Since I quilt to keep myself busy I find that from time to time I make a quilt that doesn’t have a home.  Anytime that happens I have been gifting them one at a time to the ladies and young men at the vet clinic where I work.   After I have finished those I will start storing them again for giving out in winter months to the homeless or less fortunate.  It makes me feel like I am not making unwanted quilts with no homes to go to.  HAHA

This quilt started out as a regular 4 patch posey.  Once I made the blocks, it seemed like they didn’t look a lot different than the original fabric so they needed something.  I decided to change them into a square in a square and add some solids.  The yellow was a bold color choice but I am so glad I decided to use it.  I really love how it turned out and I think Jessica likes it also.   (The back is the same sold yellow).

I made that floral 4 patch posey that I fell in love with and few months back and had planned to keep, then I donated it to the church ladies luncheon.  After countless hours searching, I was able to find more of the fabric even though it was discontinued.   I am so glad I was able to find and that I decided to buy the entire 10 yards she had left.   Here is why.

Once I finished the new quilt, I showed it to one of the ladies in my monthly quilt group and she fell in love.  We both know I wanted to gift it to her, so I did.   So while I really wanted to keep it, she will get more joy out of it than I ever will.   And, if I cut carefully, I have enough to likely make me another one to keep.   So nice to be able to bless someone and still make one for myself.

Here is the one going to Sheryl.   Each one is a little different so no one had a duplicate.  This differs in the orange striped cornerstones and the small polka dot inner border.

Sorry about the back pictures but I don’t have anywhere to hang them so Shannon holds them up best she can.  I realized my stack of quilts waiting to be basted was getting out of hand so I took a break from piecing and planning, and started basting the ones I had backing for.   I hadn’t realized I have 9 or 10 waiting to be finished but I finally got one done.

I bought this fabric in Marietta Ohio the first year I went to meet Jill and Mark.  There was a little shop I noticed by accident as I was heading home.   I don’t actually recall the name of it.  Very nice shop and turned out Jill actually knew the owner.  Unfortunately they apparently closed up this past month.

This was washed last night and is on it’s way today to be delivered to Shannon’s boss, Cindy.  Whenever one doesn’t have a home I pick one of the the people she works with and bless them with it.  I think I’m about half way thru the employees.

I love my dogs but let’s be honest, they are crazy.  I spent the day trying to get the new covers on the chairs and sofa because they wallow.  They spent the day acting like circus monkeys.  Argus couldn’t get himself and his barking under control so had to have some time outs throughout the day.  When it comes to time outs, Baby Dog runs and hides.

I spent Sunday pinning quilt tops so I can get them quilted before the pile is huge.  Ok it’s kinda huge already, but I made a dent in it.  I had 10 to get done and was able to get 6 of those pinned and ready to quilt and bind before the batting roll ran out.

I finished off my roll of batting and before I could order another one, I get a message from Jill that I have a package arriving from her and Mark this week.   Guess what – it’s a HUGE roll of warm and natural batting.  Enough for at least a dozen quilts.  She also sent me some pretty fabrics for my dog trainer and these crazy pens.    I love those 2 nuts.

4th of July is what happens when I can’t get motivated to sew but I can’t stand doing nothing.   I ended up making desserts and dinner items.  Not including dinner we ended up with a great selection of home made goodies.  Deviled eggs, glazed lemon pound cake, molasses and bran muffins and a home made key lime pie.   I had forgotten how long it takes to squeeze all those tiny little limes by hand.   I can’t even remember what I made for dinner.

As you know my life basically involves working, quilting and the pups so there isn’t much to blog about except those thing and let’s be honest, no one wants to hear about accounting so it’s usually quilting.

So what’s next? Who knows.  I finished up a couple of tops but they aren’t quilted yet so no pictures.   I did spent Saturday cleaning and oiling all my machines.  Even got time to check out the one Sue gave me on the trip to Michigan.

A 1923 Singer 123.  You can’t beat these old machines.  Almost 100 years old and still sews a beautiful seam. 

I think this is the second largest quilt I’ve ever made.  Measures 96 x 96 and I love how it came out.  While I have struggled with making log cabin blocks, 240 blocks later I should know how to make them perfectly.   It’s hard to see it the photos but the border blocks are 4 shades of sage green.

I have only had one quilt professionally quilted before but I did finally decide to have this one done.  I am so thrilled with how it turned out.  Patti that quilted it did an absolutely amazing job.

Erin’s wedding is not till December but she just bought her first house so I decided to make it a wedding/housewarming gift and delivered it today.  They certainly loved it.  Turns out her soon to be husband as he put it, “absolutely loves quilts”.  I guess they must because her mom got 8 test messages saying she loved it, it was beautiful, etc.  It makes your heart happy when someone appreciates a quilt that much.   They left here headed home to put it on the bed.   I hope it brings them years of use.

I didn’t have any place big enough to lay it out for photos, especially with the dogs, but Patti sent me these photos.  I took one of it folded so it includes the binding.  So glad I decided on the stripe.