Riding The Orphan Train

New Quilt on the Orphan Train....

2011-07-25T12:48:00.001-05:00

from our own Del Jeanne. She has created this lovely quilt for a dear friend. I'll let her tell you about it. "It's been awhile since I've written to you. The attached quilt was made for a friend when she lost her mother. Several contributed orphan blocks for it. She had told us she liked earth tones, but also bright colors. When I had all the blocks, they were pretty well divided between the two colorways, so I did an every other block layout, which worked out great! I found backing fabric combining the two major colors (red and earthy green)".
Del Jeanne

Re-Printed from August 23, 2007...what we should remember..

2011-06-18T22:07:00.003-05:00

Thursday, August 23, 2007
Messages from the past....remember me...
As I read the comments about my last post,far off in the distance, I could hear the sounds of an old stream drawn train. The long lonesome whistle calls at the stations and crossings, the clicky-clack as those steel wheels inched their way West. I was amazed and moved by comments left regarding ancestors who rode the orphan train. Excellent factual information was provided and a link to a wonderful website that I'm adding to our sidebar. We, the little group participating in this orphan blocks challenge, know what our challenge is about. If there is blame to be placed, ...it is for me. I'm the one who called my quilt 'Riding the Orphan Train', and it was an 'honoring' of same when I did. A sharing of knowledge about those trains, and the stories of the children and the families then created is a much bigger thing.
I wrote to Ann and asked permission to share her comments more publically. She graciously agreed and thanked me.
Ann said...
"My grandmother, Marjorie Peterson, was an orphan train rider. She was indentured as a nanny by a family in MN at the age of 8. The family changed her name from Mary to Marjorie. In her middle years, Grandma wrote her autobiography, which my family knew, but it remained private until her death in 1991 (age 93). I made a quilt in Grandma's memory and use it when I read from her autobiography and tell her heartwarming story to audiences (including quilt guilds!) across the US. An article that I wrote about the orphan trains and her story was published in "Quilters Newsletter Magazine," Jan/Feb 2005. Read the article, see my "orphan train" quilt and learn more on my website at www.crocuslanequilts.com. My book "They Named Me Marjorie" was published in June 2006."

Interesting note: The term "orphan train" is somewhat misleading because Charles Loring Brace/Children's Aid Society and other placement agencies never used this term for their placements but rather The Home Finding Department or Emigration Department. Almost one-third of the children from the CAS may have been placed in New York and never rode a train. The Foundling Hospital sent out "baby" or "mercy" trains. The term orphan train may have been coined as recently as 1978 when CBS aired a miniseries called "The Orphan Trains." Nonetheless, the period from 1854 to 1929 (75 years!)and the adoption/indenture/foster care placement of an estimated 250,000 children was the most significant movement of children in the US and was the genesis of American adoption and foster care programs.

August 19, 2007 9:03 PM Ann's website is www.crocuslanequilts.com

Evelyn of Starfishy Quilting mentioned that Anne in Anne of Green Gables might have been an orphan train rider. From what I remember, Anne came from an orphanage, but I don't think she would have been on the train, as the story is set on Prince Edward Island. The Orphan Train was used in the United States.
Annie, of Little Orphan Annie, altho not an orphan train rider, could have been. The story is was set in the 1920's in New York City. The setting would have been a fairly typical orphanage. There are many examples of how little value these children had in society. One of the American Girl's stories...Samantha, is set about 1904 and deals with a girls orphanage. Again, the conditions are similar to the other stories. The Little Princess is another, And Cider House Rules comes to mind.

We don't have orphans as such, in America anymore. In the dictionary sense, a child is an orphan if there are no parents to claim and take responsibilty for the child. In today's world,it takes a bit of time,but a child left without parents becomes a ward of the State. This "ward-ship" stands(as parent)to the child until they are legally adopted, either by family members or someone who wants them. Three of my chlidren were surrendered to the State of Wisconsin. Two were surrendered to the ward-ship of a private agency.

Climbing those mountains.....

2010-11-27T11:23:00.001-06:00

takes a full head of steam from the old Orphan Train. Mostly it's a 'slow-go'...but progress is being made. This "begun" has grown...
into this over the past week. The parts in use are mostly from Em. Sometimes I dis-assemble or partly dis-assemble an orphan block and it becomes something else. That's the case with the little tan house in the lower left corner. And the row of pinwheels.
This humble beginning, mostly Em's...has been growing quite nicely also.

As of this morning, it looks like this. This top has parts from Sara, Em, San,Betsy and my pineapple passion bonus HSTs. There isn't much of anything you can do wrong working on an orphan blocks and bits quilt top. No rules to follow, not many suggestions. Working row by row, is perhaps the easiest. All you need is the materials; orphan blocks and leftover parts. Fitting them together usually involves "fillers" or odds and ends of scraps. Keeping the row the same height is about the only challenge. Some of your rows might be 12" high while others can be 6". When you reach the width you want, stop or chop off the extra...easy peasy! Give it a try during your play time.

New Beginnings...jumping in, pushing on....

2010-11-12T11:09:00.002-06:00

Every child is different, similar in make-up, but unique. The same is true of Orphan block quilts. I thought I'd share a journey with you, from the beginning......hopefully to the end. In my last post I share a peek into the box of orphans and scraps from Em of Em's Scrapbag. The unit you see in today picture are "parts" I pulled from that box....6 rectangles of fabric. I'm not sure if they came from the same quilt or not. It really doesn't matter in Orphan block quilts. I thought they are a bit on the dark side, but they sort of seem to like each other. So I sewed them together. And where does it go from there? Well, anywhere your heart desires. I keep an assortment of scraps in containers near my machine. Last week I got new scraps from Betsy. One of those hadn't made it into a drawer as yet. It was long enough to put on two sides of my new "center" unit, altho the scrap was narrower on one end than the other. Does that matter, nope! So lets sew it on and see.

Looks good to me...definitely a darker feeling, but ok. This morning, as I sewed the Corn and Beans UFO for Pieces from my scrapbag, I needed something to send through as a leader and ender. There was left over binding near the machine from the dozen potholders I made for DD in early October. Hmmm, that light with touches of gold looks pretty good next to the dark, so I sewed that on. And that's how it begins...an Orphan Blocks Medallion is being born. What will I add next? Well, we'll just wait and see. It could become an "almost" Round Robin type, but probably not. It would be hard to have enough of anything to fit around 4 sides.

Cold mornings, cold engine....

2010-11-09T14:36:00.001-06:00

makes for very slow start ups! Boy, am I not the slowest of the slow? There is an old saying "the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak", fits me to a T. I did, however, get a kick start this past week. It arrived in the form of orphan blocks and spare parts from Em of Em's Scrapbag. She has graciously shared scraps and blocks with me before, and it add so much fun getting new ones to play with. Thank you again Em!
And it certainly was a week of gifts. I had lunch with friend Betsy, my sewing buddy, last week. She sent me home with a bag of selvedges and some of her orphan blocks. She does alot of MAM(mile a minute) piecing, but doesn't do orphan block quilts. I don't mind, I'm happy to get them.
Here a small top I made from very small homespun or brushed flannel scraps. They were all in a box of donated orphans. The majority were the size you probably don't save. But the Finn in me wanted to see what she could do with them. I was amazed to get 36 6" blocks with very little left overs.

I'm thinking it probably needs a border to "stop" it at the edges. I'm considering black. Any opinions?? I also wondered about a rust, or maybe even a reddish purple.

A Reckoning....

2010-09-28T15:56:00.001-05:00

now that's a phrase you don't hear much anymore...LOL. But I like it and it fits todays business. I've strayed away from the sorting of projects and parts, but not too far. My Chippewa gathering basket is serving its purpose well. It now holds orphan blocks and orphan block tops that I've begun and need to finish up. It helps to took through them, sort them somewhat by size or color. Add a few more with lime green to the "beginnings" I already have partly formed, etc. And it emptied two boxes and 1 drawer in the process.
These are stacks of orphans. The ones on the left are from several of you, just waiting to be chosen and used. The pile on the right is all from one quilt and one person, Susan of WI. I'm not sure she reads this blog, but she knows of my work with orphans and sent these along last spring. I think there may be enough for a small quilt in just this pile...we'll see. Lots of lovely batiks in here and great colors. Makes me wonder about the quilt they are left from.

And last but not least, our trusty resident critic, Ebony. She has a BIG day coming up tomorrow. It's her ANNIVERSARY...4 years ago tomorrow, the 29th of September, she arrived in the Valley. Full of complaints and ready to re-structure my life. We've gradually found a comfortable relationship and altho the complaints come hot and heavy at times, she's uniquely herself and here to stay. Tomorrow a look back at her best moments *VBS*

What's cooking...?

2010-09-26T11:48:00.001-05:00

Beginnings of a new MAM quilt top, for one thing. As I had mentioned in the post below, I found I really like the MAM blocks latticed. And the pre-cut purple paisley from friend Jean worked well. But moving right along, I have a lot of odds and ends of 2" white and off white strips laying around. I'm not in the mood for a log cabin, and decided they would do nicely for lattice in this MAM. I've got a stack cut at 2" X 6.5" and am adding them to blocks as I finish each block.
Saturday I did some marathon sewing accompanied by Season One of The Waltons. The aqua and white burp cloths were given me pre-cut from scrap flannel(One side plain and one patterned). They are a bit smaller than I make them, but didn't let that stop me. The other 3 are made from one gently used receiving blanket. I wouldn't "gift" them( from used flannel) but they will help DD#2 with baby AJ. Poor little guy, he's has acid reflux despite the fact he is being nursed. He spits up A LOT! So the 8 of these are off to his Mommy. I have a couple more gently used receiving blankets and will sew those up for her too. Flannel burp cloths wash, dry and wear beautifully, and get softer with use.
I managed to get several pillowcases cut, and at least one is sewn. It's headed off to a young man who needs a new one *VBS*

And in the scrappy odds and ends department, this oldie is back out and on the table. Hoping to get enough units made to finish it up...SOON!!

Greasing the gears....

2010-09-24T11:39:00.001-05:00

Boy, it's been a very LONG dry spell here on the Orphan Train, hasn't it? I suppose I could/should hang my head in shame and slink away....but....I'm not a "slinker". So I'll just hop back onboard and carry on from here. Join me if you care to...*VBS* This blocks are a smaller version of the fungly blocks Tonya and Bonnie had us making, maybe 2 years ago. They have been sitting in a container taking up space and storage for long enough!
I had a similar container with the siggy blocks from my Y2K swaps. I swapped 25 2.5" squares plus a siggy blocks with lots and lots of gals I had met on The World Wide Quilt Page. Didn't know what to do with the siggy blocks, so I made them into 9 patches, and then they sat...and sat...and sat! My recent mojo boost got me thinking and doing! I combined the two containers and now I have a small wall quilt for my sewing room.
I do have lots and lots of orphans to play with, but I pulled out a couple of older projects, determined to make some progress on them, or finish them! I like to sew in the morning, with my cup of coffee and a DVD. I sew for about the length of the DVD episode(or two) and then get busy with my day. I decided it's the perfect length of time to make progress on an existing project. I could be(and love)doing more MAM blocks, no cutting or planning required, but I need some of these older projects to be GONE. So that's my focus right now. Senior moment and I can't remember if I showed the quilt below or not. It's a MAM quilt, with the lattice compliment of friend Jean, all pre-cut into 2.5" strips. This one went off for donation. I like the look quite a bit, and think I will be doing another in this style.

Change of plans.....

2009-11-20T20:17:00.002-06:00

And at least a full weeks warning if you want to join me next Friday in my Frugal Friday shindig.
I was off to a good start this a.m. but a call from my son's employer changed my day. He managed to crush one finger on his hand in a machine at work. Guess I'm the next best thing to 911 since he lives alone. I have pathetically little sewing to show you, but I will be back with a picture...I promise!

Tomorrow is Friday....A Finn Frugal Friday Feature..

2009-11-19T15:03:00.002-06:00

coming your way. Are you ready? Do you want to play? Do you need more warning than this?? Well...I did mention it last Friday...does that count??I'm going to DO IT!! Every Friday til next year, if I can. Does it matter what you sew? Not really, but it would be fun if it was something 'improv'. Blocks from the orphan box, maybe just one or two,with stuff added. Or sting blocks, if you aren't sure about orphans.
I don't remember that we've had a lot of string blocks, or quilts, shown on the Orphan Train. But Mary, at Making Scrap Quilts from Stash, has loads of them. It's an ongoing project, and ALL of November is one BIG BLOCK PARTY with them. Why not sew up some to donate?

Or play in your scrap box or Scrap Saver's cut strips? I'm going to start sewing about 9 CST..and will sew through pretty much the whole day. I'm thinking about orphan blocks, and have spent some time today pulling some into a box. I mostly fly by the seat of my pants, so we'll see what tomorrow brings. Might just be that I'll sew string blocks *VBS* I will post my progress at the end of the day..a real Frugal Friday Feature *VBS*

I've misplaced my Frugal Fridays....

