Planning Overload

I've been reading the sewing blogs, and have become envious of those who can plan their fall sewing, even down to a color palette. I've always been more of a "see a great pattern, find some fabric, and make it" kind of girl. However, it does seem like a good idea, especially so you don't end up with things that don't go with anything else.


So I got really ambitious, and pulled out patterns, fabric from my stash, and even bought new patterns and fabric to fill in some gaps. And then I made a list. All of that listing and planning became something of an embarrassment of riches when a friend pointed me to another blog with a great and simple project.


Homemade Sundresses for Haiti

Project HOPE Art recently visited an orphanage in Port-au-Prince and discovered that the young girls had very little to wear. She came home and started the homemade dress drive for these girls. A very simple project with a free downloadable pattern from oliver + s which you can get here. Before getting caught up in what to make for me, I'm going to add in a little sewing for those less fortunate. I hope you'll visit this website and consider joining in as well. The deadline is December.

Last October, my husband went on a mission trip to Haiti. This is one of his pictures, two adorable Haitian children that were fascinated with the digital cameras and getting their picture taken.

A Few More Quilt Blocks

...and now I'm done. I let myself get carried away making these 12-1/2" blocks for the Rainbow Around the Block project, with a grand total of 31 blocks made. I found it really is easier to make at least 2 of one design if possible, and it doesn't really take that much longer than making one. But I'm not telling quilters anything they don't already know.

I did manage to scrounge up some orange bits to make two blocks in honor of any University of Tennessee fans living in Nashville. These 2 blocks took up the majority of my orange fabric that isn't specifically a fall or Halloween design.

This blue one is more youthful, and I love the brightness of it:

But I think out of all of them, this is my favorite:

For pictures of more of my blocks, and the blocks of other quilters, take a look at the Group Pool of photos on flickr.com.

If you feel the urge to use up some scraps, and make some of your own 12-1/2" blocks for the project, the deadline for submitting them is September 1. You can mail them to:
Anna Maria Horner
attn: RAINBOW
1730 Old Hickory Blvd
Brentwood, Tn. 37027
And now, I'll be back to making muslins.

Rainbow Around the Block

It's official. I'm obsessed with making quilt blocks today. Forget that darn shirtdress. On the latest round of "voting" most of you admitted to not liking the stripe. The blue is a lightweight linen, and I don't have enough to make the whole dress out of it, so it's back to the drawing board. For the record, I was pretty ambivalent about the stripe, so no hard feelings. I'm thinking a simple solid now.

But the quilt blocks! I can't remember which blog I discovered this project on, but it's a quilting project for the flood victims in Middle Tennessee spearheaded by Anna Maria Horner, an author, and fabric and pattern designer who lives in Nashville. Clicking on her name will take you to more information about this project. It's been going on all summer, but didn't really hit my radar screen until this weekend, and now I can't stop making these blocks!

I'm really having fun going through my scrap drawers, and trying to stick to the rainbow theme. I've got red, yellow, green and blue, and those pastel blocks so far. I'd love to make some orange blocks just for the Tennessee folks, but this Georgia girl's stash is woefully short on that particular color. I might be able to scrounge up enough for one block. This is my favorite so far:

Nashville has a particular place in our hearts now since Kyle has been attending Vanderbilt, and Laura and Thomas moved there after their wedding. Kyle was, in fact, in Nashville during the flooding, and true to 19 year old college boy style, when I called him to see if he was ok, and see if Vanderbilt had had any flooding, he was only barely aware that it had been raining! In fairness, it was the first weekend of finals, so he was probably studying. A mom can dream anyway! =)

Time is running out, as the final deadline for sending your blocks is September 1. Be sure to visit the Rainbow Around the Block flickr group for more inspiration!