A long day's journey....

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!

Clickity-clack....

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*

From The Magpie's Nest....

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....

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.

Busy Days at the Magpie's Nest...

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".

Orphan Train Tricks And Treats....

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!

Orphans, orphans everywhere....

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.

Rolling along towards Labor Day....

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!!

Reaching back....

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*

So, Sew........busy, busy Sue...........

We are really 'up and running' now loading ideas and images onto this Orphan Train that is heading through the countryside...*VBS* I'm very behind in my blog browsing, and trying to fit in a few here and there..LOL. As of this morning I think I have enough NEW orphan projects to share for the next 4 or 5 days!!!! And, you'll have to bear with me on this....I'm thinking that one person's per day is good. You'll just have to come back tomorrow to see more fresh ideas and clever ways to use those leftover blocks and bits!! We DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT have a shortage of ideas to share once we get going!!
These are what I found at Sue's blog today. She blogs at From the Magpie's Nest, see sidebar for a link. I've been gone 2 or 3 days, and she had major things happening!!
The first picture is of blocks I posted previously. Now it's a completed top! And this is what she has to say about it:
The multi-color print reads very dark in the photos. The contrast isn't quite so stark in person. You can see that I tried to distribute it evenly over the surface of the quilt. That helps, I think. I had to take off the bottom "border" after I first assembled it because it was a quarter of an inch narrower than the rest of the quilt top. I enjoy improvisational piecing but that would have been a construction challenge I wasn't willing to cope with. So I took out the checkerboard unit, made a wider one, and put it all back together. Much better! Now it just needs to be layered and quilted or tied. I'm not sure whether I have a piece of batting in house that will fit this quilt. It's been too hot to go digging in the closet to find out. And I got distracted by a new project. But more about that later...(end quote).
And her new project is the 3rd picture....a very special placemat for DGD..with things to 'find'..there is more about that project on Sue's blog..*VBS*
The second picture is.....you guessed it.....LOL....more 'found in the darkest part of the closet' orphans. Guess Sue will be busy for awhile yet, even having competed TWO orphan blocks quilt tops already!! Way to go Sue!!!

More goodies from Sue....

and the beginnings of another orphan block quilt. This one for a future grandchild if I read correctly. Some of the blocks have been orphans all the way back to her DD being a baby.

That's a feeling I know very well. I'm actually embarassed to admit how old some of my orphan projects are.

But the wonderful news is that the blocks and fabric hold their value. What they were is pretty much what they still are. People always think that old or older fabric can't be used. Obviously there is a "point" beyond which it shouldn't be, but I can tell you I have fabrics from the 1930's and upward that would rival todays fabrics for durablility, color and defintely win hands-down in a ravel contest.
About all I can figure is that it was a better grade of cotton, or a more dense thread count in the weaving process. I washed up some of my loot from shopping in Stillwater and with Betsy earlier. I'm always amazed and appalled by the amount of raveling there is in many of todays fabrics. And thank goodness for those Shout Color Magnet sheets.

But getting back to Sue's blocks, I'm not sure if she will set them with lattice, or as is. Same with borders. Do visit her at http://sewingmagpie.blogspot.com/ , scroll back a couple of days to last week, and see what SHE has to say about these blocks. And do look at her Spirit Journal quilts in progress.

Sue's Orphan Train....

One of our speediest participants, Sue whipped these orphan blocks together in record time! I was just astonished at how quickly this became a quilt top....maybe because I am so very slow these days...LOL I think she did a fantastic job!! She did have a lot of orphan blocks, and of course, that gives you the best choices. If you are new to the idea of putting odd sizes together, study how many kinds and sizes she combined. I still am astonished at how many are in this quilt. And it balances beautifully. You should be very, very proud of yourself Sue, you are a first rate maverick type orphan train quilt maker!! I love this quilt top and would have a hard time giving it away.
I've included a couple of extra pictures from the parts of the quilt, for extra ideas of blocks you might make to fill in your orphans. Don't be afraid to use an odd background color. Look how nicely that bluish star 'pops' with that great cheddar background! Sue has the backing made also, and this is ready to go off for machine quilting. Great job Sue! Thanks for sharing with us. I hope you might make another with your pastel blocks....*VBS*