Falling charms finished in red and Spider-man!

Another one of my kids charity kit quilts that someone else sewed up.  There is a small mistake in the pattern in one corner, but its such a lovely quilt that I am sure nobody will mind.  

 

I had no hand in making this fabulous Spider man quilt, but wanted to show you how easy and fun kids quilts can be with a bit of homespun and a panel.  I have no idea why I need to convince you, because its me with the panel collection!! LOL I will get around to them one day!

This was a kit from my stash (still regretting the dark purple strip) using a pastel pink background and backing donated from my mothers stash, sewn by a member of our quilting group Pam, then quilted and bound by another member Denise.  I am very pleased by the result, but not this photo - it was a very dark cold winters day and the colours are not this dark.
Quilt photos are very rare at my place now as the pile of charity quilts to finish dwindles and my own sewing output is nearly zero.  I am enjoying my new job, but just not enough hours in the day to do any sewing as well.  Weekends yields a little free time that I have ended to spend in the garden when the weather was nice - I am blaming being cooped up inside non stop!
Happy quilting Sue

Falling charms done and dusted

Falling Charms (pattern by Missouri Star Quilt Co.) is finished!  I had a great sassy hot pink chevron for the back which was sublimented by a little bit of solid hot pink.  The binding was another hot pink chevron - which I think just sums up that the world is very up and down right now!

The other quilt I pinned last week is 75% quilted (no pictures) but I ran out of thread and not sourced any more yet.  Simply choose to get distracted by other projects!

Not the best photo, but an overall photo of progress to date.  I have made the orange, pink and light blue plates and sewed them down.  Just prepping more leaves and cherries while watching news which is dominated by COVID 19 restrictions.  Finally sounds like we are going to close more and more services and I dont think that is a bad thing as people were not taking it seriously.  

My normal physical activities have been cancelled (ParkRun and pilates) so I have been trying to go for a walk or run most days, to keep exercising, especially while as the autumn weather is so beautiful.  As well as just having some mindfulness time.  I now understand part of how it must feel for every person who has lived through a World War, and those who currently live in a country at war.  The future is unknown, you know that some people are not safe, you cannot go where you like, there are shortages of supplies and job losses.  I am not panicking, just trying to adjust my thinking to this new world of uncertainty and staying home.

This is an updated photo of each block (photo edited in Layout - some were taken closer then others, hence size variations) so you can see that I ended up unpicking lots of the centres and re sewing them in a more uniform style.  That included re sewing the stems as the original method I used made for a very think stem and again they were not very even.  I have also added very small circles to the green block.  The red block already had them, but I am trying to refine my method, as they are very fiddly! 
I don't have a pattern, just making it up as I go along - hence all the mistakes!  I am thinking that a vine and berry border is next.  But would like to add some pieced sashing between blocks, just not sure if I will do a checkerboard or something simpler.  Ideas anyone?
Happy quilting Sue.

Falling charms and puppy dogs tails

A good friend Lisa donated this small top and the directional print that were left over from a previous quilt she had made.  I added the side borders to make it square but we agreed a top/bottom border was necessary and there was sufficient fabric.  This photo shows me trying out cornerstone options, because I was just that bit short of fabric!  

Its all pinned now and ready to quilt, another cute* kids quilt that will be appropriate for my prefered charity.  (*prints are all dogs and cat themed)

This pattern is called Falling charms (by Missouri Star Quilt Co) and I had two charm packs that had been neglected in my stash for too long.  It is an overdue finish.  I started this months ago but the pink background fabric was a problem and the needle kept unthreading even when I put in a new needle. In the end a larger sized needle helped, but I am still throwing out the scraps of this pink homespun from Spotlight!  I was pinning the quilt ready for quilting when I realised that that red checked block was turned around....way way harder to unpick and re sew with hundreds of safety pins in the top, but I did do it!

The second charm pack has been prepped with red background pieces and is sitting ready to go as one of the kits I have prepared for two charity quilting workshops I was running in late March and April.  Two ladies had already taken kits to sew at home because they were not available to attend on the dates.  I think the other dozen kits I had made from my own and donated fabric will also be handed out to friends who want to self isolate as much as possible - plus given them some entertainment.  So its still a win win in my book!
With the COVID 19 situation worsening every day around the world and the average age of quilters in the vulnerable category I have decided to cancel my March workshop and doubt that April will go ahead.  Over last weekend and this week in Australia (well the regional corner of Victoria that I live in) people have started to panic buy at the supermarket and major and minor events are being cancelled daily.  The local netball and Aussie rules football season is about to begin (a major part of any rural community in Australia) and the start date has been postponed to May - a friend of mine tells me he is concerned about how that will impact peoples mental health, such as  die hard fans live and breath for their football.  Schools are still open, unbelievably.  For now my kids are attending but each day I question myself.  So many social commitments and volunteer activities have been cancelled already, which is people being cautious V government imposed requirements.  Friends who two weeks ago were determined to have their much anticipated overseas holiday are now saying they are happy to cancel.  I am not panicked but being very cautious and avoiding the shops.  I have been buying a little extra for a few weeks now.  Its not enough to feed us for two weeks of isolation but certainly I can help out my parents and prevent them going to the shops.  Hubby already works from home and for the first time in six months I am pleased to be unemployed!  Having said that, I fear for the thousands that may soon find themselves unemployed or their business failing.  After months of horrible bushfires and such a strong sense of community and willingness to help our fellow Australians, I do hope that people can continue to find that good will to be kind and help others. 

Happy quilting Sue.