Scrappy String Blocks and Stash Report

This week found me playing in my strings trying to use some of my overflowing baskets of strings to make scrappy string blocks for Covered in Love.  Here is a look at a few of what I pieced and they are all in the mail to Kat and Cat in Texas.  It was fun sitting and sewing these strings, and I could have continued longer if the quantity strings were the determining factor, but other matters called.  There are still too many strings occupying space in my sewing room, so  more work is needed in this area throughout the year as an ongoing goal to use them all.  Ha, who am I kidding .... in my lifetime??  No way!

Since we have a major quilt show coming in March - Fanfare of Quilts of Bits 'n Pieces Quilt Guild, I took time to sew hanging sleeves and labels on the quilts that will be in the show, Coming Home and Celtic Solstice.  I really wanted to finish Sapphire Stars for the show, but too much was going on to make it happen.

If you are in the St. Louis area the weekend of March 17 - March 18 at Queeny Park in Ballwin, MO.  Suzanne Marshall will be our Featured Artist.  She is an internationally acclaimed quilter. You can find more information about the show at the link above. 

 

On other goals, OMG for January did not get finished-Sapphire Stars. Maybe

this month I will find time to quilt it. It has been put on the "to be quilted" pile along with 16 others. Since the rush is over to make the show, it may find itself farther back in the pile so the older ones get a chance to come out and play.

I feel badly for the ones that have been waiting soooo long. They deserve a chance to get finished too and out of the the dark closet where they are stored. They need a little attention and love after so many years waiting. and deserve to be finished, don't you think?

Sapphire Stars Mystery 

My stashbusing results from hanging sleeves and pieced string blocks with their fabric foundations resulted in a little more fabrics used this week.

Stash Report:

Added - 0

Used this week - 2.5 yds

Added YTD - none

Used YTD - 11.875 yds  

Net used in 2018 - 11.75 yds

Linking up with quilt, paint, create.

Vintage Aprons

At our Bits 'n Pieces Guild meeting last week, we had a program on "Vintage Aprons, Voices of the Past." in conjunction with our annual salad supper.  The speaker shared her knowledge of aprons and their place in history and how the particular times infuenced the style and wearing of aprons. We saw examples from the 1900s through the 1970s into the 1980's.

The fabrics used for aprons ranged from plain muslin to silks, elegant laces, linen and there were even those that were crocheted and you pinned them to your dress.   I didn't get good pictures of some of the oldest ones and a few that were downright ugly, but here are a few of the aprons we saw.

This was one of the older ones -  fine linen with beautiful hand embroidery over it.  It slipped over your head and covered the back as well.  There was a picot edge on the zig zagged bottom edge and around the neckline.   You sure wouldn't want to drip anything on this exquistely made apron. This probably would have been used for serving the meal, not for the preparation of it.

This half apron was sewn in 3 separate sections with only the rickrack between and holding each piece to the other one. It had a lovely embroidered design on the middle section that was very beautifully done by an accomplished seamtress.

This cute number had rickrack trim and an additional ruffle added to the bottom and it covered your clothing all the way to the hem.

Another darling half apron with gingham trim.  Check out the cute pocket shaped like a tea kettle.

A gingham yoke and trim with beautiful embroidered flowers, kept this lady's dress totally covered & clean--the skirt wrapped around to the back.

The lady who made this apron must have been a garmet maker.  It had as much detail as a dress or jumpter -- a big square collar (front and back) with added ruffle, scalopped hemline, cute cutouts on pockets and at the neckline, and completely it covered your dress tying in the back with a big bow.

This was a half apron made with ladies hankies and lace trim.

This maker had a good sense of humor.  She was prim and proper on the outside, but if she wanted, she could spice things up a bit.

 Here's one was made from a pair of recycled jeans with an added checked petticoat looking ruffle added to the bottom. 

Our fashion show was set to music too -- changing with the time period.  When we got to the Roaring 20's, I half expected to see the model break into dancing the Charleston.! lol

It was a very entertaining evening with lots of interesting facts and information about how aprons came to be and were used and how they changed with the thinking of the times.  The models were provided with appropriate accessories to show off their aprons.  The last two aprons were for men  and the ladies came out with mustaches and funny sayings on their aprons.  I would love to show their pictures, but I haven't cleared it with them yet, so I'll resist showing them.  You'll just have to use your imagination.

Quilts for the Troops

We had a great time this week at our Quilts of Valor meeting.  Our numbers were down a bit -- only 85 in attendance; but we have exceeded our goal of 100 quilts for our Missouri troops.  I promised more show and tell of the quilts I received from our Bits 'n Pieces Quilt Guild plus a few more.

These 3 were pieced by a group that live west of St.Louis in and around Washington, MO.

