H2H finishes, almost

      This year, I am participating in Sarah's Hands 2 Help Challenge. I have three quilts that are going to Quilty Hugs for Happy Chemo. I was helped by a donation of three tops from Alycia's friends. Two quilts are done and ready to go. The third got bumped behind two comfort quilt requests. Just one before it now. Once the third quilt is quilted and bound, all three are going in a box to Quilty Hugs
      When I first received the three tops, I decided to enlarge each of them by adding borders. Glide Pearl for the quilting.

As it came to me

Borders added

All quilted and ready to go

     The next quilt, I added the green border and pieced the back because my math was whoopsie. Glide Celery for the quilting.

Pieced back

     Number Three is coming! It is hanging on a hanger right next to the longarm.

Tree peonies stun me again

     I have a pink tree peony plant in my front garden. It is craggy sort of plant, but at this time of the year it is show stopping. The peonies are over 10" in diameter, smell heavenly and the variations in the colors are mesmerizing. They deserve their own post today. I have some magenta ones in the back, but they are not quite open yet. Such an easy to care for plant and no pest seems to bother them. My Asiatic lilies are another matter however. These are not the shrub peonies that die back every year. I hope you enjoy the show!

Blue and green diagonals delivered

      As soon as I quilted the Blue and Green diagonal variations, it was bound and the comfort quilt package was put together and delivered by the person who referred the recipient. I think that works best as I stay out of it and it strengthens the bonds between the recipient and the person who requested.
      I do not usually hear from the recipient, but the woman (who is also named Linda), sent me a beautiful letter. She typed it as she is too weak to write. Here is an excerpt of what she wrote about the quilt, "My quilt is the most beautiful quilt I have ever seen! The jewel colors of the blues, purples, and greens are stunning. The intricate and somewhat whimsical stitching is so awesome."
     Now what better motivation to keep making comfort quilts can there be than that? I don't really need to be motivated, but it makes me determined to keep finding a way for resources and time to keep it going as long as I have breath.

Comfort quilt package, XXL ziplock will seal it up to be clean and protected.

Quilted with Glide thread, Sky

Detail

Back

Two quilts on the design wall at the same time, yikes.

Alycia's Mystery A12 Finished

      I have been MIA in posting blogs because I just haven't been able to write them. I take the photos, keep sewing, and read everyone else's but can't write mine. I have been super fatigued since my second shot in early March and my mental energy is not right.
     Alycia held the A12 mystery quilt recently and I finished my top. The last step was to put the side triangle alongside the churndash blocks. When I tried the dark blue, the quilt looked drab to me. I tried string piecing the squares to be cut into triangles, but I used reds and blues and it looked awful. I tried again using a variety of blues and it worked- I love the quilt now. I pieced the strings diagonally on newsprint, trimmed and then cut them into the triangles. I added about 1/2" extra and it made piecing the triangles easier. I staystitched all around because so much is on the bias or tiny pieces. Have to find a back now. Thanks, Alycia for another great pattern. If you read her blog, stop in and give her a word of encouragement as she just lost her mom.

Solid blue or mixed red and blue did not do it for me