Ovarian Cancer: CYTL Blocks 16-19

Another squishy parcel in the mail!

These four lovelies are from Jean Swenson, who kindly offered to make three and then found a fourth block materialising (do you see what I did there?) out of the scraps on her work table. Funny how that happens, isn’t it?  Anyway, I’m delighted to have an extra!

So now we’re up to 19 blocks. Eleven to go. I still have blocks coming from Lynn and Gun and Sharon. Once they’re in, I’ll be able to start laying things out to see where the ‘gaps’ are in the overall effect, and can get cracking on making the ones I’ll still need.

I’m actually dying to get started, so exercising a little patience will be very good for my character.

But waiting is hard…

Ovarian Cancer: CYTL Blocks 11-15

And another batch!

Only one from me this time. Probably too much pink, but I wanted to do a really big heart and I got rather carried away with colour… So unlike me, eh? Yet another scrappy heart, and yes, I can tell you exactly what I used each fabric for, in the unlikely event you’re curious.

The other 4 were made by the lovely Robin, a regular Ovarian Cancer contributor, who has brought some much needed actual piecing to the table, rather than my appliqué frenzy!  I love those beautiful pale, gentle pinks, a great antidote to some of the rather strong colours I’ve, ahem, indulged myself with…

And now it’s time to stop, wait, and see what the mail brings me before I crack on with any more blocks. I may need to balance colour, fill gaps or add more of something or other. We’re halfway to the number we need now, so whatever happens, it won’t take long.

I love this bit. Opening mystery packages is fun!

Ovarian Cancer: CYTL Blocks 8-10

And here’s the next lot.

You saw Blocks 5, 6 and 7 for Can You Teal the Love in the latest ScrapHappy post, but today I’m returning to the partial use of new fabrics, specifically, some of the ones I was able to buy thanks to the Spotlight gift voucher donation.

It’s going to be important that there’s variety with these blocks. Some need to be dark, others light. Some colourful, some plainer to ‘rest’ the eye. Some will have a big hit of pink, others just a tiny dash. Quilts for this important cause need to be light-hearted and joyful, and playful, varied and colourful blocks is the way to go, in my mind.

So, I’m really looking forward to receiving the first of the several collaborative blocks which are on their way, so I can work to balance and create harmony with these creations from different sources.

I’m going to hold off making more blocks for a bit while I wait to see what arrives.

It’s all up to Australia Post, now!

 

Ovarian Cancer: Taking Flight

People can be extraordinarily generous.

Sue of From the Magpie’s Nest recently asked if I’d like a quilt top she’d made, for the benefit of Ovarian Cancer. It’s the most gorgeous thing!

As you can see, it’s predominantly teal, so perfect for the purpose, and that lovely dark orange flying geese border really makes it pop. She’s called it Taking Flight.

Well, I said yes, of course. She’s even sent matching fabric to make the binding once I have it quilted. I’m more than happy to provide batting, backing and quilting, particularly as it kept the postage costs down to merely ridiculous instead of outrageous!

My quilting skills are nowhere near as advanced as her son James’, who’s a professional, but I’ll do a simple but respectable job and do justice to her lovely creation.

So the Trudy Crowley Foundation are receiving a double whammy this year, which I feel they totally deserve after the fundraising desert of the past couple of years.

Thank you, Sue. You’re a star, and I’m sending you a big teal hug! 

 

ScrapHappy May: Sorry, it’s rather teal…

Welcome once again to ScrapHappy Day!

It’s the day my friend Gun in Sweden and I host ScrapHappy, a day for showing something made from scraps.

This month’s scrappiness is looking distinctly teal. Mainly because I’ve been gobbling up my teal scraps to make blocks for the latest Ovarian Cancer quilt. There’s another block done, but I’m not showing it because it’s not totally scrappy, even if it is totally teal-y 😊  I’ll probably show it in a few days together with the next batch of blocks.

ScrapHappy is open to anyone using up scraps of anything – no new materials. It can be a quilt block, pincushion, bag or hat, socks or a sculpture. Anything made of genuine scraps is eligible. If your scrap collection is out of control and you’d like to turn them into something beautiful or useful instead of leaving them to collect dust in the cupboard, why not join us on the 15th of each month? Either email me at the address on my Contact Me page, or leave a comment below. You can also contact Gun via her blog to join. We welcome new members. You don’t have to worry about making a long term commitment or even join in every month, just let either of us know a day or so in advance if you’re new and you’ll have something to show, so we can add your link. Regular contributors will receive an email reminder three days before the event.

Here are the links for everyone who joins ScrapHappy from time to time (they may not post every time, but their blogs are still worth looking at).

Kate, Gun, Eva, Sue, Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Susan, Cathy,  Tracy, Jill,
Claire, Jan, Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys,
Claire, Jean, Jon, Dawn, Jule, Gwen,
Bekki, Sunny, Kjerstin, Sue L, Vera,
Nanette, Ann, Dawn 2, Bear, Carol,
Preeti, Edith, Debbierose and Viv

See you next time for more scrappy loveliness.

Ovarian Cancer: CYTL Blocks 1-3

Can You Teal the Love has kicked off.

I have 4 blocks on the way from contributors already, more promised, and have finally got under way with my own.

