House blocks for CA Fire Survivors

This is Debbie's Quilt Shop in Paradise CA. 

Here is a facebook post from her:

Debbie's Quilt Shop is requesting quilt blocks with houses from all over to help local quilters recover from the Camp Fire. The blocks must be 10 1/2 inches (10 inch finished) and may be pieced, appliquéd, or embroidered. Please use good quality 100% cotton quilt shop fabric. Each block must also have something written on it with permanent ink...an inspiring saying, your name and city, or just your city and the date. The houses on the blocks may be traditional, modern, or wonky...as long as the block is 10.5 inches. My shop has not yet moved into its new address so blocks may be sent to my home for now...
Debbie's Quilt Shop
6287 Fremont Dr
Magalia CA 95954

I thought it would be great if anyone wanted to make a block or two or three to send. I looked for several house blocks that finished at 10" and then I remembered I did a review on Diane Knott's first book and made a little house quilt. (see it HERE) Bingo! it finishes at 10"! 

Diane Knott of Butterfly Threads Quilting has graciously agreed to let me publish the directions to make it easier for everyone to contribute house blocks to the quilters who have been burned out.

This block takes only 2 1/2 squares and strips!

I started by dumping my 2 1/2" strips and squares bag.

 Then laid out my pieces

And sewed. 

I'll pen something on the blocks like Debbie would like us to, then get them in the mail this week,

I hope you'll you will too!

Be safe tonight and have a happy new year!

Spencer Museum Quilt

 These beautiful blocks are my friend, Juliann's. Aren't they gorgeous?!

Spencer Museum pattern by Jan Patek

She passed this pattern to me to sell with the books and I asked her if she minded if I kept it and made it and then she showed me her beauties! Karen Beigh has agreed she'd like to do it with me this year and she already has the pattern. 

I am contemplating doing 1 each for a 4 block quilt. The pattern blocks are 20" so I could easily stretch it to about 60".

We are not starting right away on this so if you'd like to join in that would be great! It is available on Jan's site for $9. See it  HERE. 

Karen and I were trying to decide if they we inspired by any of the Carrie Hall blocks. If you know anything I'd love any information.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Merry Christmas!

And so I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it's been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you..

The little beaded bells from my grandmother. 

It's a good thing this is supposed to be primitive! LOL

I found the red vintage long johns at the thrift store recently! I couldn't pass them up!

I have little Danish Nisse keeping a watch on the house.

Only part of the quilt so you can see the trapunto. I think this one is my favorite green and red of mine.

Twas the night of Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

String Quilts 2019 Part 2

Happy Friday! If you missed my first post about  stringalong 2019 check it out HERE.

Once you have found a pattern you'd like to make, (when I say pattern that doesn't mean you have to purchase one! When I took a string quilt class with Gwen Marston we made our own pattern if we wanted a specific block- you can do it!) you'll need to figure out what size you'd like your quilt to be.

I have already started blocks several months ago that I stalled out on. You can see what I'm doing HERE. I want my quilt to be about 60x72 and my blocks will finish at 4". So my setting is 15 blocks across, 18 blocks down. I need a total of 270 blocks! If I want to get my top done in October, I'll have 10 months to work on it. Divide 270 blocks by 10 months, I'll need to make 27 blocks a month to meet my goal. It is simple math, but hopefully I am helping and not confusing you.

Someone gave me a few blocks that this one would be great to use them in. My blocks will finish at  6". If I wanted this quilt to be about the same size as the other one, 60x72, I would need 10 blocks x 12 blocks for a total of 120 blocks. Using that same 10 months I only need to make 12 of these each month. 

Let me know if I can help you figure it out. If you have Electric Quilt- use it!

Next thing you need is strings!

I throw scraps in a drawer.

 Then sometimes I put them in bags with alike colors. Then "sometimes" I iron them and cut them into strips, squares, or strings, which I consider too small for squares or evenly cut strips. If you just have scraps, cut them into usable size strings.

 Then the strings get put in a bag. My friend, Linda, gave me a big bag of them so I added with what I had and now I have plenty.

I like to use some type of foundation to stabilize my strings. You can also use muslin or just ugly fabric, or none at all. Make a plan now so you'll be ready to dive in at the first of the year! 

Pattern...

layout and size...

how many blocks total?

How many blocks per month?

strings?

foundation? 

I'm excited! There are so many varieties that no 2 quilts will ever be the same!!

I hope I've explained it clearly.

Of course, if you are just testing the waters with a small quilt you likely will get it done in one month. That's great too! We will have a linky party at the end of every month so we can see your progress and stay on track.

Have a super weekend! 

