Donation quilts and one for us

I saw a picture of a quilt with red and white stars a while back that I wanted to try to make. I remember red stars and white stars somehow mixed together. This quilt is my attempt at recreating something like I remember. Red and White Stars uses scrappy reds with Bella Solid white.

my final draft

The quilting is string of loops which really shows especially on the white fabric. 

I didn't have enough red fabric for a back without piecing. This blue fabric with white dots was in my stash. I love unexpected backs so it was perfect.

Although I love this quilt, I'm planning to donate it. 

Size:         49" by 60"

Thread:     Glide 50-wt, top Battleship #10430

                                      back Navy #32965

Batting:    Dream Cotton                                           
Quilting:   String of loops

I finished another Simply Squares Quilt, Simply Squares - Teal Squares with Big Dots on White. I love that I'm using fabric scraps, the way these quilts are turning out and that they are easy to make. I think they'll be great for a child of any age.

This is another donation quilt.

I quilted this with a meander motif.

The back is a turquoise fabric from my stash. It matches the light turquoise in the fabric squares on the front of the quilt.

Size:        56" by 64"

Thread:    Glide 50-wt, Lt Turquoise #32975

Batting:    Dream Cotton                                           
Quilting:   Meander

Blue and White Bricks was a fun quilt to make. I love working with different shades of blue. This scrap quilt has blues from left-over bindings as well as scraps from my blue bin/drawer. I used 3.5" X 6.5" blocks of blue and 3.5" X 3.5" blocks of white.

When I decided to quilt this with a horizontal pattern, leaves on a string, 

Leaves on a string with wavy lines

I kind of forgot I don't quilt leaves very well. The leaf here isn't too bad; it might be the best one. And now, I've had more practice.

At least you don't really see each leaf since it's an overall pattern..

The back is a red fabric that I bought awhile back from MSQC. It's kind of unexpected.

This quilt is larger than most donation quilts for the Children's Hospital - it is 63" by 63". It should be a nice size for a teenager.

Size:        63" by 63"

Thread:    Glide 50-wt, top - Battleship #10430

                                     back - Ruby #70189

Batting:    Dream Cotton                                           
Quilting:   Leaves on a string and wavy lines

The last quilt today is Sunny Rainbow, a Table Topper of the Month (June) by Riley Blake. This quilt will stay with us. 

I quilted the center medallion with ruler work. 

The background is done with a large meander,

and the small hexagons have free-handed daisies.

The back is a fabric from my stash. The color matched amazingly well. 

Size:        36" by 36"

Thread:    Glide 50-wt, Battleship #10430

Batting:    Dream Cotton                                           
Quilting:   Ruler work on the center, meander in the background and free-hand daisies in the small hexagons.

I've been working with the fabric that I bought on our trip - quilting quilts (since I now have backs) and kitting quilts using the blenders with fabric in my stash. It's time I stop blogging for a while and quilt!

The 2026 Finished Donation Quilt Count is now 24.

Grandson's Graduation Quilt

Grandson Colter just graduated from high school. When I asked if he wanted a quilt, he answered with "It's tradition!". His color choice was red with some blue but not really patriotic. 

I looked at various patterns and finally settled on My Guy by Modern Quilt Studio. I had to make some changes to get the size I wanted. I finally kept the block size because changing that ratio, changed the look of the quilt. I added to both the width and the length and dropped the border.

After finding red fabric that I liked, I hunted and hunted for blues. I think I bought 7 or 8 quarter yards. After laying thing out, I put 6 of the blues in my stash - they just didn't work. Then it hit me, I had been shopping in the wrong place. It only took me minutes to find the right blues when I shopped my stash! I wanted at least 9 different blues and I ended up with 14 or more.

The quilt is two different blocks. The red block and the block with three strips - 2 blues, red, and 2 blues.

