Compassion Quilt Happy Blocks Drive

 Hurray!  It is time to announce the next Compassion Quilt block.  

This drive will run from now until the end of November. Our focus on this drive will be quilts for kids.

We will be making Happy Blocks. 

Here are the material requirements for each block:

Novelty fabric (please no holiday fabric or specific sports team fabric)

            4.5" square                       Qty = 1        Center block

Solids, tone on tone or geometric fabric (Please no florals - trying to keep it gender neutral)

            2.5" x 4.5" Rectangle      Qty = 2        Outer frame

            2.5" x 8.5" Rectangle      Qty = 2        Outer frame

  

The colors we will be using this drive are what I call popsicle colors.

Bright and happy! Remember, these blocks are for kids.

To make the blocks, you just need to sew the 2.5" x 4.5" rectangles to the sides of the center block.

Use a 1/4” seam allowance.

Then to complete the block, the 2.5" x 8.5" rectangles get sewn on the top and bottom.

Your block should measure 8.5" square.

Here are a few blocks I made.  You can see that some of my center blocks are fussy-cut and some are just cut from a fun novelty fabric.  The outer frames can be all one color or multi-colored...just be sure they contain popsicle colors (remember, I have to put these together).

If you noticed, you can see I put the shorter strip on both the sides and the top/bottom.  It doesn't really matter.  In fact, if you mix it up, it is less I have to match when I put the tops together.

My hope is that I can create some "themed" quilts - farm animals, bugs, zoo animals, cars/trucks, dogs, etc.  Other tops will simply be an "I Spy" type quilt.  As always, when I announce each block drive, I cross my fingers that the blocks will come together.  Your adherence to the block criteria makes it a bit easier for me.

If you have any questions, just email me at cynthiabdesigns at gmail dot com.  Try not to put questions/requests in the comments unless you know for sure I can reply to them.

I appreciate all your help!  Things are always more fun when you do them with your friends!

(My dog is back to his cheeky self - here he is with his friend Beatice.)

One more way you can help (and maybe clean out a drawer in your sewingroom) - I go through a LOT of thread.  If you are already sending blocks and you have some room in the package, I can sure use some of that old thread you just can't seem to throw away.  My Bernina hasn't found a thread it can't sew with and I go through these spools like mad.  Any color works.

A big thanks to all.  I will be finishing up the last block drive as you elves start sewing Happy Blocks.  I still have quite a few more quilts to make and share.  Once I get them done and a final tally on all the blocks received, I will write up a summary post.

If you are curious, these quilts will be supporting multiple programs at Sacred Heart Hospital here in Oregon.  They are called Compassion Quilts and you can read more about the program here.

Again...Thanks for any help you can give.

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Oh Scrap! : A Sneaky Finish

 Surprise!  I don't just work on the Color Stix quilts.

I had received about a yard and a half of this striped fabric.  It would make a great striped binding for the right quilt...but I doubted I would ever have a need for it. 

So, I decided to use it to make a simple scrap quilt.

I cut the fabric into 4.5 x 8.5 rectangles and went to my 2.5" square stash and picked out all the prints that remotely went with the fabric.  It was mindless work to sew those squares together.

Once I made the center, I framed it in a pumpkin-colored plaid fabric.  I then added a second navy solid border and then bound it with the same plaid.

On the back, I used a rust and brown print that I was planning on using in a block drive - but I rarely ask for brown blocks so I decided this was a better use.

This was a quick finish and it used up some of the smaller cuts that have been donated.

...And it gobbled up some of my scraps.  I was so happy to find some of them a home!

This quilt measures 48 x 54".  The amount of striped fabric kind of dictated the size.  I will be adding this to the Compassion Quilt pile (that is already starting to grow again).

It was a nice change of pace to make this cutie.

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It is now your turn to share what you are making with scraps.  Here are the details for linking up: 

• This linky party is for any scrappy project - It can be in-process or a finished piece.
• You can link up your blog post (not your homepage please) or Instagram photo from the past week that features your use of scraps.
• If you are linking to a blog post, I ask that you link back to my blog somewhere in your post. So if you are writing about scraps, just get into the habit of including a link as there will be a linky party available every week!
• If you are using Instagram, please use the hashtag #ohscrap.
• This is a party so remember to socialize and comment on the posts of others.
• Following my blog is not necessary but it sure would be great if you do! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

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Color Stix Finishes #20 and #21

 The two Color Stix finishes I am sharing today are made using some alternate layout designs.  All of the quilts I have made to date set the blocks in alternate directions.

