I'm Back!!!!

I'm back!  I didn't mean to take such a long break from blogging, but life happens...
I had all intentions of getting back to posting - in fact at the end of every month, I told myself, "at the beginning of next month, I'm going to begin blogging again," and finally it worked!

This year, the guilds that I belong to elected amazing activities people!  There are so many projects going on that it's hard to keep up (but I'm managing for the most part) - not to mention the interesting programs and fun instructional workshops being planned!  I thought that for my first post back, I'd give a few details on what I'm working on for guilds over the next few month:

Heartland Quilter's Guild:

• Veteran's Star Block collection (for a charity sew for Wounded Warriors) - these are great blocks to make a a group projects since the star points are far from the edge of the block, therefore, if some of the blocks collected are just "a little bit off," no points will be lost in the top assembly process!

Veteran's Star Block Wounded Warrior Quilt

• Hopscotch Block collection (for a charity sew for Soldier Babies/Children's/Preemie Quilts) - another fun and simple block that is great for a group project!

Hopscotch Block Baby Quilt

• Hobo Quilt blocks BOM - a few months ago, Debra Henninger, author of Hobo Quilts, gave a presentation to our guild about hobo history and the symbolism of the blocks in her quilts.  So many people purchased books that night that the projects chair decided to challenge us to actually use it (you know, instead of letting is collect dust on the shelf).  We are tasked to complete 5 blocks each month (and they are so addictive that I've already made blocks 1-16...sshhh.....).  I'm using old worn flannel shirt parts (super starched to reduce stretch) and background scraps/FQs that I would use in my civil war quilts - shopping the stash for this quilt!

Hobo Quilt (blocks 1-5)

• Chairman's Challenge: "In My Garden" - no idea where I'm going with this theme yet (not really sure if I'm going to participate in this one - time will tell, it's still a very long time off). 

Ties, Needles & Threads Crafter's Guild:

• Spin-The-Wheel challenge - this was a really fun idea!  Each guild member had the chance to spin a big wheel for an assigned project (zippered item, finished quilts block, mug rug, purse, placemat, pin cushion, etc.).  Once everyone had their challenge project, a twist was thrown in...each person had to draw the name of another guild member from a basket and make the project for that person!  Mine's all done - but I can't show you yet...it's not due until October and I want to surprise my buddy!  TOP SECRET!

• UFO challenge - another fun idea!  Pay $1/UFO (up to 5 UFOs) into the pot.  For each UFO finished, you get a chance to win the pot!  The UFOs are to be completely finished (to include quilting, binding and label) by January 2017.  Mine are all done as of last month!  Woohoo!  I'll show them to you over the next few weeks:
1. Buttermilk Basin BOM
2. 4-Patch Revisited
3. Bargello Americana
4. Granny Square Bonus Quilt
5. Elizabeth's Prairie Garden (PWSC)

• Look Kevin, I Can Do Scrappy! BOM - a mystery quilt originally designed by Ann McNew of Attic Threads.  We're doing it as a 6-month step-by-step block of the month program.  So far, I've chosen a jelly roll I'm going to begin with (that's not saying much - but this month is all cutting directions - I'll get there).

• President's Challenge: "I Like Stars" - I've got a couple ideas swimming around for this challenge.  Not sure which one I'll actually commit to, though (I've got time - it's not due until next spring).

Well, that about sums up my guild's projects, but we have so many fun programs and workshops coming up (and past) that I'd like to participate in, too, that it's going to be a very quilty year!  Who can resist jumping in on things like Pineapple Plaid w/Mickey Depre (this month!), Pineapple Nine Patch from Geometric Gems (a few months ago - not started yet), and Road to St. Louis (last year - not started yet)???

I'd love to hear what fun things your guild is doing or some of the most memorable things you've done in the past!  If you don't belong to a guild or sewing group, what projects are you feeling excited about working on?  Leave me a comment below and let me know!

For fun stuff happening today in the blog-o-sphere, check out the link-ups on my sidebar!

Wounded Warrior Quilts

It's time again to share some quilts The Pedal Pushers of the St. Louis Metro area of IL are sending down to the Wounded Warriors at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO.

This quilt top was donated by Susan.  She had these blocks from a shop hop several years ago and never did anything with them.  She decided it was time and whipped up the top to donate to the Wounded Warriors.  What a great idea - it's perfect!  Thanks Susan!

