A Few More Finishes to Share

We are starting to focus more on adult quilt again.  It was quite the year end frenzy as we were sending out large numbers of all sizes quilts.  Our stash of finished quilts is quite small right now, so we are working hard to grow or inventories back up.  All deliveries for 2024 have gone out.  I will share the final tallies soon - first I need to share them with the board.

Here are some quilts that flowed across my longarm last week.

Check out this lovely batik quilt top sent in by Cindy. I am loving the color combination.  Cindy also sent in the lovely gray backing.

This quilt measures 48 x 64".

Here is a great way to use up some of your scraps.  Karyn sent in this quilt top.  The scrappy strips are cotton material and the blue is a soft flannel.  Karyn also sent in the flannel backing.

This quilt measures about 42 x 54".

I sewed together this cuddly little flannel quilt from some scrap rectangles sent in by Karyn.  The pink duck corduroy fabric fit this small quilt perfectly.  I was afraid we would never find a home for this but it is sure cute on this quilt.

This little quilt measures about 30 x 38".

This amazing quilt top has been waiting in the wings for a long time.  For lots of reasons, it just kept getting stuck in the bottom of the pile.  I think it is a wonderful design and Becky's fabric choices were lovely.  Dorothy sent in this wonderful floral for h3e back.  It wasn't quite big enough, so I had to add a light blue inset - which is the color of the flower centers.

This quilt measures about 50 x 64".

Another Jewel Box quilt made it across the finish line.  This purple and lime one makes it #9.

Elizabeth sent in this green and purple backing fabric so we pulled blocks that matched it.  I really like how this one turned out.

This quilt measures 48 x 64".

I will be looking forward to the end of this year.  It has been a very busy one for me. Quilts will continue to flow but the output will probably slow a bit around the holidays.  Next year is going to be exciting as the Board of Directors find their footing and then help me grow Many Hands and Many Hearts.  We want to add at least one (if not two) organizations to our recipient list.  That means I need to find a lot more volunteers to help me sew these blocks together. I think that sounds like a fun challenge!

I have a few more scrappy quilts ready to photograph so I hope to share them later this week.

If you want to make some kid blocks for our current block drive, you can find the instructions here.

I am so thankful for all the support I have received in this endeavor.

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Oh Scrap! : Florals

With all the quilts we make for Many Hands and Many Hearts, we end up with a lot of "chunks" of fabric.  Most of these come from backing leftovers.  These "chunks" get piled onto one of the shelves in our storage area and then I try and find ways to use them.  

Lately, I noticed there were quite a few florals up there.

I decided I would make a chunky quilt top with them.

I quickly cut some 10.5" squares, some 5.5" squares and then a couple 10.5 x 5.5" rectangles for every block.  Twenty blocks should make a nice sized quilt.  

I focused on pulling florals in pinks, blues and greens.

In no time at all, I was able to sew up all twenty blocks.  I think it will look nice once all the blocks are together.  Now all I need to do is decide on a layout and sew up the quilt top.  

This didn't make a large dent in the amount of fabric on the shelf, but it did use up a majority of the florals.  Now I just need to get inspired to use the other miscellaneous prints that are up there.

I will definitely revisit this idea again if I have some more floral chunks.

What have you been making to use up your scraps?

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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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Catching up on Photos

Janet finally made it over to my house so we could photograph any completed quilts hanging around.  I did deliver just before Thanksgiving a few kid quilts that did not get photographed.  Most of these quilts shared today will be included in the delivery to the hospital tomorrow.  December is going to be busy building up our stock of quilts!

This quilt top was donated by Chris.  She has been sewing up some simple patchwork donation quilts to use up some of her older stash.  This quilt is quite large at 56 x 80" so it needed a big fabric cut for the back.  Thankfully Stephanie donated this pretty pumpkin colored piece.  Local quilter Terry finished this one up.

This sweet little pink and yellow rail fence quilt top was donated by Kristin.  She also pieced up the backing. 

Becky was probably wondering if I was ever going to finish this one.  She sent in the quilt top last winter.  Sadly it had gotten buried for a bit and then I decided to use a lovely holly print that looked amazing with her quilt top. So, I made it wait a bit longer so it could be handed out closer to Christmas.  I had a lot of fun quilting this one up.

This quilt measures about 50 x 70".

There are a few Jewel Box quilts to share too.  This one is quilt #7 from the block drive.  Most of these blocks came from one person.  Sometimes when we get a big quantity in one package, we make aa quilt top from them.  The pieces on the back were leftover from previous backs.

Looking at his photo, I see a block with the 4-patch askew.  I even quilted his one and missed it!

This quilt measures 48 x 56".

Janet is really having some fun figuring out different layouts for these blocks.  I think this one is a lot of fun.  Our inspiration for the colors came from the back.  We had this floral that Nann sent in that has been here a while.  To use it up, we pulled blocks that matched the backing.  There were two pieces of the floral folded up together.    It was a surprise when we discovered that they were the same print in slightly different colors ways.

Quilt # 8 still looks amazing!

We were completely out of Veteran quilts after our December deliveries, so I was so excited that Holly sent us this lovely rail fence quilt.  She even sent us this star print for the back.  

It is a nice big size, - 60 x 80".

I will need two more RWB quilts for deliveries in early 2025.  I still have a number of Churn Dash blocks so I shouldn't have any problems getting them done.

Some other exciting news - Many Hands and Many Hearts will be holding our first organizational board meeting next week.  This is pretty much the final step in applying for our 501(c)(3) status.  Now we just have to wait for the IRS to approve us for tax exemption.  Who knows how long that will take!