2009-11-13T12:54:00.002-06:00

think I'd better fix that. A few weeks back, Michele, of Hearts and Hands, posted a wonderful quilt that she called "Everything but the Kitchen Sink". I love the quilt and I love the idea of making Friday a day dedicated to the piecing of such. If you have orphan blocks laying around, or odd parts and bits of things, try sewing them to each other. Probably 'filler' strips or squares may be needed. It's not hard. You can't do it wrong. It starts small and grows, like a garden. The sewing machine is your plot of earth, and a un-used quilt square is your 'seed'. Take it from there and see what happens*VBS* These happy little string guys came tucked into a box of fabric and orphan blocks I received from Julie, of Through the barn door. I love them...there aren't many, but they will make a great center for a orphan block medallion. I sewed them together on Wednesday. They are in an unpressed state laying here for their picture.
This almost completed top is like Michele's "Everything" quilt, except she used her orphans and I've used dontated orphans *VBS* This one could be pinned and quilted. Time to get busy again!!!
And here's another waiting for pinning. Again made with donated orphan blocks. I'm always happy to accept those from any of you gals who have no desire to work with them. I know that time is often very precious, due to work schedules and young children. Luckily I have lots of time and not many committments. Think about having a Frugal Friday in your week *VBS* Hugs, Finn

A long day's journey....

2009-11-11T17:03:00.006-06:00

Things have been pretty quiet here at the Orphan Train. Most everyone is busy with one project or commitment or another. Including me. Of course I feel guilty about that, but it is what is. Last week a received a neat letter from Sue, Of From the Magpie's Nest. She has made a wonderful new Orphan Train quilt and wanted to share it with us. I'm going to add her words, but this time they will ALL be under the pictures and you'll have to fit them in where they go...LOL Today was a whole new form of getting this published from her files to my photo publisher...took awhile, but I got! Enjoy *VBS*

finished the top and backing for my flannel Lincoln Logs friendship quilt and realized that I still had a lot of flannel left over. Then I read about the Hope Squared Project (http://margaretshopechest.blogspot.com/). They’re trying to create some 400 quilts to distribute to homeless school children in Grand Rapids, MI. I have ties to the area and felt compelled to contribute something if I could. I started by cutting 3” patches out of my flannel scraps and making 4Patch blocks. Then I made a couple of heart blocks. Then some liberated stars. I decided I wanted to make a quilt big enough for an older child (but not as big as twin size!) so I started putting the blocks together in rows roughly 54” wide. I used strips of the flannel scraps as filler between the blocks and kept making 4Patch blocks as leaders and enders. I even made a few Pinwheel blocks. Eventually I put together four rows, each one 12 or 15” high. Then I had to figure out where to place the rows in relation to each other. There were some more strips added to make things fit, and the 4Patch and Pinwheel blocks sort of became top and bottom borders. Voila! A 54 x 72” quilt made entirely out of leftovers!

Season's Greeting.....

2009-08-08T14:24:00.001-05:00

It's never to early to think about making a lovely quilt for the holiday season *VBS* Here is another of Del Jeanne's creations, using Orphan Blocks.

"A Christmas Gathering"--Christmas orphans collected over several years--made some, won some, had some given to me, but I think they look nice together!"
I hope Del Jeanne will continue to make Orphan Train quilts, she does a super job!

Doubled Delight...

2009-08-07T16:01:00.001-05:00

Here I am, as promised, back with not just ONE, but TWO of Del Jeanne's orphan block quilts. I decided to combine them in one post, they seem to belong together. Here's what Del Jeanne had to say about the two of them. "Orphan Blocks Soldier Quilt"--just more patriotic orphans, put together for a wounded soldier (like "For An American Hero" which you already have a picture of)."

"Soldier Quilt"--same as above--fewer orphan blocks, but lots of orphan scraps that made crumb style blocks for it!"
I'll be back tomorrow with another great Orphan Train quilt. We're rolling.....

New Orphan blocks quilts...

2009-08-06T12:45:00.002-05:00

Part 1 *VBS* I received a lovely email last week from Del Jeanne. She has been an Orphan Train traveler for awhile now, and her latest creations are lovely. This is the first of 4 that she is sharing with us. I'll let her tell you about this one in her own words.

"Autumn Potpourri" was given to a friend who lost her husband. He was only 55, and she's a few years younger. I made several of these blocks from autumn charms I received in a guild swap shortly after plunging into quilting. Not really being a lover of autumn colors, they languished out of sight for a long time. Then I won a few autumn blocks in a guild block raffle, and was given a few more, so I finally got inspired to put all of them together. Right after I finished it, her husband died--in November, so it seemed like it was destined for her."
I've decided to split the quilts into 4 seperate posts *VBS*, come back tomorrow to see another lovely creation by the very talented Del Jeanne. As far as I know Del Jeanne doesn't have a blog, so be sure to leave her some compliments here!

Rolling.....

2009-06-28T11:26:00.003-05:00

onward in my new quest *VBS* Have you decided to join Michele and I in the Virtual Quilting Bee for Charity? I hope so *VBS* This box of "goodies" from Chris in San Diego, CA has been adding and fueling my actions the past couple of days. As I use her generous donation of parts, bits, strings and blocks, I feel like a pirate with a treasure chest. As I mentioned yesterday, the hospital wash basin,filled to nearly overflowing with MAM beguns(or as friend Ila called it this a.m., "quilt seeds"...don't you just love it?)jolted me into action. I mentioned, over at Pieces, that I would estimate one to two hundred "seeds" that would become MAM blocks. I decided it would be fun(for me, who loves a challenge)to ACTUALLY count them. But not just count...to count out 10 PER DAY and finish them into 6.5" blocks. Why 10? Well, at 6.5", 10 of them gives a vertical row of 60". And that's a good length for a donation quilt *VBS*
Here's the collage I made of various parts I found in Chris's treasure box. Some of these are already part of a quilt, some before the picture was even taken back in May. I am re-running it in thanks to Chris and all the others great gals who have donated orphan blocks, scraps and parts over the 2 years of this blog. The variety I have to chose from really makes it fun and much easier to make the Orphan Train and associated quilts. Thanks to ALL of you! *VBS*

In the midst of the letters and numbers.....

2009-06-27T19:21:00.002-05:00

I sometimes get lost!! This is technically NOT a second post...*VBS*...I manage to mess up where I inserted the text in the post below. When I try to correct it, I get an error message that will NOT let me re-publish...soooooo...here are the links you need to Michele's Virtual Quilting Bee and to my post about the pan of scraps.

"Goin' take a sentimental journey....."

2009-06-27T19:05:00.000-05:00

...gonna set my heart at ease". Yup, another old favorite song *VBS* Life is a journey, altho we tend to lose track of that little fact. Life doesn't happen all at once, it's a process and mostly we are too absorbed in our daily life to step back and measure. I don't know how other people feel about "measuring", I wish I did. I'm rather old to have just come to the realization that I'm an 'inchworm' in discuise. That's a song I like also *VBS*. The lucky inchworm measures the marigolds. I am, undoubt, a more sinister measure-er. The passage of time fascinates me. I might as well try to count the grains of sand on the beach as to grasp the passage of time, of things in motion, of movement. And yet, it is that ability to measure time that helps seperate us from the animal kingdom. So why all the talk of measuring?? Well, yesterday I blogged about scraps(and pieces)yet again at my regular blog, Pieces from my scrapbag. This sidebar, as well as that one, contain pictures and tutorial about my approach to scraps. I showed this pan(an old hospital wash basin)of "beguns" for MAM blocks. Read that post if you want all the details, cause to make a long story short...in order to find out JUST how many "beguns" were in that pan, I'd count out 10 PER DAY, finish them and set them aside, until all were finished 6.5" blocks for a mile-a-minute quilt top. The first half of the collage is the pan of "beguns", the second half is today 10 completed blocks, sized and ready to go!
And since I finished that us, lickity split, I made 3 more of these string blocks that I need to enlarge the string quilt in first half of the picture. My friend Michele, of With heart and hands, a quilting journey, departed on a Virtual Quilting Bee of Charity quilts this past week. I joined her, but never got around to blogging about it. Last week, and part of this week, I have made MAM blocks from an abundant pile of flannel trimmings and scraps. As of today I am finished with them... they number 54-8.5" squares(to be made into a donation quilt). I'm going to carry on with sewing the bits and pieces, the backbone of frugal quiltmaking, the :scraps to treasure" way of thinking. I'm not sure how long this will last, but if you are so inclined, and not too busy measuring things,*VBS*, please join us!

Frugal Friday feature....

2009-06-26T13:25:00.001-05:00

a very special quilt, made by Orphan Train Volunteer Carol. Carol blogs at Scraps and Pieces of Our lives. She's our newest orphan train volunteer but once she got started she discovered how much fun it is to play with Orphan blocks and offerings. She had sewn many of her scraps into HSTs(half square triangles) and was debating how to use them. Combining them with some donated panel fabric was the perfect solution!! Another lovely quilt that will go off the the organization she supports. It's a Canadian organization and you can read more about it at Carols blog.*VBS* Great job Carol!!

New Orphans come to play in the Valley....

2009-06-11T11:51:00.001-05:00

They rolled in from Texas last week, and a fine bunch they are *VBS* I've been getting acquainted with each one. The new orphans are from my good friend Julie, of Julie Q Quilts.
I put these new orphans right to work. Sorting them by size and color, stacking some, joining up others.Sometimes, if they arrived already sewn into a row or block, I unsew them and use them differently *VBS* That is pretty much how I work with orphan blocks. Sometimes color is the deciding factor, sometimes it's the height of the block. A great asset to have close at hand, if you are joining up orphan blocks, is an assortment of scraps or precut strips. More often than not, a strip can/will be used as a space filler. That helps you achieve the desired width of the row. When the joined together blocks aren't quite equal to the size you want, you "fill in" with a spacer strip.Sometimes in between the blocks, sometimes at the ends of the row.
And a treat Julie sent along for me *VBS* A Moda Scrap bag of assorted sized strips from their pink, reds and whites collections. I love it!! Thank you so very much Julie, you are way too good to me *VBS*!

Frugal Friday Feature....

2009-05-22T15:47:00.001-05:00

and excellent Orphan Train volunteer, Sue, of From the Magpie's Nest. Sue and I have been corresponding since before the Orphan Train began running *VBS* She's great fun to have as a friend and she makes wonderful quilts for many causes. Some premie quilts for a Neo-natal unit and some for foster children. Often Sue begins with the likes of these....the boxes, drawers and bins of unwanted and leftover blocks...the orphans.
From them she creates wonderful useful things. Here we've got examples of her creative touch in placemats for a DGD, and a premie quilt...they are small in size. She also creates "units" or blocks to work into her designs, ala design wall.
Often her blocks come from outside sources and she swiftly blends them into wonderful quilts in many sizes.
I don't want you to think she just makes small quilts. Here are a couple of her earlier efforts. I know she labored longer and harder on these as seen in the number of orphan blocks used. And for you Gwen and Freddy fans, in their new book, Gwen has a couple of antique quilts near the end of the book. Take a good look at Sue's and then look at the ones in the book. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Frugal Friday Feature.....

2009-05-15T10:10:00.003-05:00

my friend Carol, of Scraps And Pieces Of Our Lives. Carol is a brand new face on the orphan train. Welcome aboard Carol, happy to have you with us *VBS* This is Carol's first orphan blocks quilts. She's been following our progress for awhile and decided to hop aboard.

Here is what Carol had to say about working with orphan blocks, bits and pieces: "I've been wanting to "stretch" my quilting and branch out into making some quilts without using patterns. I've been following Finn at her blog. She has such a creative way of quilting which I find really intriguing. When I seen a quilt hanging at the library I decided I would try to make a block like it. Needless to say, it didn't turn out quite the way it had at the library (my math is horrible), yet I really enjoyed the creativity of doing something totally different."
"I only had 8 flower squares which I fussy cut. I kept all the scraps from each square. I needed a block in the middle, so decided I would use up those scraps along with some of leftover scraps which I had used in the 8 blocks. The outcome....the middle block."
"I made each block 15 inches so that I would have a fairly nice size quilt. All pieces in this quilt were material that had been given to me or scraps in my scrap box. Cost for this quilt...approx. $2.00 for the batting & thread."
"This is my first "orphan train" quilt. It will be sent up north for my Quilts for the North project."
"I want to thank Finn (my dear friend) for the Orphan Train blog, for her creativity in quilting and for encouraging us to quilt with scraps and orphan blocks. Your the best!!" Thanks Carol! *VBS*

Making it work...

2009-05-09T12:54:00.001-05:00

is exactly what is required as you work with orphan blocks. Here are two examples. Both of these came in the package from Chris in San Diago. I can imagine anything more odd to work with than a stack of triangles *VBS* Sooo much bias! I puzzled over them for abit, and decided if I added a triangle to each side that would take care of the bias edges. What did I use? Some large triangles leftover from a Delectable Mountains quilt top. The orange square w/fish is a fun block to work with. But a bridge is needed before it joins others of similar size. Thus the funny little odds-n-end piano keys are beinging added.
On many of my Orphan blocks quilts, this is how I work. I build them. I suppose, in a sense, that's how we make quilt anyway. Part of the difference is that the blocks are multiple sizes. Spacers are needed fairly often. If I used all spacers, it would function like sashing or lattice, and that's not what I want.
I don't always lay the blocks out to see what will fit where. More often I stay seated at the machine, with a "beginnings" in my lap and audition other orphans, blocks and bits. If I like it, or it mostly fits, I sew it on. Too much? Just cut it off! I have both of these in progress at the same time. The last picture is a lovely box of donated fabric,blocks and quilt tops from Diannia in Iowa. Thank you so much Diannia, it will all get used *VBS*

Frugal Friday Feature....

