Basically Babies

Basically Babies is an amazing charity. They make color-matched layettes to supply one year of all a new baby needs to families without resources. They started small and now have a warehouse filled with color and hundreds of donated items. This year, the are giving layettes to about 800 families.

Making quilts for them is relatively easy. I have scraps that make simple blocks or add to the panels -- which are easy to find. Backing usually takes another item from my stash, or wind up in a pieced version.

 This one is a growth chart. I added two borders; a gold narrow one and green a bit wider. It looks narrow but turned out 29 x 46" so could be a cuddle quilt if it does not get hung up to measure a growing child. I called it, "Please Help Me with my ABC's" and made it in a few hours. It is quilted using rulers and a few hearts done by freehanding around a plastic template.

There is another one on the longarm, not a growth chart but an alphabet with zoo animals. It will be here when it gets finished.

I've one more baby panel and then will start another scrap quilt -- my favorite way of making quilts.

Sweet Baby and a sweet surprise

The label went on, the record page is in my scrapbook, and this one is officially done. It will likely go to Basically Babies, but I like it so much that I might wait to see if someone near has a baby in their near future. It is a panel. I added the borders and find the color combination exciting. A name didn't come to mind so just used the writing on the fabric.

My surprise? This quilt below was made in a class in 2007. The teacher had been with Ricky Tims and was given permission to teach his kaleidoscope quilt. We purchased the pattern and had so much fun making it. Mine turned out about 50" by 50" and since then, I've made several more. Of course they all turn out differently. Anyway, when we recently moved, there is no place to hang it and it does not work with our warm color scheme so I decided to donate it to our Guild Community Outreach group. This morning the coordinator of that group called to tell me what happened to it -- it is now hanging in this city's Ronald MacDonald House! What a lovely surprise. There is a story how it got there, but that was not anything I did. I'm just blessed that the Lord decided to get it there in a place where others can enjoy it.

I'm working on my 12th quilt since our move the last week of October. All but two are baby quilts made from panels. It seemed I was finished but this week found four more in my stash. One is grey and black with a bit of bright blue in it and will use up the rest of my bits of blue in a border. Two are growth charts with the alphabet on them and the third is another alphabet panel with every color possible in it. That will make a big dent in my box of solid-colored scraps.

I'm still very tired most days and need to rest often. As my Dad often said, too many birthdays!

More from absent-minded me

Just noticed that I didn't title my last post nor post the most previous comment. This does not mean I've stopped quilting or that I've had too many birthdays (well, maybe not) but am so booked up with new things that I keep forgetting some of the important necessities.

This past couple of weeks have consisted of dinners, visits, a funeral, meetings, much email, running errands, writing Bible study material, a birthday party for a 100 year-old friend, and having a few unexpected and bizarre things like a dream with a name in it of no one I know so googled it and found out the person is friends with people I know in two generations and on both sides of my family. I've never had names for the strangers in my dreams before. Love the mystery of it. 

Enough of the busy list. I have been finding moments here and there to sew. . .

So this is a little progress. The top one is a simple panel with a simple border, made for Basically Babies. The next one is another panel, two borders and the binding matches the animal eyes. Double click to see them. It was in my stash and perfect -- at least I like it the best so far. I used the same panto on all of them. 

I've several more panels and kits to make up for children and give to charity so am only collecting ideas or drooling over patterns for anything else after that. These little ones are quick to make and fun. I heard a quilter on TQS say that when we hit a slump or feel between a rock and a hard place, to make simple quilts to get out of that low mood. Our move didn't make me low, but it did make me tired, so that advice was perfect. Using the same panto also made these baby quilts quick and easy!

Finally

 After putting fabrics in neat order and moving furniture a tad, I have two quilts done... not too exciting. One is from a panel and the other from some charm squares. The first is "Animal Adventures" and I used a panto called "Animal Crackers" to quilt it.

I was going to call the other one "Found in a Strawberry Patch" but that could offend, so called it "Sweet as a Berry." It is ditch quilted on my Bernina, so that was relaxing.

Both will go to a local group called "Basically Babies" who supply a year's layette for new babes in needy families. This is a huge undertaking -- more than 800 families receiving them this year. 

BB does a lot of work to make sure the items all match and are not just a hodge-podge of things baby's need. I'm not certain all the layettes get quilts but I'll do what I can and our Guild will pass them along.

I have a large box of fabrics to make little quilts like these, and the plan is to empty the box, then get on with larger pieces... and get more of those scraps used up.  

Our new home still needs some pictures hung, etc. but I made a couple dozen muffins today, and "normal life" seems not too far away. Also 'normal weather' keeps me at home. We had several inches of snow last week with very cold temps, then it warmed up, started to melt, and freezing rain today made the streets too much for any ambitions to go out. So I can sew... 😊 

 

 

 

 

This 'squirrel' is not a squirrel at all!

