It Has Begun!

I was SOO thrilled to see this post on Instagram earlier this week. Patty is the first person to participate and share her blocks. It was so great to see someone as excited as I am!

This weekend was a great time for me to start my personal quilt to donate. I'm not very patient when it comes to waiting on others, so I figured I'd work on my own quilt while I wait for blocks to start arriving :) I decided on red, white, and blue because when I found this fabric bundle, I fell in love!! It was so busy and patriotic, I couldn't turn it down! I thought it would be perfect for this project, AND for the November challenge "Design Your Own Quilt" at the Rhode Island Modern Quilt Guild. 

So yesterday I cut out forty 8in blocks, 8 of each of the 5 fabrics. I had tons of scraps and wasn't sure what to do with them so I started sewing them onto the squares. No two blocks ended up the same. Some had diagonal designs, like above, others had straight strips added on. Each block stayed at 8in though. I did half with scrap "designs" and half stayed as plain blocks. 

Next, I laid all the blocks on the floor and played with the final layout. I didn't want two of the same fabrics side by side, it took a little while, but eventually I got it figured it. With no help from this guy, of course! Luckily, all the rows were already sewn together!

This is the finished quilt top! I must say, I LOVE IT! I felt like I got it done so quickly too. 

Today, with quilt top done and backing in hand, I decided I needed to add some pzazz to the back of the quilt. I took the scraps I had left, and made a scrap block for the back. I'm keeping the outcome a secret until the very end!

Quilting on this beauty started, but I'm not expecting to finish it quickly. I'm new to machine quilting (I was taught hand quilting on the block corners with embroidery thread) so I plan on taking my time. Not to mention, I want this quilt to be as perfect as it can be!

Quilts for Colorado

Today I started my email frenzy. I sent emails to all volunteer organizations doing the flood clean up in Colorado, with hopes that they'll spread the word about this project. I'm really hoping to make it to CO for Thanksgiving weekend so that I can personally deliver quilts and assist in the clean up efforts. Having been in RI to see the destruction of Hurricane Sandy, I know how much volunteering is necessary. With my research for volunteer opportunities I found there isn't anything being done in NM. I'm not sure if this is because there's more destruction in CO or if the flooding was minimal, so I still hope to bring some to NM but CO will be first priority. If anyone knows anything, please let me know! I'll keep you posted when I find out my volunteer plan.

Rhode Island Modern Quilt Guild

This weekend I attended my first Rhode Island Modern Quilt Guild meeting in Lincoln, RI. I must say, I was relieved to walk in to a group of woman of all ages and skill levels. It was a great meeting and I saw so many amazing quilts - I can only hope to make one that good! I'm excited to keep attending monthly meetings and make some new friends; hopefully they can teach me some of their secrets :) I was able to share my plans for Quilts for CO and NM! They sounded excited to help and shared the information on their blog.

As I spread the word more and more, I'm starting to get anxious by what the outcome is going to be. Am I going to get 10 blocks? Or am I going to be totally overloaded with tons? Either way, I'm so excited for this project. Once we get closer to November and I begin planning my hopeful CO visit, I am going to be looking for help. I'm a beginner quilter, and as much as I'd love to be confident that I can do this all my self, I know that's being too adventurous. So if you're unable to make blocks, or you'd like to help in another way, please let me know. I'll be looking for help basting, quilting, and binding some of the quilts.

If you're planning on sending in some blocks, please email me for the mailing address. I'm not totally comfortable with posting it online, so I'd rather answer everyone personally (Also gives me a glimpse at the blocks I'll have coming in)

RIMQG Members, feel free to hold your blocks until the November meeting!! Or contact me and we can try to meet up. No need to waste money on shipping :)

Please share this information on your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc!! I also have a flyer I'd be happy to send to anyone that can post it at their work, gym, etc. I appreciate all the help spreading this project.