What's On The Bookshelf Wednesday - Bits and Pieces!

Hi, all!

It's Wednesday and that means it's time to take a look at the bookshelf again!  I've got a great scrap-busting book to share with you today - because we've all got scraps, right?

This book is put out by Connecting Threads, and contains twelve great patterns perfect for precuts and scraps.

The patterns are all exclusively from Connecting Threads designers, and you may see some you recognize from the CT catalog....

I've always loved this quilt - both the colors and the design!

Some of the designs are rather traditional, such as the one above...

And I love the way they give an alternate color way for each pattern!

This pattern is one that was in a table runner kit I purchased from CT many years ago!  I loved it then and I love it now - it's so pretty in this color way!  

But I think this is my favorite from the book - a bookshelf quilt in lovely bright colors!  I can see making this quilt from scraps - how wonderful it would look!

This book is almost entirely patterns, with the clear, well-illustrated directions that CT is known for.  There are a very few pages of basic instruction, but not many.  This is a great book for someone who just wants simple, basic patterns that will look good in a wide variety of fabrics!

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 So that's what's on my bookshelf today!  Have you looked at yours lately?

Hugs!

Sarah

Make-A-List Monday - Gearing Up For H2H!

Hi, all!

Monday has rolled around again - hard to believe we're two and a half weeks into January already!  Looks like we're going to actually get some winter weather this week, (maybe even snow!) so it will start feeling more like winter finally.  It doesn't take much to shut down middle Tennessee but it also doesn't come around very often, so we'll see what actually comes and go from there!  Whatever the weather, though, it's going to be a good week to sew!

First, though, let's see what happened with last week's list...

1.  Make a back for the Ombre Circles quilt.

2.  Prepare the Ombre Circles quilt for domestic machine quilting.

Done!  I actually managed to finish this quilt completely, and blogged about it last Friday.  You can read more about it by clicking here...

3.  Quilt two more men's twin-sized tops for the Compassionate Hands ministry.

Done!  Not just quilted, but completely finished and delivered.  These two quilts are really gorgeous!  The first top was donated to us, and the second one was pieced by Deb R. from our ministry group.  She's the queen of men's quilts - puts great tops together for men all the time!

4.  Start organizing for Hands2Help!

Started!  I spent some time this weekend putting together the calendar and sending out some e-mails, AND working on this year's quilt along!  You can read more about it by clicking here...

 

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

Done!  We gave away three quilts this week...

This quilt went to a young woman who was just diagnosed with breast cancer...

....this one went to a woman whose cancer has returned...

...and this one went to a young woman who suffered a miscarriage.

I was pleasantly surprised when I looked at last week's list and realized that I had managed to get it all done!  I hope this week's goes as well - let's see what's up to do next...

1.  Work on a special secret quilt project.

2.  Finish at least one of the Nifty Nines quilt along quilt tops.

3.  Start piecing blocks for three My Small World quilts (these will become the annual quilts for the grandkids this year!)

4.  Contacting possible sponsors for Hands2Help. (If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, drop me an email at salliesue57 (at) gmail (dot) com!)

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

Once again, it doesn't look like a very long list, but it's a lot of big projects!  It's certainly enough to keep me busy and out of trouble... unless we get snowed in!  But there's plenty of fabric on hand if that happens - I won't run out, that's for sure!

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

Hugs!

Sarah

It's That Time of The Year Again....

Hi, all!

Yes, it's getting to be that time of the year again - time to start thinking about the Hands2Help Challenge for 2016!  I know some of you have been working on your quilts since the end of last year's Challenge - I love your excitement and enthusiasm!  

If you'll remember, last year we started preparing for the Challenge with the Sweet Sixteen Quilt Along, an exploration of ways to use the 16-patch block in quilts...

...and in the same vein, this year we will be exploring the versatile nine-patch block!  I hope you'll join me for the Nifty Nines Quilt Along - I'll be sharing quite a few quilt designs using the nine-patch block in hopes of inspiring you to create some beautiful quilts for the Hands2Help Challenge this year!  The Quilt Along will start on January 31st and appear each Sunday night through March 6th.  Pick a design you like or come up with your own - it's all good!

The Hands2Help Challenge will start the following week, March 13th, with the reveal of our charities for 2016 and a chance to sign up and participate in the signup giveaway.  You can always sign up later, but there will be a giveaway for those who sign up the first week.  

An H2H quilt from past years...

As usual, we'll have guest bloggers and check-in dates, link parties along the way and a chance to meet the sponsors before the final link party the week of May 22nd.  Giveaways will be announced on March 29th, along with the final count of quilts!  

Quilts from Middle TN for H2H

As you can see, you've got plenty of time to pull a quilt together for the challenge! If you're like most, you've got some tops or UFOs tucked away that could be finished in time, and wouldn't it feel good to know that you've given someone in need a warm quilt-y hug?  I do hope you'll join in the fun!

Another beautiful H2H quilt!

FYI, I have six guest blogger spots open this year, so if you'd like to be a guest blogger, let me know!  You can post about pretty much anything - your own charity quilt efforts, a favorite pattern, how you juggle quilting and life, tips for a great quilting experience - the sky's the limit!  Just drop me a line at salliesue57 (at) gmail (dot) com if you are interested.

Are you excited?  I am!  Just a couple more weeks and we'll get this party started!

Hugs!

Sarah

FYI:  Hands2Help posts are always on Sundays.  If you want to be sure not to miss anything, you might want to sign up to follow by email (located in the upper left sidebar of this blog).