It took a number of days to decide on the quilting. I felt it definitely needed something geometric with straight lines. I decided to do two diamonds in each block with a horizontal line through the diamonds to connect the design and the blocks so I didn't have to break thread. When I drew the design for four blocks, I realized I had a secondary design which was also a diamond where the blocks joined. So I decided to add the red diamonds in the picture below to make the quilting an all-over pattern. I quilted across the quilt using rulers.

I had a backing in my mind from a small company but it is no longer printed. I found and ordered this blue backing with some red from Missouri Star Quilt Company and really like the way it looks with the front.

I love making quilts and I always hope the recipient can feel that love. When the quilt is for someone special to me, I always add a little extra love.

Size:         63" by 88" (7 blocks wide, 22 rows long)

Thread:    Glide 50-wt, top - Ruby #70187

                 back - Navy #32965

Batting:     Dream Cotton                                           
Quilting:    Ruler Work

Congratulations

on your 

High School Graduation 

Colter!

A trip to Southern Illinois Part 4 of 4

We headed north to Springfield Illinois. On the way we stopped at the Sugar Creek Covered Bridge near Chatham, IL. 

After we arrived in Springfield, we went to Scheels, a large sporting goods store. We just wanted to move around and thought this would be a good place. When we walked in, there was a small crowd at the large fish tank. (Yes, they have a LARGE fishtank and a ferris wheel in this place!) Then we noticed the 'mermaid'. She was wearing scuba gear and was cleaning the tank! It was interesting to watch.

We were in Springfield for 2 nights so we had a full day to enjoy the area. We began that day at Peace and Applique, a quilt shop in Rochester, IL. I haven't been there in years but always liked this shop. It's now more than twice as big as the last time I was there!

Color wall in first room

Floor in bathroom - yardsticks!

I found the last thing on my list - navy fabric for a binding! I think a striped binding will be interesting on this quilt.

Then I shopped and found some blenders that I know I will use.

The lady working made these shoes. They had kits and it was tempting but I have quilts to make!

The second stop was at Sew Sweet Quilt Shop in Springfield. This is a relatively new shop (4 years in Springfield) and I thought small so I didn't think I'd find much. Ha! The owner is great and has a gorgeous shop which has lots of fabric. 

just one aisle of many

I'll definitely stop the next time I'm in the area. I found more blenders and a red wide back that I know I will need in the near future. 

We asked for lunch recommendations at Sew Sweet and were sent two minutes away to Charlie Parker's Diner, a longtime fixture in Springfield. Ray had the Breakfast Shoe.

Ray's Breakfast Shoe

I had the special - a Sloppy Joe and it was wonderful!

In the afternoon, we visited the Washington Park Botanical Gardens. There weren't a lot of flowers blooming in the conservatory but the orchids were gorgeous. 

The grounds were beautiful and we did find some pretty flowers.

The rose garden surrounds the trellis

Next stop was the Illinois State Fairgrounds. I didn't realize Ray had never been there so that made the stop more fun. We checked out the Illinois Product Farmers Market and found produce, baked goods, hand crafted goods, .... We left with two fried pies since we wouldn't be doing any cooking and couldn't use any of the great looking produce.

While at the fairgrounds, we saw the Illinois Route 66 Experience. It was fun to walk through. We talked to a young man who was traveling in the VW van that I thought was part of the exhibit. He and his wife began in California and were following Route 66. 

Almost everything brought back good memories.

I really want a pecan log.

There were a few Burma-Shave signs. One group read:

                                GET YOUR KICKS

                                IS WHAT THEY SAY

                                THE MOTHER ROAD

                                IS THE ONLY WAY

                                ~The Illinois Route 66 Experience

And another:

                                BIG MISTAKE

                                MANY MAKE

                                RELY ON THE HORN

                                INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE

                                ~Burma-Shave

  

To end the day, we went back to Washington Park to the 

International Carillon Festival. It was opening night of the 64th festival! We enjoyed sitting in the park with many others and listening to some beautiful music.

And just like that, it was the last day of our trip. Our drive home. staying off the interstates, was uneventful. We decided that ChatGPT did a great job suggesting and helping to plan this trip. The trip was very relaxing and enjoyable.