2009-05-08T12:39:00.004-05:00

and for this first FFF, I have chosen Barb C. of Thinking Out Loud. Barb is a prolific quilt maker and multi-talented gal. She knits, quilts, beads and makes wonderful embellish Madonnas and other pieces. She leans toward creating from recycled objects and does it with great talent and dedication. There are many of her quilts listed on the sidebar under Barb's Orphans. A few weeks back, I was stuck by the beauty of this "leftovers" quilt in progress. In this collage you have the beginnings and a glimpse of what is to come. *VBS*
This isn't the entire top, but gives you a good idea of where it's going.Here's what Barb had to say about it:"I've made all the blocks for this charity quilt and I've got the quilt designed. I have used up all the pre-cut squares I had made, and I found more of the yellow and white in my stash to finish up the corner squares. Finally putting this quilt together, I remembered why I liked this block design in the first place.
The quilt measures about 72 x 80. One of the long print strips (on the far right) is narrower than the one at the far left, and I may leave them uneven. In this design, I don't think it matters that they're not symmetrical. I should have time this weekend to stitch the top together."
This collage features 5 of Barb's small quilt tops. Again, working with what she had on hand, and what was leftover from other projects or recycled fabric, she created these for Debra S. Deb is collecting quilts for a woman's shelter, I believe. The single block(a shoofly)is a wonderful example of taking something and MAKING it work with what you have. Barbs sums up with with leftovers with this insight:"Here's what I learned from the process: pre-cut strips are an asset. If I needed a piece of sashing or some 4-patch blocks, it was great to leaf through my strips to see what was already cut. I've made a big dent in my store of 2.5 and 3.5" strips, so I'm going to cut into some of my fabrics and replenish the drawer. Orphan blocks are great starters for these little projects too. I think I've gone through a lot of stash in the process, but more importantly, I've uncovered some works-in-progress that I want to go back and finish. It's been a mind de-cluttering as well as a destash exercise. Next I'll be making a larger quilt for Debra's efforts, then I'm going to round up some the ghost projects that are haunting my sewing room, and finish them up and show them the light of day." I've seen absolutely astonishing results from her recycle efforts. A recent inspiration has resulted in recycled cotton yarn. Who knew you could unravel a cotton knit and reclaim the yarn? Not me, but it is being done. Check out Barb's blog and archives for multiple projects using reclaimed materials. You're one of the most creative people I know Barb!! High Fives and a "way to go"!!

New Feature on the Orphan Train...

2009-04-27T12:32:00.001-05:00

I've decided to do a "featuring" of one of our Orphan Train volunteers. I haven't decided as yet if it will be weekly. Keep coming back to see what I decide...LOL This lovely orphan blocks quilt was recently put together by Barb, who blogs at Thinking out Loud. She makes many, many dontaion quilts, generally using semi-rescued or re-purposed fabric. There truly is such an abundance of materials to work with, without going out and buying everything new. Here's what Barb has to say about this one:"Here's a close-up of another one. I pulled from what Finn would call my orphan block stash and included a couple of blocks Debra embroidered that were left over from another project. Most of this fabric had been cut into half-square triangles for a project I never made because I decided I didn't like these fabrics together after all."

A new train load of Orphans...

2009-04-21T20:36:00.002-05:00

The camera is working again! Hurray for chargeable batteries! The mailman rang my doorbell yesterday, and delivered a box of Orphan blocks from Chris, of San Diego, CA. A nice email last week let me know she's been following my blogs and had orphan blocks she would like to donate. I'm always happy to accept Orphan block donations. She said there were quite a few, and what an understatement that was!!
There is definitely more than one quilt in these pictures. *VBS* What a treasure trove of goodies here.
DD#1 had surgery yesterday, and the hours between noon and 3 were long ones. Her DH was at the hospital, and her best friend, but Mom wasn't needed. Thanks to Chris's timely package, I was busy during those hours,fingering the blocks,sorting and stacking. Some ready to go "as is", some that will need modification. Some spare parts set aside, some taken apart.She came through the surgery just fine, and is back home this afternoon.
Earlier today, the log cabin units in the first photo were just a stack of blocks. I sorted out the finished ones. There were about 4 or so, that were begun, but with a backwards first strip. Took those apart, re-assembled them and finished them out to 6.5". By noon today I had the units of 4 blocks each ready to march across the top of a new Orphan block quilt.
I have many happy days ahead of me, playing with all these new babies, introducing them to other Orphans on our happy train. Thank you Chris *VBS* I appreciate you reaching out in friendship, and enriching my stash of Orphan blocks and bits.

I have mail...

2009-04-21T15:25:00.005-05:00

But NO camera! I had promised myself(and the generous donor of orphan blocks)that I would post a picture of them today. So I laid them...LOL, and the camera just sat and looked at me, blinking it's little orange light but totally unwilling to let a picture be snapped. So...if you'd want to stop back later, I promise there will be a "I've Got Mail" post once the batteries re-charge. *VBS*

More Orphan blocks find a home....

2009-04-20T09:42:00.005-05:00

And what a sensational quilt resulted from those unwanted blocks *VBS* Today's quilt is the effort of Rose Marie at Applique'n'Patch Quilting. Here's what she has to say about these blocks, in her own words: "This twin-size top started with left-over flower blocks that were in a bin for a very long time now.
With the need for quilts/blocks for the Australian bush-fire projects, I decided that these blocks could go for that cause.
So, with the addition of a few nine patches and some additional appliqué …. viola, this top will soon be on its’ way to Australia. Kiera is collecting the blocks and is sending these and others down to her MIL, Jennifer, in Australia. Jennifer is arranging the bocks to be sewn into tops and quilted by some ladies down under. I just took my blocks a few steps further and gave Kiera a completed top to help speed up the finishing process.
I hope whoever receives this quilt will give it tender, loving care and that they will enjoy and find comfort within its folds." You did a wonderful job Rose Marie!!

Clickity-clack....

2009-04-03T11:41:00.007-05:00

the wheels keep turning and onward we go. The scraps from our quilt making never seem to end, and neither does the need for donation quilts. I've moved my mind over a piece because I've found I can't/don't consider them "charity quilts". I prefer to think of them in the context of "The Quiltmaker's Gift". That being "to a person who needs them". Our very productive rider, Sue, of From the Magpie's Nest has cranked more since I last shared hers *VBS* As always, they are wonderful!
"Twelve blocks make a top that measures 36" x 48". I wanted to make something big enough for an older child so sashing was an obvious solution. It took some time, but I finally found a light blue toile print that I bought for some other project but that didn't work out. There was enough to sash these blocks though!" Both tops are really lovely Sue, keep up the good work.
The last picture is of one you may have seen over at Pieces From my Scrapbag. I've been making these Mile A Minute blocks as part of a Frugal Friday offering during Lent. Almost anything goes into these, the odd bits as well as parts of blocks. Almost nothing is too small to use *VBS*

Picking up a new passenger....

2009-03-19T09:56:00.004-05:00

on the Orphan Train *VBS* A warm welcome to Vivian, who blogs here. She has been following our progress and decided to start a blog of her own. She graciously sent me pictures of her Orphans and how she has used them. I've been playing with the Picasa Collage program. The picture should enlarge with a double click so you can see the details. I think these are really beautiful. Here's what Vivian had to say about their creation: "My first journal was made using pieces from the first three years of my quilting. It consists of test blocks, extra pieced units, reformatted scrap bits and trimmings from fabric cuts and projects made or in progress during that period. Only the crazy patch unit was made to fill the bottom of the front but is an orphan because I had just bought a new sewing machine at the time and with plans to do a crazy quilt project in the future, I wanted to try the machine's decorative stitches. So I dug through my scrap bin and pulled fabric bits and tried all the stitches on the machine and then added the unit to the cover!"
"The second journal was simpler: I had puchased the Pinapple Block Ruler by Possibilites in the latter part of 2007 and when I got it couldn't resist trying it out. The cover block is what resulted. Nice but a really big block and as I started to throw it into the orphan bag I figured it might be big enough for the cover of a journal and it was! I had also recently begun saving triangle cut offs and had a baggie that was quickly filling. I realized that the triangles could be paired together to make scrappy half squares and that a bunch of these pieced together could make an interesting "fabric" for the back. When they were done, some additional fabric was added to fill out the edges and voila!"

"Having "filled" my first two journals, I plan to make another one this year. It may be out of orphans, scrappy pieced blocks or having made my first "crumb block" top this year (see my comment on your "Pieces" blog about MAM blocks.) I may use those."

"The great thing about quilting is nothing need ever go to waste. Thanks for giving Orphan Blocks a well deserved forum where they can be showcased."

Frugal Friday....

2009-02-27T10:15:00.006-06:00

A package of hidden treasure! And a new "buzz" word to play with...Frugal Friday!This package of delicious possibilities came in the mail from my new friend, Nannergirl in Canada. She was part of the New Years Eve Countdown Challenge that I hosted at my Pieces from my scrapbag.As the Engineer for the Orphan Train, I work with spare parts, bits and pieces as well as Orphan blocks. I happily accept donations of such as those. Nothing perks me up faster than a challenge to make something out of what I am given *VBS* Thank you K, for adding new fun to my Frugal Friday.

Thoughts for a snowy day...

2009-02-26T12:03:00.001-06:00

Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could,

some blunders and absurdities crept in. Forget them as soon as you can.

Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit

to be encumbered with your old nonsense. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

~::~::~::~::~::~::~

Last stop before the destination.....

2009-02-06T14:08:00.005-06:00

It's been a while since I showed the beginnings of this Orphan quilt. And now I see that Blogger has reversed the pictures...sorry!I've snapped a close up of one of the lower corners(second photo) to better display how many bits, parts and blocks can go into one of these quilts.Once they are selected and put into their position, they seem to get along just fine.
Here's the full top(upper photo) as it is now. I'm deciding if it needs borders or not. More often than not, I'm content with the statement the pieced part makes and don't add borders unless it needs more size.
I'm undecided on this one. I'll get a backing made over the weekend and see if I can get it pinned at least.

Time tables....

2009-01-15T12:28:00.003-06:00

Railroads run on orderly schedules...I don't. The combination of sorrow and deep bitterly cold weather have kept me inside and close to home this week. And...my poor Pfaff has suffered a serious disorder and refuses to stitch nicely. What's a girl to do??? Pull out lots of Orphan blocks and use the Janome Sew Petite sewing machine and sew! The quarter inch is totally 'relative' with the little Janome. The presser foot is plastic and even with my new improved vision, it's hard to see the edge. With Orphan Train quilt blocks, the seam allowance is a very forgiving thing. The goal... to combine odd sized and assorted shapes. These assorted blocks are one set I'm playing with. Today I'm showing approaches I use of OT blocks. This isn't the configuration these blocks will be sewn in...probably. I lay them out to see what I have for size, color intensity, as well as shapes. Some of these are sewn together, but not all. Will it be a "section quilt"? Maybe...or maybe it will be come a "row by row" quilt.
Another bunch of blocks and a totally different approach. This top was begun by sewing those two 'centerish' log cabin blocks together. I then add something to one side or another. Building out, as you would with a log cabin or medallion quilt. These blocks have come from San, Gypsy Quilter, Granny Lyn of Just Granny's, Julie from Through the Barn Door and mine. There are more bow tie leftovers that will be added, etc, etc. to get to the size it needs to be.
This quilt has gone to its new owner, a sweet 2 yr. old girl. This Orphan Train quilt was made 'row by row', all the spare parts and blocks caming from my scrapbasket. I've had many Orphan Blocks mailed to me since I began this blog. They have come from across America, coast to coast, but they all seem to play together quite nicely.

The North will blow....

2008-12-07T11:57:00.001-06:00

and we shall have snow! And we do! Welcome to Wisconsin in the winter *VBS* When I decorate for Christmas, most of my decorations are snowman related vs. Christmas trees or Santas. I chose to go "that" direction because I can then leave the things up(or out) for much longer. Here is this years door decoration.
And my Desperation or Inspiration top is offically a quilt! I got busy and completed it last week.
I pieced some odd bits together as batting, and then a scrappy flannel backing. Even the binding is scrappy!! Every stage of this quilt is an "odd,end and/or "orphan". Together, they make a nice quilt. I have no doubt some child will love it and that makes my feel "happy and bright", just like the season.

Inspiration or Desperation??

2008-11-27T17:16:00.004-06:00

****The pictures are in reverse order, must be something new when publishing with blogger****I'm not sure what my motivating force was, but I'm back in the Orphan blocks "bin" again. I think it started because of a limitation on how much I can bend over since eye surgery. I've been sorting projects, gathering needed items and bagging or boxing them for easy "grab and go sew".The square in a square blocks are so old I don't remember what my original intention was. They are, however, two different sizes. Some are 6.5" and some are 7.5". Luckily, both are divisable with 42" which is a favorite width of mine when making kid quilts. I had enough for 2 rows of one size and 4 rows of the other. Perfect. But....I also had a large stack of really questionable HST...ones I consider almost to ugly to use. So I made rows of them and stuck them in between the other rows. Worked out well. But I was still short on length.
I had a bag full of these left over from something or another. I did the math and it worked out fine. So I sewed them together. I made a row for the top of the quilt and one for the bottom.
This is what they look like sewn on. The quilt will return for viewing once I get it tied or quilted.

