeting. I was thrilled to see them. Both Jaime and Mike are very talented quiltmakers and they did a great job, quickly, with blocks contributed by members.
BAMQG Pulse Quilt by Jaime
Jaime created a simple setting with a bit of sashing between the blocks. The sashing sets off the colors and fabrics of the blocks, which was a great idea. It is also looks very bright. A couple of my blocks are towards the bottom. Angela is going to quilt this quilt.
BAMQG Pulse Quilt by Mike
Mike infused some additional meaning into his design, which made me tear up. He left some blank spaces to remind us of those killed in the shooting. Great idea, but sad he had to think of it. Mike has a longarm and will quilt his quilt and send it off. I think a couple of my blocks made it into this quilt as well.
Pulse Quilt Wallhanging by Mike
Finally, Mike made a quilt for himself and his partner. This commemorates the losses, but also the contribution of the first responders. I really appreciate Mike remembering them. I am not sure I think beyond them just going in and doing their job, but I can’t believe they are not affected.
The Orlando Modern Quilt Guild is posting blocks and quilts they have received. There are a great variety of really interesting designs. The guild also posted a lot of information about the efforts in the minutes of their July meeting. I was pleased to hear they already have 48 finished quilts and 600 blocks. their process for distributing received blocks is genius. The information also gives readers an idea of how you can still help.
Kathy M, quilt writer for ChicagoNow, writes about and shows the process of making her Pulse Quilt. I love the design.
I worked on a donation food quilt over the weekend. I decided, though it wasn’t a conscious decision, that I would try and use up the rest of my food fabrics and put that chapter behind me. Three food quilts is enough.
I think I also did it because I have been longing to provide another donation top and back to BAMQG.
Thus, I worked on the donation food quilt over the weekend. By Sunday night, I had a top, a back and a Frankenbatting.
I sewed it in kind of an Improv manner, but it is structured improv. I tried to use the pieces that I had and not do too much fiddly piecing.
Food Donation Quilt back
I may have enough pieces for another version when I get the Food Quilt #3 back. I think the back is large enough to provide at least a base for another donation quilt.
I now have 12 red blocks, which I thought was the end of what I needed to make a top. I actually need at least 16, so I still have some sewing to do before I can make a top. That means I also have to cut more red squares as I am getting bored of the ones I have.
I have a few blue blocks, which I really like. They are cheerful. I have been tossing them into my BAM bag, but I may keep them and make a top from them as well. We’ll see.
Thursday and Friday, in between everything else, I worked on Heart Blocks. They are being made en mass to help the Orlando Modern Quilt Guild make quilts for the victims and families of those massacred in Orlando last week.
Orlando Heart Blocks – first batch
I am trying to use my best fabrics and make them as cheerful as possible. I also started out with the orange and went to the purple, thinking that blocks in these colors might be in short supply. I could make the whole rainbow range, as I saw someone else do on IG, but I don’t know that I want to do that. I hope to make some more orange ones, regardless. We’ll see what happens.
Second set of heart blocks
I found it easier to cut a bunch of backgrounds and foregrounds and sew them all at once, though I didn’t do that every time. The four blocks above are the first 4 I made and the 3 in the second photo are the ones I made Friday and finished on Saturday morning before the meeting.
I was pretty excited about the purple soft serve fabric. I really hope that fabric will make someone smile and will bring back good memories of the Boardwalk or the Fair. It made me smile.
BAM Hearts for Orlando blocks
On Saturday I attended the BAM meeting. After the meeting, which was GREAT, BTW, a number of us stayed and made blocks for Hearts for Orlando quilts. We made 41 blocks, which is enough for 1 1/4 quilts. You can see that there are some differences in the blocks. There were some differences in cutting so I looked up the pattern and found that I was cutting the small background squares, used for the top, wrong. 🙁 Those small background squares are supposed to be 2″ not 2.5″. We kept all of the different types of hearts. It will add interest to the quilt. I wasn’t the only one who made a mistake and everyone was really generous.
Valerie, a Twitter pal, made enough heart blocks for a whole quilt.
Contribute and Make Your Own
All I can think about is that this could have happened to one of my family or friends or work colleagues. None of us are immune. In true quiltmaker fashion the Orlando Modern Quilt Guild has started a block and quilt drive to create quilts for the victims and families of the slain. They are collecting quilts and blocks.
Overview:
Pattern: Cluck Cluck Sew Hearts
Size: 10?x 10?
Colors: varying rainbow of prints with low volume background
Send quilt to Orlando MQG (check blog for address)
Send money, blocks and quilts to: Alissa Lapinsky c/o A List Hair Salon, 106 South Woodland Blvd, Suite B, DeLand, FL 32720
Timeframe: Quilts by August 15; blocks by July 15
Send this form with your submission.
The idea is to make heart blocks in bright, rainbow colors to represent everyone affected (including YOU), and obviously represent the love we are sending them. Use the tutorial from Cluck Cluck Sew to make 10? blocks in rainbow of bright colors, with a low volume background. The quilts should be no smaller than 5 blocks wide and 6 blocks long (30 blocks). You’re more than welcome to make them larger, they’d like to keep them at the very least lap sized.
A lot of questions were brought up in the comments on the original Orlando MQG post. This is a big project and they are working through the details as those details come up. Be patient. Most of the answers have been posted a few days ago, including what you can send (quilts, blocks, batting, money, binding strips, etc). Also keep an eye on that blog for more information. I am sure your patience will be appreciated.
Contact Julie at the Intrepid Thread for more options. If you have any other questions, please email alissalapinsky [at] gmail [dot] com. She is the president of the Orlando MQG and coordinating this effort.
Do something! Help in some small way- whatever works for you. Even $1 will help buy batting and pay for postage.
