Salute to the Red, White and Blue . . .

Memorial Weekend I was inspired to piece a new quilt for my July quilt parade.  There are so many amazing stars and stripes quilt patterns out there I had a hard time deciding what to make, so I made two.

First up is Betsy Ross.

This is Lifetime Quilt Number 283

The pattern, Betsy Ross, is by Katie Malan Designs.  (available here) 

My version finished at 52" by 64"

It has approximately 285 pieces

I added an extra row of white fabric on the bottom of the pattern to better fit the space where I planned to hang it. I think the red binding pulls it all together just fine. 

Abby at Latimer Lane Quilting finished it up beautifully with wavy lines.   

The blue fabric is by Bonnie and Camille for Moda and was from their Happy Go Lucky line, I bought a bolt of that blue dot fabric and have used it in so many of my Bonnie and Camille projects. 

The red is another Bonnie and Camille print, Little Ruby, I didn't buy a bolt of this one but should have, you know me and red!


The second top that I pieced is Stars and Stripes, a free Missiouri Star pattern.

This is Lifetime Quilt Number 284

The pattern is Stars and Stripes by Missouri Star Quilt Co (available here)

My version finished at 54" x 64"

The fabric is all Bonnie and Camille for Moda

It has approximately 240 pieces

We used wavy lines for this quilt too, my go to for patriotic themed quilts.

The Missouri Star pattern used 11" star blocks, I thought that was an odd size, given the strips finish at 2", so I pieced 10" stars instead.  Most people would probably never notice the stars not lining up symmetrically with the stripes in the original pattern. It's all even Steven, debits equals credits happening in my brain all the time, so it was a simple swap.  I like the way it looks, and my brain is happy.

Both patterns were easy, I had them pieced and off to Abby  in less than a week and back just in time for the 4th of July and my July quilt parade.  I'll be sad to pack them up at the end of the month.

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Loving the red, white and blue . . . .

This spring @redrainbootshandmade started a Stars and Stripes sew-along.  I pieced this quilt designed by Camille for Thimble Blossoms two years ago, Lifetime Quilt # 204.  I enjoyed piecing the quilt and loved having such a patriotic quilt on display for holidays, like the 4th of July, Labor Day and Memorial Day.

Since I had some time to spare before my annual mother/daughter vacation, I decided to sew along, knowing several friends and family members who would also enjoy this quit.  And remembering how easy it was to piece my first Stars and Stripes quilt, a perfect fun and easy diversion.

In the rush of packing and errand running I forgot to take pics of my finishes before sending them off to the quilter.  But today they came back home, thanks Abby at Latimer Lane Quilting, you're the queen of wavy lines and fast service.

Here are Lifetime Quilts 250, 251, and 252.
Each quit finished at 56" x 71", has approximately 138 pieces,  and is made from fabric by Bonnie and Camille for Moda.  The pattern is Stars and Stripes by Thimble Blossoms and available here.  Back just in time to pass along to their new homes before the 4th of July.

Besides my quits arriving home I just got home myself.  If you're a longtime reader of my blog you know that I take an annual vacation with my daughter.  Over the years we've  seen some amazing sights, eaten some delicious food, and laughed our way all over the globe.   This year we visited Peru, a first for both of us.

We saw llamas, alphachas, and lambs aplenty.  We hiked every day and went white water rafting, a first for me.

The weather was absolutely perfect.  Cool in the mornings and pleasant throughout the day.   This was my morning breakfast view at the Sol and Luna Lodge in Sacred Valley.

We could not have picked a better day to visit Machu Picchu.  We had the place to ourselves, which really surprised me.  I had read about and was dreading the reported crowds visiting this amazing lost city.

 This is my favorite pic of the over 1,000 pics we took.  If you've not visited Peru add it to your list.  The people, food, landscape, and history of this country make it worth your time.  We traveled with Adventures by Disney.

When I got home my clothes dryer died on the 2nd load of the 19 waiting to be cleaned and the sewer decided to back up in the basement, real life, real quick.  But things are back to normal now and I'm happy to be home and back in my sewing room with the memories of another wonderful adventure with my daughter, making me appreciate how lucky I really am.

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Stars and Stripes

While piecing my Hometown USA quilt top I made a few extra flag blocks.  Then recently I remembered that I was sitting on a few flag blocks, made a few more, and put them all together, hopefully just in time to get the top quilted so I can enjoy it the month of July.  I made it exactly like the pattern,  because it was perfect just as it was.

This is Lifetime Quilt Number 204

The pattern is Stars and Stripes by Camille Roskelley for Thimble Blossoms

It finished at 56" x 71"

The fabric is a mixture of Bonnie and Camille for Moda

It has approximately 138 pieces.

The pattern is only $5 and you can make this top in a couple of afternoons.

And speaking of my Hometown USA quilt, Emily Waterbury was the winner of the raffle.  Here she is on the left, getting the quilt from Twilla Coon, the director of the library.   The library collected nearly $3,500 in ticket sales, what a great effort.  Thanks to all who supported my hometown library by purchasing tickets.

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Hometown USA

I've gotten a few requests for  information regarding the raffle for my Hometown USA quilt.  Well the raffle has officially started.  The quilt is currently on display at the Mt. Carmel Illinois Public Library.

Here I am with the quilt and the library foundation board president, Donnie Price, also know as Thelma's brother.  Not really, that's the family joke, when I come to town I'm known as Don Price's sister, but that's OK, I couldn't ask for a better baby brother.  Plus he's lived in my hometown almost all his life, I left 40 years ago.

Just in case you've forgotten, this is Lifetime Quilt Number 185

I've named this quilt Hometown, USA

I combined the patterns Summerville and Stars and Stripes by Camille Roskelley for Thimble Blossoms.  

The fabric is Vintage Picnic by Bonnie and Camille for Moda

It finished at 98" x 98"

It has approximately 1,912 pieces.

Connie Lancaster at Quilts Plus in Indianapolis, IN did the custom quilting.  

Tickets are on sale at the library, by library and foundation board members, and me.  The tickets are $5 per ticket or 5 for $20.  The drawing will be held on June 10, 2017.

If you're interested in purchasing a ticket drop me an email and I'll get with you on further details.

When not working on Due South I've been thinking about my other Year of Thelma 2017 Quilting Goals.  Piecing a red and white quilt is on that list.  I've been spending my evenings admiring all the quilts in this book.

My new problem is trying to narrow down my favorite to just one pattern.   I may have to start piecing a red a white quilt every year for the next 10 years.

The thing about a red and white quilt, they never go out of style.

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Hometown USA

I've wrapped up my summer sewing before summer officially ends, but I cut it close.  I'm naming this quilt Hometown, USA, because I'm donating the quilt to my hometown library for a raffle.  They requested a bed size quilt, I think this quilt will fit most beds, and a queen size bed perfectly.

This is Lifetime Quilt Number 185

I've named this quilt Hometown, USA

I combined the patterns Summerville and Stars and Stripes by Camille Roskelley for Thimble Blossoms.  

The fabric is Vintage Picnic by Bonnie and Camille for Moda

It finished at 98" x 98"

It has approximately 1,912 pieces.

The center portion of this quilt is from Summerville.

I replaced the outer border of Summerville with some pinwheel blocks.

For my outer border I used the flags from Stars and Stripes.

To keep the same feel on the borders that I added to Camille's Summerville pattern, I made my pinwheel blocks the same size as the 9 patch blocks, kept the big, small, big small, big size of the blocks in the borders, and continued the use of the 4 color star block.

All in all I think this quilt turned out very nice and I'm happy with it, but happier still to start some fall sewing, after I piece the binding and backing.

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