Three Cheers for Katie...!

2008-10-06T10:43:00.003-05:00

Everyone on the Orphan Train is sending up a big cheer for Katie, in Michigan *VBS* Katie signed up for the Orphan Train Challenge a year ago when I first began this blog. I'm so very proud of each of you who have ventured into this new arena of working with orphan blocks and the bits and pieces of leftovers. It's actually MUCH harder(at the beginning)than making a new quilt from a book or pattern. Here is Katies's first orphan quilt and what she had to say about it!In Katie's words: "I have finished my first orphan quilt and the first of my New Year's Eve challenge quilts. I started with some abandoned pinwheel blocks and used scraps to make all kinds of others. I had never made a row quilt before so I guess that makes it another first. Three for one. Alright!"
And a closeup of the machine quilting she did. I've found one of the hardest parts of working with Orphan blocks is overcoming the idea that you could/can do it wrong. YOU CAN'T!! Each is going to be totally unique and original. Some aspect or another may not please you as much as other aspects, but that doesn't spell "wrong". Great Job Katie!!

Introducing Roz....

2008-09-12T12:18:00.008-05:00

and her 'fungly' quilt top *VBS* Tonya sent Roz over to the Orphan Train after she saw Roz's fungly challenge top. And I'm soooo very glad she did. Roz's new top is right at home here, made from bits and pieces and old blocks. It's delightful Roz!Here's what Roz had to say about it on her blog, Counterpane:"I used up a lot of fabrics and bits and pieces that have been in my boxes for years and years. Some of those blocks used in the border were cut with a scissors on pencil marks--before I even used a rotary cutter. Some of these fabrics were remnants from the dime store (when dime stores did sell fabrics!). And some of them were cut-offs that I got at rummage sales. In those years, when I was raising three kids, money didn't grow on trees, and there were no fancy quilt stores. The yard goods store was where I bought fabric to make summer dresses and blouses. The left-over bits went into my quilts. I made a few of these blocks especially for the fungly quilt, and the rest were just sample blocks and failed projects. I started thinking, "Is my quilt fungly enough?" Then I realized that that's not the "fungly way" to think! I'm also enjoying visiting other people's blogs to see their fungly masterpieces. I'm going to add a fungly border."

Too many unscheduled stops along the way....

2008-09-04T22:18:00.002-05:00

and a post is long overdue. A big "thank you" to Carol E. for giving me a nudge to get me going again *VBS*Carol E. sent me the picture of this lovely creation a while back. Every day I meant to post it, but you know how that goes. So here it is now...and it's a good one! Carol has a real knack for putting the odd bits together. Her 'under the picture' information said "orphans 12", that's very impressive. Time for the old Finnster to get busy too!

From The Magpie's Nest....

2008-07-10T11:05:00.004-05:00

a really neat thrift store orphan blocks find. Sue loves a bargain as much as she loves quilts. That makes for a great combination! She recently came across this small quilt and paid all of $4 for it!Here's part of what she had to say about it "Here's an orphan I found in the thrift shop the other day. It's about 34" x 37" and looks to be bound with commercially made binding tape. I'm guessing the maker just sewed up a bunch of four-patch blocks and set them together however it felt right. She has two patches of the same red gingham butted up against each other in one spot but the rest is amazingly well balanced."
You can read ALL about at Sue's blog, From the Magpie's Nest. Thanks for sharing with us, Sue!

Let's roll....

2008-07-02T10:07:00.005-05:00

things are pretty quiet all across blogland on the Orphan blocks front. Maybe I can stir up some interest with these *VBS*If you haven't browsed at Hamilton Books offerings, you should. I came across this book listed there for sale(brand new) at $11.95. It's a collection of quilts from Minnesota. I did mention it to Carol E. as I thought she might be interested. Go to Hamilton Book and scroll down the left sidebar til you come to "Needlecrafts". Click on that and you will get a list of the needlecraft pages they offer. Click on "quilting"(or whatever you are interested in). Usually there are about 200 book titles to look through. I was looking to see if anything of Gwen Marston was available, as I've gotten her books there before. Their prices are incredible and the shipping is very reasonable. I've done business with them for several years and been full satified every time. No affilication...yada,yada,yada.
This little beauty is growing into a "premmie" quilt over at Sue's house. It's techniccally NOT an orphan block quilt, but it's fine to work with "stuff" even when that means a collection of kiddie prints. It's look wonderful and ever so sweet, Sue!
This old darling was made from a 9 patch block swap. I decided to use up as much of my "scrap" black as I could and there are several 'shades' of black in the lattice! All solid blacks, but many shades. I utility quilted it, way back when, and it now lives with one of my gandsons.

Moving right along....

2008-06-28T18:10:00.004-05:00

into year #2 of this railroad journey, and a new view of two previous Orphan Train quilts.Patti, of Quilting is my Passion was one of the first to jump on board last June when I began this challenge. I know she had some doubts about working with her many bits, pieces and orphans. But that didn't stop her. This lovely quilt(with a wool batt no less) graces the camper bed of her DH, Fred.
And this second quilt is just across the aisle on Patti's bed! Yup, she really went to town with those orphan blocks. Say what you will about quilts with all matching blocks and co-ordinating colors, I LOVE the spontaneous joy in these quilts made from "spare parts". Gee Whiz, we were doing this before Freddy and Gwen came out with their book *VBS* I'm not sure how Patti has her posts catagorized, but visit her blog and read about all the neat orphan block and string quilts she has made in this past year, and then JUMP ON BOARD, join us and sew up those orphan blocks!

Bribery, do you think???

2008-06-21T15:29:00.001-05:00

I do have to glance sideways at Ebby as she sits there and licks her paws. I'm having a 'wonder maybe' about her connects in blogland! The drawing had to be moved up a tat. Ebby had so many "pressing" obligations today, and the luncheon visit of DD#1 was drawing to a close and the clock only said 3 p.m. What's a blogger to do??? The possibilities...numbering about 30. Mixing, mixing, shuffling, re-shuffling. Me?? Nope...I kept my hands totally 'out of it' once I wrote out the names. DD and DSIL did the mixing and held Ebby as she put in her paw....
And this is the slip of paper that stuck to Ebby's paw!! Dear Norma, at Random Stitches is the lucky winner!! But you know, I think maybe Princess Paris and Ebony have been having 'cat chat'!! Congratulations Norma *VBS* You're my 1st Birthday of the Orphan Train Winner!!
And...you and Princess Paris get a choice. You can choose this little hand quilted 9 patch, which looks very much like a dolly quilt.....or...
you can choose this brighter hand quilted modern quilt which I call "Convergence". It's up to YOU...let me know which one you desire and I'll add a label to the back and get it off to you in the mail next week. Again, congratulations Norma, and a big thank you to all who commented. It's nice to know people like what happens on the Orphan Train, heading West.

Tic,tic,tic......

2008-06-21T08:35:00.002-05:00

goes the chime clock on the wall. It's ALMOST time for Ebby to pick a winner in 1st Birthday drawing at the Orphan Train blog *VBS*.It's a heavy, heavy responsibility and Ebby is resting up in prepartion for her BIG job!! I scrolled back to the beginning(fun to see those wonderful quilts and tops again!) and see that I posted at 3:48 p.m. CDT.
Ebby and I are expecting company today. A visit from DD#1 and her lovely hubby. They are coming to take me OUT to lunch *VBS*. I'm going to let them do the "mixing up" and supervise Ebby as she draws a name. Come back a bit later for the Lucky winner's name. And if you haven't left a comment at the post below...please do *VBS*

One year and counting....

2008-06-15T10:43:00.006-05:00

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.
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????

Oooooops!

2008-06-09T12:09:00.003-05:00

Let me apologize for not getting these quilts from Carol E. published sooner....AND, for not getting them published before I talked about the Orphan Train ending.Carol sent me these gorgeous pictures back in May. I absolutely LOVE this one!! Great job Carol!!
This picture came a bit later in May, and altho I viewed them, I failed to do what I always do, download to file immediately. So sorry about that. Things tend to get buried by incoming emails. Both of these are donation quilts, and as always, she does such a great job with other peoples unwanted blocks! Thanks Carol, for all the joy you bring those kids *VBS*

End of the line???

2008-06-09T10:27:00.002-05:00

There is that question again. Has the Orphan Train gone as far as it is going?? Is it time to hang up the shovel publically, and call it a day.It's not that I've run out of orphans, nor have most quilters, I suspect. I think maybe the idea and the usefulness of the Orphan Train blog has, howeve, run out of interest.
The challenge began on June 24th, last year, and we've had a good run. Picked up quite a few people along the way. Quilters who didn't know about how much fun you can have with orphan blocks, and quilters it had never occurred to. I've seen some really lovely efforts on behalf of the 'orphans'. Some truly dedicated quilters like Carol E. at Girafee Dreamswho has made countless quilts and tops for donation.
I know that there are still readers, thanks to the site counter. So, here's the question....shall we carry on with this? The blog can "stand" as it is, as a reference, or it can be deleted, making room for someone else. I'd love to have your opinion*VS*

A finish for Del Jeanne....

2008-04-16T09:05:00.001-05:00

and such a pretty, girly quilt it is *VBS* Here is an explaination of what became of this quilt once it was finished..."It's been a week since I delivered the two orphan quilts to the girls whose mother died, but I guess I never sent you a picture of the pink and green one finished. So, here are a couple of pics of it. The younger girl (2nd grader) remembered her piano music for her lesson today--first time since her mother's death, and brought me thank you notes from herself, her sister and her dad. She drew a quilt on her thank you note! She told me last week they had written them the evening before (right after I gave them the quilts), but she had put them with her music, which she forgot. She told me she loved her quilt and had slept under it, and that she wanted to make a quilt sometime!"

Del Jeanne

Information about working with orphan blocks...

2008-04-15T15:12:00.002-05:00

can be found at my main blog, Pieces from my Scrapbag. I have published parts 1 through 5 over there, and rather than double publish, please link over and find the tutorial on my sidebar. The joining up has begun...read all about it at my main blog *VBS*

Working with orphan blocks....Part 1

2008-04-12T17:49:00.002-05:00

Do you need a little help with those odd blocks and bits? Here's a little tutorial to help you get rolling. Gather up all those odds and ends that might work. It's amazing how many there can be. Think about a size and shape(quilt top)that you want to make.
It doesn't matter if some are big and some are small. They can even be odd shapes. I suggest sorting the blocks into sizes. It's easier to pair them up with a similar size. Think about sorting by color perhaps. That works too.
One possibilty is to make sections.That is how I did the original Orphan Train Heading West quilt. Putting them together like a jigsaw puzzle to create a section. Or think vertical or horizontal rows. I've done both. It makes no difference, it all works.
When you've got a stack(or pile)of same size blocks, don't worry about them not matching...close is perfect..lets sew!!If you HAVEN'T got a stack of same size blocks, think about adding a strip ot two to achieve the needed size. Just "kinda" match them, almost everything goes with everything else. I try to avoid putting big sections of lights together, etc. At this point don't worry about the final outcome. It will grow like a seed given sunlight and water.

Rolling along....

2008-04-07T09:45:00.002-05:00

Lots of sewing going on at my house *VBS* I'm working on 'finish up' projects. Saturday mail brought a BIG surprise *VBS*. Well, I confess to knowing it was coming, but it DID feel like Christmas. I received this wonderful jam-packed-full computer paper box of scraps and pieces from a quilter in Iowa, Diannia. She had emailed a week or so ago, offering a collection of scraps, pieces, yardages, and orphan blocks. You don't think I'd say "no",do you? Not likely for an old scrap hound like me! Lots of future orphan quilts in this box!! I've begun sorting over the weekend, while watching old movies...Thanks a million Diannia!!!
My current work, in progress,is based on the Indian Hatchet blocks(browns with tea dye background) my OLDEST UFO. I other odds and ends and some donated rectangles from Gypsy Quilter. They are all finding a home, right here. I have the 60" length, and am working out to 40" wide that WTIL needs. How are your orphans growing???

Bonnie's Bargain Basement....Part 1

2008-04-02T13:30:00.005-05:00

I suppose I'm probably not easily impressd. And when I am, it's not Baltimore Album quilts that do it for me. I think a quilter needs to have the ability to 'endure', 'to make do', and to understand the humble legacy that American quilt making grows from. Not many Baltimore Album quilts were pieced on the Oregon Trail.This quilt top, of Bonnie's, could have been. And I love it! It does not pretend to be anything that it isn't.
Here are Bonnie's words, speaking about making this quilt top: "While I was cutting strips for the Superbowl Bargello party for this Sunday, I started cutting other sizes too to play with some block ideas I had....and yes..I sewed last night until midnight and this is what I've got! This went SO FAST!
All of the little random 4 patches and geese units were SUPPOSED to be where plain 3.5" cut squares were to go, but why cut squares, when I can dig into this drawer of rejected pieced units and use them instead of the 3.5" squares?! The geese units were a partially pieced border. I took them apart into pairs...some of the geese turned direction in the border, so it left this little square in square thingy..throw that in too..make the geese turn all different directions!
There were red/gold 4 patches that were a rejected cornerstone from another project. Only had 4 of those, but throw them in! A couple red/plaid hourglass blocks that were a test? Add them too!
And THEN...there were these brown gingham/solid red half square triangles that were going to be the sashings of the "swing your partner" quilt before I rejected them for a darker fabric....throw those in and turn them every which way, and voila!
Yes, my dear Scarlett, Solid red IS a neutral!

