2012 Breast Cancer Quilts Completed

It was a sprint to the end and I completely finished the two charity Breast Cancer Quilts at my target date.  Yeah!!  Just added the finishing touches and added binding to both quilts.  I think I know now that the quilts that I work on that are about this size take me about four hours to finish sewing the binding on.  I added a simple label with just my name and I added a hanging sleeve.  I use the pre-made hanging sleeves.  This saves me a little bit of time. 

So now it's time to put away the pink for another year.  My thoughts and prayers are with all that are affected by Breast Cancer.  Keep up the faith and fight!  Now to package them up and ship them out while I cross my fingers that they arrive at their intended destination!

Next up... Moda and Halloween!!!

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Two Quilts Quilted

Over the last two weeks I've been running the quilting machine to finish up the 2012 charity quilts.  I was able to finish both the quilts!  Now, all I have left is to add the binding and sew it down.  Also, add a hanging sleeve.  I'm hoping to be completed and have these shipped out by middle of September!

Happy Labor Day to all!

Here's a close up of the quilting.  The photo makes it look like it detracts from the writing on the blocks but it does not.  You can reads all the messages without issues.

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Getting Ready for Quilting

Since both quilt tops are completed, it's time to get ready for quilting.  I wish I could remember where the ribbon quilt pattern came from but I honestly don't remember.  I squared up the quilt top.  Before loading it, I decided to practice the pattern on some ruined white (now yellowed) fabric piece I had. 

Even though the software can figure out how many repetitions I should use for the pattern on my quilt, I tend to like to rely on my own figuring out on scratch paper.  I'm glad I practice it first since you can see my spacing was way off on the spacing between the rows 1 and 2 at first.  So, I tried again and then I was happy with the intertwined designs on rows 2 and 3.

 
Now it's time to load the first quilt and get going.  I'll post pictures of the finished product hopefully by the end of the weekend! Stay Tuned!

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Simple White Border

The last part (I thought) that I needed to do on the second charity quilt was to add a border to it.  I thought of all different options.  The last idea I had was to keep it simple. One single border.. But what color should I use?  I settled on a white border.  The same white fabric that is in the center of the quilt.  Once the pink binding is added, the whole border/binding combo will match the quilt center.    Next up, a little practicing for quilting and then it's time to start loading the quilt tops to be quilted!

I'm not crazy about how you can see through the white fabric.  Because of this, I went out and purchased the warm and white batting.  The warm and natural I usually use made the white have a beige tint to it.  Hopefully the warm and white will work just as well.

Additionally, I need to embroider a few more words on the completed quilt top.  This will be a big challenge since it's already assembled.  I honestly missed mentioning the guys as well.  I should put Men and/or Brothers somewhere on the quilt.  But where??  Maybe in the pink around the white center.  This will be interesting.  I need 2 additional words to add with the words Brothers and Fathers.  Here are the other words that I already used on the quilt:

Faith / Believe / Sisters / Fight / Family / Strong / Courage / Friends / Cure / Hope / Support / Brave / Love / Wish / Inspire and Mothers.

Thanks for stopping by!
~*~Trish~*~

Second Quilt Center assembled

I only have the border to complete on the second Ford Cares Breast Cancer quilt.  I was able to assemble the center part of the top.  I like how all the extra embroidery blocks turned out.  Even with the different fonts that I used.  To me, the Cure and Wish words are larger than the rest but I'm going with that it was on purpose.  We all wish for a cure on this disease. 

Here's the center part.  I plan on adding a thin white border and a pink exterior border around the whole thing.  I didn't get a chance to iron the top yet.  Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Thanks for stopping by!
 ~*~Trish~*~

Many Wishes

I found that I needed to redo a few words in another font.  I just could not keep the funky looking I on the first try.  The font's don't match but I like them better than before.  It took me a few tries to get the right size of "wish" for the quilt.  I have a few extra blocks so I may be making a pillow too.  Here's my many wishes.  It took me a while to find a font with a normal looking I

I finished up all the supportive words to add to the second charity quilt.  Here's the second batch of words and then all the words line up.

 

Next stop will be the quilt layout.  But time to go and enjoy some other items for the weekend.  Stay tuned for the quilt layout...

Thanks for stopping by!
 ~*~Trish~*~

The I's have it

In between the storms today,  I was able to work on the extra blocks that I wanted to add to the second charity Breast Cancer Quilt I am starting to assemble.  I had blank blocks added to make it to the 10 blocks by 12 layout size I wanted, but could not keep them blank.  So, off to the embroidery machine I went.  I was able to get these completed pretty quick.  They all needed to be light backgrounds to work with the layout I was thinking about.

I'm pretty much happy with how they turned out except two.  Why is it that every embroidery font that comes with a sewing machine has a funky looking I?  I mean the capital I's always look like T's to me.  What gives?  Ugh... What do you think?  I wanted it in all caps since I'll have four blocks in caps and four in sentence case.