In between sewing the top and back of FOTY 2015 together, I made a few more donation blocks. Not a lot, but my pile of reds is growing and the other random colored blocks are going straight into the back to to take to the next BAMQG meeting.
As soon as I make enough of the red, I will make a specific top and back from those. I might use the Cutting Corners ruler again and I might now. We’ll see.
I have had some cat bed fabric waiting to be sewn since the BAMQG April meeting. I finally did it over the weekend, mostly to get the fabric out of my way. My horizontal surfaces are looking kind of full right at the moment.
I didn’t really realize how cute the top fabric was until I laid them down to take a picture. Don’t those cats look happy?
I get to count these as finishes, but I don’t get credit for the fabric since Amanda gave it to me. Oh well.
We skipped last year, but are back in the saddle this year with more pillows.
NSGW 2016 Grand Parlor Fancy Pillow
I have to admit that SIL2 did most of the work. I did a little cutting, supplied some fabric, then, was out of time. I had so much to do to get ready for Grand Parlor. I couldn’t get this done. SIL2 stepped in and did the rest. The pillow above looks REALLY elegant. The gold fabric isn’t too showy. It will go well in a really decorated living room.
NSGW 2016 Grand Parlor California Fabric Pillow
This year we decided to put years on them so they would be more special — limited editions. We used leftover fabric from the shirts we made for DH and BIL3.
NSGW Grand Parlor 2016 Pillows – backs
As in previous years, these pillows will be raffled off to raise money to support kids needing surgery for craniofacial anomalies. You can make a donation to the Cleft Palate Foundation directly (tax deductible) without being at Grand Parlor. Sorry, no pillows for a straight donation.
This is the quilt that Gerre and I worked on at her house a few months ago.
She finished it and brought it to Sew Day. I couldn’t believe that she finished quilting it so quickly! I was thrilled. Not just that it was finished, but also that we had another donation quilt to help give someone some comfort.
The oranges worked out really well and while we are working on the circle quilt, I am excited to cut for another T quilt. I am thinking of digging into those green bins and thinning out some of those fabrics. I also saw my nephew’s Wonky 9 Patch quilt over the weekend and think that blue would look great with the orange Ts as well.
I finally made it to a Sew Day at the new BAMQG location.
Gerre emailed me while I was in Portland and asked if I was going. I thought ‘why not?’ and Gerre was willing to sew with me again. Even though the YM is home and lounging around, he is old enough to be alone and didn’t want to come with. Why would he? He would be bored.
It was fantastic! I was thrilled to be there and thrilled to be sewing. Gerre brought the Orange T quilt and it is finished. I have to take some photos and then I will post a finished photo.
Simply Moderne
We had a great time sewing and chatting and working on our quilt. We had decided to work on a circle quilt as a donation quilt. We got the inspiration from Simply Moderne magazine. I was attracted by the cover and bought an older issue at QuiltCon.
Pushed Neutral Background
We started out by cutting the background pieces in the Pushed Neutral technique I learned from Mary Mashuta 1,000 years ago.
I brought the neutrals and Gerre brought the foreground fabrics, though we didn’t know it would end up that way.
We had talked about using greens, so I brought my green bins along with my beige and brown bin (which thankfully is almost empty). We pulled out the last of my light and tolerable beiges and cut them into 10″ squares and put this together as a background.
Circle cutting ruler in use!
Gerre then showed me some plaids she had and we decided to use the plaids instead of greens and make a boy quilt. We cut circles using both the Go cutter than Pati brought (with her circle template!) and my newish circle cutting ruler.
I wielded the circle ruler while Gerre took over the Accuquilt Go! I only had my normal 45mm rotary cutter and I think it would have worked better with a smaller cutter. I only have one of those and it was at home, so I did the best I could. I may need a new blade after cutting the circles.
We decided not to have a lot of large circles, because the size of our quilt was smaller than the example we saw in the magazine and we didn’t want the entire surface to be covered.
Circles on background
After putting the background together we laid out the circles on the background. I didn’t take a picture of that stage so you have to be satisfied with the photo on the right.
We decided we had to do the quilt in layers so that we could sew around a whole circle and not have to stop and start.
We didn’t bring fusible so we glued the first layer of circles down on the background, pressed it and then Gerre sewed.
Circle donation quilt back
While she sewed, I worked on the pieced background.
The fish and leaf fabric is OLD! The selvedge says “Sykel Enterprises 1993.” I don’t even know if Sykel exists anymore. It is certainly no Moda or Kaufman. I am sure TFQ could tell me where I bought it. 😉
It was in the brown bin and good for a boy quilt. I also had about a yard, which was a great start. It was in two pieces, so I added the strip in the middle. We also cut off a strip so we could see about applique’ing some of the motifs somewhere on the quilt. The center plaids are a couple Gerre brought.
First layer circles sewed
We were able to sew the first layer down. These were the largest circles.
We don’t intend to necessarily go from largest to smallest, but we wanted to start with the largest.
So far, it doesn’t look like much, but the next layer (no photo) looks better.
As mentioned in yesterday’s FOTY post, I need leaders and enders. Donation patches inevitably end up doing the job. I made a bunch and have an idea for a red and white donation quilt. I don’t have all the details in my head yet, but I am working on blocks using red fabrics to go with the plain whites.
Donation Blocks – April 2016
I don’t have an unlimited selection of red 2.5″ squares cut, so I am also making donation blocks using other colors. I will donate those blocks to the Charity Girls and they can do something with them unless I have enough blue and green blocks and enough time to make a second donation top. We will see.
It was fun to make the donation blocks. I am playing with the arrangement of colors and different fabrics. The recipients may not know but I have fun and I hope the quilt absorbs my joy.
