A "Simple Stripes" Finish

I came across a cute pattern from Diary of a Quilter (by Amy Smart) called "Simple Stripes" and decided it would be perfect for my 10th quilt donation to Choose Life of North Alabama, my 14th finish for this year.  The tutorial is free on her site or as a PDF if you want to print and save it for later.  I decided on blues, greens, and yellows (brights, of course!) so into the stash I went.  I cut enough for way more than one quilt, mainly because I got caught up with all the fun fabrics and forgot to keep track of what I was cutting.

The blocks went together fast.  It took me longer to decide which fabrics to put together into blocks than it did to sew them!

After the first few blocks were up on the design wall, though, I wasn't loving it.

Quilty friends recommended that I throw in a few blocks using large prints.  That was a great idea except that this is pretty much the extent of my "large" prints!  Not so many, and not what anyone would call large.

 I used the yellow with curly ribbons, and it worked.

My stash came in handy again.  I had the perfect thing for backing and binding.

Because it was such a pretty day outside I had a good time with the photo shoot in my courtyard.

This was a fun quilt to make - really simple, really quick, and all from stash.  Gotta love it.

I'm linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Sew Some Love.

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The Rest of the Retreat Story

I prepped all my projects ahead of time for retreat so I could just sit and sew and talk and not have to cut or think too hard or do any "dreaded math."  Each project was cut and put into a ziploc bag along with the pattern or instructions. The first thing I worked on was this "Cross Weave" pattern by Sweet & Simple Quilts from Martingale.

In case you haven't noticed by now, lately I've really been into using a complementary color in the sashing or border. I think it makes it more interesting.  (And different -- you must know I like my quilts to be different!)  I had a really cute backing fabric I had bought when I was in Paducah in April for the AQS Show.  

Except for the backing this quilt was made from stash and scraps.  In fact, this is my entire supply of oranges now. I've been doing some serious stash-busting!

The second thing I worked on was this pattern, "Easy Starburst", by Missouri Star Quilt Company's Jenny Doan.  

I had never made Half-Square Triangles using the method in her tutorial.  Starting with two squares, one print and one white-on-white, right sides together, I sewed a quarter-inch seam around the edges then cut from corner to corner to make four HST's.  It worked well and went together fast, but I ended up having to work with all bias edges which is not my favorite thing.  

(Note:  I used 7" squares instead of 10" squares in order to end up with a smaller quilt.) The HST's were then stitched into four large blocks, using the same layout .....

..... then, starting at the top right, each block was turned clockwise in order to create the star.  

I added a border and used fabrics from my stash for the back and binding. 

How about that?  Two finishes in one week!  Not only that, but two more quilts for Choose Life of North Alabama.  

See what happens when you get to go on a retreat?  

I'm linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Quilting is More Fun Than Housework.  Check them out and read about the projects others are working on.

Also linking up with Sew Some Love at Kat & Cat Quilts.

Feeling Charitable.....

.....and it feels good!  I love making charity quilts, and I've had several finishes lately.  In February I was working on a purple baby quilt as well as one in teal for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  You can see some of the process in this post.   Both quilts have been completed, and I'm really happy with how they turned out.  The purple one is really cute with that little pop of orange.

The teal pinwheels are fun.  So fresh and bright!

Another recent finish is this Zig-Zag quilt.  The credit for this one is not entirely mine.  Several quilters made the blocks, then I put them together, quilted, and bound it.

The block itself is super simple.  It starts out with a square and builds from there using strips.  You can probably figure out how to make it just by looking at the back.

A different look is achieved depending on how you lay out the blocks.  It's kind of fun to play with.  Not as much fun making a decision!

I added these three quilts to some I finished earlier this year - the Finding Dory quilt, the Strings Around the Block quilt, the Craving Color quilt, and the Every Day is Valentines Day quilt.

All stacked up and ready to go to Choose Life of Northern Alabama.  They look so fun and colorful.

I added fifteen pillowcases I'd recently made for Women and Children's Hospital here in Huntsville .....

..... stacked them up and threw them into the back seat of the car to deliver them.

What a fun day!

I'm linking up with Kit & Cat Quilts for "Sew Some Love!" 

Also linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict - Can I get a Whoop Whoop?

Finding Dory - Another Friday Finish

Even though I bought the "Finding Dory" charm pack two years ago I'm calling this quilt a fast finish.  After all, I just started working on it a few weeks ago.   I told you last week in this post that I had the blocks put together.  What I didn't admit was that I had measured the sashing pieces wrong.  For some reason, knowing full well that charm packs have 5" squares, I cut the strips 5 1/2" long.

That made for extra work because I had to trim twice for every single block.

After the top was put together I noticed that one of the pieces was upside down.  Either that, or these are some very directionally challenged jellyfish!

I did not take the whole thing apart, but I did feel like this -

I wanted to use blue for the border and backing, but I don't have a great selection of blues in my stash.  As I fell asleep one night, trying to figure out what to do, I suddenly remembered --- Gavin's curtains!  Okay, let me explain.   When my grandson was about six years old, I made blue curtains for his bedroom.  Of course all the photos I could find of the curtains have him in them, and in most of them he's jumping on this bed.  I'm okay with that!

The point is, when his room was redecorated a few years ago I deconstructed those curtains and saved the fabric, even the lining.

Basting came next (of course) and then the quilting.  I used yellow thread this time, and I really like it.

Every once in a while I had to leave my sewing room and do something boring -- like making dinner.  That's when I felt like this -

Did I say, "something boring?"  I meant, "something else." (Yes, I'm being silly.  I'm having fun with this. Can you tell I like this fabric?)

It's done and ready to donate to Choose Life of North Alabama.  

I thought you would like to see what Denise made.  It's so cute!  The snowball blocks set with the polka dots - love it!

This is my 11th finish for the year and the 6th for Choose Life.  I'm on a roll.  Just imagine what I could get done if I never had to stop and cook!

I'm linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict for another Whoop! Whoop!