While I am being picky, I'm thinking my capital C looks almost like an E.  Instead of CURE, my eyes are seeing EURE.  Maybe it's time to push up that eye doctor visit.  I may be off to look for new fonts with basic I's and C's to redo these two blocks.  I wanted to keep them all in the same font, but, not sure I will.

Hope all is going well with you this weekend! 
Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

First Quilt Top Completed

I finished the first charity quilt for the breast cancer campaign in October.  Everything went well for the quilt until it was completely done.  One of the corners is a smidgen off. By smidgen, it's more like almost a 1/4 inch.  Driving me crazy.  But, most of the other blocks in the row match up so I'm not too sure how I would go about fixing this unless I add more to one column of blocks to push the white strip to the left a little to line up.  Or, I can reduce the size of the white strip a smidgen maybe. 

I forgot how difficult it was to add a strip and then continue to line up the blocks on either side of that strip.  If you have any suggestions, please let me know.  Here's the problem corner and then the full quilt top.  I'm also a little disappointed with the white fabric.  It's a little see through.  I'm concerned that when I put the yellowish natural batting behind it, the quilt top will lose it's crisp white strips.

2012 Quilt Top - Needs a little ironing.

This week, time to figure out the layout for the second quilt top and get moving on that.  Then, we are in the waiting game again for some tests completed on Friday for DH.   After 2.5 years of remission, it's still a roller coaster ride.  Keep your fingers crossed the bone marrow test comes back just "naturally" low.

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Making Progess on First Charity Quilt

I'm on my way with assembling the first Charity Quilt for the Ford Cares Breast Cancer Quilt.  It's just what I needed to keep my mind occupied instead of stressing over other things that you can not control.  Each year I make these, it humbles me and makes me realize although we have had our share of issue these past 3 years, we are still so blessed.

I was only going to do a couple of rows, I was curious to see how the white would turn out with the blocks.  Here's my answer.  I like it however I'm not to happy with the white fabric purchased.  It's a little see through.  So, when I put the cream warm and natural underneath it, I think it will dull the crisp white...  I'll have to think on this one..

Then I thought I'd like to work on the center logo part.  I went to put the white around the white embroidered logo provided and decided it needed a dark border before the white is added.  So, I added a 1" pink inner border to match the other appliqued ribbons on the quilt.  Here's the center by itself.

So I kept going from there and now I have the top part, the left and right panels and the center grid all completed.  Maybe today I'll still add the white strips to the left and right panels and join them with the center grid of blocks to complete the whole middle section.  Of course, I'd then have to add the top to the middle section and heck, I'll be 75% complete with the top.

Here's the left, right, and middle panels handing on my banister (aka quilt rack) as soon as you walk in my home.

Making progress and that makes me happy!!
Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Uniform Randomness

I try so much to do random layouts but once I take a photo of them, I see the multiple colors not looking random enough for me :-).  There's too many darks together and too many lights together etc...   When I layout the breast cancer quilts, I do them on my floor, take a photo, rearrange and take another photo, and repeat so many times until I'm happy.

Here's what I started out with on my first breast cancer quilt layout.  I digitally added the white strips on the layout.  Of course, my photo of the layout on the floor also creates a distortion on the photo.  The dark wines jump out at me being not random enough for me. 

First Layout

After several episodes of rearranging, I added the dark wines around the center Ford Logo block.  The center block will also have a colored sash around it.  Then, the extra dark wines I added to the outer corner blocks.  Then I tried to alternate the remaining pink shades to create light and darks along with uniformly adding the embroidered blocks I created.  Now it's time to start sewing this one!

Final Layout

Thanks for stopping by!
~*~Trish~*~

Embroidery Weekend

It was an embroidery weekend at my house.  I am just about completed with all the extras I like to add to the Breast Cancer quilts.  I love adding embroidered blocks of different sizes and styles.  This year, my favorites are the applique angels.  I used frosted fabrics for the wings.  It added just the right amount of sparkle!  I need about 16 extra (8 for each quilt) plus the ribbon corner blocks which are the basic ribbon applique blocks below such as the top left one.

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

It's That Time, The Quilt for the Cure

This will be my 4th year to participate in the Quilt for the Cure cause in sewing together blocks gathered from the race for a cure race in Pittsburgh PA.  Here's where you can learn more about the process!  

Also, if you can help assemble a quilt from the blocks submitted, here are instructions on how you can join in and volunteer to assemble the quilts.  If you do volunteer, let me know.  I'd love to see how yours turn out as well.

This is my favorite project each year because it has a deadline that I never let pass.  I don't set the projects aside and "do them later".  No procrastination here and I consider myself blessed to be able to read the special messages on each square.

