Washing a Vintage Quilt Top & Hurricane Irma

Washed, Dried & Pressed

Isn't She a Red & White Beauty!

Hurricane Update: Like this vintage quilt top, we have been spared by Hurricane Irma. A neighbor's tree fell in our yard, and we lost palm fronds. Power came on last night, and the house is drying out from general humidity. That is nothing in comparison to the devastation south and north of us. I am so grateful to those of you who kept us in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you.

My heart truly aches for those who are trying to make sense of what has happened, and pick up the pieces. The need is so great between Harvey and Irma, but understanding the process of clean up and rebuilding is very important when you think of how you can help. This short CBS story will open your eyes to how relief efforts can actually slow the process. Thanks to my niece for sharing it with me.

7 Grid Chain Quilt: Day 2

7 Grid Chain 

Yesterday I started playing with blocks, and today it all came together. Like many of you, I work best without a pattern. If you haven't tried it, it's liberating! Just start with an idea, and keep moving forward until you arrive. Let me give you a quick walk through this quilt's process. 

The Lowly Nine Patch Goes Mod

I have a few favorite blogs I frequent,

and one is Sew Can She. I've learned so much

by reading the different tutorials, and am

excited every month when a new

Classic Quilt Block comes out. Many I've done

before, but more than a few times I've learned 

a technique that really was quite helpful.This 

month's block was the 9 Patch, and I wanted to 

link up with one I'd done to her Facebook page so 

I was entered in the contest for the month. There's 

always a free giveaway, and that's free fun.

I was brave, and cut into my Allison

Glass stash of fat quarters I'd gotten a few

months ago. One 9 patch easily turned into many 

more, and soon I had a small pile I thought would 

make a wonderful throw quilt. What I thought

would work was this, and before you look, it

 Did Not.

You know how much I like print with print, 

but this even made me a little nauseous.

So then I tried this.

It was still pretty awful. I threw in some

slate colored sheeting, and it was getting 

better. It gave the eye somewhere to rest,

but also allowed the brilliant colors to shine.

I still wasn't happy with the layout, though.

Next try here, and I thought it was cleaner,

and simplified. I could now walk away for the 

day, and look tomorrow with fresh eyes.

Coming back this morning, it still made me 

smile, so I plugged on making more 9 patches.

Some were dark/light/dark, others opposite,

and some just had a funky-cool look so I 

went with the combination.

Did I say that I'd already cut out 50 blocks

6.5" square the night before? Yes, I did! So as to 

not waste the fabric or my energy, I tried this.

Again, very simple, but wouldn't it look a

little more glamourous with a stacked coin

border around the whole perimeter?

That's two days of sewing work for me. I also

did a little gardening, and mowed everything 

from north to south. Each morning brings

something else into bloom, and it's

really pretty exciting if you're into it like

I am.

Bleeding hearts

Magnolias, and to the right a clump of

a double narcissus 'Erlicheer' that you 

can smell 20 feet away at times!

My 2 pink dogwoods will be out by

morning I'll bet, but look like fairy

trees today.

Pansies greet us at the front door now.

And look what surprised me! I had no

idea it was going to bloom after all

these years.

I hope you're enjoying spring as much as I am.

Thank you to everyone who linked up to the

Pet Project Show #16 this weekend. It runs

through midnight Monday, April 20th.

When you link up, you are automatically

entered in the drawing May 2 for the

quilted pillow. Follow the directions in the

link below for other ways to enter.

Variable Star within a Star Pillow Giveaway

Come on, Doxie Girls.

I have another idea to try.

Let's go sew.

Linking up today with~
Val's Archives
Quilt Story
Freemotion by the River
Late Night Quilter
Blossom Heart Quilts
Show and Tell Monday with Bambi
Sew Many Ways
Design Wall Mondays
Main Crush Monday
Monday Makers at Hug-a-Bit Quilts
Monday Makers

Thank you for the linking opportunity!