Got orphans? - give them up and feel great about it

Hey there!  I know many of you are deep in the throws of Christmas preparation, but if anyone out there is reading today and perhaps is thinking about purging as part of your New Year's - here is an opportunity to purge AND do some good.

Colby at Sew, Quilt, Explore turned me on to the "Save the Orphan Blocks" drive at Quilty Box.  To be honest, I don't know anything about Quilty Box, except for this drive.  They are planning on turning all these orphan blocks into "Quilts for Kids" items.

As you read last, I am all about giving up the guilt in 2014.  I got to thinking about a whole pile of blocks that I've either received or made myself that I could give to this drive and feel great about it, instead of guilty that I wasn't getting around to making something with them myself.  So I've joined the Flickr Group, emailed Quilty box for the address to send my blocks too, and I already feel great!

If you have some Orphan Blocks you would like to contribute, here's what you need to know (copied directly from the Quilty Box website):

SAVE THE ORPHAN BLOCKS CAMPAIGN

What is this, you ask? Well, I know sometimes it is hard to make the time for a charity quilt - babies are being born, a holiday is coming, your just redecorated your bedroom, your kids are sick, work is busy. It happens. I KNOW! I live it - Everyday.

But, EVERYONE has Orphan Blocks. Maybe they are the misfit from the last quilt you made (your points don't need to be perfect on a charity quilt - let's be real). Maybe you started that quilt along, and you only had your first block done by the time everyone else was quilted. You started a quilt and realize you hated it. Doesn't matter. What DOES MATTER, is that those orphan blocks have a home waiting for them in a scrappy quilt for a child in need.

SO - dig around your studio and send us your blocks. They can be anything as long as they meet these criteria:

1. Fabric Appropriate for Children (no half-naked firemen - you know what I'm talking about).

2. Machine Pieced.

3. Cotton.

4. Good 1/4" or larger seams.

We are going to gather together these blocks, sort them and make child size quilts with them which will be donated to Quilts for Kids. Block size does not matter - it can be a teensy weensy Baby Jane or a colossal Swoon.

If you are interested in being an Angel (sewing together these orphan blocks or quilting tops) then please let us know - info@quiltybox.com.

We are also accepting backing, so if you have a few yards of a fabric you don't see yourself using anytime soon, send it along. 

Please post the blocks you are sending in on our Flickr Group - Quilty Box, and tag it in social media as #savetheorphanblocks

Sounds awesome right?  Blocks of any size are accepted!  Any color, just kid friendly fabric required!  Blocks from a Quilt Along you started, but didn't finish - perfect!  I love it!  

And if you are wondering more about the charity Quilts for Kids, visit their website here, to be even further inspired.

Now, go look around your sewing space, I bet you have a few blocks you could send.

Thanks for reading today, and Merry Christmas to all who celebrate,

Jen

100 Day Hustle finale

Time for a 100 Day Hustle recap!

1. Lizzy teacher gift, 2. Ashley teacher gift, 3. Vintage Holiday front, 4. IMG_1673, 5. Olivia's Quilt front, 6. The Grinch, 7. Totally Groovy, 8. Groovy back, 9. mosaicc622aaa0d425fe2aca04436e06c45899b21bb454, 10. Hurricane Blocks, 11. Leaf table runner, 12. sashiko coasters, 13. 3 x 6 solids mosaic, 14. preschool pillowcases, 15. sept star of africa, 16. Batik stripe in focus

Here is my list:

• 12  Bee blocks for the 3 x 6 Bee DONE 
• 3 blocks for the Star of Africa bee - 1 1/2 DONE - The Grinch needs a little more work, and I now have 2 more to do to get me through January.
• At least 1 block for the Leafs Me Happy Blog Hop - DONE
• Pillowcases for my daughter's preschool - DONE
• Finish Totally Groovy - DONE
• Quilt the Batik Stripe quilt - DONE
• small gifties for a few of my bee mates 
• Another small gift for my daughters' teachers (2) - DONE
• The Sashiko coasters - DONE 
• finish the Vintage Holiday QAL top- DONE
• Finish Olivia's applique quilt - DONE

Added:

• Hurricane Sandy Blocks - DONE
• Christmas decorations - DONE

So, not too shabby, right?  I really wish I had gotten some little gifties out for my bee mates, not to mention finished up the blocks that are due.  I suppose that not getting them done gives me the opportunity to send little surprises to them randomly in the New Year.

I really enjoyed doing the "Hustle" this year.  Just making a list and trying to figure out what was realistically going to get done, really helped me focus.  And of course, having others sharing their lists and triumphs motivated me to do the same.  I will definitely be participating again next year.

How did you do with your 2012 finale?

Jen

What the heck have I been doing? - Fresh Sewing Day

I know I ask myself every month, "where is the time going?", but this month I am really scratching my head wondering that question.