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Second Breast Cancer Quilt Dedicated

My second Breast Cancer quilt was dedicated over the weekend in West Virginia.  I received information and photos yesterday after I posted my first blog entry.  So, here's another entry to show where the second quilt went to.  This one went to Belington, WV.  It's funny, I don't remember it being that small looking.   At least they were both laying flat in the photos.   I like the second photo that shows the word courage.  I always look forward to assembling these quilts each year and the inspiration they provide.

Thanks for stopping by!
~*~Trish~*~

One Breast Cancer Quilt Dedicated

I received word that one of my breast cancer quilts has been placed in Strecker Cancer Center at Marietta Memorial Hospital in Marietta, Ohio in honor of Breast Cancer month.  I understand that it will be traveling around a few offices there.   I'm so glad that others will be able to read the messages on the squares that were sent to me to sew together.  The quilt is really basic but the messages are so powerful.  Here's a few photos from the dedication that I did not attend.  I also learned that the second one will be dedicated to a clinic in West Virginia.

Thanks for stopping by!
~*~Trish~*~

Quilts for the Cure Completed

Yeah!  I finished hand sewing the bindings to both quilts yesterday!  Today I spent time placing the hanging sleeve on both quilts using Steam a Seam 2.  Then I hand stitched around all the edges of the hanging sleeve just to give it more strength.  I've seen the Steam a Seam give out later down the road so I just wanted to make sure there was a backup stitch to catch it. 

I am very happy with how they turned out.  When I re-added some of the embellishments back, their original spots were under seams.  So, I placed them there anyway and some of those embellishments now move into the borders.  I think it looks pretty neat.

The backing color fabric is the same as the binding.  It has a different pink tone than the borders pink but I think it works.  All the pinks then blend together when viewing the whole thing.  I don't know about you but, when I do volunteer work like this, I put a lot of my heart into them and I am sometimes sad to see them leave.  But, I am hoping it will bring inspiration to someone in their journey against breast cancer as they read all the inspirational messages on each of the blocks!

Quilt 1

Quilt 2

Backing with Hanging Sleeve

Extended Embellishments
and Better look at Binding

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Binding Added and Ready to Sew

Yesterday I removed all the curved pins placed for quilting since the quilting was complete.  I also added the binding to both quilts yesterday and they are ready for hand sewing to the back.  Perfect job for the weekend as Irene heads up the shoreline.  They are saying we may get some rain from it in PA.  The binding that I added matches the backing on the quilts. 

When I was completing the binding on the quilt, I have such a hard time with joining the ends of the binding ends.  I've tried many times but just can't get it right.  However, this time I think I realized my problem.  I never leave a big enough open space to join the tails properly.  I'll try and practice once I am completed with these quilts.  In the meantime, I do straight sewing.

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Super Sewing Day

I had planned on pinning one quilt yesterday.  I ended up pinning both quilts.  That's not all, I completed the quilting on BOTH quilts yesterday.  The stitch in the ditch went so so fast now that I have more throat room on my sewing machine.  It was a super sewing day!!  Today my plans are to machine sew the binding to both quilts.  I think the hand stitching of the binding to the back will take me two days for the two quilts.  After that, it's hanging sleeves on both and I'm done!!  Woo Hoo.

Thanks for stopping by!
~*~Trish~*~

Bindings and Backings

I completed the bindings and backings for the two quilts on Saturday.  I've been off visiting family in Western PA for a couple of days.  I got home just in time to feel the East Coast Earthquake.  That was weird.  The backings and the binding are made from the same fabric.  Turns out I purchased large lots (5 yards) of this fabric twice.  I must have really liked it.  I used my simplicity binding maker to help me create the 620" + of binding.  It makes it oh so easy and fast!  Today, I'll be pinning a quilt to the backing.  Don't think I'll quilt it just yet.  I plan on stitching in the ditch on both quilts since there are a lot of embellishments.

Thanks for stopping by!
~*~Trish~*~

Quilt 2 Borders Applied

I finished applying the second quilt's borders.  This one has the pink outlined ribbon corner blocks.  I chose these applique blocks since there are so many other colors on the quilt.  I'm happy with the results.  Now on to creating backings and bindings.

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~

Quilt 1 Borders Applied

I finished applying the smaller borders and smaller corner blocks to the first quilt.  I'm very happy with the results.  I like the notched corners that a double border makes.  On this first quilt top that was mostly dark and light pink blocks, I used the black rimmed pink/white corner blocks.  For the second quilt, I'll be using the dark pink rimmed corner blocks.  I figured since it was already so colorful, I would keep the corners nuetral.  I'm still betting with myself that before I pin this first quilt to the backing, I change that dark center block on the right of the Ford center block.  If it were light pink, it would just flow better. 

Thanks for stopping by!  
~*~Trish~*~