I've been a little light blogging this week -- for many reasons actually -- but one is that Bea has a new habit of not only going to bed at the same time as me but getting up at the same time as me. This makes for little free time and little grumpiness (on my part.) But, another reason is I was cranking on this quilt -- trying to get it done for the meeting tomorrow.
Besides making quilts, I've been helping the Linus Connection out another way over the past months. I pick up odds-and-end scrap pieces at the meetings (like pieces that are less than a 1/2 yard or cut into for making dresses, etc.) and iron and cut these into 3.5 and/or 6.5 inch squares. Then, often supplementing with some fabrics from my much-too-big stash, I put the fabrics into "kits." I then bring the kits to the meeting so other people can use them to make quilts. Some of the ladies don't have rotary cutters but love to quilt so this helps them out. And, I was shocked to discover, some of the ladies don't like putting the fabrics together -- making the decisions with color/pattern etc. -- they just want to pick up a kit and sew. ACK! That is SO the fun part for me -- feeling the fabrics, hemming and hawing over the color values.... It's all work after that, isn't it? Well - not really, but you know what I mean. Well, it takes all types to make the world turn. Here are a couple of the kits - with Jodl investigating the photo subjects as always.
Anyway!! I had lots of leftover strips of fabric after making these kits and I determined I needed to make a scrappy strippy quilt to use them up and return them to Linus, their rightful owner (I added plenty of my own scrap strips in there as well.) No over thinking here - just cut 'em straight and sewed 'em up. (Actually, if you look close I actually sewed two units - 24 inches wide by the length of the quilt and then cut them in half to make 4 strips.) Turned out pretty fun I think. Another fun thing was that I was able to just use pieces of leftover binding from other projects -- perfect on this totally scrappy quilt.
Well check you out! I love the quilt! It is so happy and snappy. :) And that is great thing that you do...kit making, who knew? So those "other" folks just want to do the sewing part? Interesting. Vedy interesting.
And, as you know, Keely and I have the same schedule too, rise and sleep at the same times. Doesn't make for much "free" time though. sigh.
have a good weekend.
Posted by: Angela | March 16, 2007 at 06:43 PM
Very cute! Our guild also does the kit making thing, but so far my charity quilts are all out of my stash. I've got so many bits and pieces. I do love this idea though. I'm wondering how you quilted it. I can see one quilting line going down the seam. Are there any quilt lines crosswise? This sort of thing may be next on my list!
Posted by: Kristin | March 16, 2007 at 07:03 PM
You have a very big heart Amy. Beautiful quilts for a beautiful cause. Way to go.
Posted by: kathy | March 16, 2007 at 07:12 PM
If all I had of the quilting process was the sewing, I would so not be a quilter. Picking the fabric, and looking at the finished thing are pretty much what I love most about it.
Digging that scrappy action.
Posted by: Megan | March 16, 2007 at 07:22 PM
Scrappy quils are my favorite and this one is great.
Posted by: Mama Urchin | March 16, 2007 at 07:36 PM
Love the quilt and your kits. You have such an eye for color - it truly amazes me. And how wonderful that Linus gets to benefit from it in a whole other way.
I hope that Bea is at least still taking afternoon naps - goodness knows I dread the day that Abby stops napping!
Posted by: Kelly | March 16, 2007 at 07:45 PM
Wonderful...scrappy's are a fave of mine! This one makes me want to get out the stash and start one.
Posted by: Dawn | March 16, 2007 at 07:54 PM
That is a wonderful quilt! It has a real old-fashioned appeal. I was just at a friend's house today admiring an old quilt her great-grandmother made, and it was similarly scrappy. Just beautiful!
Posted by: Katie | March 16, 2007 at 07:54 PM
I love the quilt. I will use your idea for charity quilts that my students make. Your photo quilt is just awesome. And, maybe I can use your idea and get someo of my volunteers to sew at home for us.
Thanks.
Posted by: Sherry | March 16, 2007 at 08:22 PM
I love it when quilts have scrappy binding! Yours looks so good, cheerful, just perfect for Linus. Do you machine-do everything, or do you finish tacking on the binding by hand?
Posted by: Michelle | March 16, 2007 at 08:28 PM
I really enjoy reading your Linus adventures. Lovely strip quilt and kits with a lot of potential.
Posted by: Cathy | March 16, 2007 at 09:11 PM
Amy, I'm wondering if you have a tutorial on your site for the scrappy quilts. (I'll check out some of your links to see what I can find.) I'd love to use up some of my scraps that way. Your quilts are always so colorful! I love them all!
Posted by: Deb | March 16, 2007 at 09:30 PM
I KNEW it would be magic :)
Savoring this post along with a chocolate chip mint ice cream cone was a perfectly blissful way to end my day!
I never cease to learn something new each time you talk about quilting.
Posted by: Krista | March 16, 2007 at 09:31 PM
Great quilt. I can relate to the sleep routine problem. My little one hasn't taken a nap all week, and not slept that well at night either (teething I think). But it looks like you managed to be very productive!!!
Posted by: DeeLight | March 16, 2007 at 09:58 PM
Wow, that is absolutely beautiful. I love it.
We actually benefitted from the Linus project so it's nice seeing the work of people contributing to it. I'd like to do something for it someday. Thank you so much.
By the way my son does exactly the same thing sleep-wise. Eek!
Posted by: Carrie | March 16, 2007 at 10:05 PM
Amy, this is a beautiful quit. I love all the colors !! Clarice
Posted by: clarice | March 16, 2007 at 10:28 PM
gorgeous.
Posted by: martha | March 16, 2007 at 10:57 PM
That's a great Linus quilt ... so colorful and vibrant. I'm sure that it'll be a big hit.
Posted by: Tami | March 16, 2007 at 11:22 PM
That is so cool! I love how resourceful you are. The kits and the quilt are fabuilous!!
Posted by: beki | March 17, 2007 at 12:20 AM
I love scrappy quilts, and this scrappy strippy one is so beautiful! It's wonderful that you put the little kits together for the people who don't like that part...but I'm just like you...that is the BEST part of the whole thing! Then sewing the top together. I do like the quilting part, but, it's not as much 'immediate gratification' as the piecing part.
Posted by: Lauri Smith | March 17, 2007 at 01:17 AM
This is so beautiful. I'm sure it'll be well-loved. Wonderful!
Posted by: Beth | March 17, 2007 at 02:03 AM
that turned out really great - i love scrappy quilts!
picking the colors/fabrics is definitely the best part of quilting - i've heard people say they don't like that part and it blows my mind.
Posted by: kirsten | March 17, 2007 at 08:23 AM
Just beautiful! And I love that fabric with big red, pink, and purple flowers -- whatever those are, chrysanthemums? I'm always attracted to anything red.
Your work makes me all the more anxious to move so that I can get a sewing machine already!
Posted by: Tippy | March 17, 2007 at 10:10 AM
That is a truly beautiful quilt!
Posted by: Jennifer | March 17, 2007 at 10:34 AM
The quilt is beyond beautiful, really. So happy and bright, full of so many things to look at closer. And the kits are so clever. Grumpy apparently makes you very productive : )
Posted by: Blair | March 17, 2007 at 07:09 PM