Color Block Stars - New Block Drive

August is coming to an end and that means it is time for a new block drive for Many Hands and Many Hearts. We are going with monochromatic blocks this drive.  So every block will just be one color with white.  This will be our first star block!

For each block, you will need:

3.5" Colored squares      QTY = 15

3.5" White square        QTY = 1

2" White squares          QTY = 8

Here is how I made my block...

First I laid out my 3.5" squares in a layout I liked.  It is okay to use batiks, solids, or a few prints that include small designs in other colors.  Just be sure your overall block reads the color of block you are making,

I then pull out the four color squares on the top, bottom and sides of the white squares.  We will be adding star points to these squares.

If you don't feel comfortable sewing a diagonal across a small square, you might want to draw a diagonal line.  I used my Hera marker, so it leaves just a crease.

Align the small white square to a corner of your colored square and sew diagonally.

Trim away the outer triangle and press outward. (Pressing not shown.)  You have to do these steps before you add the second square.

Next, using the same steps, sew the second small square to the piece.

Here is what you end up with.  Sew on the star points to all four colored squares you pulled.

Now return those pieces back amongst all your squares and the star appears.

Sew the squares together just like you would a quilt top. sewing the squares into rows and then sewing the rows together into a block.

Feel free to make whatever colored block you desire, including brown and gray.  (I do ask that you don't make black blocks. Thanks.)  The star can be white or white on white fabric.  If all you have is a white with very small designs on it, you can use that.  We want everyone to donate who wants to - but I prefer white squares.

Jean donated this quilt top using the block with white sashing some time ago.  Kat (of Scrap Box Quilts) also used this block as an RSC project. It has been on the list for quite some time!

This block drive will run until the end of November.  If you have any questions or need my address for shipping, send me an email at cynthiabdesigns at gmail dot com.  If you are still working on the RWB Scrappy Chains from the last drive, please get them sent off soon.  

The quilts made from all these blocks will be distributed as donation quilts.  If you want to know more about Many Hands and Many Hearts, you can read more here.  

All of us at Many Hands and Many Hearts whole heartedly appreciate the generosity of so many of you.  We are able to donate large quantities of quilts each month to Children, Veterans and Adults in crisis.

Thank you so very much!

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Oh Scrap! : More Pinwheels

 This week, I dealt with a huge pile of scraps that has been bugging me for quite some time.  We are cutting up scraps for the upcoming sew day, for items for our craft fair, for RWB string blocks and for my pinwheel blocks.

I ended up with 5 more framed pinwheel blocks.  Not a lot to show for all the cutting I did but the pile of scraps is a lot smaller.  I still have a lot more scraps to cut but it doesn't look quite so daunting!

Hoping for more progress next week!

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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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Sue's Quilts

Every so often, I get a few big bags of finished quilts from Sue.  She lives up in Washington and the quilts catch a ride with Margaret, who has occasional business here in Oregon.  

I thought I would share what was sent in the last shipment.  

They are not even labeled yet!

Love this scrappy bright quilt.  The colors are so happy and vibrant. On the back is a Fisher Price fabric that really ties it all together.

This one is so cuddly!  It has both a flannel top and backing.  I love the diamond quilting Sue did on this one.  I think she used the serpentine stitch on her machine.

Here is another all flannel quilt.  The timing is perfect on these quilts because we make our first big Kid Quilt delivery to Bags of Love next week.  We send them a few quilts all year long but we do try to send some big shipments going into the holidays when the demand is greater.

How fun is this teal quilt.  I love that the stars are different sizes.  maybe something I should think about for future block drives.

This quilt is definitely going to give its new owner sweet dreams.  I love these very peaceful colors.  And the frames around the stars - I have been seeing that everywhere lately.  I love it!

Here is one for those who love blue!  This is such a great way to use up those scraps.

Here is one with cute little kittens on it.  Sue's quilts are really going to be admired by the staff at Bags of Love when I drop them and many other quilts off.  I don't have a final count yet but I am hoping it exceeds 40 quilts.

