Gifting love

In the face of  recent events, quilters reach out by doing what we do.  Projects to show Boston some love & empathy have been in the works.  Quilts For Boston and To Boston With Love.  Quickly followed after the tragic events in Oklahoma, Quilts for Oklahoma or as I saw it described somewhere "Moore Love".

Boston Modern Quilt Guild began collecting blocks in blue, yellow, gray & white, to assemble into quilts that would benefit those most directly by the blast.  They hope to begin distributing these by summer.  At last count they had an astounding 1,267 blocks.  I sent a couple that I posted earlier & having been watching their blog to see their progress.  It looks like they have an amazing group of members.  Here are some photos from their blog, you can follow link above to view more.

Boston Modern Quilt Guild

BMQG

BMQG

BMQG

I was fascinated with the "To Boston With Love" flag exhibit .  Boston Museum of Fine Arts is open to the public over the Memorial Holiday with no admission charge.  The complete story of an online friendship culminating with this exhibit is on this link and certainly expands our idea of community.  1500 flags,a one mile-long outpouring of love & support from the world---all continents sent additions, except Antarctica.

Spoonflower.com photo of the tying process

Photo from During Quiet Time blogspot

Photo from Fresh Lemons blogspot

Amy Friend's photo, co-organizer of exhibit

My flag

Now quilters all over are busy making quilts for the children & families in Oklahoma, with their homes devastated by the monster Tornado that passed through in the past week.  They certainly have need of whatever help we can offer.  Their need for the most basic things, water, food, & shelter, will be on many minds.  More on this in the weeks ahead.

The important thing about this is that whenever we 'gift' quilt blocks, or a quilt, is not that we are giving just fabric, a quilt, a cover or blanket.  We are gifting a part of ourselves, giving our love, our comfort.  We may also be covering you with warmth in a practical way, but we are also covering you with the warmth of our hearts, hands & love.    It is important to me, that others understand what it is that we are giving.  If someone were to think, oh, so-and-so just gave me this quilt, not a crystal vase or a necklace, it would be such a shame. Not to mention that buying something would be SO much easier.   Quilting is a gift of the heart & soul, the ultimate in sharing for us Quilters.

Baby quilts Gifted

Back in February/March, I made three baby quilts for grandbabies of friends of mine.  I think of the 3, this one was my favorite, probably because I had been wanting to do the pattern for quite awhile.  But I love them all, and I think baby quilts are the most fun to make.  Pretty fast, small, easy, and quick gratification.  PLUS: they are for BABIES!!  Mom and Dad of this one now have two children, an adorable little boy and new baby girl.

This one I am going to enter into a Bloggers Quilt Show Blogger's Spring Quilt Show by Amy's Creative Side.
This is the first time I have entered one into this very fun virtual quilt show, and I am a newbie blogger.  But a longtime quilter...... I sure enjoyed the show over there--be sure to check it out!

The one below went to a baby born in Ireland.  LOVE this pattern.  These parents were very excited to welcome their second son.

Mom of this baby lives locally & is a teacher.  She is such a sweetie, and now proud Mom of two kids, a boy and the newest, a baby girl.

Round Robin Challenge

Detroit Area Modern Quilt Guild met last night and we shared our first round on our Round Robin challenge.

Members who wanted to participate brought a block last month.  They were put into new, clean pizza boxes, and we passed them to the person on our right, who took it home to add something to it.  We were all very excited to see what had happened to those blocks in the last month.  Unfortunately, I wasn't taking lots of photos last night, not sure they would want me to.  Plus it would destory the rhythm & excitement of the presentation.

Everyone did a great job, I think!  They were then exchanged again.  Over the summer, we will have them from June til fall to complete, a little extra time due to our summer break.  Owners can keep them circulating in the exchange as long as they want, or pull theirs out if they have a month they think they will be too busy to work on them or feel there project is big enough.

This is the block I worked on.  I started with the small square in the center of the star.  It is 'made' fabric, 4" (finished size), from some beautiful original feedsack materials from the 1920's---30's.  I LOVE those fabrics, but was concerned the quilt could take a decided 'pastel' look if not careful.  Red is currently one of my favorite go-to fabrics, so, using white background, I added wonky points to make the block into a star. 

Then I added a 'stack' of blocks in solids to the side.  Last, along the bottom I added some very small half square triangles that were leftovers from another quilt I made.  I then put those half squares next to my sewing machine & put them through as 'leaders & enders', working on them at the same time as another project.  I think they finish at 3/4".  I LOVE how it turned out, and think the owner did too.





























From the exchange, I brought home this one to work on & take back in early June.

The owner called the blue & orange center blocks 'butterflies', and the person who did the next round added some beautiful paper-pieced blocks with the light background.  I think garden is the theme.