Ovarian Cancer quilt: and we’re off!

The brief goes out today.

See below for the list of participants. These include names that either offered from last time or have joined from last month’s call to action. If you want to join us, or think you should be there too, by prior request or previous participation, let me know asap! Conversely, if you are on this list, but can no longer participate please let me know asap. Block allocation starts soon.

Me (Talltalesfromchiconia)
Kjerstin Mackie (Quimper Hitty)
Margaret Creek (The Crafty Creek)
Jean Swenson (Love Hugs)
Sue Brown (From A Magpie’s Nest)
Robin Murphy
Gun Adrian (Rutigt)
Vera Daniel (Life by a Compass not a Clock)
Amo House (View from our Hill)
Debbierose Horoba (Sew Rosey)
Tierney Davis Hogan (tierneycreates)

The quilt is called Teal Waters Run Deep, henceforth TWRD. No prizes for guessing there’s a water theme! As always, it’ll be a 30 block quilt, 5 across and 6 down.  This year, there’s a bit more organisation involved, and parts of it will be done on a first come, first served basis.  If you’re participating, please start pulling your darker teals.

Let’s work together to do some good. 

Ovarian Cancer Quilt: This Teal’s on Fire is done

After about 10 miles of hand stitching….

The quilt is finished. Front – and of course the wind was blowing so things are flapping about in the breeze…

And back. Isn’t that backing fabric just the best? (Thank you, Anne!)

Label detail. Grateful thanks to all those who participated, both new and veterans of the past nine (can you believe it!) Ovarian Cancer fundraisers. Love your work, and huge hugs to you all.

I’m going to give myself a short break from hand stitching before my right paw falls off. Particularly since I’ve had to cease taking my pain and migraine meds for 48 hours prior to some tests, and things are not especially cheery 😕

Now, off to phone the director of the Trudy Crowley Foundation to set up a handover date for this and the matching cushion. The fundraiser is on 8th September, but at this stage I don’t know if they’re raffling or auctioning it.

If you’d like to participate in next year’s effort, let me know, and I’ll put you on the list. I have a theme in mind already!

And that wraps it up for another year.

Ovarian Cancer Quilt: TTOF blocks quilted

I’ve finished quilting all the blocks, and they’re trimmed out.

Quilting is a simple cross-hatch format on a 3″ grid, done in teal. I debated grey, which would be more neutral, but the problem with grey is that it doesn’t match anything. At least the green coordinates, even if it stands out a bit extra on the paler backgrounds.

Next job is to cut all the sashing strips. After that, I can start building the quilt. I also have to finalise the label text and print out the transfer so I can make it up. I wondered about hitting the target of delivering at the end of the month, but at this rate I think I’m going to make it.

Cross your fingers that all goes well!

Ovarian Cancer Quilt: TTOF #31

And the last blocks are in!

I got home from our trip to find two squishy envelopes, with TTOF quilt blocks in them! Two from Margaret, beautiful and original…

And one further one from Robin, who wanted to go all out on a New York Beauty. I think we can safely say she succeeded!

Now that I have them, I was able to come up with a pinned layout I like for the quilt which plays to the strengths of each block. True to the theme, This Teal’s on Fire, I wanted the wheel element to speak clearly, and I think the blocks I’ve received have enable me to showcase each one whilst at the same time building a larger wheel story in the centre of the quilt.

Layout building is always about balance. Not having too much darkness on one side or the other. Balancing light and dark, pale and saturated, and in this case, amounts of the accent colour, across the whole. At present, I’m pretty content with this layout, but as always, I’m happy to listen if someone feels strongly about the location of any individual block. I do, however, reserve the right to go with my own preference in the final version. So hit me with those comments!

Don’t take too long though. I need to finalise the layout by the end of the week as this quilt needs to be finished by the end of the month.

No pressure, then…

 

Ovarian Cancer Quilt: TTOF #30

I think we may be almost there…

Today, I got two NYBs from Amo, and a bonus Dresden Plate. We’d become a little concerned because the combined efforts of the Royal Mail and Australia Post had taken an entire month to get here. But today, the package finally arrived. And boy, was it worth the wait.

Amo has made four absolutely gorgeous 6½” NYB quarter blocks, leaving the final arrangement of the quarters up to me, so these quarters are unsewn. I love this idea, because a) I get full circles and b) I can arrange them for maximum colour impact.

As well as that, the Dresden plate block has no background yet, since she couldn’t choose from amongst her many options and doing it this way gives me the option to choose either a dark or a light background, according to the layout.