Chinese coins with brown borders & sashing

Chinese coins with blue borders & sashing

Chinese coins with red borders & sashing

Now some of you may recognize the next 3 quilts.  They were made by my new friend, Kevin, the Quilter.  He contacted me awhile back saying he would like to make some tops for QOV, and naturally I said "wonderful, we'd love them".  Well, he was good to his word.  Aren't these just beautiful??  He also made 3 pillowcases with backings and bindings for each of them.  Thank you so much Kevin!  Your quilts are great, love the bright colors and as you know, scrappy quilts are where it's at in my book!!

Made by Kevin

Made by Kevin

 

Made by Kevin

If you want to see more of Kevin's talents, check out his blog and see his cute quilt he made for the Blogger's Quilt Festival this year.  It's definitely a winner. 

This next one I had a hard time parting with.  I've always wanted to make a blue & white quilt.  Do you think they'd notice if one little quilt didn't make it?? LOL  Just teasing.  It went to the quilters too.

Made by Bernedette D

Made by Mary Lou M.

Happy stitching until next time. :)

GID Results and What's Keeping me Busy

Tomorrow (oops, it's after midnight) Today is the first day of June already.  In just 30 days we will be half way through 2013. It's going by too fast for me. Since May is over, it's now time to see how I did on my goals for May.  Here were my goals and the progress I made.

May Goals
1. Cut, piece & quilt a wedding present - did not happen
2. Make 10 more string blocks - made 6 
3. Quilt 1 QOV - actually quilted 4 QOV
4. Finish knitting scarf - made progress, but it's still on the needles
5. Make some progress on putting rows together on Easy Street.- 3 rows completed
6  Extra this month - Made 10 pillowcases for St.Louis Children's Hospital
                               Quilted 5 customer quilts
                               Made 55 yards of bindings for QOV quilts
                               Pieced 6 backings together for QOV quilts
It was very busy this month, that's for sure.  Tuesday night at my Bits 'n Pieces Quilt Guild, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of quilts turned in for QOV.  This group is so prolific and generous!  They donated 7 finished quilts and 7 pieced tops & backings.  Just take a look at some of the wonderful quilts and tops that I received this week.

From Suzanne G.

From Dusty P.

 

From Debbie S.

 

From Kris P.

From Katie F.

From Cherie V.

From Gale S.

I'll post more after I've taken more pictures.  We made our goal with some to spare for the Missouri troops returning from Afghanistan.  We've heard they are back in the states and we are anxious to find out when we can present their quilts to them.

To see how others did on their GID goals, check at Judy's here.

Stash Report with Pictures

Today has been a dreary, cold day, which was a good day for some sewing. I spent a good part of the day making bindings and piecing a backing for more QOV quilts that came in the last week of April while I was in Paducah.  I also made another pillowcase for the St.Louis Children's hospital - bringing my total to 25.

All 25 in mulitples of 5/stack

My numbers for the week:
Fabric Added - 0
Fabric Added YTD - 71.95 yds
Fabric Used - 5.5 yds
Net enhanced stash -26.99 yds.  Still trying to get to a black figure here.

My local quilt guild, Bits 'n Pieces, has just been amazing with all the tops they have made and donated.  Here are a few more for your viewing pleasure.  Sorry it's sideways.  I can't figure out how to re-orient it correctly in Blogger.

from Nancy S.

Another one from Nancy S.

Wendy R.sent 3 red, white and blue string pieced tops with all different backings and matching bindings.  Thank you so much for the extra attention to detail that you provided. It sure helps and saves me time looking for the perfect backing and binding fabric.

from Wendy R.

from Laurie S.

Laurie S. pieced, quilted and bound her quilt, so this one is ready to go.  Thanks so much Laurie.

Isn't this a cute one? Lynn will have all the guys fighting over this cute little number and it's guaranteed to keep you warm!
 

from Lynn D

You can see more stash reports at Patchwork Times.  

A Parade of Quilts

Last month at the Bits 'n Pieces Quilt Guild, I made mention of the troops from Missouri that will be returning home this summer and that we wanted to give each member of the unit a quilt.  That we would be needing 100 quilts.   During the weeks that followed, I got a couple of emails from members saying they would make a top and bring it to the next meeting.

Well at this weeks' meeting, I was shocked by the response.  Thinking that a couple people would be giving me tops, we asked for those with QOV donations to come up to show them.  It looked like half of the room stood up and came forward for show and tell!  There were 22 quilt tops and 1 finished quilt donated to QOV.  I was speechless (and that is saying a lot if you know me!)  Here are a few that were donated.

from Carol S. - used the BQ2 pattern

close up of block fabric - perfect because this is an Army unit.

from Mary W.

                               from Carol S.

from Susan C.

 

close up 

a completely finished quilt from Nancy H.
What an angel!!!

This week has kept me busy pulling backings, making bindings and pillowcases for all the tops that did not have them.  This will certainly help with my Sunday stash report.

I want to thank all the ladies that took the time and effort to make these beautiful tops and I'll share more pictures when I get time to take them.