Hope you are all having a great week!

The newest block drive has been announced.  I have already received a few in the mail! These kid blocks are super cute and fun to make.  You can read more about this block drive here.

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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)

Oh Scrap! : First Time Sewists

I am still meeting once a month with a few of the young girls in my neighborhood.  They are helping me with various tasks and learning skills to become a quilter.  This week, we moved on to sewing.

Remember the 4.5" squares I cut out of my scrap bins?  They are going to turn them into quilts for Many Hands and Many Hearts.

Here are their first attempts.  I think they did amazing.  After sewing their first column and seeing how squares didn't align well, they took a bit more care and were so proud of their next attempts.  Some even took the time to take out their previous seam. 

Not bad for girls that have never ran a sewing machine before!

They only spend a few hours once a month with me.  They were eager to pull the squares for their next visit.  I love to see them picking through the squares to find just the right print for their vision.

It's fun to think they might be the next generation of quilters.

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

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

Jewel Box Quilts #5 and #6

We have started to fill the quilting pipeline with our Jewel Box quilts so we should be seeing some regular finishes.  Janet has been deciding the layouts on most of these blocks and then I sew them together.  She is not a quilter but is having a ball playing with the colors and he designs.

This plaid backing is actually thin fleece, and I really wanted it to find a home this winter.  So I asked Janet to pull some blocks to go with it.  It is always fun to see someone's interpretation - I would have pulled navy and dark green blocks.  Janet went another way.

This quilt measures 48" x 54".

I feel like we have just started this quilt series, and we are already up to quilt #6.  I think the diagonal layout is one of my favorites.  We pulled this flannel (sent in by Kristin) with lots of shades of blue for the block inspiration.

This quilt measures 56 x 72".

Both of these quilts are already delivered and should be going out to comfort some older kids soon.  I delivered 25 more quilts to Bags of Love just before Thanksgiving.

Hope those who celebrated had a nice Thanksgiving.

The newest block drive has been announced.  These kid blocks are super cute and fun to make.  You can read more about this block drive here.

Follow Me on Bloglovin'                 Follow Me on Feedly

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)

 

Block Drive - Split 4 Patch

It is hard to believe that it is already time for another block drive.  I am nowhere near finished with the last one!  We are making blocks for kids again.  I first made this block DECADES ago and it took me a bit to puzzle out how to make it.  I think you are going to have some fun making them.

I have no idea what it is officially called - so I am going with a Split 4 Patch.

For each block you will need two 5" squares of a novelty print and two 5" squares of a solid or a tone on tone print in bright popsicle colors.

Sew them into a 4 patch like the one above.  

Make sure the novelty prints are in the upper left and lower right.

Trim 1.25" from the two sides of the 4 patch.  Don't lose those thin strips. 

You are going to need them later.

Then trim 1.25" from the top and bottom of the 4 Patch.

Take those two strips you just trimmed away and sew them to the sides of your 4 Patch like above.  Don't worry about the direction of the prints.  They should be just the correct size.

Now you need those longer strips you trimmed from the sides.  You need to trim them down on each side so they measure 4.25" from the center seam.  They should measure 8.5" long when all trimmed up.

These strips will get sewn to the top and bottom of the block. Note that these strips create alternating corners around the outside of the block.

Your block should measure 8.5" unfinished.

Here are three blocks I put together last night.  I used some leftover solid charm squares but you can use some tone on tone or fun small prints for your squares.  Please try to keep nice contrast on your blocks, however.  If your fabric choices get too crazy, the quilts are going to look really chaotic.  For this block drive, it is really important that there are places for the eye to rest.

 We still have blocks from the last kid block drive to sew up into quilts.  They are the same size as these blocks so maybe we will combine some in a few quilts.  This block drive will hopefully make enough kid quilts to cover the remaining demand for next year after we finish any donated quilts and quilt tops.

This drive will run until the end of February 2025.  So, if you have a busy holiday planned, you still have time in January and February to make some blocks.  If you have any questions or need my address for shipping, send me an email at cynthiabdesigns at gmail dot com.

Hope all of you in the US have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

 These quilts will all be donated to Many Hands and Many Hearts where they will go out as compassion quilts in Oregon.

I am so thankful for all the support I have received in this endeavor.

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Jolly Bar Jumble

It is time for me to reveal my Jolly Bar Jumble quilt (sponsored by the Fat Quarter Shop).

Oh wait - I made two 😂

I couldn’t decide which Kona solid - navy or butterscotch - I wanted to use for the background. So I decided to go ahead and make two quilts.

 I used the newest shortcut quilt pattern from the Fat Quarter Shop.

I love this combination of Kona Butterscotch and the warm autumn tones in the Folk & Lore fabric collection. I didn’t quite follow the pattern. I decided to make the big squares darker colors and the small squares I used the lower volume prints. 

I used a dark blue print for the backing that was donated by Sandy.

This lovely little quilt will be donated to Many Hands and Many Hearts.

I ordered three jolly bars so I had enough prints to make another quilt with a Kona navy background.  I did follow the pattern on this quilt and jumbled up the light and dark fabrics.

I knew this was going to be donated to Many Hands and Many Hearts so I used this lovely light blue print Beth sent in for the back.

I really enjoy using the shortcut quilt patterns by Fat Quarter Shop. They are written for precuts and most of them are super easy to make.

The Jolly Bar Jumble is a free pattern. 

You can find it here. 

(My desktop died today so I had to write this post with my phone. Sorry for any errors.)