Pieced from Lois's Scraps and Other Happenings

We're having a heat-wave here in western New York, not entirely unheard of, but 10-20 degrees above the normal temperatures for the end of May is a bit unusual.  Making up for a very late, cold and wet spring I think.  I'm thankful the sewing room manages to stay at a tolerable temperature most days despite the heat.  The grass is growing fast, the industrious farmers are getting their first cutting of hay in, and here in our garden the first iris opened today!  Summer has officially arrived!

One of the gals at our quilt ministry group has been bringing in donations of fabric including some cut-offs and scraps from a few of her recent projects.  A few weeks ago I brought home a baggie of her small scraps and decided to make a doll quilt top, using just one additional fabric, and this is the one that I posted about previously.

I brought the remaining scraps back to quilt group and challenged the other members to make a doll quilt size top using some of the scraps plus one additional fabric, and see how many little quilts we could get from Lois's scraps.  So far one gal, Nancy, has taken me up on the challenge and the following week she came back with this:

At that point she was debating whether to add a border from one of the two fabrics shown at the top of the photo, and we haven't seen it since, so it's probably still awaiting that decision.  She did a fabulous job with this block though, but with farming in full swing now and a wedding quilt for her daughter needing finishing before September, I suspect we won't see this little gem again for awhile.

Another gal took the remaining scraps from that baggie home, so we shall see what transpires next.  Meanwhile a couple weeks ago I discovered another baggie of Lois's scraps in one of the fabric bins, so they came home with me to try again.  I haven't gotten too far yet but this is the first block, and three more are cut and awaiting stitching.  Still deciding what my setting fabric will be for these little blocks.  My play time while machine quilting all those church camp donation quilts! 

I just love the primitive and reproduction fabrics that Lois consistently seems to choose for her quilts, and it's been such fun using some of the bits and pieces to make small quilts from her leftovers.  And setting them against a colorful, sometimes non-vintage fabric occasionally too, since I seem to gravitate toward the bright oranges and golds in my own fabric stash.   So this begins what I hope will be a continuing little series I'm calling "Pieced from Lois's Scraps."  Even sounds kinda vintage, yes?

On to the winners of the blogaversary giveaway posted last week.  My hubby had the honor of drawing the names for the two books, and the winners are Kyle (http://kyleredente.blogspot.com) for the 1718 Coverlet book, and Ruth (http://countrylogcabin.blogspot.com) for the Fantastic Fabric Folding book!  Thank you to those who commented and those who read this little blog, whether occasionally or those who faithfully comment nearly every time I post. I appreciate all of you and your friendship and quilty advice and encouragement! 

Happy stitching!