July Quilt Along: Sunshine

This is a part of a month to month quilt along. Join in when you have the time, or just hang around and enjoy the show. Learn more about these quilt alongs here.

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With summer and warmer temperatures finally here, what could be brighter and happier than some sunshine. I've been thinking about this word for a while now and figure this would be a good place to start.
Do you want to play with me and create your own version of sunshine?
For mine I'm going to try out some paper piecing, and see if I can combine some bold bright colors to make a sort of rainbow-y sunshine.

Now to turn this:

into a ready-to-piece piece of art like this: (or something like this)

Is this right? I hope this works. :)

(I have NO idea what I'm doing.) 

I'd love for you to share your ideas and progress with us! I'll leave the linky open until the end of the month. Be sure to check back and see what others are up to.
Or you can share your pictures in the to blank walls flickr group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/toblankwalls/

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 You don't have to be donating your wall hanging to join in, but if you are,
here are a few guidelines to remember:

• Needs to be between 18 inches square and 40 inches square (it does not have to be square). 
• No letter, numbers, military or religious symbols or flags. 

There are a few more guidelines that are important in the end. I will post about them later in the month, or you can find them all here.

a Bee? a Quilt Along?

Forewarning: This post is 100% brainstorming, so just know it's a bit jumbled. :)

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I recently filled out a form to start a Bee Circle with do.Good Stitches that would pretty much be what this blog is about. I'm sure how that will turn out, but I also recently received this link from Elizabeth @ Don't Call Me Betsy (thank you!) for a thread on flickr where people announce bee's looking for quilters, along with people who are looking for bees.

 I just barely got the idea of maybe starting up a new Bee:  The to blank walls Bee. :) (? maybe it will be called something else) It would be a lot of fun to make quilts together, as well as have themed Wall Hanging months. Maybe have fewer people join together each month to make one - since they are smaller than quilts, or have a theme and have everyone make a wall hanging based on that topic or theme (such as sunshine, or a technique - like everyone makes a paper pieced wall hanging, or a certain block style, color theme, etc.). Anyway, I think there is a lot of room for creativity, and it would be so much fun to see all the different variations that people come up with. I guess that would be more of a Quilt Along rather than a Bee.

... oh. Another idea! A bee for the quilts, and a quilt along for the wall hangings. :D 

Ok, now how to get the word out?! It would be great to have a few people "in charge" of the quilt along. One person could be in charge of the idea or theme for the wall hanging each month, and we can take turns depending on how many people are interested in coming up with something for the month. We can post tutorials and ideas on this blog, as well as linkies to peoples creations. (I guess it wouldn't be necessary for everyone to donate theirs, doing things together is fun, and if people want to donate, even better, but not required.)

Anyway, this is really jumbled as my thoughts are coming out as I type. I'll have to refine my ideas and come out with something more structured, but until then, are you interested in being a part of this? or have any ideas or tips on how to get started? or how to organize it?

Thank you!! :)

For the cause

I posted this post  on from blank pages... and wanted to link it up, as it has everything to do with my motivation for this blog.


http://fromblankpages.blogspot.com/2011/06/to-blank-walls.html

Hand Puppets with Sharon Park 3rd Ward

For our RS night last week we had a delicious meal and worked on some HA projects. Some people tied a quilt while others of us made hand puppets. They are super adorable! Since I had Mabel I couldn't really do anything, so I took the un-sewn ones home and finished them up. :)  I'm glad I was able to help!

I think the monkey is my favorite. I just love its smile. :)

Happy Donating!

Starting Guidlines

I want to mainly make quilts and wall hangings. I think wall hangings will be fun because it will be an easy and quick way to make something beautiful, and have more freedom for creativity and to be more artistic. I think it will also provide an easy way to try new methods and techniques, while not being stuck to them for a long process, as in a quilt.

A few basic guidelines (make sure to check the links on the side for all of the general guidelines that need to be followed with these projects):


Wall hangings:

• Size: 18" x 18" up to 40" x 40"
• include loops or grommets for hanging
• no words or letters, flags, religious or military themes
• small fabric bag basted to the back for nails (1" or 1.5")
• fabric patters recognizable by children in any culture
• everything needs to be washable

Quilts:

• Approximate Sizes: Crib: 45 x 60 in
• Single: 72 x 90 in
• Double: 90 x 90 in
• no denim or corduory
• tied or quilted
• pieced quilts must have 1/2 in seams 
• suggested  binding:  Pillow case method (esp. for tying w/o frames) or Roll Method (using the backing for binding as well.)