Wednesday, June 19, 2019

Wrapping Smiles


Today's finishes are three little quilts for Wrap-A-Smile, which provides quilts to children undergoing Rotary-sponsored surgery. 


The first is made in a very conventional way. I used a pattern called Five Yards, which calls for (oddly enough) one yard each of five fabrics.There are two blocks that alternate and a border that I didn't add to keep the size small. I chose three transportation-themed fabrics, a solid-reading orange and a mottled yellow-green.


I put most of the leftover yardage on the back in nice, straight horizontal strips. Really. Those strips are straight! The fabrics are very cute, and the second strip down is the Vehicles for Sale section of a newspaper, so that's what I named the quilt. The quilting is simple wavy lines in bright orange thread, and orange binding finishes it up.


School Days is made with a panel plus 10 nine patches set on point. The panel features schools, a library, school buses, playgrounds and lots of kids, all surrounded by bright crayons. I had a close match to the green of the panel to set the nine patches.


For the back, I used this big piece of amphibian fabric. Frogs, turtles, salamanders, plus the bugs they eat and the word "Green." Very fun! I did simple stipple quilting on this one, and used the same orange binding as Vehicles for Sale.


Chirp, Flutter, Bloom is the final quilt, and it is made with a cheerful panel plus lotto blocks made by Sunshine Online Guild members. The panel is the center of the quilt, and is printed to look a bit like individual blocks. I added an assortment of pink, green, yellow and aqua blocks plus some striped sashing. The colors are brighter than the photos show.


The backing is this fun flamingo fabric in the same colors, and a minty green binding also has bits of pink and blue in it. Another fast stipple quilted it up and makes it cuddly. 

So there you go, three different quilts using three different piecing strategies. I enjoyed going from the symmetry of regular blocks in Vehicles for Sale to the scrappy chaos of Chirp, Flutter, Bloom with Schools Days being a little of both! I hope they each make a child smile.

23 comments:

  1. Oh my! These three quilts are beyond cute! I love how they’re all different and fresh. And so original! You amaze me with what you put together. Are you sure you’re not secretly hoarding a barge-ful of fabric somewhere?!? LOL.

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  2. Each of those quilts will definitely bring a smile to the child who receives it, they are just fabulous!

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  3. Three wonderful finishes -- the children will LOVE these.

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  4. Always enjoy seeing your quilts, but something about blocks being on point just makes them look impressive to me - great way to complement the panel. Wonderful job.

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  5. All three are darling, but I am especially taken with the pastel third one.

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  6. Three great quilts. I am especially drawn to the first one, maybe it’s the lovely pieced back, it’s a great way to use up leftovers and such a lovely touch.

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  7. You have beautiful one of a kind quilts, I am sure they will make a child smile:) Great use of the panels.

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  8. So adorable and you are so thoughtful to sew these quilts for children who are struggling. So fun to sew while on a big boat, too!

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  9. I always enjoy seeing the quilts you have made. These are all so fun and will definitely bring smiles to some little people's faces. You get a lot done in while quilting on the water!

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  10. So cute, and it sounds like you really enjoyed making each one. I'm sure the children who receive them will love them.

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  11. I love those three, precious quilts that you made for Wrap-A-Smile. My question for the day is ... how do you get your pieced backings so straight & on line? I've tried a couple of pieced ones with wonky outcomes. :(

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  12. You do such a wonderful job with panels, Louise! That seems like a great way to make a donation quilt, and especially fun for kids. I love your creative backings, too!

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  13. Oh you are SOOOO productive! Even with limited space to sew and storage for fabric you crank them out. And they are always cute too! Love reading your blog. :)

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  14. I always learn so much about how different blocks and fabrics can be combined from seeing your quilts, Louise. These will surely bring smiles.

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  15. Boy I love that green colour in school days. It's very vibrant. Thanks for sharing more of your fun and colourful quilts Louise.

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  16. more fabulous quilts coming out your boat... amazing what gets produced in there! new homes where they weill be loved...

    Hugz

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  17. Wow you are churning these quilts out, like you're churning through the canal waters I bet, ha! All so pretty happy and bright, sure to bring some joy to children in their surgery, both before and after (I would assume?) I love your backings, it's wonderful how they work so well with the fronts.

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  18. Fun, Louise! Guaranteed to put a smile on anyone's face! Love that first photo.

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  19. Sure to be treasured by the lucky child that receives them.

    Are you on the Erie canal?

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  20. Your work for charity is very inspiring. I'm sure these three sweet quilts will be well received and loved. Well done.

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  21. your three quilts are bright and cheerful. wonderful!

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  22. I have gotten out of routine for reading posts, after three or four days I lose track of whose posts I have and whose I haven't! Looks like I've missed some of yours. Wrap A Smile - what a wonderful idea for children to have these quilts for comfort during stressful times of surgery and hospital stays. You deserve a medal for these.

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  23. Everything looks as though it were made to go together. You did an amazing job. You are so generous with your time for good causes.

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