This quilt top was a Pedal Pushers group effort.  We collect 12" blocks each month and when we have enough, we make a quilt top.  It was my turn to assemble a top this time, but instead of adding sashings, I added an thin inner border and a nice big chunky outer border!  Something a bit different than what we usually do - and probably a bit faster, too! 

This is the fun backing that was donated by Susan for both quilts - it was an extra wide back and that's so nice to work with instead of piecing fabric together.  I quilted both quilts with stars and loops (Susan's) and a large meander (mine) - and I finally got brave enough to do a deco stitch machine binding - usually I tack the back by hand!

We're always looking for more blocks/backings to add to our quilts for Wounded Warriors and Soldier Babies.  If you have any orphan blocks laying around that you'd like to donate, just let me know...we'd love to work them in to our donation quilts!!!

For fun stuff happening today in the blog-o-sphere, check out the link-ups on my sidebar!

A Quilt for Charity

I just finished up hand stitching the binding for this little table topper quilt.  It's being sent off to my mom for a silent auction for charity.  All of the little pinwheel pieces, cornerstones and gold border came out of my scrap basket (some of the units were even already pieced)!

 I quilted it up with a little feathery panto and a taupe thread...sweet even though it's quite dark (and pretty masculine, I guess, because my husband said he'd keep it)!

Linking up to Scrap Basket & Slow Stitching Sunday!

Grow Your Blog 2015 & Giveaway!

~A blog post especially for Grow Your Blog 2015~

Hello, and welcome to my blog!  My name is Heather, and I live in the St. Louis Metro area of Illinois, USA!  I've been happily married, a proud (recently retired) Army wife for 21 years and the mother of 2 wonderful college students!  I spend the majority of my days piecing, longarm quilting, and chasing after our 2 dogs, Suki (a 7 year old hound mix) and Baylee (1 year old Beagle).  I also scrapbook, cross-stitch, embroider (sometimes) and have begun to dabble in crochet (but I'm not so sure I'm hooked, haha)!

Grand Illusion (Quiltville Mystery)

If you check out my archives (left sidebar), you can see that I've been blogging since 2008, though I've stepped up posting in the last few years to several times/week.  Why do I blog?  Well, originally, it was to keep in contact with friends and family (as we made our military moves around the world), sharing our travels and my quilting & scrapbooking projects.  Now, I blog more for me, to keep a record of my quilting, and also as a way to continue to share my projects with friends and fellow bloggers.

Women of the Bible (Hoppin' Bobbin Quilt Along)

I've become a more active blogger, due in part, to the various online Quilt Alongs, Linky Parties, and other Just For Fun things going on in the blog-o-sphere.  Check out my right sidebar to see what I'll be participating in for 2015.  Maybe there's something there that will catch your eye and you can jump in, too!  I've often found new groups by doing the very same thing...linking from another blogger's page!  Oh, and many of the fun things I've joined in the past are also shown at the bottom of my page.

Spools (RSC 2015)

Often, I use my quilty powers for good and donate several patriotic quilts a year to a wounded warrior unit in Missouri.  I also donate baby quilts to an Army hospital neonatal center and pillowcases and quilts to a shelter for abused women & children.  I've recently gotten a few ladies, locally, interested in helping me in this endeavor by making blocks for the quilts and it's so nice to have a group joining together in the name of helping others!

Wounded Warrior Quilt (group project, donated)

Well, I guess that's enough about me for now, so now... onto the "quilty" giveaway (hint, hint)!  One winner will be drawn via random number generator on February 15th and here's how it works:
(1)  This giveaway is open to all (international friends are very welcome)!  Just leave me a comment below and you're automatically entered!  Don't forget to leave your email address if you are indeed a "no-reply blogger" so that I can contact you if you win.  Need a prompt?  I'd love to hear about some of the bloggy groups you participate in (Quilt Alongs, Linky Parties, etc.)!
(2)  If you decide to follow me, or if you are already a follower, you may have another entry by leaving a second comment telling me what method you use to follow my blog!

Good luck, everyone!  

Baby Quilt (donated to GLWACH Army Hospital)

I know all of you are busy visiting as many new blogs as possible, but I'd love to invite you to come back and visit me here again soon!  Thanks you for stopping by!  Happy blog hoppin'!

Finishes for Wounded Warriors!

This week I made another trip to MO to drop off a couple of quilts for wounded warriors (and to have my Bernina 820 serviced and to do a bit of fabric shopping and to drop in on my old sew day group...).  This one is a smaller version of Charming Stars.

