Raggedy Quilts

I am doing another fundraiser for our local Youth Homes this year.  I joined the Run 4 Kids team and will be running a half marathon-just days before my 52nd birthday! Every year I auction a quilt, but this year I have decided to add a bit more to the pot.  I will be adding a 2nd place quilt after selling 50 $5 tickets and a 3rd place prize after selling 70 tickets.  I will also be 'selling' other items to help me get to my goal.

I don't have the main quilt done yet, although I have a really good start.  I will post more about that as I progress.

Here are the 2 consolation prizes.  The 2nd place person will be able to choose which they prefer.  I only need to clip and wash the girly one and the boy one still needs to be pieced.

 I will also be offering this one for sale.  It features a Wilderness panel and it also needs to be clipped and washed.  Here's the link to the photos on Flickr

Have a nice weekend!

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Wallet sized grocery bags

I wanted a useful, quick, easy gift to send along with birthday cards this year and I thought re-usable shopping bags would be a good idea, I know I try to use mine as much as possible, but, I always leave them in the car.  This idea is great because a gal will always have one in her purse, many of my trips are quick ones in which I only need one bag anyhow.

So, I followed this tutorial  and made this:

This is what it looks like folded up-it even fits in my small purse.  

This is just the first 'practice' one, but I think I will make several more.  What a great little 'token' gift when a card isn't enough but you don't need a big gift.

Toys for Tots

My sister and her family decided to put on a fundraising event for Toys for Tots in honor of her son who died in October.  They decided last Thursday and found a location, but the only day available before Christmas was THIS coming Saturday! ACK!  They are having a spaghetti feed and they put out a request for items to sell in a little Christmas store with the proceeds going to Toys for Tots.  Therefore, both of my auction quilts (for the postponed auction) were sent to MN, as were these wall hangings:

I used this pattern for "Joy" banners, except I didn't piece the border.  I really like them like this-and it makes them really quick to whip up.

I also sent 18 packages of pretzel turtles and white chocolate covered pretzels.  I forgot to take a picture before I sent them off.  I did have a 'chocolate headache' a few times this week as I ate the broken ones or the ones that didn't turn out, as well as the left over chocolate.   I may not eat chocolate for at least another week!

I found this fleece Santa panel that I purchased several years ago.  I wasn't sure if I should make it in to a blanket or a wall hanging.  In the end I put a backing on it and added two 'hangers' to the back and called it a wall hanging.  If someone wanted to they could still use it as a blanket-it's small but would be fine for a young child.  I forgot to measure it before I sent it but I think it measured about 33"x45".  I love the bird backing.

I also got a little Christmas sewing of my own done.  I made a blanket/pillow combo for one of my great-nieces-I saw this lady bug fleece and just HAD to buy some.  I think a little 4 year old in MN is going to be very happy!

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More Charity Sewing

I made a second rag-time quilt for a fundraiser this weekend.  Unfortunately it has been delayed again, due to the sudden death of another community member-only 35 years old.  The 2 families are quite close so those in charge of the fundraiser are otherwise occupied.  2012 has been quite a difficult year, so many young people with major health issues or who have passed.

I wasn't too sure about my fabric choices with this one, but now that it has been clipped and washed I really like it.  The animal print, pine cone print and orange are all Cabin Fever I love these rag-time quilts, so heavy and warm.  The first one I did I used batting in each square, this one I used a piece of flannel, the same size as the square.  I REALLY like it this way.  It makes it so much easier to piece the squares together as you don't have to worry about the batting peeking out and it really does make it look more 'plush'.

It's sideways and I don't have very good lighting so you will have to take my word for it that it really is nice. 

Here is a picture of the first one all clipped, washed and dried.

They measure about 56X72"-7 squares across and 9 down-perfect for curling up on the couch on these cold winter nights.

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Winter Flannel

My winter flannel quilt is quilted and bound!  and I LOVE it!  I purchased 2 different grey pieces to use as binding but neither really worked.  My cousin suggested solid black, and I really like it.  This one is going to live here, as our second quilt for these cold winter nights.

Host Gift

I went to my BIL's for Thanksgiving-it was very nice and relaxed.  They insisted I not bring anything so I picked up some GOOD beer (not lite) and brought this  little wall hanging for him and his girlfriend-she loves homemade!  I'm thinking of making a few of these for Christmas gifts.  In the future I will quilt more and I think I've finally learned how to do mitered corners.  Even though I have read many tutorials it just never clicked, but this one finally did! I can't seem to find that tutorial now, darn-but this one is pretty good too. So hopefully the next one will be better.  This is cute JoAnn tropical Santa fabric.  I also learned how to do applique, which I've never done before.  Poor K&A got my practice piece, I will have to bring them something nicer for Christmas.  I got this free pattern here.  You may need to sign up but they have some nice patterns-and they're free!  I didn't do the patchwork, I just cut strips to the correct size as I wanted to use the Santa fabric.

                                               

I also made this wall hanging and pillow for my sister's birthday next week.  I did much better on the applique on this wall hanging and I was quite pleased with my binding.  It says "Welcome to the Trabin".  They have a trailer up at a lake and they call it the trabin.  The letters blend in too much but I think she will like it anyhow.  Hmmm...I had the flash on but the pictures are dark.  This panel is from "Cabin Fever", I love that line.  This duo is packed up and on it's way to MN!

                                          

Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving!  Time to get going on Christmas sewing-only 1 month left!
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Sewing for Charity

I made this rag-time quilt for an auction to raise funds for a local woman who has had a stroke.  The auction has been postponed so I didn't race to clip it and wash it, but the sewing is all done.  It's 2 snowmen prints and 2 solids.  It was nice to do a bit of piecing after all those fleece blankets and pillows.

                           

I also finished up a quick fleece pillow and blanket for my sister-in-law's birthday in December.  She loves birdhouses and I immediately thought of her when I saw this fabric.

Linking up to Crazy Mom Quilts Finish it up Friday.