Bargain Basement, Quilter Style....Part 2

2008-04-02T13:12:00.006-05:00

and who better to come up with this gorgeous Orphan block and bits quilt than our very own Bonnie, from Quiltville *VBS*I was blog hopping yesterday, waiting for the computer guy to return and install that additional memory and do bit more cleaning up. I popped over to see what Bonnie was up to, besides beginning a new mystery("Orange Crush") at Quiltville and with her mystery group.
Along with another whole top, apparently pieced over the past week or weekend(she amazes me with her speed!) I found this beauty.
I had to put it's name into the 'Search this blog' to find it's beginnings(which were only a short ago...LOL. I dropped her an email to ask for permission to share her quilt here, since it has soooooooo many of the elements this challenge and blog are about. She said "yes" with a big smile for all. And my message to you?? "ITS OK TO USE SPARE PARTS"!!!!! Honest!
This is the backing "Bargain Basement", and her words explaining the final result of the Bargain Basement effort.
Bonnie said:"So here are the photos of Bargain Basement!I did tall dogteeth borders, and following the lead of our quilters past, I just let the borders end where the borders end...so all the corners are slightly different. Talk about fun and no stress!
The big red plaid in the border was from a lady's jumper that I took apart. There was a ton of red plaid in that jumper! (It was a 3XXX!) The black homespun plaid binding was actually a bathrobe...yes...made out of homespun, just like we'd buy off the bolt. Lots of yardage in that too.
The back....I used up fabric from a skirt...the blue gingham with the fruit on it, and some other older yardage that had a "plaidy-stripe-y" feel to it. Seems like I've been trying to get rid of that bolt of blue noah's ark fabric for ever. I've still got a lot of that in tan too! I used the left over dog tooth border in the back as well." Thank you so much Bonnie...it's wonderful!

More quilt tops from Carol E....

2008-03-20T16:57:00.003-05:00

I think Carol E. is going to set a new record for orphan block quilt tops for Wrap Them in Love *VBS*This is her latest creation. In her email, she mentions that she's not as pleased with this one as with some. When working with orphan blocks, especially those that are received from a number of other quilters, can be a big challenge. She concludes her email by hoping that some child will love it. Carol, I have absolutely NO doubt that is exactly what will happen *VBS*
And here's Ebony, our little caboose rider. She keeps a watchful eye on all the scrap quilting going on at my house.

New Quilter aboard......

2008-03-12T13:32:00.010-05:00

The Orphan Train crew is happy and proud to welcome Lynda aboard with her newest orphan block quilt top. Patti, at Quilting is my Passion, alerted me to Lynda's wonderful quilt in progress.Here are the very beginnings of the quilt, and some of what Lynda wrote about the process: "After my recent success at reducing my orphans, I decided to raid my box of little orphan blocks again - well, I had to actually, because I could hardly get the lid closed! I found quite a number of 2 1/2inch sqaures joined together in pairs. They must have been left overs from a four-patch or even nine-patch quilt at some time. I arranged them on the floor to see of they would make anything reasonable.

The answer is patently no! Even the addition of a few half square triangles and flying geese couldn't help. Then I remembered there were half a dozen wonky houses I had made some time ago, waiting in my UFO box. I added them, along with more half square triangles made into diamonds and pinwheels, and suddenly, we have lift-off!

That's more like it! It was quite tricky to join together, but a bit of adjustment here and there and it all went together in a very satisfactory way.

And here is her orphanage...the box that holds orphan blocks til they are needed. Look! The cover goes on and stays shut! Great job Lynda, and welcome abourd!
**Note from Finn: Please DO pop over and see all the lovely quilts Lynda makes. And scroll back to her February posts for MANY MORE orphan block tops....she had a sewing marathon of crumbs, wonky houses and using up orphan blocks...it's a great read!!

Busy Days at the Magpie's Nest...

2008-03-10T13:57:00.005-05:00

The donated blocks....
The preemie quilt that Sue made...(I've added the pictures a day after the post was posted.)
Our gal Sue, of From the Magpie's Nest has been busy again. She's never far from Orphan Organizing these days, and one of her specialities is quilts for preemies. I'm not sure what size Sue makes them,(maybe she'll share that with us) but I'm sure she's working with measurement from a hospital. Having had a grandson in NICU, I know all too well the purpose those tiny quilts serve. And in addition to working hard, they add much needed color to those sterile rooms. Take it from Sue, making a quilt for a child doesn't have to be a big, or expensive project. In making these she's working with dontated Orphan blocks. If you lack Orphans blocks of your own, don't be afraid to speak up and offer to 'adopt' the orphans of other quilters. Most are thrilled to get rid of them *VBS*
Sue did a bit of 'frogging', a bit of sewing and a tat of machine quilting and bingo, it's all ready to go! AND, she's got 4 blocks left over!
**Notes from Sue, her NICU wants them a minimum of 24" X 30".

Hearing the whistle, answering the call.....

2008-03-08T11:12:00.045-06:00

as humans we each hear what we hear. You cannot assume that each person hears what you hear. We seem to have, or to develop, a system. Using that system we hear what we want, need or choose to hear. A song that moves your soul, might not even register in my ears or brain. Perhaps the story of the Orphan Trains that carried those 350,000 orphan and abandoned children to new homes has a special appeal because I'm an adoptive parent. Or perhaps it's because, from early childhood, I'm a 'train' person. I think you either 'are' or you aren't. I grew up in a town with 3 active railroads within walking distance of my home. On a bicycle you could get there even faster. I grew up with steam engines. Railroads were a popular and inexpensive way to travel around the state and nation. My father came and went deer hunting with his brothers, in northen WI, on the Soo Line Railroad. If he got a buck, the deer rode home in the box car. I stood, on a gray day, and waved to the British royal, Edward and his new wife. He gave up the throne for love, who knew? I stood on the back porch of my house, and watched and listened as the last steam engine chugged and tooted its way out of Chippewa Falls,WI. Directly behind it came the sleek, shiny new "400", the beginning of a new era in travel. Speed, with no coal or black smoke. The bell ringing out from that last steam engine, was a lonely sound to me. I love trains, I hear the whistle, long, low and lonesome as it passes in the night.I love the clackity-clack of the rails on the tracks. I even liked the black smoke billowing against the sky. Trains were always going somewhere mysterious and wonderful to my child's mind.I've been either a very bad or a very busy Engineer on the Orphan Train. Time for me to re-new my dedication to Orphan Block quilts. Time to get to work and shove some coal into that hopper. This beginnings has waited long enough.
This darling baby is my newest grandson, born February 20th in MN. He's giving his mommy a bit of a rough time these days, you know, eating and sleeping issues? Ya. He's not an orphan, and he is many times blessed that he will live and love with the family of his birth. His Auntie, who holds him in the picture was an orphan, s was his mommy. It's not a word we use much anymore, particularily in the USA. Orphans seem to be those children in Romania, or India, or especially the AIDS affected children in Africa. We have orphans as a result of 9/11, and many other disasters, but we also have a system now, to meet their needs and do the best we can for them. We tend not to think of them as orphans.
How easy it seems to be to forget what has gone before. We blanch while thinking of the nearly 4,000 lives lost on 9/11 or the thousdands of our sons and daughters dying in Iraq. The numbers are staggering, I know. But just for a moment, think about 350,000 children whose lives were changed forever, and not particularily because of the Orphan Trains, but because of the need for them. It wasn't a pretty solution, nor a wonderful one, but it beat the heck out of the alternative for those young ones. Think about alternatives, hear the whistle that sounds for you.

More Orphan blocks quilts from Del Jeanne...

2008-03-07T11:17:00.003-06:00

Sorry to be so very slow in getting these posted. Life just keeps happening while I am making other plans. In posting the first quilt(see the post before the blog award) of Del Jeanne's, I mistakenly said that we were her inspiration. That is not correct. She was inspired all on her own and by the time she was directed to our blog, she had already completed all 4 of the quilts.This one is called Kaylee's Quilt.
The second one is her Pretty In Pink, and is the one she still has.
This last lovely is Rylan's Love Quilt. They are all so very pretty, Del Jeanne, thank you for sharing them with us, and do keep making more orphan blocks quilts as the spirit moves you. *VBS*

Blogging with a Purpose...

2008-03-04T15:39:00.006-06:00

I am finding this to be harder than I thought. There are so many blogs, and for so many different reasons. I have decided that my first nomination for the blogging with a purpose award is Michele. She shares herself with the world at With Heart and Hands, A Quilting Journey. It's also a journey of many other kinds. Congratulatins Michele *VBS*
**Wednesday** My second nomination for the award is Clare. She heads up the Quilts 4 Leukaemia blog. It's such a wonderfully purposeful blog..please do stop over and see the quilts and link to Clare's other blog at the top of the page. Congratulations Clare, keep up the great work you're doing.

Blog Award for the Orphan Train...

2008-03-01T14:45:00.006-06:00

Our Orphan Train project blog has been given an award...this is our first. I feel it is OUR award since the quilt tops and quilts you make is reason for this blogs existance. The award comes from Tracy of Gift to be Simple. I'll list the awards requirements here: Blogging With Purpose Award Rules:

1. Awarded parties must nominate five people who have not received the award.

2. The blogs that receive the award must serve some purpose.

3. In their post about the award they need to link back to this entry.

4. Awarded parties must post the award banner on their site.

I'm happy and proud to say we definitely serve a purpose with this blog. I will nominate the 5 I'm suppose to, but I need a bit more time to think about it. Look for that post next...*VBS*
And we have a newcome on the Orphan Train. I received the nicest letter from Del Jeanne, with pictures of the quilts she made after being inspired by our efforts.
This one she called "For An American Hero". She doesn't have a public blog at this time, so no link for her. Here is what she had to say about making orphan block quilts. Del Jeanne is quilting away in TX...her words: "Another quilter just introduced me to your blog. I LOVE making quilts from orphan blocks, so count me in! I just finished 2 tops from orphans which I am giving to sisters, a second grader and an eighth grader, whose mother died last month. Some other quilters contributed blocks, but not nearly enough, so I was glad I had orphans! Last year I made two quilts from orphan blocks--one for me and one to go to a wounded soldier. I still have more orphans to make into quilts. I'm attaching pictures of all my orphan creations. I guess "Pretty in Pink" doesn't count for the challenge, since I kept it, but I really like the way it came out, so thought I'd share anyway. The last two are just tops, but I can send you finished pictures when I get them back from the quilter and have gotten them bound."
So you see, we have one of Del Jeanne's quilts today, and I've got 3 more to show you in the following days *VBS* And for the record Del Jeanne, the Pretty In Pink, most definitely COUNTS...there is no specification that the quilts MUST be given away. That's optional...I still own the original "Riding the Orphan Train, heading West" quilt. Thanks for sharing with us...we'll be looking forward to more quilts from you.

Leap Year Day 2008

2008-02-29T17:10:00.002-06:00

I know it's been forever since I've popped in here. Life just keeps happening while I'm making other plans *VBS*
I've been tagged for a blog award, and I promise I will be here tomorrow to do that Tracy! Thanks for awarding me and the Orphan Train blog.
Also, I have an update on the They named me Marjorie book and it's travels. I have newly inspired orphan quilts to share with you and it's worth coming back for...honest!
Listen for that lonesome whistle...the Orphan Train is still rollin' west. Hugs for all, Finn

Gathering Steam...

2008-01-31T12:29:00.000-06:00

and full speed ahead! Gotta make this a very productive year in terms of quilt making *VBS*. Patti has given me permission to post these gorgeous quilts of her's ..thanks Patti! The first one she calls "Leftovers".A closer look will show you that it is, indeed, made of leftover bits. I find it to be both beautiful and intersting.
The second one that Patti made, since her bins weren't empty after ONE....LOL...is called "Spare Parts". These two beauties add warmth, charm and color to Patti and DH's beds in the family camper. One of the nicest things about Orphan Train quilts is that they are EACH one of a kind! Thanks Patti!! for all the inspiration you give us...keep stitching!

RoseMarie's Orphan blocks....

2008-01-15T14:13:00.000-06:00

are todays special feature...Awfully nice looking orphans, aren't they???? *VBS* But they must not have worked for RoseMarie's intended purpose at the time she made them. Here's what she has to say about them:"What became an orphan block, has resulted in a tote bag. This block was first intended to become a jacket but ended up in my orphan bin instead. Also in the bin, was a pack of rail fence blocks and I just cut them up into 1-1/2” strips. Only the portion of the trees (see the blocked out area) was used for the bag and the remainder will be made into something else one day …. perhaps another tote bag."

Here's what she made using them *VBS*
And her creative use of some of them on the back. Great looking tote RoseMarie....I love it! Thanks for sharing!

An Unusual Orphan....

