Month: February 2026

Last year, one of our guild members challenged us to make a leaders / enders project using this pieced unit. If you’ve never heard this term in the quilting world you can read all about it on Bonnie Hunter’s Quiltville blog here.

I began making blocks using either white or black depending on what thread I had in the machine at the time.

While piecing the guild’s contest blocks into the top for our South Florida Fair quilt I managed to get a lot of the block units pieced using dark thread.

This week I finished the Leaders / Enders quilt.

I added two black strips and two colored strips to each L/E unit to create log cabin blocks. This quilt will be donated to the Vita Nova group I mentioned in last week’s post.

I’ve been making a string quilt and hand binding it this week, while also thinking about what to create next.

I’d forgotten I’d put a few patriotic quilts in a bin before the holidays. Looking back over my blog posts I can see the blocks were made for this one so it will probably be the next in line. Hopefully, I can finish all my L/E units with white background while using light thread.

I haven’t quilted much since the holidays because I had a short ER visit and subsequent stay for a few tests. Fortunately, it was just high blood pressure, and I got a stern warning to make a few changes.

I’ve been walking daily and gradually increasing the distance. I’m also eating healthier and eating on an intermittent fasting routine (per doctor’s recommendation), with an eating window from 2 to 6 pm every day. I’m also avoiding stress and drinking lots and lots of water. Sadly, I had to part ways with my old friend – Diet Mt. Dew. I’m doing well with all the changes and ready to get back to sewing so let’s talk quilts.

One of our guild members is associated with the Vita Nova organization. You can learn more about them by clicking on this link and reading their mission statement below:

“Vita Nova is a safe bridge to independence for former foster care and homeless youth through supportive housing, education, employment, and life skills training. They aim to eliminate homelessness for youth ages 18 to 25 in Palm Beach County. “

I’ve had some quilts ready to donate for a while, waiting for the right organization. When I heard they needed quilts, I recognized the Vita Nova name from a thrift store they ran years ago and knew it was an organization doing great things in the community. This was the right place for those quilts. I’m donating the six below and hope to make more in the future.

I usually don’t wash quilts before donating unless they’re for a hospital or a baby. I decided to go ahead and wash these so they’ll have a cozy, crinkly feel. I also want to avoid any young person worrying they damaged the quilt the first time they washed it and saw it crinkled up in the dryer. 😊