Charming Stars (WW quilt)

I did quick meander quilting all over the quilt with a freeform star in each star center. The backing is a brushed cotton that I got a few weeks ago for $2.00/yard (yes, I bought the entire bolt so I'll probably be backing several WW quilts with this soft fabric).  I even used the brushed cotton on the binding and tried out machine binding once more...it's ok, but I really prefer a hand tacked binding.

Charming Stars (back/quilting)

You've probably already noticed how wavy this quilt looks, well, that's due to the 4 oz. poly batting that is inside of it.  I had so much batting left over from Kayla's quilt (she loves puffy fluffy batting?!?!), that I needed a place to use it.  That poly takes up a ton of space to store, so I was happy to use it up! 

Irish Chain Variation (WW quilt)

The Irish Chain Variation was a group effort from a new group of ladies I've met since moving to IL called Quilt Ladies.  We have begun to suggest an idea for a quilt each month and each person will make a block or 2 before the next month.  Then one of the ladies assembles everything and I have volunteered to do the quilting!

Irish Chain Variation (back/quilting(

Again, I just did quick and simple meander quilting (often my go-to for charity quilts), then I backed and bound it with this multicolored star quilt that I was given with this quilt top.  I think it came out really nice considering it is very different from the original design that was suggested!

January WW Quilt Blocks

This month we decided to each bring one or two of our favorite blocks in patriotic colors.  My friend Debbie and I pieced these together while I was in MO (I cut, she pieced).  These blocks will become a part of a sampler quilt which is always fun to do.  I can't wait to see what setting this month's flimsy assembler decides to use!

Linking up to A Lovely Year of Finishes, 2015 Finish A-long, Whoop Whoop and Link-A-Finish Fridays.

2014 Quilting Summary

So just for fun, I decided to go back and see what progress I had made in 2014 and create a summary for the year.  I am quite happy with the number of my actual project completions!  Please take a look and tell me what you think!

11 Charity Quilts...

8 Army Baby & 3 Wounded Warrior Quilts

12 Quilty Gifts...

3 Play Pillows, 2 Wedding Quilts, 4 Mug Rugs & 3 Army Decor

 17 UFO Quilts (for me :)...

If you would like to see the goals I set for myself in 2014 (aside from January...let's just say I guess I got a late start?!?), please check my left sidebar.  Most are linked back from my finishes posts, but if not, there will generally be a goal post at the beginning each month (ex. December UFO Goals).  And here are all of my finishes posts:
January UFO Finish
February UFO Finish
March UFO Finish
April UFO Finish
May UFO Finish
June UFO Finish
July UFO Finish
August UFO Finish
September UFO Finish
October UFO Finish
November UFO Finish
December UFO Finish

Linking up to A Lovely Year of Finishes!

Friday UFO Finishes!!!

Woohoo!  I've got several finishes to report today...and my November UFOs are done.  Just in time, too, because I'm headed to MO tomorrow to drop them off when I go to help out with the Gone to Pieces Quilt Guild Quilt Show in St. Robert!!!  Can't wait!

 Three finishes, and all three will be donated...

The baby quilt began with just 5 blocks.  I split one of the blocks and used two parts to create another block with 4-patches and a final block with 9-patches, thus making a lovely 6 block baby quilt.  This one is backed with the same pink polka dot fabric as in the borders and sashing.  It will go to welcome a brand new baby of a soldier at Ft. Leonard Wood!

I loved these blocks as soon as I saw them!  They are 14" and made up a beautiful quilt!  I didn't even think it needed a border being that each block was already bordered itself.  I just set them all together and backed it with an adorable neutral toile print and bound it in gold.  This quilt will go to a wounded warrior (or family of a fallen soldier) around Ft. Leonard Wood.

Last, but not least, is this cute Christmas sampler.  The blocks were rather "old fashioned" looking, but I really think this brighter green jazzed them up a bit.  I only had 8 block to begin with, so I dug out some "deep stash" Christmas fabrics and whipped up the card trick block in the upper left then sashed, bordered, backed and bound everything in the cheery green print.  This quilt will probably be gifted as a wheelchair quilt for a veteran just in time for the holidays!

Linking up to Let's Make Baby Quilts, Finish It Up Friday, Link-A-Finish Friday, & Can I Get A Whoop Whoop?, A Lovely Year of Finishes, & 52 Quilts!

