Wednesday, March 30, 2016

10 Reasons I Quilt

Why do you quilt? We have several reasons and it is so fun to change them up for my lectures, along with changing up some of the quilts. 


I like to start with my first quilt. It was so fun to be sharing this at The Stitchin' Post since this is where I took my first class! Nothing like meeting full circle. Here's my beginning sampler I made in a class with Jean Wells.

And in no particular order, a few reasons I quilt:

For friendship. I met a couple of friends in CA and we all made a quilt like this, swapping pieces, parts, and fabrics. 

My quilts are much more photogenic than I am!! 
To comfort others. This is part of a little quilt we made for a friend diagnosed with cancer. 

And some of these blocks came from her sewing room, which I assembled into this quilt. (That's comfort for me!)

Bring awareness- This is a little quilt I purchased from Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative. I treasure this one especially because it is made by a friend whose mom had Alzheimer's and has since passed away.

For warmth- My couch/winter quilt. I hand appliqued this primitive piece and it is "my" quilt to snuggle with on cold evenings watching tv.

I'd love to hear one reason you quilt. Please leave me a comment.

Thank you to those who have committed your support in one way or another for my projects close to my heart.  Love to you all!

Monday, March 28, 2016

Charitable Opportunities

Every so often I need to post about charities that are near and dear to my heart. I'm always looking for ways to bless others and want to know what is close to your heart! If you feel a need to give you will be blessed! I'll be blessed by your gift, no matter how small or large. 

Two years ago I met Jaime on the streets of Xela, Guatemala. 

My life has been forever changed since that meeting. It was 2014 despite the date on the photo! Through a miraculous event I found him and with your help have been able to provide food and clothing several times a year to Jaime and his family.
They are a large family and live with very little. I have an angel I use as a go-between who shops and delivers packages to them. I'm sending money soon for food. If you want to help, send me an email and I'll give you my mailing address. (I do paypal too)
This is my dear friend Gaby, who's heart is as big as anyone I know. She is from Guatemala but was hired to go to Bolivia as one of our interpreters. (this photo is from Bolivia) 

Here is Gaby delivering food to a boy who works in the dumps with his family to make a living. She has started a ministry called Faith Seeds. Getting these kids in school is their way out of poverty and that is what she is trying to do. There are so many of them- uniforms, school supplies and food is what they need. You can give directly to St Pauls Lutheran Church- please specify your donation to Faith Seeds. 100% goes directly to them and is tax deductible.
Two years ago I went on my first mission trip to Guatemala with Mike Silva International. It was life changing for me. 

Here was a little girl I saw last year at our water well dedication in Bolivia and was able to give her one of the pillowcase dresses you donated. 

The money I raise gets me there but we also raise money to provide clean drinking water for one or two communities. We always do a well dedication and it is overwhelming to consider how many people do not have access to clean water for drinking. Something so simple that we take for granted. 
I am heading to Trujillo, Peru this November and would love your financial support. As much or as little as you feel led to give I would appreciate!
I'm not shy to ask for your help, because I have seen first hand the good it does and the lives we touch!

If you would like to support my fundraising efforts you can go HERE, click on the donate link at the top of the page. When asked for donation information please use the box and click on "Peru serve team" and type in my name- Lori DeJarnatt. Thank you for your consideration!!

One more thing:
I am going to take pillowcase dresses with me. Maybe you wanted to make one or two last year and didn't get an opportunity to. I am limiting the dresses to 50 so here is your chance to help in a tangible way. I'll be delivering these myself and most of the time putting them on the little girls who receive them.  Email me if you'd like to help in this way and I'll send you my mailing address. You can find links to many patterns HERE. 

Be someone’s sunshine when their skies are grey.

We are so fortunate to have way more than we need. We enter this world with nothing and leave with nothing. Thanks you for your consideration. Love to you all.
Happy Monday!



Friday, March 25, 2016

Benjamin Biggs Wedding Quilt

 My Benjamin Biggs wedding quilt top is done! Gay generously offered this as a free BOM. You can purchase it HERE. I opted to stop at 9 blocks. My quilt is approx 70" square- there are many more blocks in this quilt.
I've got a helper now.

 I tried outside first, but it was a bit windy.
I machine appliqued using fusible and a small zig zag stitch. 


