Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Blogger's Quilt Festival

Happy Halloween! 

I am entering my Red Dress quilt into the 2012 Blogger's Quilt Festival.  As most of you remember I am a Chapter Advisor for a fantastic Greek organization, Al.pha Ph.i.  Every year the chapter holds a Red Dress Gala to raise money for the Alpha Phi Foundation.  Our Foundation donates money in the form of the Heart to Heart Grant and this past year we donated $50,000 to the Univers.ity of Washington to help fund research looking at the gender differences in heart disease.   I am very proud of the women that I advise and the tremendous support that they are able to provide to our foundation which does so much to not only support sisters in need, but to raise awareness about heart disease.

If this year's quilt looks oddly familiar, you're right!  The women loved the quilt last year and asked me to make another one this year. I used scraps from my 2011 quilt to make another one this year.   I did have to purchase some fabric to finish the quilt including some white for the background, the fabulous cherry border and just a little bit of backing material.  The fabric is Sew Cherry by A Bee in My Bonnet...you may be able to find some on Et.sy. 

 
That is my little legacy (one of them) at the Chapter House holding up the quilt for me. 

 
 
Just like last year, I forgot how long this quilt actually takes to make :).  There are 30 appliqued red dresses that each have their own embelishing on them, plus the 30 snow ball blocks and the "snowball rectangles" to finish off the outer diamonds.  I was sewing my heart out in a hotel room 1.5 weeks before the auction!
 
 
I finally finished the quilt and was all ready to baste it and quilt it (in the hotel room) and realized that my batting was 1.5 inches too short.  We were heading out of town for the weekend as soon as I got home form my business trip so I quickly called my husband and asked him to get some batting out of the closet so I didn't forget it...well I forgot it and we were visiting his family who lives in a small town....thank goodness there is a craft store (and by craft store, I mean a big box store that starts wiht a W)  about 30 minutes away and I hopped in the car and found some great batting.  
 


 
 
I got the quilt all quilted up and hand sewed the binding on our return trip.  The quilt went to acution and raised more money than I could have expected.  I was approached about making a red dress quilt for a different auction next fall.  I will definitely be starting that one a little earlier.  All in all, my chapter raised $21,000 for our Foundation, an increase of $10,000 from the year before!


Blogger’s Quilt Festival Stats
Finished quilt measures : 54″x 61″
Special techniques used : applique
Quilted by : Me!
Best Category : Throw size quilt, Applique Quilt
 
 
Amy's Creative Side

Friday, October 19, 2012

Crazy Busy

Crazy Busy is an understatement. I had to travel for work (again) this week and since I was flying I couldn't bring my machine. It had been well over a week since I sat down to sew. I have to say it was so nice to be able to sew tonight. I cut out all this fabric a while ago so everything is ready to be pieced. I almost stopped after I messed up the first block (the top right) ...a little seam ripping is good for the soul.



The fabric is Sail Away by Connecting Threads (found here) and the pattern is a Rachel Griffith one...Pinwheel Sampler (found here).  I think the block in the bottom left corner is my favorite...so far.  At this rate, I may have another finish by next week!





I am linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts with my Red Dress Quilt for Finish it Up Friday.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Some more red dress quilt photos

Quick update...we raised $21,000 for the Alp.ha Phi Foundation!

Red Dress Quilt

Now that the silent auction has ended, I can post photos of my most recent finish.  I made the same quilt last year for the soroity that I advise.  The women loved it and asked me to make another one this year for their annual Red Dress Gala, which raises money for the Apha Phi Foundation.  I am very proud of the women that I advise and the tremendous support that they are able to provide to our foundation which does so much to not only support sisters in need, but to raise awareness about heart disease.



 
(one of my future Al.pha Phis in the piano room at the sorority house).



Fresh Poppy Design
 
I forgot to mention....my quilt sold for $430!!!!

Monday, October 8, 2012

A finish

Now that this quilt has been delivered to its owner I can post some photos. As I mentioned before we love Brown Bear, Brown Bear at our house and I had to make another baby quilt using the fabric (you can still find it at www.fabric.com).
 
Our very good friends had their first baby girl a few weeks ago.  In fact, I was finishing up the last stitches on the quilt while they were in the hospital for the delivery.  After a good wash and dry to get the quilt all krinkly, I put it in an envelope along with a copy of the Er.ic Car.le book Brown Bear, Brown Bear.  I hope their little girl loves the book as much as our little girls do!