November UFO Goals

Here's what's on my design wall right now.  I pulled out all of these donated block sets to see if I could finish them up this month for charity.  So, that's my November goal...3 quilts for charity!

First, is this set of OLD Christmas sampler blocks.  I haven't seen fabrics like these for a long time!  I'm sure I have some scraps in the deep stash that can work with them to whip up just one more block and then I'll probably just add some very simple sashing.  I may add a border, too, to hold it all in and make a nice size lap quilt.

Next up is this set of cuties...I think with a bit of added rosey pink, they might make a sweet baby quilt, so my plan is to split up the 4-patch snail trail block on the bottom and make two blocks out of it, pairing the snail trails with alternate rose-colored blocks.  Six blocks will make a good baby quilt with sashing and a small border.

 My last UFO will be this beauty...I can't imagine why someone wanted to donate these blocks because they are just gorgeous!!!  It looks like this on may have been a civil war repro block of the month.  There are 12 blocks and each is already framed, so I'll probably set them right next to each other as is and add a border.  This one will make a really nice quilt for a fallen soldier's family!

Linking up to A Lovely Year of Finishes!

February UFOs are DONE!

This month's UFO project began with these heart blocks (I tell you all about them in this post at the beginning of the month):

Those blocks became these four tops by mid-month (and I tell you more about that process here):

And now, finally, all of those individual heart blocks have found their homes in these 4 baby quilts that are set to be donated to 4 little newborns at Ft. Leonard Wood hospital!  Here they are...all finished:

Pink & yellow hearts is backed and bound with the same floral as in the sashings.  I quilted it with a simple freehand meander.

Blue hearts have a large gingham backing in blue and the same floral binding as the quilt above (which is repeated from the border cornerstones).  It is also quilted with a freehand meander.

Green & purple hearts also have a large gingham backing and binding (this time in purple).  I played around with freehand quilting a bit on this one by echoing the heart shapes inside of them and puddling in the neutral backgrounds.  I added a little curly doodled line in the sashings.  This was my first attempt at all three techniques and I'm pretty happy with the results, though far from perfect.  Then I wussed out and meandered the borders...((insert embarrassed grin here)).

Finally, the leftover hearts got pieced together with these patterned blocks to create a vintagey feeling quilt.  I am really happy with the color result after adding a backing and binding in the same fabric as is in the borders.  I wanted to practice a few more quilting techniques on these blocks, too, but in the interest of time, I resorted back to that same freehand meander.  I don't think the babies (or their parents) are gonna mind too much, but these donation quilts are a great place to practice new techniques!

Okay, so that's that...February UFO, check!  They are ready to go to MO with me in March!

Linking up to A Lovely Year of Finishes, Let's Make Baby Quilts, Sew Darn Crafty, and Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?  Wheeeew...FUN!!!!

Mid-Month UFO Check In

This month, I chose to work on those "vintage" hearts that have been sitting around in a baggie in my cabinet for YEARS.  I wrote about them in this post a couple of weeks ago.  I'm no longer really attached to these blocks (thank goodness), so I've decided that they were going to get worked up into a couple of charity quilts...or three...or FOUR!

I started by sorting the block colors and designs.  These pink and yellow hearts seemed to just want to play together, so they went together with a small floral lattice with purple cornerstones.  The backing and probably the binding will be the same floral as the lattice.

Next came the sagey seafoam green family of blocks.  The pink sashing fabric has tiny little purple flowers and seafoamy leaves, so it seemed to work.  This one will be backed and bound (probably) with that purple check.

The blue hearts seemed like a no brainer.  I love a gingham and this tiny blue one was just too cute with the blocks...then I ran out...so I added in a bit of that small floral from the first quilt in the four corners.  This one will be backed with the larger blue check, but I haven't decided on a binding...blue, perhaps?

And then there were the leftover blocks...that just got sewn together with three different patterned blocks and bordered in a purple/green/gold diamond print.  The cornerstones are from the same line of fabric in more of a fleur de lis print.  The backing will be the fleur de lis stripe and this one doesn't have a designated binding yet either.  If there's still enough of the backing to cut off, I'll probably make the binding from that.

So...a pile of blocks, four baby/crib sized quilts to donate to the newborns of soldiers at Ft. Leonard Wood.  It's so nice for the new parents, especially for those that are stationed so far from home when their babies are born.

Now, off to get them quilted so that I can take them to MO with me in March!
Linking up to A Lovely Year of Finishes and Let's Make Baby Quilts, and Sew Darn Crafty.