Another Donation Quilt and More

Lauren's visit this month was far too short and we had far too little time quilting together. This was due in part to the scorching-hot weather, which made it impossible to work in the cabin past about 2 pm, and two trips to Sac and one to Carson City, which used up three of our days together. I'm not suggesting those days weren't enjoyable (had a few "must see" movies on our list, including Hope Springs, which was very cute, and The Beasts of the Southern Wild, which I would have enjoyed more with sub-titles as I couldn't understand a single word), but that time could have been spent stitching together! She came with a prioritized list and at the top was to make her donation quilt for one of DD Lou's cancer kids (I now call Dianna, our resident nurse at Cottage Hospital, Outpatient Services in Santa Barbara, "DD Lou" as that is her Words With Friends name. We always have 2-3 games going and she has become DD Lou to me. So, DD Lou it is!) Back to Lauren, here she is with her finished blanket that will be sent on to OPS.  

Not on her list was helping me make Verne's 95-year old mother and Lauren's grandmother a quilt for her birthday, but my sweetie did it willingly and with her usual enthusiasm. Made completely from our stash of Moda pastels (which is dwindling), the French Rose quilt below is perfect for Clara, both in color and size. She seems to shrink a little with each year and this 60" square quilt will be more than generous in size for her bed or lap as she sits and cross stitches.

Finally, Lauren was able to begin a new project, which will be given to her best friend from law school, Torrie Poplin, who now lives in Chicago. We first saw this quilt, designed by Jean Wells, on the cover of a quilting magazine Cece brought to our last retreat. Cece bought the fabric for the quilt as a kit and made it this past month. We put together a similar collection of fabrics completely from our stash. This has become a stash-busting month and it feels good! Here's the first block of the quilt...

Another Happy Patient

Dianna emailed me this picture of Micaela (an older-young patient at Cottage Hospital) with one of the flannel quilts we made at our February Stix Retreat. I could look at a hundred of these pictures and the emotional impact wouldn't lessen...they wrench at my heart. Thank you, Dianna, for sharing this picture and thank you for your compassion in caring for these children. 


I'll be making more kits from my stash this month, so just let me know if you're up for making another donation quilt. Also, if you have odds and ends of flannel or other fabric appropriate for children and have no other use, I'd be happy to take it off your hands. Just this past weekend Sally brought me a large grocery sack of flannel scraps...all perfect for mixing and matching with mine.  Thanks, Sally!

Just an Idea

In my unending attempt to lighten my load (stash) and get rid of those pesky scraps (too big to trash), and larger pieces of fabric leftover from projects (where I way overbought), and fabrics I just had to have, but now question my sanity in buying them in the first place...I have an idea!!! Make a donation quilt for the pedi/chemo kids at Cottage Hospital! Everyone (all ages) loves the flannel rag quilts, but flannel prices have gone through the roof and we'll soon run out of our stockpile. (That reminds me...if you have flannel scraps, please bring them to the next Retreat. I'll combine them to make more kits.) Anyway, since our February Retreat I've made two "kid-size" 30's quilts -- all from leftover scraps too big to trash! (I did buy the backing, which is adorable...red and white polka dot with little black Scotties.) 

Here are the directions:
Cut 63 4" squares and sew together (9 in each row, 7 rows total)
Cut inner border 1 3/4" wide
Cut outer border 3" wide
Sew together and then quilt on the diagonal or in the ditch crosswise and lengthwise.
Bind. 
Stand back and admire your scrappy creation! Now, just think of the stash-busting possibilities... 

Tug at My Heartstrings

Remember those rag quilts we made at our Stix Retreat in February and donated to the Cottage Hospital? Here's a picture of one that will make you want to make more! 


Dianna writes: Very happy pedi patient!

Donation Quilts

Below is a picture of Sally's daughter, Dianna Keough, who is a nurse in the Outpatient Surgery unit of Cottage Hospital, where we donated our quilts made in March for the chemo kids.


Diana writes: Thank you from our kids here at OPS! You're the best!