1857 Quilt and Dear Daughter

If you've been reading my blog for any length of time you know I'm a big fan of Gay at Sentimental Stitches. Her patterns are amazing and she has done a bit of digging on the history of them which gives them added appeal.
I've done Beyond the Cherry Tree, Benjamin Biggs, Just takes 2, and 1857 Album Quilt. I've been saving the Dear Daughter blocks and December is the last month! Make sure you pick up your set HERE.

If anybody ever sees a reproduction blue like this, or one that could pass as a reproduction, please let me know. For as old as the quilt is the blue fabric is so vivid! It makes this quilt extra charming!

A month or so ago I put the BBiggs blocks up and shared a photo on the Facebook group. After arranging and re-arranging I realized I needed to make more blocks. When I started looking at the patterns they were looking very familiar, so....

 I dug around some more and found these! Some needed a bit more applique, but I was grateful to have them mostly finished.

I've finished these 4 recently and have another stack to complete! I doubt I'll end up making all of the blocks, but enough to call it a quilt to cover up with. 

Gay will be starting another project in 2019 and I look forward to seeing what she will share.

Friday we are talking string quilts again. I hope you have found a pattern you want to make.

Friendship, Comfort and Quilts

  I received the cutest little ornament from a boy whose family works in the garbage dump in Guatemala. He is trying to go to school so he can change his future.

Kelley sent me this adorable gorgeous hooked mat! This is much larger than it looks in the photo- it is about 14" across so lots of time into making this. Thank you Kelley- it is a gift that I will treasure!! 

I was involved in a swap earlier this year and my swap partner remembered me this holiday! Thank you Elizabeth!! It's a notepad and it is so unique and lovely.

If you are in my facebook group I've shared where a few of our donated quilts have gone. 

This is one of them. 

And I've mentioned trying to enter a blue and white quilt for exhibit with Quilts, Inc. Now is the time to enter! Check it out HERE.

If you are not in my Facebook group and would like to join, jump on over HERE! I haven't published any books or patterns, don't have anything to sell, but I like to think we support each other and have a fun time! Thanks! Have a wonderful week!

String Quilts 2019

Several months ago I said for 2019 I was going to do a string quiltalong. We are almost in 2019! So many great string quilt options. Have you made a string quilt? Do you want to make a string quilt?
I started a pinterest board you can check it out HERE.

String quilts were definitely sewn because of economics, and few early ones survived because they were made to be used.  According to Gwen Marston string quilts are not restricted to one certain geographic area, but many can be attributed to Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky and Texas.

String Pieced Block. (Maker not recorded). 1860-1890. From Arizona Quilt Documentation Project, Heritage Quilt Study Group of Sharlot Hall Museum, Prescott, Arizona. Published in The Quilt Index, http://www.quiltindex.org/fulldisplay.php?kid=67-EC-125B. Accessed: 12/13/2018

I love how they added 2 pieced blocks! So charming!!

Stuart, Pamona Louvisie Forrester. Unequal Nine Patch. 1895. From Tennessee State Library and Archives, Quilts of Tennessee. Published in The Quilt Index, http://www.quiltindex.org/fulldisplay.php?kid=4C-83-6C5. Accessed: 12/13/2018

I love the sashing on this one!

With the American depression in the 1930's women again turned to making string quilts and using every little piece of fabric they had.

Crowe, Marian F. STRING FEED SACK. 1935. From West Virginia Department of Archives and History, West Virginia Heritage Quilt Search. Published in The Quilt Index, http://www.quiltindex.org/fulldisplay.php?kid=50-8A-D3D. Accessed: 12/13/2018

Strippy string pieced. (Maker not recorded). c.1930. From Oregon Quilt Project, Oregon Quilt Project. Published in The Quilt Index, http://www.quiltindex.org/fulldisplay.php?kid=6A-FD-248. Accessed: 12/13/2018

So many cool options!

 I chose my own block and made this Americana quilt. 

I started this one in a class with Gwen Marston.

I have a few blocks made for my 2019 string quilt. If you want to join in it's time to start looking for a quilt you'd like to make. So many fun options in the quilt index and I'm sure on pinterest. 

You could go completely modern too! The first step is choose a pattern!

Making small quilts is a fun way to try a new technique. You could make a doll size quilt for practice. 

Are you going to join me in 2019 for our string quiltalong?

Period Poverty

Since I'm on a roll I may as well continue. Several weeks ago I posted that I was coordinating a sew day for a missionary to bring back washable menstrual pads to the Ivory Coast for Dignity Days for girls. You can read about it HERE and HERE.

We ended up with 55 pads. I gave her my leftover fabric and when she gets back we will see how it goes. We may end up supplying her with more supplies if she can find a few people who may like to start a little business there making them. It would be a win- win!

Thanks for your information and encouragement!

I hope you are having a great week.