Showing posts with label payitforward. Show all posts
Showing posts with label payitforward. Show all posts

Sunday, January 3, 2021

A SEASON OF HANDMADE GIFTING

2020 was not a year of happiness.
We all struggled to find ways to stay sane.
I looked for ways to make others happy.
I decided to go thru my handmade items and give some away.
There is no magic number to decide who gets one of my treasures.
..they have somehow touched my life in a good way.

Most of these items were left on the doorstep of the
recipients with a note, Made by Mrs. Claus.
She is one happy lady when she gets to sneak around
and pay it forward!

I made quilts for 2 little guys, children of a social worker
who helped my sister find a new happy life in 2020.
Meet Caleb 3, and Joey 6




My best friend Shirley, has battled Breast Cancer all year.
She is a quilter, loves Christmas Trees and commented on social media
how much she LOVED this Modern Tree Blocks quilt.


Of course, I sent it to her just before her mastectomy.
It has kept her warm during her chemo infusions.
I am thrilled to say, after this treatment...
her tests show she is free of all cancer cells.

My Grandson, Deavaughn, graduated high school in 2020
Sew I made him a quilt.


He loved it !


My niece, Brenda Mahr, received this fun quilt I made many years ago.
She has 6 grandkids and I thought this was the perfect "picnic quilt"


Brenda is happy she now has one of my quilts.


Another niece, Lisa Smith, received a nice size lap quilt.
Another older quilt full of batiks in autumn colors.


Linda Mash, a friend from skiing to Buckeye Football to 
a love of beautiful gardens, with years of fun and a laughter.
I thought this table topper of cardinals was perfect for her.
She has a red bird Christmas tree and these
birds have flown around my house for years.


Look where they landed... on Linda's table.


Connie Emerson, another gardening friend has supported
my art over the years by commissioned quilts and cards from me.
This One Block Wonder quilt reflects colors she loves.
A Holiday print called A Partridge in a Pear Tree
a kaleidoscope of wonder.


Again, tables are a perfect place to display a lovely quilt.
Connie knows just the right way to make all things beautiful.


Another gardening and Outlander friend, Cherie Kaye
was very happy to receive this table runner, Gift Wrapped.


Fits her kitchen island and covered by lots of food!


Another gardening friend from Inniswood, Nancy Freeland
received a project bag.  Her work with penny rug wools is amazing.


I have lots of knitted scarves that I don't wear.
Some of those were gifted in 2020 as well.

This pretty blue and gray cowl went to my niece, Melissa Gordon.


One of my good card making friends, Vikki Almos,  received
"Letters From Russia"


Mary Jo Perry, an Inniswood Volunteer with me, 
and a BUCKEYE fan will enjoy this gray HITCHIKER scarf


This scarf called Pretty Basic was gifted to my
Step-Daughter, Tamie Gordon


This autumn color Brickless scarf was gifted to 
my RED HAIRED hairdresser, Trish Henderson


This scarf now graces the neck of my Granddaughter, Ashleigh


And of course lots of cookie tins went out my front door to family and friends.
I also sent cookie recipe books so they can begin their own cookie baking traditions.


I hope your holiday season was filled with gratitude and gifting.
Mine sure was!

Here's to 2021 with lots of decisions of what to give away next!


Tuesday, January 29, 2019

POOLSIDE...soon!

The Poolside Tote by Noodlehead is probably my favorite tote bag.
I use soft and stable interfacing so it stands at attention.
No squatting allowed.

This llama fabric  had to become a bag!
The black fabric was buried in my stash
Perfect for pocket and straps.

I made this bag and gifted it to a friend for her 70th birthday.


The mustard/gold GRUNGE is great for the lining.


and before I know it...sewing begins.


I add key fobs to almost all my bags.



Back



I have this poolside tote...but it never sees the pool either!



Sew...whose ready for summer and the pool?
ME!  I am heading to Siesta Key, FL as you read this.
A 2 week, Thelma and Louise adventure, plus one more girlfriend.
I just might have one of these by the POOL!


Wednesday, July 4, 2018

HE'S A YANKEE DOODLE DANDEE!

I have a Yankee Doodle Dandee who lives next door
to me and my front porch!


A perfect neighbor born on the 4th of July!

He lets the neighbor borrow his power washer,
his mower, he snow blows our drives,
He looks after our homes when we are away
be it a week or 3 months. 


I decided to make him a quilt to thank him
for all his does for my family...
and to help celebrate his birthday!

I found these "Freedom" charm packs by Moda
in my stash along with the solid cream fabric. 


I selected the free pattern from 
 the Fat Quarter Shop
Charm Pack Cherry quilt pattern



It wasn't quite big enough to suite me...
so I added a 3" border all around.
Then the top and bottom got a 5" border 
with more charms and cream fabric.


"Peas and Carrots" by American Jane...
that was perfect for the backing.
ahhh...this has been in my stash for about 10 years.


This is a very quick quilt to make...
and you can adjust to a size you need
by adding or removing charms.


I did a simple meander with a few stars to FMQ it.
And check out the label...
"TBDNITL"
stands for "The Best Damn Neighbor In the Land"
it's an Ohio State thing...



The end result...a very masculine
red-white-blue birthday quilt!


for a Yankee Doodle Dandee kinda guy!




Happy 4th of July America!
Happy Birthday Mark Wilson!









Wednesday, March 21, 2018

CENTRAL OH MQG CHALLENGES

I am a member of the Central Ohio MQG.  
A very busy group of wonderful quilters, sewists 
and creative spirits.

I am wintering at the beach, but wanted to be involved in our
2018 Color Challenge and the 2018 Charity event.
No problem, they mailed me the two color swatches...
Pantone Ultra Violet and Kona Tiger Lily.  
After a quick stop at a LQS I found these coordinating fabrics!




I really wasn't sure what I wanted to make...
sew as usual, I waited.

THEN
COMQG announced the Charity effort for 2018
Place mats for "Meals on Wheels" charity

My own mother received meals from this group
for many years...into her 90s so she could maintain
her independence and dignity! Needless to say
a very special place in my heart for this effort.

I had an ahh-haaaa moment!
Use the color challenge fabrics for the place mat.

I began buy making some HST using the technique
to make 8 HST at once.
Just google it.  There are many videos and tutorials!

Sew it starts like this...
The Tiger Lilly and Ultra Violet 6" squares
are placed RST, mark diagonal lines, and sew 1/4" 
on each sides of those diagonal lines. 


and they end like this...
squared them up using my BlocLoc Ruler


I made a pinwheel, using 4 of the HST
  added fabric to the top and bottom of that unit to make
the first strip for the place mat.


The orange and white would be the back of the place mat


Pieced together some batting, that was on hand.
(remember I am at the beach with limited supplies)
And then the fun began for a Quilt as You Go (QAYG) place mat.

My QAYG tutorial is here for a fun wonky place mat.

I added the first pieced strip, right side up (RSU)



Keep placing strips right sides together (RST) and sew 1/4" seams




I like to press each seam as it is sewn.
You can see here I am alternating my prints.




When all strips are sewn...
it's time to trim and square it up.




Still needs a little more squaring up.
When one does not have a larger surface to trim...
it can be a challenge to square up.




Here's a close up of the back..
the piece is quilted because of the QAYG technique



and now its all completed



Sew this was fun!
I met the requirements for two challenges with one project!
And the best part...I can, once again, pay it forward!