When using muslin background I usually use a variety to lend to the vintage look. Plus it is easier for me to purchase that way!
 In my humble sort of way, I put the top of the red flower at the corner then moved my blue swags around get them under the red piece.
 This isn't the corner, but as you can see I wasn't shooting for perfection.

 I'm really happy with my decision to do blue and red.
I started with this color blue, ran out....

 switched to this blue, ran out........
And ended with this one!


Thanks for the fun quilt Gay and Brenda!

Here's my Instagram feed for this week!

Have a wonderful weekend!



Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Scrap Quilt Secrets Blog Hop

Spring is the perfect time for a new quilt book release and I couldn't be more happy to be helping Diane spread the news about her new book, Scrap Quilt Secrets.(Of course, they will not be secrets any longer!)I cannot remember when I discovered Diane's blog, Butterfly Threads Quilting, but if I remember correctly my first comment said, "Why haven't I found you sooner?" She is super talented and loves to share with her blog readers. So naturally, a book would seem like the next step. Continue reading and you can have many opportunities to win this new release!

Her "secret" recipe for creating amazing scrap quilts. S-C-R-A-P-S
S- style
C- Contrast
R- Repetition
A- Accents
P- Palettes
S- Selvages

What a fun and easy way to remember the "secrets"!

I took the "easy route and made a little quilt using her house pattern. Oh my goodness, I used only 2 1/2" squares and strips and 1 1/2" squares and strips for the little houses. Assembly was so easy and fun!

Here is my first block. No templates were involved in the building of this house.....  For me, it looks pretty darn perfect!
I made a few big, and a few little. I wasn't quite as slow and careful on the other construction, but I think it turned out super cute! The large houses finish at 10", the small ones 5". 

All 16 of the quilt projects were laid out very well with easy to follow instructions. Kudos Diane on a quilt book well written!

To win your own copy please leave a comment on this blog post. If you are international you can sign up to win the e-version of Diane's book. 

Feel free to hop around to the other designers as well!!


3/21    C&T Blog http://www.ctpub.com/blog/
with Diane (that’s me)www.butterflythreadsquilting.com
3/22    Bonnie Hunter http://quiltville.blogspot.com/
3/26    Pat Sloan http://blog.patsloan.com/
3/27    Valerie http://myplvl.blogspot.com/
3/29    Victoria Findlay Wolfe http://bumblebeansinc.blogspot.com/
3/30    Rachaeldaisy http://bluemountaindaisy.blogspot.com/
4/1       Julie http://quiltjewelry.blogspot.com/
4/2       Barb Www.funwithbarb.com

I'll post the winner on my blog April 1st. That ain't no foolin'!

I'm doing a lecture with lots of quilts in Sisters tonight at the Stitchin' Post at 6;30. If you can make it, I'd love it! Love to you all!

Comments are now closed! Thank you to all who entered!

Monday, March 21, 2016

Merry Monday!!

Happy Spring!!

 Here's my scrap basket quilt that I'm following Cheri along with. She will be adding some prim applique in wool so I'm excited for it! Blocks finish at 4".
Gay at Sentimental Stitches shared this block on International Quilt Day (Saturday!) I was happy to do this one this weekend.


Yes, I do things very high-tech! We've got 80 little quilt swappers and I'll get the name of who you are sending to before Wednesday. Keep an eye on your email.


Today is the kickoff of Diane's blog hop to celebrate her new book- Scrap Quilt Secrets. You have several chances to win a copy for yourself! I'll be reviewing it on Wednesday. Check it out!

Here's the rest of the line up:
3/21    C&T Blog http://www.ctpub.com/blog/
3/22    Bonnie Hunter http://quiltville.blogspot.com/
3/26    Pat Sloan http://blog.patsloan.com/
3/27    Valerie http://myplvl.blogspot.com/
3/29    Victoria Findlay Wolfe http://bumblebeansinc.blogspot.com/
3/30    Rachaeldaisy http://bluemountaindaisy.blogspot.com/
4/1       Julie http://quiltjewelry.blogspot.com/
4/2       Barb Www.funwithbarb.com


Have a great Monday!

Friday, March 18, 2016

Phenomenal Friday

This has been a crazy week, starting off with losing an hour! I had puppy class Monday and Wednesday because we were making up one class. It's an hour drive ONE WAY - thank goodness Elsa is a great passenger. She is also really exhausted when we leave too. (Me too!)


