Sampler Blocks to Quilt Top: 150 Canadian Women

This is a process post so photo intensive. It does us little good to look at a finished quilt top, and try to figure out how the quilter did it. Mine happened organically, and may not be the right way or your way, but it evolved into a quilt I both like and will use. Let me explain.

Vintage Orphan Blocks to Wall Hanging & Blocking

Vintage Orphan Blocks to Wall Hanging

A recent finish in the past weeks has made me really happy. I had these four orphan blocks for several years, and months ago put them together to form a larger piece. The original piecing was by hand and machine both, and a bit wonky. Remember everything in this era was cut with a pair of shears or scissors. The tiny squares came from a stack of precut solids, and I feel gave it a bit of a Mennonite feel. (Why Mennonite? Amish quilters didn't use prints.)

Kaffe Fasset Nine Patches and How to Quilt for Friends

Kaffe Fasset Nine Patches

&

The Continuation of Swedish Death Cleaning My Sewing Rooms

The second shoe box was about half full of 2.5" squares I'd cut to make these nine patches sometime in the past 10 years. There were about 9 done, and I think I made about 57 using all the squares up. My plan now is to add brightly colored solid setting triangles between the rows to resemble zigzags. 

I remember shopping with a friend many years ago, and she loved the Kaffe fabrics. She would enjoy these wild fabrics a lot. I'll make it my way, and hope she likes it.

Years ago I would try very hard to make quilts for people that they might specifically like, and they may even have contributed ideas. Maybe it was a specific color or theme but so often it was something just out of my wheelhouse. Not all, but many of those times I wound up not enjoying the project. I've learned to make what I like. It makes the whole thing fun if love the fabric, the style, and even the vibe. There's almost nothing worse than investing your time and effort--and money, into a project you don't love. Life is short. Quilting should be fun.

Come on, Doxie girls.

Let's go sew.

Feathered Star from Who Knows When

Feathered Star from Who Knows When

During December while bloggers were showing their Best of the Year posts, and New Year's Goals posts, and huge stacks of UFO, WIP, and all the other names for personal quilting baggage, I put my head down, and I worked like a mad quilter. The pictures I've accrued--the stuff I've uncovered and gotten done is honestly a little amazing even to me. I am Quilter on Fire! Yeah, maybe not quite that, but you folks should know I've taken myself to task. It's been harsh.

The End of Summer Log Cabin Quilt Top

End of Summer Log Cabin Quilt Top

Last summer while I walked, I took careful notice of the colors around me. In Mideast Ohio, fall depends much on what has happened rain-wise over that summer. The summer of 2025 did not have a long, dry spell like many before. I remember several recent summers I quit mowing after the Fourth of July, and didn't resume until early September. But this one was green, and the foliage delayed turning until far into October. The leaves stayed on the trees until well after Halloween, and then fell slowly. Honestly, it was a lovely fall before we slipped into winter.

The Strawberry Queen Quilt Finish

The Strawberry Queen Quilt Finish

Shortly before Christmas I finished the binding to this sweet quilt. As a matter of fact, I finished the last stitches as family arrived, and then the quilt was gifted. Nothing like last minute gifts. It has become a beloved quilt, drug from room to room, and slept with nightly. If it was a Velveteen rabbit, it would have fulfilled it's life's purpose. 

Quilting the Strawberry Queen's Quilt

Quilting the Strawberry Queen's Quilt: Christmas Present

Thanksgiving dinner was still in planning stages when I popped the Strawberry Queen's quilt on the longarm, and went to work. 

Whimsical Quilt Top Using a Panel and Scraps

Whimsical Child's Quilt Top from a Panel and Scraps

It's December with Christmas right around the corner, and the world seems to be spinning very fast. Yet we all find time to escape by sitting at our sewing machines letting our brains unwind the stress of the season. That's an ideal world, and might not be the whole truth, but I'm shooting for it.

I am working through my lists with the intent every day to find a little time to stitch something. It may not be a grand project--most are not. It's more along the line of finishing up every last thing I can see in my way. All that stuff stopping me from moving on with new things. WIP, UFO, yada yada, but it's easier to move through things than put it away never to be seen again. I have time invested, and I value my time as should we all. I'm getting things done in those few minutes of downtime when I can catch it.

Queen of the Strawberry Patch Quilt

Queen of the Strawberry Patch Quilt

I am lucky to be able to care for my granddaughter several days a week. She's (mostly) a joy! But many things in my life have shifted to accommodate my new schedule.

My garden has been somewhat neglected this year, but I kept reminding myself about priorities. We are still eating canned tomatoes from the past year when I put up 100+ quarts, and 80 quarts of beans. Because my shelves were still full, I allowed some beds to rest, some occasional weeds, and gave it minimal life support for months. But every day we would walk the gardens, check the greenhouse, water plants, touch, smell, and be barefoot in the grass. Even if it rained, we were out there. One day we just let ourselves be rained on until thoroughly wet. We watch birds, worms, the bugs and bees, and dogs running through the orchard. Today we were out quite early talking about the moonlight. I'm smiling as I remember and write this. 

Wool Birthday Crown Finish

Wool Birthday Crown Finish

How in the world did October get away, and we're a week out from Thanksgiving? Even so, I need to make this brief. The birthday crown was finished on time, and the girl wore it! Mission accomplished. It was on and off as I assumed it would be, but has turned into a wonderful dress-up accessory. She has some experience with touching wool, seeing the flowers and embroidery up close, and just maybe remembering a bit of that sweet day she turned 1.

The backing is a simple Tilda print I had in my stash, and the band is actually a piece of foldable elastic like one uses to create hair ties. The elastic allows the crown to self-adjust, and no messy, loose ribbons to tie.

One thing I did not plan for was a removable number to replace each year. Next year's crown will have the ability to grow with her. Very fun project!

Come on, Doxie girls.

Let's go sew.