I May Have A Scrap Problem.... A Little Progress, Etc....

Hi, all!

Well, it has been a week around here!  With Hands2Help drawing to a close, there's tons of administrative work I have to do and very little time for sewing - but I did manage to go through one of those big scrap tubs...

...reducing it from that behemoth on the left to the much smaller container on the right.  It now contains my flannel scraps, which are neatly folded.  Since I'm not sewing with flannel right now, I'll save cutting them up until later when I need them.

Tuesday I also managed to assemble my husband's Father's Day present (yes, it's early, but it was on sale and where do you hide a box that big?)...

...and I made these gorgeous St. Louis style ribs from scratch!!!  I've never made ribs before, and these turned out AMAZING!  Apparently the secret is to cook them in the oven for a couple of hours, and only put them on the grill for a short time.  Oh my - my husband and I pigged out on these last night!  That's also broccoli slaw in the foreground - we are experimenting with some new veggies, since carbs are off our menu these days.  Keto is a strange way to diet, and counter-intuitive, but it seems to be working!

And although I've seen lots of inspiring quilts this week, I've just got one to share with you today, because it's so amazingly awesome...

Emily Bailey, who blogs over at Em's Scrap Bag, created this glorious scrappy quilt!  Now this has me itching to sit down behind the sewing machine and make one of my own!

What have you been doing this week?  Playing with scraps, or other things?  Enquiring minds want to know!

Hugs!

Sarah

Make-A-List Monday - It's Crunch Time!

Hi, all!

Monday has come again - and not just any Monday, but the one that begins the last week of the Hands2Help Challenge!  That means I will be spending a lot of time at the computer this week rather than at my sewing machine - but it's all worth it!

So let's see how last week's list went...

1.  Make a back for, and guilt the collaborative quilt.

Done!  I really like this one...

2.  Test a pattern for a friend.

Done!  This quilt is huge - but so quick and easy! Pattern is by Christina Cameli and should be available soon...

3. Make a back for the hopscotch quilt.

Done! (At the very last minute!)

4.  Start working on sorting that tub of scraps!

Done!  Turned out this tub was full of flannels - which I'm not currently sewing with - so I folded them up and managed to get the contents into a smaller tub.  I'll call that a win!

5.  Cut out another gift quilt.

Well, I didn't get it cut out, but I did get the fabric all pressed and ready for cutting!

6.  Hands2Help administrative work.

Well, it's in progress - and I think that's the best I'll be able to say for the next two weeks.  I'm trying to keep on top of it this week so that the final count will be quick and easy!

7.  More yard work? Who knows?

I suppose this counts as yard work - I cleaned up the front porch, moved a set of chairs around from the deck, and added a rug.  Emmy gave it her seal of approval, as she insisted we sit in the chairs and watch the cars go by for about half an hour Saturday afternoon!

6.  Keep up with any quilt ministry needs that come up.

I don't think we gave away any quilts this week.  Thankful for a quiet week!

So last week went well, and I got a lot accomplished.  I don't think this week will see as much sewing, though.  Last week also saw us switching over to try a keto diet, which also meant a lot of research, grocery shopping and cooking - because it ain't easy to eat out and stay on keto!  But even though it's only been a week, we both feel better, we've both lost weight (twelve pounds for me!) and my blood pressure was excellent this morning!  So it's worth all the added effort.  Plus it will make it easier when we go on vacation with our kids in June, since they've been doing keto for about six months now.

And here's what I'm planning to work on this week..

1.  Total up all of the Hands2Help quilts and 

divvy up the giveaway goodies!

2.  Organize those giveaway goodies so my friends 

can help me get them ready for mailing.

3.  Deliver the repaired vintage quilt.

4.  A little more yard work!

5.  If there's time for sewing, put the hopscotch quilt on the frame.

6.  Keep up with any quilt ministry needs that come up.

I'm hoping there will be time to sew, but I'm not holding my breath!     But it's a great time of year with H2H drawing to a close, and I'm excited to see so many beautiful quilts as they are linked up!  You can also see them by checking out this post - there's lots of inspiration there, and lots of love by amazingly generous quilters!

So now the question is - - - what are YOU working on this week?

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I hope you have big plans for this Memorial Day weekend - but be sure and remember to play safely!

Hugs!

Sarah

Hands2Help 2019 - Time to Link Up & Show Off!

Hi, all!

Well, it has finally arrived - the beginning of the end of this year's Hands2Help Comfort Quilt Challenge!  It's hard to believe it's here - this year's Challenge has just flown by - but it's time to show off the beautiful quilts you have created for charity and tell us about them! The link-up is at the bottom of this post, but I thought I'd take this time to share the quilts made by our non-blogging participants.  You'll have lots of eye candy to peruse on your way to the link-up, and maybe it will inspire you for next year!  More about linking up below - for now, let's see all the pretties!

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These five quilts were made by Anita SS, and are going respectively to the Carolina Hurricane Quilt Project...

...Jack's Basket...

... and Mercyful Quilts!

Barbara H. made this beauty for Quilty Hugs...

Belinda S. made these four cuties for Jack's Basket...

Debbie S. has five quilts to show off - this one is for Carolina Hurricane Quilt Project...

...these two are for Jack's Basket...

...and these two are for Quilty Hugs!

Ila M. made these two fun baby quilts for Jack's Basket. Sometimes we forget just how effective a two-color quilt is!

Linda S. made this bright and cheery quilt for a local charity...

Mary from PCB made this cheery quilt for Quilty Hugs!

Nancy C. made these two quilts for the Carolina Hurricane Quilt Project...

Natalie B. blessed Victoria Quilts with these four quilt tops...

Pam B. made this sweet little quilt for a local charity...

Rhonda B. made this pretty top (using one of this year's tutorials) for Victoria Quilts!

Ruth H. was busy making the following five quilts!  The first one went to Quilty Hugs...

...the next two went to Jack's Basket...

...and the last two went to Mercyful Quilts!

And finally, Sue T. is sharing these four quilts, the first two for Jack's Basket...

This one is for Mercyful Quilts...

...and this one is for Quilty Hugs!

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And now it's time for you to link up!  You can link up a blogpost (new or written earlier), an Instagram post (new or posted earlier) or a picture posted on Flickr.  If you aren't on any of these platforms, please feel free to send me your pictures and I will add them to a blogpost later this week and link them up for you (be sure to list which charity you are sending them to!)  This link-up is how we get the final quilt and participant count, so please link up - and then go show some love to your fellow participants!    FYI you can put more than one quilt per link-up - I will check and count each one!  No need for an individual link for each quilt if you have posted about several in your post.

The linky party will stay open until noon on Friday, May 24th, at which time I will start feverishly collating the responses and divvying up the giveaway goodies!  The final count and winners of the giveaways will be announced on Sunday, May 26th, good Lord willing and the creek don't rise, as they say here in Tennessee....

Thank you all so much for your heart for those in need!  When I did the first Challenge in 2011, I never planned for it to become an annual event - but so many of you asked for a chance to do it again, it was a no-brainer.  I am blown away by the love and charity in the quilting community - my hat's off to you!!

Hugs!

Sarah