There are other blocks still on the way, another from Robin and the package from Margaret. At this rate I’ll probably not need the 4 scrappy cornerstone blocks I made for ScrapHappy, but we’ll see.

I’m starting to think that I may need to add another row!

Ovarian Cancer: TTOF #12

…aaaand the penultimate blocks.

These four gorgeous New York Beauty blocks are from Jean. Jean and I were a bit worried about them for a bit, as they seemed to have gone astray, but they were safely delivered this morning 😊

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have a plan for where to place them on the quilt, but it will need to wait for the final block from Robin, which will hopefully arrive in a few days, as it’s coming from within Australia.

In the meantime, I’ve made the usual ‘teal ribbon’ block for the centre of the bottom line.

And lastly, I’ve decided to make a matching cushion cover to go with the quilt. I was making an experimental block at the start of the project, which due to my poor quilt math has turned out too large to be included by two inches. Grrr. So, cushion cover it is. The back will be a block from the current collection which does not fit in or blend harmoniously enough with the rest. This way, no blocks are wasted or rejected, and the Trudy Crowley Foundation get something extra for their fundraiser.

I’ve cut out all the backing squares, and the next couple of days will see me do the same with the batting. After that, it’ll be sandwiching everything and hopefully by that time, I’ll be able to finalise the layout.

So, not too long to wait till my work can start.

Ovarian Cancer: TTOF #11

Another batch of blocks.

This latest lot I carried home from our recent trip to Melbourne to visit Chippy.

Among other quilty delights we enjoyed while I was there, she had made these for me to add to the growing collection for the latest Ovarian Cancer quilt.

We also had the fun of unboxing her new sewing machine. She’s now in love with it!

More textile loot from Melbourne came in the form of the quilt backing fabric, which can often be a bit meh…  it’s the back, after all. But not this time! The lovely Anne gave me a Spotlight gift card at our Sunday morning brunch, since she doesn’t make quilts and this was her way to contribute.

I knew exactly what to do with it, as I’d seen a fabric online that I knew would be perfect for my vision for the back.

It’s a large-scale digital print based on a photo of a pāua shell, and the moody, pearlescent colours are exactly right, especially as there are tiny hints of orange in there too!

Imagine that print cut into 12 inch squares, separated by a dark teal sashing, and you get the idea of how the back will look.

And the gift card was exactly enough to cover the cost, so I think that’s fate, don’t you?

There are two more sets of blocks on the way according to my notes, which I need before I can finalise the layout. To save a bit of time I might just start sandwiching the ones I have to give myself a bit of a head start on the process, particularly as we have a 4-day trip in the caravan coming up next month.

Plenty to be getting on with, either way.

Ovarian Cancer Quilt: TTOF #10

And another lovely set in the mail yesterday.

These are from Lynn, who’s taken an interesting and more abstract approach to the Teal/Wheel theme by suggesting the spokes rather than the rim! Lovely foundation paper piecing, especially considering she said she hasn’t done any since the last Ovarian Cancer quilt.

I shall have quite a job putting all the blocks together when the time comes, as the responses vary so much from very traditional to very modern. I’m looking forward to it.

Still more on the way. I suspect I shall be away when the next lot arrives, but that can’t be helped.

Something to look forward to, then.

Ovarian Cancer Quilt: TTOF #9

Another squishy today, handed to me in person by the postie.

This one’s from Cathy, who has made me a beautiful Dresden Plate with the perfect amount of orange and some of the beautiful fabrics I first saw a couple of quilts ago, for Go Teal it on the Mountain.

The number of blocks is rising and very soon, I’ll be able to start laying things out to see where we have gaps that need filling, or colour schemes that need boosting.

Now, if you’ve sent a block or two and it hasn’t arrived yet, don’t worry that I’ll be away next week. Our lovely right hand neighbours take care of our mail, the ones over the back fence mind the chooks, and the ones across the road phone us if they see anything weird. So your blocks will not go astray. I know for sure of two more sets in the mail, and I’m keeping my eyes peeled.

For now, though, I’m thinking Scrappy thoughts for tomorrow…

Ovarian Cancer Quilt: TTOF #8

Another fabulous Dresden Plate.

This one’s from Debbierose, and is fully hand stitched, and it’s perfect! I’m really loving how all the different fabrics and block designs are coming together to make what will be a sensational quilt. I especially love how she’s used fabrics with circular motifs to reinforce the theme.

I’m crossing fingers that a few more will come through this coming week, as I’m away in Melbourne the week after. If you’ve sent a block and I haven’t posted it or emailed you yet, don’t worry, it’ll be because I’m away for a week.

Once I’m back, I should be better placed to see what still needs to be made to finish.