2008-01-14T12:49:00.000-06:00

and as we know quilt blocks, like kids, come in many sizes, shapes and reasons to be. Today's Orphan Train quilt is from Ila at Kool Quilts.If I understand correctly, the Orphan block is the Big E. Here are Ila's words to describe this, her OLDEST UFO...*VBS*The pattern is from the Little Quilts book "Around the House."

"The corner block is a test sample I made for a gift quilt given back in
1993! My husband was deployed with the First Engineer Battalion of Ft.
Riley, KS for Operation Desert Storm in 1990, so this is my tribute to his
service."
I've been terrible at keeping my word to get back here daily, but I have another use for orphan blocks from Rosemarie that I do PROMISE to share tomorrow *VBS*
***Post a Note*** Ila says it's not a big E, it's a castle...dahhhh! Must be I need my vision checked! Or maybe I've had it checked too many times and am still seeing "the big E"...LOL. Sorry Ila!

New Orphan Blocks.....

2008-01-10T14:55:00.001-06:00

These really lovely Sunbonnet Sue blocks were donated by Norma of Random Stitches for our orphan train project. There are a dozen of them, with a few needing to be finished. I'm thinking I will use 9 of them with a 3 part lattice from the blue and pink fabric, and the extras will join up with other donated blocks. Time for me to get busy stitching! I'm hoping to make 2008 my most productive year yet!!
I have a couple more pictures of ways that orphan blocks have been used and will post those tomorrow. See you then *VBS*

Orphan Train top from Giraffe Dreams...

2007-12-20T12:10:00.000-06:00

and that would be our very own, very productive Carol E. *VBS* This is the last of the 4 pictures of orphan train quilt tops that I received from Carol E. a week or so ago.
She get them to the top( or flimsy)stage and then sends them on to someone who quilts for the Wrap Them In Love project, or other projects she supports. If you want to send any other web addresses, Carol, I'll add them to the sidebar. This is another great example of what can be done with leftovers...both blocks and/or fabric.
Make a resolution to give it a try in 2008...it's amazing how good it makes you feel! Big Christmas hugs from Engineer Finn and Head Conductor Ebby! See you all back here after the 25th....ho ho ho....

Orphans and leftovers...movin' on...

2007-12-17T14:36:00.000-06:00

Another great top for the Wrap Them In Love Project compliments of Carol E. She does such a great job working with donated orphan blogs. Sometimes she has blocks she's won in Quilt Block Lotto.I'm not sure which this top was made from, but it's a neat top! Some youngster will love it for sure!
And this is one of my tops, Finn, doing her scrappy thing.I finished this one up by machine quilting it and getting it bound back in the summer. It had no place in particular it needed to go, so it has been living on the back of my couch and Ebby has been enjoying it.
And then the oddest thing happened last week. My youngest son's partner was talking to me on the phone, and told me that while washing the very elderly Trip Around the World, alot of the stitching had let loose, making big holes. I asked if she wanted me to 'fix' it, and she said "no, it's beyond fixing". So I asked if she just threw it away then...and she said one of her neighbors in the apt. building asked if she could have it to re-work. "What?" I asked, "what would she do with it?" I was told she was going to cut away the damaged part and fix what was left to use as a cover for her 2 yr. old son. Hey, this is 2007 right?? Nobody here in the USA could really be IN NEED of bed covers, could they???? Not seriously. I couldn't get that thought out of my head, so after a few days passed, I asked my son a few subtle questions and found out that YES...indeed, there really are people who 'need'. Both of the parents are working, but having a very hard time making ends meet. I must admit I am still 'boggled' by the notion that a young 20 something gal(in 2007) would take that old, old queen size TATW quilt(tied) and re-make it.
So when J. was here a couple of night ago, I sent along the Strip Twist for little neighbor boy, and a promise to be making a few more that can wander into hands and homes who might need them. It's a whole new idea(for me)to think about the orphan train type quilt needed by someone other than an orphan.

Happy Trails to you.....

2007-12-13T18:10:00.000-06:00

I'm not sure why but this top, made by Carol E. reminds me of Roy Rogers and the song he sang to end his show on TV and some movies. Something about the lavender or purple *VBS*Another absolutely GREAT effort by Carol E. working with donated orphan blocks, and sometimes blocks she's won in Quilter's Lotto! She says the blocks in the previous post were from Lotto, and that I should not give her too much credit because these are TOPS and not completed quilts...*VBS* OK Carol, but in my book you still get an A+ for your efforts !

Somebody's sewing Orphan quilts...

2007-12-11T12:06:00.000-06:00

and that would be our very own Carol E. She is one productive gal!!! She sent me four(4) YES....4 pictures of recently completed quilts.And since it's been quiet here for awhile, I'm just going to post ONE each day....LOL.

If only I had time right now....

2007-12-06T12:19:00.001-06:00

I know, I know..it's been 'forever' since I posted, and not alot seems to be happening with Orphan Train riders right now. I suppose the calendar has something to do with that...LOL If not sewing holiday gifts, then it's probably something to 'deck the halls'. In making the rounds in blogland, I see that Sue had dug out Christmas orphans, and thought about placemats for the DGD, but the block selection was limited. And over at Quiltville, Bonnie is hand quilting on her Orphan blocks quilt...it's slow going but she's making progress.
I noticed that Joyce has begun a project of making luggage tags from orphan blocks. She's not one of our riders, but it's a great idea and she has the link to the instructions. The book about Orphan train rider, Marjorie is making the rounds and is at Jeanne's house right now, and headed to Oregon next.Thinking about winter, which is a natural thing in WI, in December....this is a pile of flannel strings and scraps. Friend Betsy passes her backing trimming along to me, and I add them to mine.
There is a nice size pile of 6.5" blocks that I have already made, using up odds and ends and strings. I know that mostly we focus on using leftover blocks, but I make an exception for these. Like the Mile A Minute blocks,string blocks and Crumb blocks, it's a way to use up the odd bits and it makes a great snuggle or donation quilt.
And don't stand on the rules box, just jump right in and play...don't worry about if they go together, or are too bright. It's good to remember that a child doesn't have the same orderliness needs(in their brain)that some of us suffer from...*VBS* Trust me...IF I had time, this is what I'd be doing today.....and tomorrow and probably the day after!!

Easy Peasy Take on Strings...

2007-11-15T10:00:00.001-06:00

but then, that's not an unfamiliar thing with Finn. This slightly unusal string quilt was given to the newly adopted son of my DD's friend.Nothing ever seems to make me happier than seeing a quilt in the hands of a child *VBS* But how the quilt came "to be" is the story today.
All those gorgeous flannel strings are the 'leftovers' from my friend Betsy making a graduation quilt for her youngest DD. I adore playing in Betsy's scraps...she has very good scraps!!!
Now I've been reading lately about piecing strings onto foundations, both paper and fabric. And I know that is traditional, but since I wasn't interested in laying them on the diagonal, why bother???? So I didn't. Just sewed the strips and strings together, any which way and width. Then I cut them into 6.5" blocks, cut lattice, sewed it all up and tied it with orange yarn.
Next thing I know here's DD#1 telling me that her friend L, has brought home a little boy(15 months old, I think) after a long wait. He was removed from his birth mother because of drug use. The availabity was 'up in the air' for awhile, but the courts in MN eventually terminated her rights to the child. Now he's officially adopted in a forever home. Strangely enough, his infant sister became available for adoption(much the same circumstances) a couple of years later. And DD's friend and DH were able to adopt her also. You might not think that is a happy ending, but as an adoptive parent of 5, I can tell you it's the least worst.

Pass it along.....

2007-11-13T14:13:00.000-06:00

A sort of 'news flash' for today's post. If you have read the last couple of posts you know that the orphan train book is making the 'rounds' in blogland. As I said, I received it(to read) from Carol E. She has received it(to read)from Tracey in Conn.
I sent it along to Michele, and Michele has sent it along to Jeanne.
In the post before last, Marcie of Patchalot More expressed a desire to receive it.But...I'm not sure Jeanne would be back this way to read that comment. So here is what I'd like to "PASS ALONG". If you have a desire to read the book(depending on where it needs to be mailed) PLEASE email or visit the current readers blog. Let her know of your interest, and she can let YOU know where the book is bound for next.
NO ONE is actually 'in charge' of all of this....we are each just doing it for the sake of ALL of us orphan train. Since I post that particular day, Carol E. has expressed a desire that she would love to have it back when it's done traveling. Please respect that desire, when the book has finished it journey. Like the "travel bugs" that are out 'in the world' via geo-caching, our book could be very well traveled. So far each person has added their name and location and blog title. I didn't think to add a date when I signed it, but I do remember it arrived here on the Saturday before my birthday...that would have been October 5th. Maybe Jeanne or whoever could add that date by my name. We'll see is Carol remembers when she got it...LOL,and you too Tracey in Conn.** Photo from Orphan Train History archives via Google **
(Blogger is NOT playing nicely with my linking to Jeanne...so I'll try it here instead. Jeanne

Oh Happy Days are here again....

2007-11-12T10:45:00.000-06:00

the sky above is clear again...come on, sing along with me *VBS* It's a HAPPY day...the Orphan Train has just picked up volunteer #30!!! Yup..I counted each of your noses this morning *VBS* Welcome aboard to Rose Marie in Canada *VBS* I'm just thrilled to welcome her on hoard and share her lovely orphan project with all of you.Seems Rose Marie has been reading our blog for awhie(sort of a 'lurker') and finally decided to drop me a line with her blog link and what she made with some of her orphans. These are the blocks that were in her orphan block bin...*VBS* And here is what she had to say about them:"Since there is so much going around on the web these days about orphan blocks, I thought it might be a good idea to glance into my bin to see what might be there. To my surprise, there is actually more than what I thought.

The Mariner’s Compass and lighthouse blocks (bottom of photo) will become a tote bag.

The rest, well, I can’t find any inspiration with them for now. I’ll hang them up on my design wall and see what I can do with them (I am determined).
Visit http://orphantrainsfromfinn.blogspot.com/ to see what is going on with orphan blocks and you will have loads of inspiration after one visit."
This little beauty is her finished project. I love the way she used this star block, and thought it might inspire some of you also!
Here is the other side of the bag...it all ties together so very well!! I hope you will link over and say "hello" to Rose Marie, she's just delightful to chat with via email, and I'm so glad she's on board with us. At her blog, Applique 'n' Patch Quilting, her orphan block project is under her September postings.

What's new???

2007-11-09T17:56:00.000-06:00

This handsome bag is new, for one thing...*VBS* It was made by Michele.She is the current reader of our orphan train book "They Named Me Marjorie".The book has been on the 'move' around blogland, traveling from Orphan Train volunteer to volunteer. It began it's journey with Tracey,Quilting in Conn. She graciously sent it on to Carol.From Carol E. the book came to me, Finn.I'm loving this idea!
Here is what Michele has to say about her bag:"I even used a scrap practice piece...the appliqued heart..that I was testing thread tension on. The meandering on it was awful! All it was, or was meant to be was a thread tester! But an orphan is an orphan and needs to be loved. So, I grabbed it and put her on the front of the bag and loved her anyway! The rest are the odds and ends leftover from my own Orphan Train quilt."
The book is a great read. Interesting, moving and certainly holds you captive til you see how it all come out. With limited eye sight, I'm not much of a reader anymore, but I read it from cover to cover and would have read more if there was more! I chose Michele to receive it next.
Since Michele has been in the Land of Insomia lately, she read it pretty much all at one sitting...*S* She wrote a lovely report of the book and you can read that at her blog. She felt a bag made from her bits of leftover orphans was needed before it left Oregon.The book is now traveling to Jeanne.Carol E's idea is for the book to travel to as many of the Orphan Train volunteers(those who are working with their orphan blocks and get published here)as possible. I love Carol's idea. I had included a newspaper clipping from Carol E's St. Paul, MN newspaper regarding the reunion of Orphan Train riders from Minnesota. They had their reunion this past summer. If Google Orphan Train you will find lots of information including history, pictures, and a list of nation wide reunions of those children who rode those trains west. Of the over 300,000, only a small number are still alive today. It all happened between the 1850's and the early 1900's.
If you are interested in the book, click on the Crocus Hills link up on my side bar under Special Connections. It was written by the granddaughter of Marjorie.
Michele chose to add the travel bag to the 'trip' the book is taking. If you have something appropiate or meanful, please feel free to include it when you send the book onward.
Postage to where ever you send it is up to each individual. If you have no one to send it onward to, please contact Carol E. and return the book to her. Hugs for everyone, Finn

When is an orphan an orphan???

2007-11-08T10:20:00.000-06:00

This is my "Not quite Orphans" flannel quilt. On the clothes line for a photo, ready to be utility quilted. And it was. And was given to a grandson for his birthday.While not the same as working with orphan blocks, to take a box of odds and ends, scraps of flannel, but no yardages.....to create quilt blocks that meet the 6.5" size...to have them 'play' together nicely.....that was the challenge I gave myself with this one. I'll probably do it again someday *S*.
The scraps NEVER end once you are a quilter...and for that I am thankful *VBS* What are YOU doing with your scrapbag today???

Head Engineer Finn reporting...