Here are 5 more blocks of Cheri's scrap basket quilt. They are fun and simple.

 This was Elsa yesterday in my sewing room. Is it any wonder I'm not getting a lot of sewing done? Her injury is almost all closed up! Yay! Wonder how long it will take for her hair to grow back.
Here is the backing of ,y doll quilt for the swap. I'm hand quilting it in the evenings. 
Sunday night at midnight is the cut off. If you have not sent me your mailing address at any point this week, you are not signed up! I think we will have about 70 swappers again this year! Thanks for your understanding on the rules and such. It gets a little crazy. 

Here's my Instagram for this week.  
Loved The Nightingale, couldn't quite get into The Truth According to Us. 

I'm looking forward to the weekend! Make it a wonderful one!

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

A New Sewer! 1857 and Swap

My daughter came for a short visit. She wanted to finish her kimono robe she was making in her sewing class. 

It just so happens that Pam from Library Gal Quilts posted this machine for sale on Facebook March 5th and it was priced very reasonably. My daughter has been renting a pfaff machine at the Portland fashion Institute and loves it. After a few texts back and forth we sealed the deal! I figured I'd get it from Pam when she came to the Sisters show in July. But thanks to her and 3 friends, I surprised Rene by having it at the house for her visit!!
This kimono robe is what she brought to finish on my machine. Instead she got to finish it on her machine!! (Early birthday present!) Isn't that robe cute?! Love her fabric choice. 

Elsa gave her approval too!

My 1857 blocks are complete for this month. 

My poor hearts are a little wonky. 
Love this one!

Super cute tools!


If you commented that you wanted to be in the doll quilt swap, but never sent me your MAILING address, then you are not in the swap! I cannot look up everyone's information from last years and don't want to assume your address is the same. 

PLEASE, read the post again and follow the rules. With that said, we are having a lot of interest and I'm so excited!

Elsa is at the bottom of her class, but I expect her to excel rapidly! LOL She hasn't been socialized and that is her biggest problem.....she is very vocal about it!!

Have a grand Wednesday! 



Monday, March 14, 2016

2016 Doll Quilt Swap

The past two years I've hosted a doll size quilt swap and both have been resounding successes! Time for our 3rd Annual Humble Quilts Doll Quilt Swap 2016. 
Continue reading for all rules. When the number of participants continues to rise, please READ everything before asking me a question. Please take the time to make a quilt that you'd like to receive. Due date for your little quilt to be in the mail is May 1st. Please do not participate if you cannot meet the deadline.
Rutgers Special Collections and University Archives- Quilt Index

State Historical Society of Iowa Mary Barton Collection- Quilt Index


Fabric: 1775-1910 is a wide span of time but that is what we are looking for. Look HERE if you are unsure what reproduction fabric is.
We are not using 1920's-Current
Not primitive style, like Jan Patek, or cutesy like some of Primitive Gatherings or Joined at the Hip. (which I love, just not for this swap)
We want the quilt to look like it time traveled from days past.








  • Hand or machine quilting is fine. Quilted with a few ties is fine. Ties only is not.(please no yarn)
  • No pre-printed panels
  • Please attach a label and add a note so the recipient knows who to thank.
  • Thank the person who sent you a quilt. 
  • If the workmanship is very poor and it looks like it was done very unthoughtfully I want to know and I'd like     to see photos. 
  • We will have a linky party so we will be able to see all the little quilts!


  • 24" x 24" or smaller. (It doesn't have to be square), Civil War reproductions, a label, with a deadline of mailing by May 1st.  

    If you cannot (for whatever reason) send international please let me know.

    If you are interested please send me your full name, mailing address and if you do NOT want an international partner. loridweightwatchers@gmail.com   
    Even if you were in a past swap, please send me the pertinent info. 
    I'll take signups through Sunday, March 20, 2016- Midnight PST
    I will send you your swap partner soon. 
    If I do not know you, if you have never commented on my blog or we've never emailed than I may not allow you to join. Don't take it personal. 

    It isn't a race (although there is a deadline) there is no reason to rush and do a crappy job. This type of workmanship is not acceptable.  It doesn't have to be perfect. So many of my points do not match, but I do know how to attach a binding and basic quilt construction. Have fun and enjoy the process!

    Need some inspiration?

    Happy Monday! I am starting a dog obedience training class tonight....

    The swap is now CLOSED with 90 participants!