Comfort Quilt - Stash to Treasure

This is what is on the design wall today.  Two more rows and it will be ready to quilt. I seem to be whittling down my stash one quilt at a time.
I am working on a comfort quilt.  I have several other projects going, but this to take for show and tell at our next guild meeting.  I want to recruit others to get involved with HeartStrings, an online quilting group that makes quilts for local organizations.  I have been following this group through Mary's blog http://blog.maryquilts.com/. 
Personally, I am blessed and also love to create with fabric.  Making comfort quilts and quilting the Quilts of Valor are my small way of saying I want to share my gifts with others.

I did it my way!

I had some flannel left from my mom's stash.  Didn't think it would really hold up in a quilt, so I made it into a purse.  I started out using Aunt Philly's Toothbrush Rugs oval pattern to make the base.  From there I just did what I thought was logical to make the bag and handles.  Yes, it did use up quite a bit of fabric, but I had it and didn't plan for it to be used any other way, so I just went for it.  The handles were built right in to the bag, so I am fairly certain they will stay attached.  The purse holds my planner, checkbook, cards, keys, a bottle of water, and an extra pair of mittens.  (Don't know exactly how much material I used, but think it was 6+ yards.)  Next time, I would probably just use inexpensive cotton fabric (not quilt store prices) and make the handles a little thinner, but keep the rest the same.  Great project for travelling or watching the Olympics.

I have been working on a new quilt using fabrics from my stash.  It is called Canyon Dance.  It is made with the same templates as the Canyon Dance quilt that I did last May, but there are LOTS more curves.  I am hoping to make it a good-sized twin.  I even have the backing in my stash.  I am not certain if the blocks will all go the same way, but that is basically what I have on the wall at this moment.

Mother/Daughter Fun

I have been quilting for a long time and have managed to bring my daughter along with me. Last year we took a class and made Canyon Waves together.This year she gave me a fun quilting gift {Actually, I think she gave herself one and then thought it fit me, too. ---Not complaining, just considering the possibility.) This is a Block of the Month quilt with the pattern from Thangles, called Buck A Block Series #6. The fabric is from Kansas Troubles and based on the first block, she made an excellent choice of colors. I have done a little work with Thangles, but I am by no means well acquainted with them. I know that my points should match better, but I am learning. I fought the urge to do it my usual way with oversizing and trimming. The block is the right size and there is a 1/4" seam so the points should look good, too.

Stash Busting!

I am making a twin-sized Yellow Brick Road quilt using all the shamrock material I have in my stash.  It is a little shocking to see that I had enough to make the quilt this big, but I am 1/2+ Irish and Catholic and love the idea of what the shamrock represents for me.
The other thing that amazed me was that I had so many different types of shamrock fabrics.  I have one more side of the border to add and then I am going to quilt it with a pantograph called Popcorn by Jodie Beamish from Willow Leaf Studio.  It looks more like shamrocks to this Irish girl, so it seems to be a great choice.  I have not used many pantos, so this will be an adventure for me in many ways.  I plan to quilt it over the next few days.  Once I have it bound, I will put up another photo.  The backing is also coming from the stash.  It is a green that looks kind of like oil and water mixed together.  Loved the fabric when I bought it, but had not ever decided on how to use it.  This will be a great combination.

What to do with all the bits and pieces.....

I seem to accumulate a lot of snippets when quilting.  I could maybe use some to make very, very tiny blocks, but instead I use them to stuff pillows for an animal rescue center.  The pillow is made up of practice pieces created when I am working out different quilting designs.  It is a win-win for me and for the animals.
What do you do with the scraps?

Salute to Those Who Serve

I love this quilt and plan to make a similar one for my husband when he retires in 2011 after 30 years of military service.  The loops and stars quilting seems to fit because I believe that those that serve represent the pride and honor of our country.  When I put a star at the top of a quality homework assignment, I am telling the student the work is worthy of praise.  When I put stars on a Quilt of Valor, I am trying in my own small way to tell a woundered service member that I recognize how much they have given for my freedom.  To all who serve or have served, THANK YOU!

My Goal of Not Buying Fabric

I have stated that I planned to purchase no fabric this year with the exception of what is needed to finish any quilt I have already started.  Well, I have not purchased any fabric for new quilts but needed a few fat quarters for my fat-square sampler Block-of-the-month quilt that many of us are making for guild.  I also purchased the last of what was needed for the blue and white quilt I was given for Christmas, but I was told in advance to do it. --- The backings have not been purchased, so eventually I will need to buy some fabric, but I have $30/month allotted, so when the time comes I will be able to buy it.  This year may be the easiest gift shopping anyone ever does for me --- cash or gift cards for fabric.  (I am not counting any fabric bought with gift money/cards. --- lol)
That being said, I have managed to finish 6 Quilts of Valor, several small quilting projects, and actually have begun to make sense of most of my stash.