1. Hurricane Blocks, 2. HFWYG QAL Block 10.1 and 10.2, 3. HFWYG QAL Blocks 13.1 and 13.2, 4. The Grinch, 5. HFWYG QAL block 9, 6. HFWYG QAL block 7, 7. November FMQ Challenge Front, 8. Olivia's Quilt front, 9. More Hurricane Sandy x 5

When I went to put together this month's mosaic, I kept thinking, "Is this it?".  I feel like I sewed A LOT this month, but the mosaic doesn't lie.  I only got a bunch of blocks done, one quilt (that was essentially mostly complete already), and one place mat.  It's a sorry state of affairs considering there is still so much to do.

Well, I guess I can stay here and lament about not getting enough done, or I can get crackin' so next month I am not wondering - what the heck have I been doing!

Thanks for reading today!

Jen


Linking up with:

Lily's Quilts Fresh Sewing Day

I've got an itch - WIP Wednesday

Oh, have I got an itch!  An itch to start a new project.  So far I have avoided scratching said itch, but I am not a person known for self control!

For example, I have tried to put myself on a fabric diet for months, but that hasn't exactly worked out (in fact I have a package due to arrive on my doorstep this week).  Do I need more fabric?  No!  Have I been able to use some of the wonderful fabric I have purchased lately?  Well, have you seen any fabric using my huge stash of Flea Market Fancy?  Happy Drawing?  Polka Dot Stitches?  How 'bout Tula Pink Birds and the Bees?  (just to name a few)  So no, not really.

What have I been working on?  Blocks, and pillowcases.

More Hurricane Sandy Blocks

This Wednesday......

Completed Projects:

• Hurricane Sandy Blocks - I made a bunch!  How about you?
• Several blocks for How Far Will You Go? QAL - but several left to do too!

On-going Projects:

AKA - "stuff I plan to touch this week".

• Vintage Holiday Quilt Along - awaiting quilting.
• Totally Groovy Quilt Along - Ok, this one was done, but now it needs to be patched up, so back in the WIP pile.
• Star of Africa Bee - October's block is due by the 15th of November.  The theme is favorite children's book characters/fairy tales, etc.  MY problem is that most of my favorites are British!  I have finally found a few American stories in our library that are favorites.  I hesitate to tell you which ones, because the blocks won't be easy.  Stay tuned...
• Preschool Pillowcases - WHY did I start with the hideous fleece fabric they gave me???  I have discovered that I don't like working with fleece.  It's far to easy to stretch, and I can't help but think it is the absolute WORST fabric for pillowcases.  What were they thinking?  I don't know, so I will just persevere.  Up next, flannel.  I am pretty sure, the school was hoping to get more cases out of the fabric they gave me (I am already using every scrap), so I think I will supplement with regular cottons from my stash - I mean they must need some regular cotton cases too, right?  This is Southern California.  We have HOT days even in the middle of winter.  Don't want those little babes curling up with a fleece pillow when it is 90 degrees out (like yesterday for instance)!
• How Far Will You Go? QAL - Catch up in progress. 
• Miscellaneous sewn gifties - time to get started on gifts.

Back Burner:

These will likely be touched in a couple of weeks.

• Handstitched Medallion Quilt - The last borders still need to be redone and sewn back on.
• Olivia's Appliqued Quilt - this one is part of my 100 Day Hustle List.  The blocks are done, but need to be put together, backed, etc.

The Back, Back Burner:

Lightning would have to strike twice.

• Handstitched goodies - several small projects in limbo.  
• Beginner Quilt Along at Quilting Gallery - top needs to be put together 
• EPP project - in progress.
• Charity quilt for the guild - not started

This week's stats:
Completed projects - 1+
New projects - 1
Currently in Progress - 6

Don't forget to link up any blocks you have been working on to yesterday's post!  The linky stays open for a whole week, so feel free to add them as you complete or wait for next Tuesday (or both)!



Linking up with Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesday's and .

Hurricane Sandy Blocks - Building Blocks Tuesday

This week's post is a little early, because I want to tell you about an opportunity to do some good, and now!  One of our fellow bloggers, Jennifer from Knotted-Thread, is collecting blocks to make quilts to send to her home town in New Jersey which was heavily affected by Hurricane Sandy.  Jennifer is a total sweetheart!  She set up a Flickr group for anyone wanting to pledge to make some of these simple blocks.

Here are the four I made, and really, they were so ridiculously easy, I think I am going to make a few more.  I joined up under the "Scrappy Block" group, so I just had to pair any fabric in my stash with a white background.  The way these blocks are cut and pieced leaves NO waste, and I doubt it took me 20 minutes to cut, press and piece all four of these together.

I'm going to go make some more.   Click on the link for the Flickr group above if you want to join the cause by making blocks.  OR, I am certain that Jennifer will accept other forms of donations (batting, completed quilts, offers to put quilts together, etc.).  I've already stuffed as much batting as I can into a flat rate box!

As always, you can link up whatever blocks you've been working on this week!

Link up your fabulous blocks.  You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  And, don't forget, you have all week to add them if you like.

Rules:

1) Please link up only to the page in your blog showing your wonderful blocks, not just the blog homepage
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please consider grabbing my button and posting it in your blog post
4) Visit other linky participants!


Thanks for reading today!

Jen