QAYG, Boys Quilt, and Guild Raffle Quilt

Quilts are getting MADE during this "staying at home" business.   I'm using the "twin strips" method for this QAYG, a small boy's quilt -  my blue fabrics lean towards "nautical", but that word is seldom heard of in western Nebraska, so I bought one yard of this cute TRACTOR print, the only fabric purchased.  I made 4 blocks at a time, and that also used adequate but unloved FQs for the back.  Backing and batting were cut 8 in. and the block finishes at 7.5.  Setting is 6 x 8 blocks, a good size for toddler.  I'll start the sashing units tomorrow.  My method of hiding stitches in the ditch is improving with each quilt.

 Below our Guild Raffle Quilt that was won by a gentleman who only purchased one ticket!   Temps on this day was 104, but there was a small shelter.  Ticket sales were dismal due to Covid limitations  but we did best we could, with a short season. Our Guild Year closed early due to the virus fears, but we had to pull a winner. The local annual Oregon Trail Days also did not happen. 

Gifts, People, and Raffle Quilt WON, and going to new owner!

I've been VERY busy with quilting, quilt show, making things, enjoying cool weather, etc.

First, Pokey of Pokeydotquilting.blogspot.com, (California) and I have been dropping blog comments back and forth, and one day she found out I lived in her family home town!

So, I heard a rumor that she was visiting my town, and we had a lovely visit.  Quilters always have something to talk about!  Pokey on left, me on right.

Next is the sweet little scissors holder, to keep the point from poking someone, made by my dear friend Jody - Jody is a gal who can do anything!.  Thank you Jody. 8-))



Next, and the BIG THING .... MY NAME WAS PULLED FOR THIS GORGEOUS GUILD RAFFLE QUILT, 2014!  This stunner was made by members of the guild, and quilted by our own, national award winner and professional long arm quilter, award winner, Judy Woodworth. It is an amazing quilt, with crystals accentuating areas, flames, rays, in addition all the lovely hand work. Judy's quilting is astonishingly beautiful.

However, there is one  ... change in the "normal" procedure, that I get the quilt.  Last Christmas, I took my 10 raffle tickets that members receive as part of our annual dues, I put my name on them, turned them back in to the appropriate chairperson, and then sent the stubs to a friend in Illinois, as part of her Christmas present.  If my name was drawn, then SHE was the winner - and, it came TRUE!!!  My friend Fern, who visited us recently, gets the quilt!!!!  Who wudda guessed????  I am so happy I KNOW the new owner! She had a note on her calendar for the drawing date and since no one had called her, figured "oh well, didn't win anything."  So I called later when I got home and gave her the news.  What fun!

I took it home briefly, so I could take photos and today am boxing it up to mail, hopefully in the next day or two.  This is a queen size 84 x 106 - very large -- too large to get it up on the fence for photos, but you can see the beauty of the appliques and motifs.  The candle is a favorite with crystals looking like flames.

BIG congratulations Fern!!!  

RSVP Raffle Quilt, and Jigsaw Puzzle

Our local in-town sewing/quilting group of 5-10 members, was asked to donate our skills and time to make another  raffle quilt for RSVP - Retired Senior Volunteer Project.  We settled on a Scrappy Friendship Star, each of us took home a piece of "focus" fabric so all the blocks blended.

The Friendship Stars that came back were indeed, uhhhhh SCRAPPY!, and while we all HOPE they will blend nicely together, the great variety appeared scarey and possibly overwhelming - many of us were doubting!  Possibly, you also have occasionally endured the same unsettling thought --  the "how can this ever turn out?" doubt. 

As soon as we started playing with borders, the quilt almost designed itself!  Adding that ribbon border also gave it the almost-finished look we were hoping for.  Lastly, the quilting, done by our friend Chell, absolutely took our project from "a Raffle Quilt" to "Stunning !"  Wow - this is a lesson - finish your UFO quilts!  Remember? "Quilting Makes the Quilt!"  I'm including a link to her site - I'll bet you'll agree it's a lovely finish! (She has better photos, as well!) A binding and label will finish it. 

