This is how it all began. I don't claim to be the first to make a quilt from left over blocks. It's in the best tradition of scrapbag quilters to use what they have. What I really am is a poor planner concerning the number of blocks I need for a quilt. Planning took too long! I cut, and sewed and cut more and sewed more. East to get too many blocks! Now I have a pile of leftovers to deal with. I have given them away, turned them into pillows or tote bags, but there always were more in the drawer. That's how this quilt was born. Using up the leftovers.
The purpose of this blog is to share quilts made from orphan(leftover) blocks of many genre, size and shapes and types.
I will post the quilts and tops I have made and hope to have examples from others who share this passion for odds and ends.
And as a means to enhance our Orphan Block Challenge. Ideas come from everywhere. Maybe you need an idea how to get started working with orphan blocks. Maybe you can find that here. I have lots more to say, but this is it for right now...*VBS* Hugs, Finn
*****Let's Celebrate!!!*****
The Riding the Orphan Train blog is ONE YEAR OLD on June 22,2008. Time for a celebration... AND...a giveaway...*VBS*I'd love to tell you what it will be, but, I'm still pondering that. It will be ONE OF MY QUILTS, not quite sure which one. If you want to celebrate with us, leave a comment at THIS post between NOW and JUNE 22nd. On the 22nd, I'll have Head Conductor Ebby draw a name from the coal bin. She's perfect for the job...she's black already *VBS* Aren't surprises fun????
28 comments:
I'll be the first to comment...and to say that I love this blog! I have not made an orphan quilt of my own, but I am fascinated by the creations shown here. I have almost no orphan blocks, but I DO have lots of pieced units, such as HSTs and strip-pieced segments. Someday, I will create something from these bits. Just keep the inspiration coming!
Oh Finn, I am soooooo happy to see this quilt again. I love love love this quilt. It has to be one of my all time favorites. I could just look at this quilt all day long. Thank you so much for sharing it with us again. I hope my name gets drawn by Ebby but if not I still have my Fiddling with Finn quilt I made out of the squares from lat summer. In fact it is on my bed right now.
Hi Finn, wow, one year already. I think this blog inspires us all to use up those orphans! Please put me in the drawing. I hope Ebby picks me!
This blog inspires me, thanks for showing all the wonderful quilts that have been made from left over blocks. I have started tidying and sorting all my left over bits and pieces, samples and left over blocks in readiness to make an orphan block quilt with them. Thanks for the inspiration.
It feels like those orphan blocks are mating like rabbits at night in my sewing room. Everywhere I look there they are and I wonder "where did you come from?"
Thanks for the inspiration to carral them all up and make something beautiful with them. Congrats on one year and heres to many more.
Sue Cahill
(sbonetsue at yahoo dot com)
Happy blog birthday! I'm glad to have been along for at least part of the ride... It is so inspiring to see things re-purposed and given another life, rather than being in a box on the shelf (or a bag in the closet).
If Ebby picks me, have her sign the gift with cat hair, since I don't have a cat!
Congrats on your one year blogiversary, Finn! I would love one of your quilts. Here, kitty, kitty.
One year already?? Hard to believe. This blog has definitely inspired me to tackle those orphan blocks. Some of my results I like better than others. It is an art I still need to work on. Keep the train rollin' ! Draw my name, Ebby! meow.
Happy, happy one year blogging. Iam working on an orphan with lots and lots of brights as we speak. Please include my name in your drawing.
Diannia
Happy blogiversary. Although I haven't got any orphans as such; you've taught me how to use up what I have got. Hope Ebby has respect for other cat owners!
Happy Blogaversary!!!
My pile of Orphan blocks is growing... my spare time is not.
As soon as the balance switches I will send you the Orphan quilts.
Thanks for the blog with a purpose...
Happy Birthday, Orphan Train Quit Blog!!
I love each and every one of these quilts. So wonderful!!!!
I just left a comment asking you to keep this blog up. I understand that blogging is time consuming, but perhaps this one could be one of those "blogging without obligation" ones. I would love to be entered in your blogaversary giveaway. Tell Ebby she mustn't be swayed by all the attention she is getting, but tell her, it is a her, isn't it?, that I will send her a mouse a month if I win! LOL. Just kidding!
It can't be a year since the train left the station. It was been great riding (reading) along. Where are we going next?
I love your blog and your quilts. Congratulations on a year!
I can't believe it has been a year already. When I read that it may be ending I was sad. I'm glad to hear it will continue at least for now. I love going back and looking at all the quilts. I would love to be in the drawing to win one of your quilts. I love looking at all your quilts too. I love the simplicity of them. Thanks for this site. Terry
I still think your Orphan Train Quilt should be on the cover of a book. Perhaps Ebby could be your co-writer as well as Head Conductor!
Oh yes - I'd love to celebrate with you! In person would be best but online is the second best. You have inspired so many of us to a new level of creativity with the orphan block-quilt challenge. I am eagerly compiling orphans again in a drawer in my sewing room. Someday there will be another orphan quilt born in my sewing room!
I've been so far behind with blog reading that I'm commenting very little these days. Your blogs are still among the first that I read - I always check Bloglines to see if you have a new post.
Hey, Ebby.........Paris would like you to come over and play so we could entice you with goodies. Anything your sweet little kitty heart desires, name it and it is YOURS. LOL
The orphan train has a special place in my life, it was finding a home for my heartache blocks that helped you and I become friends, Finn! Great work this last year and like Katie said, "what is next?"
Happy birthday Orphan Train!! I'd love to be in the draw if you're prepared to send to the UK :)
Very fun, indeed. One year old! Please include me in the revelries.
Marne
Finn, I thing you ought to write a book on orphan quilts. Your tutorials are so well done. And your blog is a constant inspiration and not just regarding the quilt world. I happily enter your give-away & am keeping my fingers & toes crossed. Thank you for taking the time to share all you do with the rest of us!
I had no idea you had another blog or I would have been reading it regularly too! I love the quilts made from orphan blocks.
Congrats on your one year anniversary. I love your blog and it has inspired me to make quilts out of my orphans. Thank you.
Hello Finn, Happy lst Anniversary. I have been reading your blog over the last twelve months.Tonight I clicked onto Riding the orphan train. What a great idea for leftover blocks? I don't normally follow a pattern and either have too much fabric or not enough. Please place me in the draw. Warmest Regards Lyn
hi again finn
how about the train "parks" in the siding for the Summer?
would love to be in the draw for your blog-i-versary
I'm hoping that I get my mojo back, I have a *ahem* few quilts that need finishing, let alone the pil of orphan 'bits'
I love this site and hope it will be around for a long time to come. Thanks for taking the time to tend to it and keep us enthused about working with those orphan blocks and pieces cluttering our sewing rooms. I would love to be added to your drawing. I am sure that anything you have taken the time to put together will be a real treasure.
God Bless!
Vanessa
I would love to celebrate the birthday. I wish I had more time to put an orphan block quilt together. Those 3 shoe boxes of blocks just keep shaming me. One day...
O Ebby, draw mine name!
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