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. 😊
I haven’t sewn much lately except for quilting tops for the Palm Beach County Quilters’ Guild. I was able to do 7 tops this week, which are ready to be signed out to other members for binding. Our guild’s Outreach Chairwoman, Vivian, is focused on finishing the over 400 quilt tops that were in storage when she stepped into the position nearly 2 years ago. She’s down to about 50 left, and I’m helping to get them done in the next few months. In addition to all the quilts, she also accomplished the equally daunting task of emptying a very large storage unit that was a financial drain on the guild.) I’m hoping she’ll agree to be a guest blogger one day if she ever stops long enough to take a deep breath!
On Wednesday, I finally got my Shingles vaccination appointment at Publix. I realized I could also get a flu shot at the same time so I asked about it. They mentioned I needed Tetanus and Pneumonia shots too. They warned it might be uncomfortable, but I chose to proceed anyway. The symptoms weren’t too bad, mostly just a headache. However, with both arms sore, I had trouble sleeping. Anytime I rolled over, I’d wake up and toss and turn. I’m feeling better now but it was a good lesson about not putting things off! 😉
I finally started decorating inside the house and snapped a few photos of some handmade decorations I’ve accumulated over the years. This first grouping includes things that were all made by me.
My friend Robin made the wall hanging below several years ago. She even hand quilted it! I’m pretty sure it was around 20 years ago that she gave it to me, not long after we discovered our mutual interest in the same type of quilts and fabric designers. I put it up every year and I’m always awestruck that she gave me something that she hand quilted. ♥ We’re still good friends but she went on to become a much, much better quilter than I could ever aspire to be!
I apologize for the late afternoon photo that distorted the true colors. It’s a much brighter Christmas red and green than it looks here. But, it’s in a prominent place on the wall over our living room TV so it’s unlikely I’ll get a better photo of it this year.
Speaking of hand quilting, I did this quilt by hand in 2002 and gave it to my husband for Christmas. I dearly loved Thimbleberries fabric at one time but now, I rarely make quilts using them. Though the saturated colors are a bit heavy feeling for the rest of the year in our hot and humid south Florida climate, they’re always a welcome sight at Christmas time.
I bought wood letters at a craft store several years ago and decoupaged them with Christmas scrapbook papers. I originally planned to put them in the windowsill, but after placing them on the bed, I decided to keep them there and that’s where I’ve placed them every Christmas since then.
This last photo is for my granddaughter. She gave me the tiny tree by the little bench last year when I picked her up one day from the church after (school) care for her karate lesson. I’m not sure if it was in something from the aftercare or from an Advent calendar. I only know she thought it was something I’d like.
It was so cute that I decided to display it with my Christmas tree farm decoration so I’ll see it every year. ♥ When people say “it’s the little things that matter”, listen to them. A teeny tiny tree that could have easily been lost along with the used wrapping paper and ribbons gives me a reason to smile and remember that sweet blond headed girl saying “look Grandma! I saved this for you.”
This week will be busy with my husband’s birthday on Thursday, setting up my Christmas village and decorating the tree, attending a fundraiser, and possibly going out to see Christmas light displays. It will be a busy but happy week as I end each day surrounded by a few of my favorite things!
Each year, several members of an online group called Heartstrings Quilt Project challenge themselves to make 365 string blocks. Yes, that works out to be one a day but most of the quilters make them in sets of 24 or 48 blocks at a time. The group is informal and quilters are encouraged to make and donate their quilts locally. They also share photos, inspire each other with new fabric combinations and setting ideas, and cheer each other on.
I saw a photo on the Heartstrings Quilt Project page many years ago and it has always been an inspiration. I don’t have any rights to the picture so I’ll just share the link to it. Go check it out because it’ll probably inspire you too! It’s HERE .
I don’t have much time to sew during the holidays but that doesn’t mean I stop thinking about it. 🙂 I’m adding the 365 string block challenge to my bucket list for next year. I absolutely love making string quilt blocks and no doubt, I have plenty of strings that really need to make that leap from storage bin to finished quilt.
There’s a separate page of my string quilts but, the one below made from batik strings is probably my favorite (so far).
My husband is busy decorating the yard for Christmas. Knowing him, he’ll work on it every day until Christmas eve, making and adding new things as he goes.
I haven’t begun to put up decorations inside yet but I’ve spent some time making a couple of new things.
I wanted a new little table topper banner like the two previous holiday ones I made this year. I really didn’t care for the machine applique JOY kit in the Riley Blake series so I searched for a banner I liked better.
This one on Etsy felt just right! I added a little to the top and bottom so it finishes at the same size as the other two, 12″ x 14″. I just needed to buy one FQ of fabric for the wreath so I spent about $35 less than I would have by purchasing the kit. 🙂
As luck would have it, I had just enough Christmas poinsettia fabric left to use for the backing from the log cabin Santa craft I made at my guild’s workshop last month.
With 70 pieces in this block, the wreath wasn’t easier than the other two, which also had a lot more pieces than I would have expected!
I also made a wall hanging that I had hoped to do last year but ran out of time.
I have more things I’d like to finish before the month is over. It’s such a busy month that I may need a few elves to help get them done in time.
Time to Quilt 
