Moving right along....

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!

Gathering Steam...

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!

The Orphan Train quilts that Patti built.....

and really great ones they are!! Definitely a "Two-Fer" project, as some of them are turning out to be...*VBS* And isn't it amazing how fast they go, once you get started? Patti started digging in her blocks and parts at the same time we started, June 24th. And here is is July 3rd, and as of Sunday,the 1st, she has both of these together. A narrow black inner border and then a wider Moda Marble will be the outer border. These will be going to live in Patti and Fred's tent camper..what fun to sleep under the stars under these little gems!!
Patti's challenge was slightly different from what most of us are doing, because she works largely with "parts", not complete blocks. It takes more sewing and more planning and probably more 'fill' than if they were all sized blocks. This one is quilt # 1, of course.

And this one is quilt #2. I think they will continue to be called Chaos # 1 and Chaos #2. Patti is really pleased with
the outcome...as I would be also! And BONUS!!! She has an empty plastic bin where the orphans used to live, and only this many left overs. Just those few...starter parts. Isn't that amazing????
I have heard from Elaine Adair and she has an orphan top to be showing us also, so I'll add her to the list to be featured here. Not sure if it will be tomorrow or not, Elaine, but you are a 'ticket holder' and you may ride the orphan train..*VBS* Jeanne has blocks in progress also, and I must scoot over and get that picture. My blocks in progress, which I worked on yesterday, I will post on my Pieces blog for now.
Cher, don't be bashful, when you are ready just jump on board, your name is on the list. As is quilt pixie, brit, and a few others I haven't heard from as yet.....drop me an email when you have a picture to share, as I don't (quite) get around to everyone's blog every day or so...I'm not ignoring you...honest! I'm sewing *VBS*
The leftovers from Patti's adventure.

Orphan Star from Patti...

these beauties found their origin back in the 1990's. Patti was teaching classes, with samples, at a local Daisy Kingdom store. You always have to have the block you are teaching (in multiple stages of completion) for the students to see. That accounts for the multiple stars and churn dashes. The blue and white 9 patches were leftovers from a Burgoyne Surrounded. Again from the 1990's. She put it together in early 2000 and it was machine quilted and now lives on the back of her couch. A very happy accident she says, that while looking at all these blocks and wondering what to do, she realized they all went together very well. It would be hard to tell it wasn't a planned quilt. What's that word??? Serendipity?? I think so....*VBS*

More goodies to inspire......

This lovely collection belongs to Patti, I'm sure she has more, but this is what hit the design wall first. We all have to start somewhere. Chance are good everything will move to another spot before she's done..*VBS*. I got an email from Patti this a.m.(she's one of our challenge players) and she is sending me a picture of an older orphan quilt of hers. She says she showed it way back at the beginning of her blog, but I've forgotten...LOL. I'll post that one soon. I have received a couple of other emails, one from Jeanne with a second and possibly 3rd orphan quilt(gotta love that Jeanne!) and I'll have those pictures also. And one from Gypsyquilter of a rather unusual orphan quilts. The format of orphan covers quite abit of territory you know..*S* So keep watching for those. My plan is to keep the postings short(if possible) so as to give you maximum time to blog- surf and quilt or sew!! The second picture is of the blocks I will

be working with in this challenge. Lots of odds and ends of left over Christmas/Yuletide beginnings. It's not enough as yet, but I'm itching to jump into my scraps and make more. Do think about joining us, the more the merrier! Hugs, Finn