Quilters have a name for a project that strikes our fancy and turns us away from everything we are working on. These "I must make this now" projects are "squirrels" - or various other names. I've been working on this one, which is not squirrels at all but five fine Dachshund dogs that used up a few of my scraps.

I did buy the background fabric after doing the design in EQ8, which told me I needed about a yard more then it really needed -- so it wasn't a scrap-buster because my stash became larger! Oh well, who is complaining. This light tan is just a joy to work with.

So are the pups! Fun to sew and put together. The head and tail sections are foundation paper-pieced and the middles are easy -- just had to find a bunch of scraps in each color range, cut the all the same size (2.5 x 5.5) and sew them together. A good test for my ability to do accurate 1/4" seams. Only the red and purple sets were a tad different, one slightly shorter and the other longer. An easy fix. I'll be putting a border all around to finish this top. Also found a pantograph of paw prints... no kidding. It will be used for the background. I'll stitch in the ditch around the dogs and haven't decided what to do with the rest. I do have eyes for these lovely mutts so will put them on before quilting it.

And I also found a backing fabric, brown and densely patterned with paw prints. How fun is that. At least if i botch up the quilting, it will not be noticed on the back. 😀

Just finish another top also, a panel for Basically Babies. I used the paw prints panto to quilt it, mainly to see if it was difficult. Not too much, so am more confident to put it in the Dachshund quilt on a plain background... still a bit scary though. No picture yet. Still have to put on the binding.

Hope everyone is well. Found out yesterday from the local newspaper that scientist have discovered that 30 minutes in the sun is 90% effective to destroy the Covid-19 virus. So less sewing and more gardening!

Growing so Big

Finished this in a few hours. It is much like the last one only it took less time to sew and quilt. I've several more panels for children and do them when the bigger quilts tire me out. It will to to Basically Babies.

Also still working on my 'squirrel' distraction, but other things keep interfering, like cooking, laundry and keeping the house uncluttered. Hubby is good to pitch in but he has been getting calls for work and now has three PCs, four keyboards, and five monitors in his den, plus printer, full-size copier, and you get the picture... he has other things to do besides clean up the messes I make!

Oh, he is also making our itsy yard look lovely and runs errands. We are in phase 2 of getting out of social distancing etc. and so far so good in our neck of the woods. Our provincial government has been superior in guiding us through this. Only a few have broken protocol and unfortunately paying the price.

Our local guild, over 200 folks, has been having monthly meetings on ZOOM. What a hoot! We are quilters and most haven't much familiarity with this way of communicating. Lots of laughs to say the least!

Stay safe!

Growing So Fast

"Growing So Fast" is a finish using one of the panels that will be given to "Basically Babies" as soon as some of our restrictions are lifted. I added two borders and quilted it densely so it heavy and will hang flat. The bears were left alone so they are puffy and tactile.

Now I'm doing my own variation of Dachshund dogs - long and lean horizontal with their bodies made up of scraps in five different colors. I make the pattern on EQ 8. It was easy even though I changed the dog's face and feet from the pattern that is available online. EQ does a great job of telling you how much fabric is needed and how to rotary cut the parts that can be cut that way. It gives dimensions for them with the seam allowance included. The head and tail end of the dogs are more suited to foundation paper piecing so I have worked up the pattern for that. Also, the blue, green and purple "bodies" are cut out, the blues are sewn together. This is fun... a total "squirrel" as it was not on my to-do list and I was looking for something else when I saw a photo that gave me the idea.

No pictures yet, but soon, Lord willing!

Off and On the Longarm...

The baby quilt is finished. A lousy picture, but I'm getting lazy in my old age. It's a panel, added a border, and practiced nine different fillers in the background. Backing is soft flannelette.


The one below is a scrappy quilt made from the leftover pieces for a larger scrappy. It is about 36 x 60 and perfect for practicing. I've never tried feathers before. I'm a coward. However, decided to attack and do some large, free-motion feathers around the outside. There are five blocks in a row and I'm doing them in simple lines. 

The feathers are large, uneven, sloppy in places, but they say practice, practice, practice. You can glimpse the last done and believe me, these look better that the first done. I can do leaves with my eyes shut but they are more forgiving!

The bigger quilt with all blocks like these and black sashing, has two rows sewn together. I'm still not sure how to quilt it, but do realize these blocks must be stabilized with ditch quilting if they are going to stay square!

NOTE: The Nativity Pattern shown in the upper right corner of this page is available in hard copy from my Etsy page for a limited time. After they are sold, the digital version will still be available. Click on the picture of this popular quilt to see more and to order it.

