Hands2Help 2016 & Vera's Darth Vader Mini Quilt

More often than not, when we think of giving a quilt to someone, we see it as a tangible representation of caring for that person.  Whether it be for a loved one or a stranger, a quilt is meant to provide comfort and a sense of being loved.  Quilts given in times of hardship not only fulfill practical needs, but spiritual ones as well.  

For six years now, Sarah (Confessions of a Fabric Addict) has organized the Hands2Help Charity Quilt Challenge.  Hands2Help is a chance to take part in making and gifting quilts to people who are going through very hard times. It is also a chance to help build community, both within Quilting Blogland and through the charities chosen.  H2H attracted more than 100 quilters this year, many of whom made more than one quilt! 

I want to say a BIG THANK YOU to Sarah for all she does.  She puts together a few solid months of fun for H2H participants, with tutorials, patterns, and prizes too.  This is on top of her own very busy charity quilting activities.  You just have to check out Sarah's Big Project this year!  She is so inspiring!
  
This year I'm sending my H2H quilt to Em's Happy Chemo charity.  I had to do a little disappearing act (aka stay off the computer) in order to just barely squeak in with a finish in time!  I'm linking up with the final Hands2Help Linky Party and also with Heidi's One Monthly Goal party.  

I've been calling this quilt "Sedimentary Lifestyle", but of course did not label it as such.  It reminds me of looking at layers of rock on canyon walls.

"Sedimentary Lifestyle"

It started when I bought a pack of 2.5" strips, because I loved the colors and I had always wanted to try making a jelly roll race quilt.  I originally planned to add a brown outer border, but ended up preferring the quilt without a border.  

Marcus Fabrics Strip It Pack - Earth

I used Superior Threads King Tut variegated thread #911 Flower Pot to quilt wavy lines across the width of the quilt with a dual feed foot.  I've been getting a bit better at it.  I'm hoping to someday achieve Lorna's style of organic wavy line quilting.   Practice makes perfect!  I have also been learning to freemotion quilt, but found out that too much FMQ makes me motion sick, so will save that for smaller projects.  

King Tut #911 - variegated thread

Just before I popped the quilt into the wash so it will be all poofy and clean for Happy Chemo, I tried a photo of it all rolled up.  You can see the Kim Diehl fabric backing and get a better idea of what the quilting looked like.

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I won a giveaway!

As many of you know, all this month I've been holding the Crafted Appliqué: New Possibilities Blog Hop, in celebration of my new book's publication.  If you haven't checked out the blog hop posts, I hope you will! (Just click on the above link for the schedule.)  The hop has been so much fun and you will be amazed by all the creativity!  Plus there are lots of chances to win copies of the book and other fun prizes too! 

So... what did I win?  Well 2 months ago, before this blog hop began, I had the happy surprise of finding a package of goodies in the mail.  I was the lucky winner of a giveaway from Vera, on her blog, Negligent Style!  She made a wonderful mini quilt featuring Darth Vader.  She very cleverly placed him at the center of a brilliant three-circle color wheel. (You can click on the photo and it will enlarge.) I've always loved Vera's style; especially how she uses bright colors against grey!  She also sent me a sweet child's colored card and a fat quarter of a really cute sewing themed fabric.  Thank you so much Vera!  
  

Vera's Giveaway - Darth Vader Mini Quilt

Have a Happy Memorial Day weekend if you are here in the U.S.!
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Usually, I make it a goal to reply to and reciprocate all comments.  I really love it when you take the time to stop and chat.  This month, with the Blog Hop and multiple giveaways in progress, I hope you will understand if I don't manage to keep up.