I had an abundance of purple and blue blocks so I thought it would be fun to put them together in one quilt.  I stacked each color's blocks from light to dark.  Then I started laying out the blocks with the blue blocks going lightest on the right and the purple blocks going lightest on the left.

This might be one of my favorite finishes in this block drive.

I had to pull a dark blue backing from my stash.  I didn't have anything I liked in my donated fabric stock. Quilt number twenty measures 63 x 72".

As I receive blocks, I am always looking for inspiration in the blocks that arrive.  When I received 16 blocks that were all the same, I thought I would try to stagger the blocks to see how they would look.  I found a blue print in my stash that looked nice with the blocks and started sewing.  I added a 3.5" strip to the top/bottom of the blocks to create the stagger.  Then I used up the rest of the fabric to make some borders.

This quilt only measures 43 x 54", so I didn't want to use a big cut to create the backing.  I dug around in my stash and found this big floral.  It wasn't quite big enough so I had to add the blue inset.  It feels good to find homes for all these miscellaneous pieces of fabric I have.

When I started this drive, I hoped I would get twenty quilts completed - this is the 21st quilt!

And I know I still have more to share...You guys are amazing!

Hope you all have a nice weekend. 

I will be announcing the next Compassion Quilt block drive the middle of next week.

Hope I can get the current one cleaned up before the next blocks start to arrive!

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Linking Up:

  

My Quilt Infatuation (Needle & Thread)

Confessions of a Fabric Addict (Can I get a Whoop! Whoop!)

From Bolt to Beauty (Brag about your Beauties)

Alycia Quilts (Finished or not Friday)

Is it time to stock up on batting and backings?  Connecting Threads has you covered!

Gifts of Compassion

 I am still working away on quilting up some of the gifted quilt tops for Compassion Quilts.

Today's quilts are both very bright and happy ones!

This first one was a kit Karen donated.  All I had to do was quilt it up - she sent the top and the backing.  The binding I used came from Holly.  I have always wanted to make one of these scrappy Crayon quilts.

Looks like an extra crayon went onto the back!

I think this one measures about 36 x 45".  It was the last quilt to make it into the last trunkload to the hospital and I forgot to measure it.

T his lovely kit came from Sue.  She sent me the top and the binding.    I always love bright colors set in a dark blue background.

I couldn't find the right backing in my stash so I went to a friend's house and found the perfect striped piece.  She was generous enough to donate it.  it wasn't quite big enough but I had a leftover purple print that looked great with it.

This one measures 44 x 56".

I still have more Color Stix Compassion Quilts to share this Friday so i hope you come back and check those out.

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My Quilt Infatuation (Needle & Thread)

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Oh Scrap! : Nada

 This week has really flown by!  

And sadly, I don't have anything to share today. My sew day with friends got canceled, my dog has been feeling under the weather and the cooler temperatures has me catching up with outside chores.

Not a single scrap was touched!

Not only is Arthur helpful in the sewing room, but he also makes my outdoor chores so much more fun!  (Holeless socks and gardening gloves are in short supply at my house.)

Happy Sunday!

*********************************************

It is now your turn to share what you are making with scraps.  Here are the details for linking up: 

• This linky party is for any scrappy project - It can be in-process or a finished piece.
• You can link up your blog post (not your homepage please) or Instagram photo from the past week that features your use of scraps.
• If you are linking to a blog post, I ask that you link back to my blog somewhere in your post. So if you are writing about scraps, just get into the habit of including a link as there will be a linky party available every week!
• If you are using Instagram, please use the hashtag #ohscrap.
• This is a party so remember to socialize and comment on the posts of others.
• Following my blog is not necessary but it sure would be great if you do! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

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Compassion Quilt #18 and #19

 It is already Friday!

That means I have some more Compassion Quilt finishes to share today.

I have been hitting the longarm quilting on these tops really hard lately, so I have a big pile that just needs binding.  That means I will have lots more to share soon.

Quilt #18 is another quilt that was inspired by the backing piece.  These green, gold, and brown blocks look so pretty together.  It is hard to see but I laid the different colors out diagonally.

This pretty backing came from Nann.  She sent 5 yards so you will see more if it soon on another quilt.

This quilt measures 63" x 72".

The nineteenth quilt is similar to one I did previously.  I used another of the vintage pillow covers and surrounded it in blue blocks.  I think I still have two more of them so I will need to use them later in a different block drive.

I can't let anything go to waste!

Kat sent me this pretty floral fabric.  This is the second quilt I have used it on.

My goal when I started this drive was to hopefully get 20 quilts.  I can tell you we have exceeded that!  It makes my heart full of gratitude for all of your generosity.

Enjoy your weekend!