Looking forward

Thanks to all for kind comments regarding my situation. Had the worst nosebleed ever and the doc in the ER and I decided it was time to permanently stop taking the blood thinner. It only lessens the chance of a clot/stroke by 5% and I'd rather not spend the rest of my life with a nosebleed nearly every day, or having it packed to stop it. Painful!

My sister's Celebration of Life service was amazing. If such an event can be called glorious, this one was. It honored her, glorified God who gifted her, and produced both tears and joy, mostly joy. We had a wonderful family time after that could only be described as a God-thing. She wanted this for her funeral and the Lord answered our prayers "exceedingly abundantly above all we could ask or imagine." I'm so grateful for this and for her life well-lived.

In all the stuff going on during the past few weeks, I've tried to get a few stitches in each day. It does not make for even, smooth work, but this is getting done.


Some of my next projects include these little piles of fabrics for baby quilts laying on the bed in our guest room. Nine show, but there are about thirteen. All will go to Basically Babies. a remarkable charity that does layettes for needy families.

An easy finish • Jungle Stuffies

Here is another charity quilt. I've a pile of panels suitable for children that will go to a charity called Basically Babies. They make layettes that will cover one year, including duds, quilts and blankets and even match colors etc. These go to families in need. This one was fun. I added borders to the panel and had fun with the quilting. It was a Panto called Gingersnap, but I added eyes and ears to the concentric circles and made them look like stuffy faces.

I'm also working on a guild challenge quilt. The first person gets a photo of a landscape and must make a 18" x 24" quilt inspired by the photo. They send a picture of their quilt (not the original photo) and an artist's statement to quilter number two. 

That person makes an 18" x 24" quilt inspired by the photo and statement from quilter #one. They email a photo of their quilt and statement to #three. And on it goes. There are 10 in each group and the resulting 40 quilts will be on display at Quilt Canada next year. This is exciting, sort of like that telephone game aka known as the gossip game. By the end, the last quilt will be a huge departure from the original photo. I'll post a picture when the rules allow it!

Also working on Halo Medallion. All those arcs are finished so need to put them in their blocks and sew them on... then decide what to do next.

So slow...

Just realized that deleting my weekly reminder to post here does not do the job unless I also do the rest... and the weeks fly by besides. Yikes, it is over a month... 😦

Anyway, I've been busy. We have had several unexpected events in our lives, a couple of health issues, and lots on our plates. Even with all that, my daughter's king-size is nearly quilted. Here is a peek, at least until I give it to her. Deadline looming... This shows one pass of the panto I'm using. It is called "Dazzle" and is small, but what her hubby needs (weight but not thickness) to sleep well. The quilt is in multiple shades of taupe, most of which which were hard to find!

And here is a current charity quilt. The panel is nice, added some pink mini squares and a border. I may add another one. It goes on the longarm as soon as the king is finished.

A quick finish: Over the Waves

This is my 'cure' or therapy for keeping on when a project takes so much energy... make another project using a panel. This one is simple and cute. I used a panto on it for practice. The only 'extra' is the yellow piping with the red binding. I used the method explained by Susan Cleveland and her excellent tool to help make it. 

Our city has a group known as "Basically Babies" who collect a year's worth of items for layettes to give to needy families. Quilts are welcome, so this one is designated for them.

I have several other quilts ready to go on the longarm, so back at it...

Another happy customer

This week Céline from Quebec sent me a photo of her completed nativity quilt. She bought the pattern from my Etsy site a few months ago. What excites me about this finish is that she used solids! She made the smaller version and it looks like she has a great eye for color and value! (She also gave me permission to publish her photo.)

Way to go, Céline!

If anyone is interested in this pattern, it is still available, either in paper form or digital. The link to my Etsy site is to the upper right.

I also finished another baby panel for Basically Babies. This one took only a few hours and was fun to quilt and bind. Also, I quilted 'cow' on the white part of the cow's back after taking this photo. It is 35" x 41" backed with fabric that looks like faded denim.

Basically Babies – Lions

Our city has a group called "Basically Babies" that makes one-year layettes for babies in needy families. They accept quilts, so I purchased some panels and am planning to give them to BB. This one is my third so far, a cute lion with cubs. I didn't need to do anything to it except trim and add borders. I put a flange in there too, just for the color. The outer border is about 4.5" and the same rusty color in the shadows on the lions. 

Actually, piecing the backing took longer than assembling the front. It will finish at about 44" x 50" — a nice size. Quilting panels is good practice on my longarm also.

Btw, a tip for some: My dryer has two steam cycles that I thought I would never use. However, when I take fabric out of my stash (I don't wash it when I buy it) the wrinkles are heavily impressed... so 20 minutes in one of those cycles 'irons' it perfectly! It probably does a bit of 'shrinking' too. I'll have to do a before & after measurement. This has been a huge time-saver and likely saves electricity too. Give it a try if you haven't already!