Design Wall Monday with Quilts of Valor

Our Quilting Guild has formed a small group of members who have voiced an interest in making Quilts of Valor.  Anita and I are the "co-chairs" of the group and our group plans to meet at least once per month to sew.  We went shopping last Saturday to choose patriotic fabrics at Stitcher's Playhouse in Smyrna, TN.  Our state-wide organization:  Tennessee Valley Quilters Association  had their annual meeting in July and challenged each of our Guilds to bring (1) QOV to each quarterly meeting.  TVQA also challenged each member to bring a QOV to next year's Assembly Day, along with a presentation case (aka pillowcase in red, white & blue).  I certainly do not want to miss next year's Assembly Day.  That will be an amazing day to see all the red, white, and blue quilts!

Friendship Stars Top made in 2016

I haven't joined in on Design Wall Monday in quite some time, and I've been missing being a part of this group.  Our Guild and my Weekly Sewing Group have been keeping me busy.  My goal this year has been to clean up my sewing room and so far I have not been doing well with that project.
Check out other Blogs at:  Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.blogspot.com

Just finished another Mini Quilt

Our Guild challenged members to join in on making Small Quilts.  Every two months, members who participated needed to bring in their finished mini quilt (quilted and bound) with a total of at least
6 different quilts by the end of the year.  The pattern was created by Lori Smith of "From my heart to your hands".  All the quilts finish at 12" x 12".  This mini quilt will be the 4th one I have completed.
Just two more to go.

Mini Quilt due in August

Design Wall Monday

It's Monday and I'm actually posting today.  I have been working on (1) 12 inch block for several days.  I had no idea it would be so involved with so many little pieces.  It was not difficult, only time consuming.

Quilt Top needs back, quilting, sleeve 2017

Our Quilt Guild offered our members a Challenge in December 2016 based on Lori Smith's Small Quilt Squares "From my heart to your hands".  She has two different patterns.  Not too long ago, I purchased a small quilt hanger, to display the little quilts throughout the year.  I had thought about using some of my Civil War prints but found I liked the brighter colors of my batiks.  Since one mini quilt will be displayed every couple of months, I chose to make the quilts in different types of fabrics.   

The quilts finish at 12" x 12".  I chose Lori's pattern; Quilt Squares #1.
So far, I have finished:
(3) quilts with sleeves, ready for hanging
(2) tops, which need backs, quilting and sleeves
(1) top needs to be started and finished prior to the end of November.

Today, I am linking up with:  Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.blogspot.com for Design Wall Monday.

My Fabric Journal

The idea of a Fabric Journal began in November 2015.  I did make the front and back covers for the journal but life and other projects arrived to take up my time, so the covers and blank pages were put away until now.  I hope to keep after it, until it is complete.  I want to include lots of ideas.  Here are the covers and a page of shirt & tie labels to show....

Front Cover of Journal

Back Cover of Journal

Page of Shirt and Tie Labels

Design Wall Monday

Yesterday, I finished making a 3rd Fidget Mat.  I'm trying to add a little something different to each one.  Here's a picture....

Fidget Mat #3

Today, I'm working on Fidget Mat #3, using a few fabrics in red, white, & blue for Memorial Day.
I've found that a little hand stitching is needed to make sure there are no loose ends that could cause
any of these objects to be removed by the patients.

I used ultra suede on my first mat and now I cannot find my ultra suede.  Actually, it's a wonder I can even find my sewing machine among all the stacks of fabric, etc.

Fidget Mat #4

Fidget Mat #4A

Since I was so busy getting my 4th mat done, I didn't catch how many mats we turned in to the Nursing Home but I'm sure that all will be appreciated and they were all so creative and colorful.

Design Wall Monday has moved to another Blog site

My Sewing Room is presently in an overwhelming disarray of clutter, papers, fabric, and too many UFO's.  I continue to enjoy my weekly Sewing Group on Tuesdays but have found that I can focus better at home to work on these projects.  We are presently working of Fidget Mats for a local nursing home.  So far, I have finished (3) Fidget Mats.

Fidget Mat #2

Fidget Mat #2 has a little book in the top center with a tiny tie on the front.  I used text fabric
for the inner pages.  This was my favorite mat so far.

Fidget Mat #3

Since we have about 30 more placemats ready for designing, there will be quite a bit more sewing to be done before we can go on to our next project.  Several people donated small stuffed animals and Chick-Fil-A donated several little black & white cows for this project.  Note, the cow in Mat#2 in the bottom right corner.
Mat #3 has a little Teddy Bear.  Everything has been securely sewn down, especially the beads and stuffed animals.  I will try to make my next post on Monday, May 29th on schedule and link it to our new Blog Site, sponsored by Judy Hanson at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.blogspot.com   

Our Sewing Group has been busy on Tuesdays

Over the last few weeks, our Sewing Group has been busy designing Adult Bibs for a local nursing home.  We brought clean used towels in to be cut and shaped into bibs.  We sewed binding around the neck, with an elastic loop sewn to one shoulder and a button sewn on the other shoulder side.  Next, came the creative part.  Each front bib was designed with appliques and some were quite elaborate.
For as many as we designed, I cannot find one picture that I took of any of them.

Yesterday, we began making Fidget Mats for the same nursing home.  We purchased large place mats and added all sorts of fabrics with different textures and colors and do-dads.  We plan to make at least 25-30 mats over the next several weeks.  This project really gets us to thinking creatively.  We do need to make sure that none of the items can be removed by the patients, so everything is being securely sewn down.  I did take a picture of the two mats that I have made.

Used several pieces of ultra suede and plaid shirt pieces

2nd Fidget Mat created

In the second Fidget Mat,  (middle of 1st row) I added a little book with a tiny tie on the outside
and several pages with text fabric and pictures.  The little cow in the lower right hand corner still needs to be sewn to the mat a little more securely.  This is a great way to use selvages.

On the back of each completed mat, we will be sewing a lightweight fleece, in hopes that the mats will stay on the patients' laps.