Block 1 is a scrappy 16-patch with appliquéd hearts; the teal fabrics are from previous quilts and the pinks are scraps given to me by the Husband’s Aunty Marion when she had her big pre-move to Melbourne clear out. They’re perfect!

Block 2 is a mixture. The heart is a scrap of the fabric I used to make a dress about 6 months ago. The frame and background fabrics are new, bought with the donated Spotlight gift card I mentioned in the previous Ovarian Cancer post.

Block 3 is entirely recycled. The scrappy log cabin background was made for the In the Arms of the Angels quilt but wasn’t used as other blocks simply worked better in that space. (To the maker: You know who you are and why I haven’t attributed it 💗).

However, I never throw anything away, especially when it’s as pretty as this and it’s teal, and this made a perfect background for the tiny pink heart, itself a scrap from a previous quilt.

That’s where I’m up to so far. Only 10% of the total 30 blocks needed, but given how quickly these came together and how many more ideas I have, it shouldn’t be too much of a hassle to hit to total in a reasonable time frame.

Watch this space!

Ovarian Cancer: The Teal Haul #1

Some people are just SO kind.

A regular contributor was not able to spare any time for making blocks for the latest Ovarian Cancer quilt. Instead, she got online and sent me a gift voucher for Spotlight (think: Joann’s, the Hobby Lobby and your local quilt shop combined). She’s in Europe, and the amount she sent me represents a certain amount of fabric to her, but here, it buys a whole lot more!

Now, I have teal fabrics, but they’re a bit monochromatic in the sense that the values of the fabric colours are all very similar. And to make an interesting quilt, you need variation. So I made a point of buying fabrics which were a little darker, some of them rather teal-adjacent. I’ve also made a point of including colour, specifically the pink which is the wild card in this year’s Ovarian Cancer quilt.

So, there’s 4.5 metres of yardage, 10 fat quarters and a mini charm-pack. Enough for several quilts if combined with what I already have! I could have used the gift card exclusively to buy backing, but this way, I have the ability to make a much more interesting quilt, and I’ve still only used half the value of the gift card. So I can still buy enough backing for two more quilts.

And if you’re contributing, and debating what fabrics to buy, use this as inspiration to be a little playful, a little adventurous. The theme is very forgiving and a little extra colour is OK.

Thank you, E. I’m so very grateful!

Ovarian Cancer Quilts: We’re back in action!

Great news! Ovarian Cancer Fundraising is back on the agenda.

After a two year event hiatus thanks to The Rona, The Trudy Crowley Foundation is back in action, and a fund-raiser is on the agenda for early September, to help support the work of the newly-opened Trudy Crowley Centre. Take a quick look at the FB page on the link to see the amazing work they do at the newly opened Centre. I was there for the opening, and it was fantastic. They’ve created a marvellous safe space, conference room, self-care and advice haven for those with ovarian cancer and their families. It’s sterling work, and I’m proud to support it.

For those of you who previously worked on Ovarian Cancer quilts, you’ll be happy to know that the In the Arms of the Angels quilt is hanging prominently in the main meeting area for all to see.

As stated above, the event will be in early September. In order to co-ordinate, quilt and assemble the quilt in time for their photography deadline in mid-August, I’ll need the blocks mailed to me by the beginning of June. If you can fit this into your schedule and you’d like to participate, either for the first time or as a regular contributor, just email me (details on my Contact Me page) or leave a comment below and I’ll email you a brief.

And the name? Can you Teal the Love?

Over the hills and far away

It’s not often I get to hear where our Ovarian Cancer quilts go.

Mostly, we send them out into the blue, with love and the hope that they are doing some good and spreading some happiness.  Today, the blue spoke back!

Remember this lovely, one of our best ovarian cancer quilts, back in December 2018? It was a joy to work on and an outstanding result. Go Teal it on the Mountain has found its new forever home. Click on this link and scroll down to near the bottom of the comments, from Debra. Somewhere in Perth, WA, GTOM is bringing happiness to its new family.

This is why we do it, people. The next Nude Lunch fundraiser will be in early September next year, and as we have for the past several years, we’ll create another quilt. I haven’t yet decided which silly name to go with yet, but I will soon. We’ll kick off mid-April or early May, depending on whether I feel the design needs a bit of extra time.

So, a big thank you to Debra for letting me know, and another thank you to all the wonderful contributors.

Love your work 🙂

Scinteallate: what it was all for

The fundraiser was yesterday.

The event was fantastically successful. In the three years the Nude Lunch has been going, the number of attendees has doubled, the sponsors have quadrupled, and the sum raised has gone from $70,000 in 2018 to over $100,000 this year, nearly half as much again.

The proceeds fund a dedicated ovarian cancer palliative care nurse in Mackay, with the balance going to ovarian cancer research.

Those of you who worked on the quilt, who encouraged and offered support, you helped to make that happen. Thank you.

Here’s a link to our local TV news network’s FB page, with their coverage of the event. (It’s on mute, so you need to turn up the sound at bottom right) Sadly, you don’t see the quilt, but it gives you an idea of the scale of the thing. I’ve checked with the Nude Lunch directors, and they’ve told me that the bidding was enthusiastic and the quilt raised $1,230. Again, thank you.

We’ll be doing it again next year. If you’d like to be a part of it, whether again or for the first time, do get in touch. I promise I’ll give us a more reasonable deadline this time!

Well done, you lot. And thank you.