2007-11-02T17:11:00.000-05:00

with a little help from Ebony, as always *VBS* It's been a while since I just talked to you...I've been in a fairly productive period of getting some UFO's finished up. And I decided a day or so ago(when I saw Jeanne's Christmas Orphans) that it was HIGH TIME I got back to my Yuletide Orphans. The ones laid out in the picture are the ones I headed into this challenge to use up.
I puttered with them for a short time back in June, but who's thinking Yuletide in June???? So I parked them on a 'siding' and let the train roll on without them. Well...no more! I'm re-visiting them, today in fact.
I've pulled them ALL out again, along with the tubs of christmas fabric scraps, and it's time to 'rock and roll' with this batch!
Of course I had to clear the decks this morning(umm, errr, I mean clear the tracks) *G*.
There was a stack of 5" 9 patches waiting to be joined up with setting squares, and I got nearly ALL of them sewn before I had to leave for lunch. A little more sewing and I will have enough blocks for a donation quilt *VBS*.
Then I can really "hit" the orphans! I haven't heard much from some of our volunteers about their orphan projects...how about joining me????

Orphan Train Tricks And Treats....

2007-10-31T11:08:00.000-05:00

A special event for this ghostly holiday...from our very own Sue. She blogs at From the Magpie's Nest(see sidebar for link) Sue REALLY loves Halloween!!.This is one of the special placemats she made up for her DD and DGD to enjoy *VBS*
And...this is another. I love the idea of using Halloween Orphans and adding bits of really fun spooky fabric!
Here's another. I got these pics from Sue a couple of weeks ago, and she's probably wondered why I didn't post them....*VBG*...I had my reasons Sue, I had my reasons. I mean, how often to you get special holiday quilts make specifically for TODAY????? They are just perfect and I know have been truly enjoyed by Sue's 'girls'.
And last but NOT least, is another adorable premie quilt top that Sue put together with still more of the autumn type orphan blocks. All the projects turned out sooooo well! Great job Sue!

Strike, Strike, Striking.....

2007-10-30T13:03:00.000-05:00

while the iron is hot! That's our Jeanne, at Spiral(see sidebar for link). This was the pile of orphan blocks that she sorted from the others, and called "Christmas Orphans". *VBS*(I also has ventured into this challenge with Yuletide Orphans in hand)
And this is the first of what Jeanne did with those particular orphans...in her own words...."This finished wall hanging uses a pine tree block left over from a long-ago swap. That particular block has been aging for almost a decade! (I think it may have been Amy who asked where my orphan blocks come from: I used to be heavily involved with swapping. And sometimes I make test blocks before I undertake a new project. And sometimes I'm just puttering. Somehow, they're just there.) Anyway, the snowballs and 9ps were newly created to make this 40" piece. I'm calling it "Cedar" because the real cedar trees in my area have thick tan trunks like this".
Of course that gorgeous wall hanging DIDN'T use up all the Christmas Oprhan blocks, so she created this little gem also. I was happy to read, at her blog Spiral, that she really likes this one too. Way to go Jeanne....high five for alllll those unused and unloved blocks hacing a new home in a quilt!!!

Another Orphan Block Top completed...

2007-10-24T12:02:00.000-05:00

and this one by Carol E. from Giraffe Dreams(see sidebar for link). Carol has been on a roll lately, getting lots of things finished up.This one was made a little while back and was waiting to see if it needed a border...*VBS* Decision time? No border needed and so it's off to the arms of some waiting child. Great job Carol !!!!You've met the challenge and then some! Congratulations!

Orphans, waiting in line....

2007-10-23T16:25:00.000-05:00

This lovely little quilt was made by Colleen, Musing from my soul(see sidebar for link). She was inspired by our orphan block creations, gathered up some of hers and made this charming baby quilt. I think it's just lovely Colleen, welcome aboard!!

Jeanne's Blue Orphans....

2007-10-08T19:59:00.000-05:00

better late than never! Sorry everyone...I intended to get here yesterday, but that just didn't happen. It was a very busy day(again) and when I made it to the computer about 10:30 last night, the internet wasn't co-operating as I tried to navigate around from place to place...so I gave up and went to bed!Here are Jeanne's leftover blocks in blue. I think each and every orphan block quilt top she makes gets better and better! Here's what Jeanne had to say about this one :
"Finn will be proud of me! I switched over to my orphan blocks again, and got this whole top assembled last night and this afternoon. It went together very quickly once all the elements were laid out -- that part is just like working a jigsaw puzzle.

Lots of odd bits here, wouldn't you say? And I have several blocks and pieces left over, so another blue orphan quilt will happen someday.

It's headed for my to-be-quilted drawer. Eventually it will become a donation quilt."

More from Jeanne of Spiral fame....VBS

2007-10-06T20:48:00.000-05:00

And it 's a GOOD one! Another of Jeanne's good ideas came to life in this variation on a string quilt. It's been a week or so since I saw this at Jeanne's, and altho I have had permission to use it, I was waiting for an o.k. from Corry at Dutch Blue. It seems that Jeanne had seen something similar at Corry's blog, which is http://dutch-blue.blogspot.com/ (the Sept. 18th post) and then made a few adjusts while creating hers. Do link over to Corry's and check out all the neat quilts she is working on these days! Plus, she's a hand quilter!! We are getting to be a "rare" breed, those of us who hand quilt in a hoop(or like Tonya, without the hoop!).
Jeanne never ceases to amaze me with all she gets done and how many good ideas she has for new quilts. Come back tomorrow for a peek at her blue orphan block quilt top!

P.S. I was just at Corry's Dutch Blue blog, and she's now put together another of the marvelous string quilts as a doll quilt!

"We interrupt our regular schedule for this bulletin.."

2007-10-04T15:44:00.000-05:00

Ebby sez: "Mama Finn has made an unscheduled stop to take on supplies and make repairs to the orphan train." "She left me to hold down the, er...platform(?) til she gets back...which better be soon....I'm hungry!"

A new friend and kindred spirit.......

2007-09-28T10:07:00.002-05:00

of our orphan train effort *VBS* Many thanks to Sandy of New York!! I got a lovely email from Sandy, a kind of 'out of the blue' email *S*, offering orphan blocks to use in donation quilts. Of course I said YES!!
Sandy's box arrived last week with all these goodies enclosed!!! There were orphan blocks and 'bits and pieces' and parts *VBS* I have Sandy's permission to add a bit about her life(and her charity work) to our Train blog. Her enclosed letter says, : "It's so great that you make these donation quilts. Hope you can use these. I do baby quilts(at least 3) a year for our local hospital through my quilt guild.
I also volunteer 4 hours/week at a local charity house(I'm a retired RN). And I knit and crochet hats, scarves, etc for charity. I have a good life( 5 healthy children, 7 healthy grands)and a great husband, who loves me and tolerates my "endeavors". Good Luck and God Bless, Piecefully, Sandy"

Along with saying "thank you", I'll echo Sandy's words, 'God bless'...one of the greatest things we bring to the Table of Life,to share,is an awareness of 'need'. Thank You Sandy!!! Keep up your own great work! Hugs, Finn

P.S. Quilting Fitzy asked about my comment about being 'charged'. It's not money, Fitsy, that they charge us. They 'charge' by taking a % from the 1042 MB(of picture space)that each of us is 'allowed'.(I post pictures on 3 blogs) I hate it when the pictures don't publish and I still get a % of space subtracted!! Just a bit of a "grumbly old bear" moment....sorry!

P.S. 2...I have a few great pictures pf orphan quilt progress, and some totally new orphan blocks projects to show you over the week!

Blogger Picture problems....

2007-09-27T10:19:00.000-05:00

sorry I've been busy with life and the my other blog. I've just made 2 attempts at photos for the Train, today, with NONE showing up but my account being charged! Darn!
I'll be back and try later. Still working on getting the log cabin quilt top ready to mail out for quilting and I have a few more errands to run before the weekend. See you later! Hugs, Finn

Slow going....

2007-09-21T10:48:00.001-05:00

things seem to be pretty quiet right now. A couple of you are working on orphan block tops, and I am too *VBS* I know it's not something that we do full time, like piece our regular quilts...but it makes for a fun 'play' day...with no little to nothing that can go wrong...just rather mindless sewing...*VBS*Here are the blocks I've been playing with this past week. They came in as a donation from Gypsy Quilter. I sewed 2.5" X 3.5" rectangles together into long 'stacks' of bricks, and then sewed a bagful of HST sqs. around the school house block(well, half of it at least..LOL). Obviously I have more to do, but that was it for one day and then life 'happened' again. I'll be getting back to it soon..*VBS* How about you???

More unusual orphans....

2007-09-15T09:25:00.000-05:00

and this time from Carolyn of Lakeside Quilting(see sidebar). She created this beautiful quilt top while recovering from a recent surgery. In her own words, here's how she did it : "I did something that I guess could be considered an orphan quilt. :o) A few years ago I joined the Keepsake Quilting Club and received two boxes of die cut squares...samples of all the fabric that I could order from them. Even though they weren't quite square, I decided to make the best of it and sew them all together, totally randomly. I made them into four patches, then sewed them all together...that's 576 little squares there. I'm trying to decide on borders...I'm thinking they'll need to be pretty plain as the center screams for attention."
That was what I had cut and pasted to 'save' after I saw the first picture of just the squares. Carolyn graciously jumped back in and added the borders so we have a completed top here. She will machine quilt it(she's a wonderfully talented longarm quilter *VBS*) and then donate it to an organization of her choice..*S* Unless a daughter claims it, like last time...great job Carolyn!!!

A slightly different orphan...

2007-09-14T10:38:00.001-05:00

but leftovers and unwanteds put to good use, none the less *VBS* This particular piece, if I understand correctly, came to Cher at Marathon Quilter(see sidebar) either as blocks and she creatively made it a top, OR...LOL, it came as a top..and she finished it into a quilt for WTIL. I'm a bit foggy on the details.Either way, I think it's a splendid example of what can be done if we put our minds to work. In my opinion most of the wonderful quilts of Gee's Bend were born of NECESSITY, not vanity.
** WTIL stands for Wrap Them In Love, a non profit organization run by Ellen(see sidebar) that collects and donates quilts to orphanages worldwide for children.

Orphans, orphans everywhere....

2007-09-12T18:14:00.001-05:00

and when they are orphan quilt blocks, that's NOT a bad thing at all!! The first quilt top today is one made by Carol E. of Giraffe Dreams.
The center blocks are the ones that came to her as orphans. Once she had them together, she improvised the rest! She says she's not thrilled with it, but I'm sure a child somewhere will view it with adoration. So often the quilts given to the Wrap Them in Love receiptents might be the only thing they can call their own. Good job Carol!!
The second picture is of a pile of orphan blocks that live at Sue's house. She has made several amazing quilts already from the orphans she rounded up. The newest being for that precious granddaughter born last week! Congraulations Sue!! These are some of those orphan blocks pinned to the design wall, waiting for Sue to decide what they will become.

New Territory....

2007-09-07T10:22:00.000-05:00

as we continue our journey, the view from the window changes as we go. New vistas are revealed. In yesterday's comments, a new face or two. Today, I'm welcoming Ila aboard. The little quilts today, were made either by her DH's Aunt, or back in Aunt Hanna's time. I popped over to see where Ila blogged, and found these. I asked permission to share them, they are just too SPECIAL not to be shared with the rest of the orphan train travelers!! A comment from Ila, who blogs at http://koolqlts.blogspot.com/ and calls her blog Kool Quilts.
"This past week, we remembered and honored my husband's aunt, JoHanna Kool.A doll quilt made by DH's grandmother. Not even close to square, so cute in a primitive way."

"Yo-yo doily. Most of the fabric is cotton, some might be rayon, as is very fragile. This one needs plenty of TLC before it can be displayed."
"Close up of yo-yo's. I think some of these may have been feedsacks, even though they did not live on a farm. DH's grandfather passed away at a very young age, leaving his grandmother to raise 4 children, the youngest (DH's father) was not yet 5. So I imagine that people would have shared resources that they could to help out. Hannah was the 2nd of the 4 children."
Finn sez: what wonderful remembrances of Aunt Hanna! And treasures to own as well. Not many doll quilts survived all the love and rough use they received, and the ones that turn up 'in family' are doubly special..*VBS* The fact that Ila is a quilter makes it just that much more special. I love the first one...very much an orphan block quilt!!! We are lucky to get to see little treasures among us, like this one! Thank you Ila! And welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard Lene...VBS

2007-09-06T10:41:00.000-05:00

I'm so happy that we 'paused' in that dry gulch to see about 'taking on water'. New volunteers and wonderful creations from orphan blocks emerged as a result...*VBS* Our newest volunteer is Lene. And this is her Orphan Block quilt + one..a second quilt being made from the crumbs. Way to go Lene!!! I absolutely LOVE this quilt top! The fact I'm VERY fond of red and brown together might be a clue!! There is such a nice variety of blocks and distribution of color. Altho it was created in parts, it has a very organized, unified feeling. Here is what Lene had to say about her quilt, in the email I received yesterday : "I have attached, I hope, (have never attached pictures in e-mail before) pictures of my most recently completed quilt top and some blocks that I made from the crumbs from the first."