 

Separate subject - jigsaw puzzles.  I gave DH a birthday (December) puzzle that would take a long time to complete (you know, long, cold dreary January) !!!  Uhhhh -- success!   I shopped at this site.  My gosh, the choices available are astonishing and you can narrow your choices by age, themes, sizes, # of pieces - there was no end of options. This is 1000 pieces, but what they didn't say for this choice was that many of the pieces are interchangeable - this one was NOT easy! Good thing we didn't need the table for 2 months!  BTW, DH loves boats.  Not many gifts can last this long!  LOL

Notice the almost identical shapes of those all-blue sky pieces!!!

"Prairie Schooner"

I can FINALLY show off this quilt called "Prairie Schooner" which will be raffled off July 2013.  This design was featured in Quiltmaker, May/June 2011, by my favorite quilter, Bonnie Hunter who, when I asked if I could copy hers, said "Go for it!"  Her version was called "Lady of Lake Erie."

The local quilting group in my town (4-12, depending) worked on it over the past year, and it was quilted by a local long-arm quilter.  I requested NO feathers, only leaves, grass, prairie flowers, etc.  The label is a joy in itself -- gotta find  my photo!  Ever since I moved to Nebraska, I've been smitten by the history of the early pioneers, their perseverance, and the enormous blue skies and hoped that spirit would show in this quilt.  I aimed for gender neutral and UN- FUSSY.  8-))  Tickets are not yet made up - I think they are ready for our September meeting.  There is a definite layout to the blocks.

Now, the Guild Quilt Mom has it and it will travel to various locations over the next year.  I'm glad to have had a part in this project, but REALLY glad to have it on it's way and DONE.  It's perfectly square and straight - must be hanging crooked! 

There is a row of piping between the quilt and border, and another row of piping between the outer border and binding.  Size is 91 in. x 101" after quilting and washing.  BTW, I washed this quilt with my homemade laundry detergent and it came out just lovely! 

"Stats", and latest BOM

Blogger "Stats" is very interesting -- have you checked that feature out yet? I suppose all that info has been available for a long time -- I only recently found it when I updated my Blog Design.

Yesterday we resumed our Guild Meetings - I always MISS them over the summer break! After the meeting I came home and in just a few minutes, while still full of energy and enthusiasm, whipped up this 9 inch BOM for next month. Cute! When I put it on the table, look how pretty it looks next to my bouquet!

While in town, I met a friend (the infamous Jody Godess) who helped me choose the final fabrics for our 2012 Serendipity (Raffle) Quilt. I tend to get so excited with all that fabric, thread, pretty colors, doo-dads, it's difficult for me to stay on track!! Thanks Jody, for keeping me focused. Wow, I spent money that wasn't even mine! Even with generous discounts, making a large quilt, then having it quilted is VERY expensive.

... and I REALLY want to show what I'm making, but cannot - this project is why I'm not posting a lot. 

I had ICE on the deck early this morning.  8-( 

Lady of the Lake, More Blocks for Raffle/Serendipity Quilt

Six more blocks completed, Lady of the Lake. However, we live out here in Sandhills Country - no good lakes in this vicinity, so we'll have to come up with a better name for this quilt. I aimed for less fussy fabrics, dusty blues, no florals, so maybe even guys will like it and purchase tickets. "Dry Lakes", "Sandhill Lakes" "Blue Sky Lakes" how about "Sandhill Blues", "Dusty Blues" ? -- I'd better lose the word "Lakes".

I'm posting these blocks mostly for my mini-group in case they want to see what mine turned out like. I purchased 7-8 lights and 7-8 darks, so we planned to mix them up a bit.

Inspiration came from Bonnie Hunter's quilt (Quiltville.com) in Quiltmaker magazine, the latest issue.

Because of the heat I moved my sewing equipment that is altogether for quilt classes, to the basement where it's not so hot. Then between sewing blocks, I did laundry, played on computer, took a nap, cleaned bathroom, etc. Frankly, I kinda like it down here - DH??? not so much. I tried to stay upstairs this morning, but was "hit" by some kind of bug - probably related to heat - I don't do well in heat, and forget to drink, resulting in being unpleasantly ill for a while, but when I went back downstairs, recovered quickly.

New quilt - for 2012-2013

10 blocks made - this is our Raffle/Serendipity Quilt for 2012-2013. I believe the block is called Lady of the Lake. Blocks are 8 inches finished and I saw a lovely photo of a quilt made by Bonnie Hunter, in one of my magazines. Our Guild has many excellent quilters and this one will be made by our local small mini-group. I wanted a quilt that was quiet, gentle, not too girly, and user friendly! Maybe something even the men would like.