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My Quilt Infatuation (Needle & Thread)

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Color Stix Finishes #16 and #17

 Blocks for Compassion Quilts have pretty much dried up so now I am able to focus on getting the last stack of blocks into quilt tops.  I still have quite a few in the pipeline to finish up.

Today I can share numbers 16 and 17.

Number sixteen is this lovely purple and green one.  I also snuck in a few brown blocks I had. 

This quilt measures 54 x 63".

My inspiration came from this lovely purple and green iris print that Nann sent for a backing.

The purple binding was one sent in my Gail.

The next finish was a completed quilt sent in by Nancy.  I love her border design!

It really works well with the striped binding.

Her friend Jenn did the beautiful quilting.  It shows up so well on the batik backing.

This quilt measures 57 x 66".  

I will be delivering another trunk load of quilts to the hospital this Friday.  So I am frantically trying to finish the binding on a few more so I can include them in this shipment.  There should be at least 24 quilts going out this month!

If you still have blocks to send, please get them in the mail soon.  The next block drive I hope to announce on the 30th of this month.  That is just two weeks away!

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My Quilt Infatuation (Needle & Thread)

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The Fat Quarter Shop has some of their fabrics on sale.  Get them before they are gone!

Oh Scrap! : Yellow

 Even with all the other quilts I am working on, I still try and keep up with my Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks.  It is a good way for me to keep a small focus on my scraps.  We don't want them building up any more than they already are!

August is the color yellow.   So I made one heart block and one ombre color block.  I don't have a lot of yellow scraps so it was a bit of a challenge to find all these different shades of the color.

I also made 16 switchplate blocks.  Yellow is the only color I need to finish this quilt.  I will probably need more yellow blocks but this is enough to get me started so that I can decided on a layout.

Once I have an empty design wall. I can start designing the layouts on all my RSC projects.  The new Compassion Quilt block drive gets announced the end of this month and I always have some "downtime" while I wait for blocks to arrive.  Maybe I can get these tops all sewn together then.

What scrappy things have you been working on?

*********************************************

It is now your turn to share what you are making with scraps.  Here are the details for linking up: 

• This linky party is for any scrappy project - It can be in-process or a finished piece.
• You can link up your blog post (not your homepage please) or Instagram photo from the past week that features your use of scraps.
• If you are linking to a blog post, I ask that you link back to my blog somewhere in your post. So if you are writing about scraps, just get into the habit of including a link as there will be a linky party available every week!
• If you are using Instagram, please use the hashtag #ohscrap.
• This is a party so remember to socialize and comment on the posts of others.
• Following my blog is not necessary but it sure would be great if you do! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Follow Me on Bloglovin'                 Follow Me on Feedly

Pastel Stix Finish #15

 I was so close to having two Color Stix quilts to share today but I just couldn't get the binding done on quilt #16.  It will have to wait until next week's post.

This is another quilt I made using a backing as inspiration.  The backing was all pastel colors so those are the block colors I chose.  I also had a large cut of fabric so I could make a nice large quilt.  This Compassion Quilt measures 63 x 72".

The backing was gifted by Kat and has Asian lanterns and fans.  It is really quite pretty.  I pulled a pink solid from my stash for the binding.

Hope everyone has a nice weekend.  In a few days we are tipping over 100 degrees.  That is too hot - I live in the PNW because I like mild temperatures!

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My Quilt Infatuation (Needle & Thread)

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Color Stix Finishes #13 and #14

 Thanks to one of my special local elves, I have two more Color Stix finishes to share today.

We get together occasionally and sew.  During her last visit, she put these blocks together for me.  She laid out the blocks and had the top all together in one afternoon.

I challenged her to come up with something that matched this flannel backing piece I had.  

I think it turned out pretty nice!

It measures 54 x 72"

She was so successful with that challenge I sent her home with a bunch of orange and a few black blocks.  The color scheme might seem a bit Halloweeny but one of the local universities' (OSU) colors are orange and black - so a Beaver fan will love this quilt!

How else are you going to use 4 yards of an orange and black tiger stripe!?

(I still have a bit left over but the next block drive is for kids so I am hoping to use it up then.)

This quilt is 63" square.

A few more blocks are still trickling in.  I do have quite a few more quilts in the pipeline but I am running out of backings and it is getting harder to put the blocks I have into a cohesive design.  I do love a challenge so I am sure I will be able to make a few more work!

Stay tuned - I hope to share one or two more this Friday.

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Linking Up:

  

My Quilt Infatuation (Needle & Thread)

Confessions of a Fabric Addict (Can I get a Whoop! Whoop!)

From Bolt to Beauty (Brag about your Beauties)

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