This redwork quilt is not strictly an orphan, more like a blended-family type quilt. I had the twelve-redwork baskets, (they were a handwork take along project several summers ago while away from my sewing machine), The next summer, while in the Lancaster PA area I purchased the flowered border fabric and there it all set until I saw the orphan block quilts. I had the geese, the logs, square in squares, leaves, the postage stamp blocks and some of the appliqué then whenever I would see an unusual block or a new technique I would make a six or nine inch block of it in the colors of the border fabric.

This quilt was so fun to make, I got a chance to try out blocks that I would never make a whole quilt of, and I am tickled to have yet another UFO to the TOP stage thanks to you and everyone’s inspiration.

After completing the redwork and orphan top I had this basket full of scraps, enough to make 42 six inch crumb blocks. I haven't set them together yet.

Lene
P.S. Lene doesn't have a blog, altho I've suggested she might like to..*VBS* So, please leave your comments, congratulations and questions here.

Taking on water....

2007-09-05T12:28:00.000-05:00

I'm happy to say, from here in my engineers seat, it was just a DRY gulch and NOT a box canyon we hit a day or so ago. Wheeeew...thought I had lost my job there for a bit. As Katie pointed out, in her comment...gotta remember that these old steam engines have to stop at the water tanks for a refill, and occasionally to add more coal to the bin. Gotta keep that stoker workin'. Lineman tells me the brakes are fine, and we can make it over any mountains we might encounter. A nice email yesterday, from Terry, who blogs at http://quilt-nut.blogspot.com/. The following 2 orphan quilts are projects she helped with.
The situation is a bit different from some of our orphan block quilts. This project is more like what Carol E.'s (http://giraffedreams.blogspot.com/)orphan quilts. They are made from the blocks of MANY...not just one.
I'll add Terry's explaination:(ok..seems it disappeared from my late night pasting..) I'll go get it! Got it: "Here are some orphan block quilts that a friend and I made. They were made for our guild retreat. The orphan blocks were collected from members over the year and separated and organized by likeness. Then they were given out at one of our meetings to whoever wanted to put one together. The blocks we were given were the cube center block, the cubes at the bottom, the four corner blocks, and a couple of other smaller blocks. We added the rest. At our retreat you could vote for your favorites and then they were given away by drawing names of those that participated. It was the first orphan block quilt we had ever made. It was done in 2005. We loved it and loved working on it but it sure was hard to give it up. We did not win (we were sad) but it didn't stop us from doing another one.

These last couple pictures are sections of the second orphan quilt pictured above.Thanks for the email Terry, and thanks for sharing these two great quilts with us! If you have orphan blocks or a top made from the 'leftovers', or if you are a 'lurker' who loves the "maverickness" of quilts made in this fashion, please feel welcome to comment or share with us..*VBS* Hugs all around! Finn

Dry Gulch or Box Canyon????

2007-09-03T10:25:00.001-05:00

From my window seat in the engine, the tracks ahead look uncertain. A natural condition of the route perhaps...or maybe just that what our train contains is too meager an offering. I had hoped when I created this blog that it might enjoy the kind of journey of the true Orphan trains. Enough content to be necessary, a job being done, satifying results. I'm not very sure anymore that there is enough interest to warrent keeping this blog going. Some of us, like Tonya, myself, Bonnie and a few others have an endless fascination with the unique style, maverick approach, and 'make do' attitude of our ancestor quilters.
And I don't mind at all, taking time from my quilting and sewing to find, scan, crop and post OLD orphan quilts, occasionally. I love hearing from those of you that know of an orphan top or quilt to share with ALL. Sometimes I come across the orphan you are creating(by accident), and if possible it appears here for all to enjoy and learn from.
I am NOT, however, going to scour alleys and byways, and dark corners of world, nor dig in your closets to find an orphan. If you have them, or are paricipating in the challenge, or have made an orphan block quilt in the past, I occasionally need to get an email(like the one from Lucy yesterday) saying that you'd like to share it. If not, then I'm afraid our Orphan block train is running out of fuel to continue it's journey. It could be that it will just sit here in a dry glutch or box canyon, unable to move forward. It's up to ALL of us,not just me. Lately there have been NO comments about anything. And while the readership holds at about 150 a day, it's hard to tell if ANY interest in Orphan block quilts remains. We are coming into autumn here in the Mid-West Uunited States, and being an October child, it's my favorite season. If there is NO continuing interest, I'll just park the train here in dry country and move on to other things.
The pictures today are of: #1 a string quilt from Pennsylvania, Mennonite, late 19th century- 27" X 39". The other vintage quilt is also from Pennsylvania, Mennonite, late 19th century, 41" X 54". Both are in a book called Small Endearments by Sandi Fox. Published 1985 & 1994. The two pictures of modern quilts are:first-one of my many Mile A Minute quilts. Second-the newest Orphan block quilt. I did some monkeying around with the Bento Box 'idea', combining them in a couple of different ways..liked NONE of it, including the bright flannel. So, it's now officially ready for a border and tying. It will go off to one of the younger grandsons. It was all in a day's sewing!

Lucy joins the Orphan Train-Part 1 (Part 2 below)

2007-09-02T17:31:00.000-05:00

from across the big pond, Lucy is sharing her orphan blocks project. She blogs at http://lucyquilting.blogspot.com/ and calls her blog Quilting with the Past (see sidebar for link) Having more than one of most of these blocks, gave her a different perspective....
She considered them UFO's and what's interesting us that's another way to get the odds and ends and beginnings used!
She didn't have as many UFO's as some, but enough to consider them a weight on her back. Play time began with the arrival of some new books from the USA.a>
Here are Lucy's words to tell you what happened: Last week I am treated by Dawn with two new Books !! One book is full with antique quilts displayed in gorgeous rooms . The other book is full with inspiring words from Gwen Marston and Freddy Morgan . Droling the whole week over the beautiful quilts made me that I want to start with a new one. But that also means that a other quilt is added to my pile of UFOs. ...... mmm. It is not a good feeling to sew with a "pile of UFOs on my back"
Gwen's inspirationwords give me a light ......

All of this happened very quickly. See part 2 below for the final additions and the finished product, including her creative backing solution...*VBS* Welcome aboard Lucy, glad to have you with us...great job on this quilt, as always!!

Part 2: Lucy joins the Orphan Train...

2007-09-02T17:06:00.001-05:00

The "making it fit together" is one of the biggest challenges to working with Orphan blocks. Spare parts often do the trick...and then there is the border to be added.
And...in Lucy's own words: I reduced five UFOs to one !!!!!!!!!!!!!

That feels so great ! Thanks to the inspring words from Gwen Marston and Freddy Morgan ! I can start with a new quilt without the feeling from a lot of ufos on my back .

And at least I can say that this quilt is very MAVERICK !!

mmmm .. now I am thinking of using a ufo quiltop for the backing ....... That means that I am rid of 6 Ufos ......

Rolling along towards Labor Day....

2007-09-01T12:23:00.000-05:00

September 1st-1867....saw geese heading south this morning from the window of my engine. Looked up at just the right minute! Seems a 'mite early, but the critters seem to know. So far no snow in the flatlands. We'll probably see Colorado before the day is over, and snow in the passes. Warm as toast, sittin' here, heading west. The boiler keeps all of us up here in the engine warm as can be. Conductor says the passenger cars are a comfortable temperture. Children seem to be handling the trip pretty well so far. Had 6 taken off at our last stop. Does a body good to see them youngen' gettin' a chance with a home and family. I never mind "these" runs too much, Rev. Loring is a mighty fine man and a prompt payer. Crossing up ahead, time to blow that whistle...
and so it goes...watching from the river bank or school window was far more exciting than being on the train. No need to wonder if the train stopped for the Sabbeth or for a holiday such as Labor Day. The celebration of Labor Day wasn't a holiday as yet, back then. And time was money, the train 'rolled' every day!
We have an orphan block quilts top from Sue of "From the Magpie's Nest" today.
This cute little Houses quilt is the one that Sue built.. She's expecting a new grandbaby.What a perfect quilt for that special child. Way to go Sue!!! This is #2 or is it #3??? And last but NOT least is this great(FINISHED) quilt that belong to Sio of "Scraps and Threadtales". It's one she purchased(lucky her!) and uses on her bed. It was built many, many years ago, using orphan blocks with a wide variety of vintage(to us) fabric. The display of fabric is part of the charm in my opinion. The quilt could be said to be more about "parts" than "blocks"...but it works and it's a terrific orphan quilt! Thanks again for letting us enjoy it Sio!!

Cleaning Surprises.....

2007-08-29T16:59:00.000-05:00

You just never know what will 'turn up' when you clean. I spent a portion of Saturday cleaning my laundry room. I have a bookcase that just fits between the edge of the washer and the sliding door for the water heater. It holds all sorts of things, including stacks of old quilt magazines...really OLD magazines. This particular one is from Jan/Feb of 1992..not so old..*VBS*
I began browsing through it because it features ALASKA quilts. Our friend and fellow passenger Michele, from With Heart and Hands, A Quilting Journey, is on her way to Alaska this week. Her mom is celebrating her 85th(I believe)birthday. I had forgotten what might be in THIS issue, so I looked. And to my surprise look what I found...
Joe Cunningham and Gwen Marston were still together in 1992, and still quilting together. Their column was a regular monthly feature in Lady's Circle Patchwork Quilts. And very good articles they were! I know Tonya of Lazy Gal Quilting is a fan of those old articles also..*S* And then there were the quilts...and to my suprise...an orphan. Hidden right there in plain sight...LOL The maker of this little quilt calls it "Third Generation Pot Luck". Debbie Coate's quilt is made from an assortment of blocks that span 3 generations of her family. She got the idea in a class she took from Judy Hopkins, an Alaskan quilter and teacher.
The little article which accompanies the quilt says, "It was necessary to use leftovers carefully in Alaska....all kinds of leftovers The cupboards in the picture were made by Mrs. Eliza Beth Anderson from old packing crates she saved, while Debbie made her quilt from an assortment of leftover blocks." We, who are taking part in the Orphan block challenge, are carrying the torch forward...continuing the tradition of using the leftovers carefully.

While traveling around blogland....

2007-08-27T17:49:00.000-05:00

it's amazing what you find. Today, while at Marcie's Patchalot More, I found what Marcie does with UGLY exchange blocks....LOL Way to go Marcie!
In Marcie's own words:The photo here on the left is of my son and a quilt I made him a couple years ago. It is from Open A Can of Worms, by Debbie Caffrey. That might be my all time favorite book. I have made more quilts out of that book than any other. They are good basic scrap quilts. Great directions, etc.

The reason it came to mind is all the talk about orphan blocks made me think of the back of the quilt. I got a number of uglier than sin blocks in an exchange, and rather than make them into a quilt I used them on the back of the quilt. After I sewed them together with alternating plain squares I started to like them. Fabric is funny that way. You can't look at it too closely, you just have to look at what it does. Well, it was too late for those blocks to become anything but a quilt back. I was anxious to get the quilt done so I did not alter my plan. However, since that time I have had the urge to make those blocks again into a real quilt of its own. Some day maybe I will even do it!

Orphan blocks that live with Tracy....

2007-08-26T22:18:00.000-05:00

One of our newest passengers on the Orphan Block Train is Tracy. She blogs at 'Tis the Gift, and the addy is http://gifttobesimple.blogspot.com/ These are some of the orphan blocks she found when she began to look for them.
She found quite a few more than she expected to.....LOL Tracy says:"I am very excited to be jumping on the orphan train:) I can't wait to see what all these blocks can become when combined. I love the quilts that others have created already."

The second picture is of 'new' blocks being constructed to assist the existing ones...a perfectly acceptable part of the challenge. And last but not least, a picture of the "beginning" of Tracy's Orphan Train quilt. It sounds like she is having lots of fun with this 'no muss, no fuss, no frills' way to make a quilt *VBS* Great job so far Tracy!
Do pop over to her new blog and say "hi" and welcome to Blogland *VBS*Link on the sidebar.

Reaching back....

2007-08-23T16:24:00.001-05:00

for an old quilt top to show you today. Nothing much is stirring regarding work on Orphan Block quilts right now. Haven't heard from any of our challengee's for quite a while. So....some old instead. And this top probably should be called "bottom" instead. It's one of the lowest of the low. Not only is it a real true "orphan blocks" top, it had been a quilt before it became a top again *VBS*
It's rescued orphans. The quilt was rotting away in the bottom of an old trunk in an old falling down barn. Part of the trunk was open to the elements, and mice were very happy with that arrangement! Luckily there were odds and ends of old clothing and fabric also, and the quilt didn't take ALL the damage. I lugged it home, soaked it outdoors in a wash tub(several times for several days!)and then spread it out on the grass to dry. Much of the pieced top could be selvedged, and so I did. It had been a tied quilt and they are easy to reclaim. Most of the binding was rotted off, and what wasn't, I simply cut away. I may have had to remove a block or two to even up a row.
Over a number of years, the top lanquished in my vintage box..it needed careful pressing out, even to see what comes next. I never got that far. When I began preparation for my Blog-a-versary(2 yrs),back in June...I offered the rescued orphan top to anyone who would email me and say they wanted it. Only one person did, Sue from W. Washington state. And so it became hers. The picture was taken by Sue. If you link to From The Magpie's Nest(on my sidebar) you will find her post about this quilt top back in late June or early July. I know it's got a good home with Sue *VBS*