Graduation is over (May 15) and within a week I sandwiched and quilted this top started in February 2013, then put on the binding and a label. It is to go to a wounded soldier through the Canadian Quilts of Valor program.
The weather is so lovely now that I'm wanting to be outside, but the to-do list that piled up for the past 2 1/5 years is keeping me close to home. People keep asking "now what?" but I've not made any plans -- other than finishing some long neglected projects!
Now that my degree program is officially finished (graduation is May 15), I have more time to do some quilting. Here is a simple design made from my stash, now on the machine. The quilting will be done today. It is about 80" square and will likely go to Quilts of Valour. The quilting pattern is like ocean waves, so it is "Sea foam."
And this is what I woke up to yesterday morning. It snowed all day, but started to melt in the late afternoon, so now it is just very wet out there! We need the moisture. Today the sun is shining even though the temperature is chilly.
Quilts of Valor began in the United States. Most of you know that these quilts go to wounded soldiers. Not long ago, a woman from our city's quilt guild brought Quilts of Valour to Canada. She has quite a story of how this started.
This picture shows my second donation to QoV. It was made out of those Arrowhead blocks where two squares are sewn right sides together around most of the outside edges, etc., then cut in such a way that most of the piecing happens without cutting the pieces. They look more complicated than they are.
I used almost all the purple and a lot of my green stash for this one. It is about 48" x 66" (I have to spell valor in the British way, but don't have to measure it in metrics!)
In Canada, much effort is also made to see that all war veterans and casualties from RCMP, police, etc. get a quilt. Reports come back that these quilts are highly valued by the recipients. Our city just had a ground-breaking ceremony for House of Valour, a special care facility for those who suffer from being in a war.
On another note, I've also sewn together one of my kaleidoscopes and am planning a couple of borders. The other one will be sewn together today. Pictures later.
P.S. I love quilters. One asks me a question, and the next one answers it... before I even read the comments! I do have an excuse for not giving more info about this block. I found it in a magazine, made one to try it, then gave the magazine away. Thank you to Cheri for asking and Michele for answering.
This quilt was started in a class called "Shaded Four Patch" on April 13, with Margie Davidson. I finished it today. The quilt, label, page in my book, photo, all done. The colors show a bit richer in real life.
After that class, I took another about selecting quilting designs. The instructor, Margo Fiddes, challenged me to think of something distinctive for quilting each piece. I didn't have this one in class, but began to imagine a subtle cross representing sacrifice, a heart to represent valor, and lines that speak of tension and yet peace. Of course the program "Quilts of Valor" was on my mind too. The cross is at an angle with the top in the upper left. Sorry, this does not show better, even when you double-click the photo.
I've contacted Quilts of Valor so this one will go to a wounded soldier. A local woman spearheaded this program in Canada. This year, she received "Woman of Distinction" Award from our city or her efforts. See more about QoV at this link.
Also, I made a recent decision is to work on one UFO at a time until it is done. More and more I'm noticing how much easier it is to focus when my sewing space is relatively tidy without too much stuff in it! So this means slowly, slowly. It is a stretch for me. I'm so easily distracted or bored.
Notice also that my posts are nearing 200. I'm planning some kind of contest or giveaway. Do drop back!
These days are so filled with "responsibilities" that quilting gets shoved on the back burner. I'm in a room full of fabric, sewing machines and equipment, needles and pins, thread and patterns, and they seem to be sticking their tongues out at me.
However, I have a top done. The blocks are called shadowed squares and no triangles were cut before sewing; a rather ingenious way of making them. The border is going to be about as wide as a block with parts of the design jutting out into it. It is designed on paper and the pieces cut. Maybe this will get finished before the end of the year... at least at the rate I'm going, it could take that long.
Oh, the quilt in the photo doesn't have a name either. Any ideas? It will likely go to a project called "Quilts of Valor" for a wounded Canadian soldier.
I'm being pushed a bit though. My granddaughter is coming over this weekend to finalize her fabric choices for a Japanese quilt that she helped me design. So I need to get this one off the wall and into the "finished" pile so I can start hers!