Thanks so much Sue (and Margaret for the shuttle service).  

All of these quilts are lovely and will be much loved and appreciated.

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Some Friday Finishes

Earlier this week, I shared some small quilts that were completed. 

 Today, I have a few finishes that are larger.

Earlier this year, I sent Jeanine a few pre-cuts we had in inventory and she turned them into quilt tops.  She decided on the pattern and supplied the background fabrics.  She made this one from a Charm pack.  I love how it turned out.  

Local Quilter Laura quilted this and sewed up the binding for us.

Whooo loves owls?!   Kristin sent us this quilt top and the flannel backing fabric.  Laura quilted some lovely hearts on it to finish it off.

I wish you could see the pretty fabrics in this quilt close up.  Color saturated Kaffe Fassett scraps have been sewn into triangles and then placed into colored rows.  Thanks, Julie, for sending in both the quilt top and the backing.  I don't normally get too fancy with the quilting but I had to play around with the diamond shapes that were created.

Big quilts are so hard to photograph.  Julie also sent in this pretty top and backing.  It is made from large strips of fabrics all with black backgrounds.  Many of them are lovely large scale prints - they really shine in these larger pieces.  The backing is actually a paint spatter print.

And finally, we have this fun autumn harvest panel quilt.  I have lost track of who sent this in.  But thanks to Kathy, we had a lovely pumpkin print for the backing.  And I have to thank Penny for finishing up the binding on this one.  It is hard to believe fall will be here before we know it!

Hope all of you have a nice relaxing weekend!

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This Week’s Littles

Another nice productive week at Many Hands and Many Hearts.  

We had a few little quilts that made it across the finish line.

This bright little quilt is literally just a panel that Nann sent us. I was initially going to sew on a border but I liked how it looked without it best.  The backing also came from Nann and local longarm quilter Cindy did her quilting magic on it.

I have had this yellow and red ladybug binding for a long time and am happy it finally found it's home!

This sweet bird quilt top was donated by Carol. I love how all the panel pieces just float in the design. The quilt backing was sent by Stephanie.  It was actually used in another big quilt, but we still had a bit leftover and it was the perfect size. Local quilter Cindy finished this one up for us too.

This fun scrappy quilt came all finished from Dorothy. That is why there are fold lines. 😊 I really like the framed pinwheel design so I might steal the idea for some of my own scraps.  In fact, I might have some already made pinwheels in my orphan block stash.  

It still needs a label but I will get to that in the morning.

And finally, there is this fun cat quilt. Both the quilt top and the flannel backing came from Kristin. Have you figured out Cindy dropped off some quilts? Yup! She finished this one too.

We finished up some larger quilts this week too.  If I remember to write the post, I will share them on Friday.  My days have really been getting away from me lately.  

Half the time I have no idea what day it is!

Hope you having a great weekend!

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More Fun Finishes

Janet was finally able to come by so we could take a few photos.  These are all photos of quilts where the quilt top was donated and Many Hands and Many Hearts finished the quilt.

We love and appreciate our generous donors!

First up is a quilt for a Veteran.  This top was made by Jenny.  I really love this design.  It is made from 4.5" squares.  I think Jenny said the pattern made a REALLY big quilt so she downsized it.

Denice made this bright scrappy quilt top.  It might have been paper-pieced.  Karyn sent in the peach colored backing and I think the orange floral came from my stash.

Even though the temperatures have been in the 80s and 90s, we are starting to make some flannel quilts for fall deliveries.  Kristin donated this fun little quilt top and I used a white quilted fabric for the backing.  No need for batting!  

The piece was rather small so I had to find a small quilt top to pair with it.

This quilt came in all completed.  No work required except sewing on the label.  Cheryl sent us this adorable Hungry Caterpillar quilt.  Love the horizontal lines she quilted on it.

That is it for today.  I think there are more but I need to purge through my photos to see if I have missed any that I haven't posted.  I am happy we are making a couple deliveries this week because the shelves are stuffed!

Hope you are enjoying your week!

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