I've finished a few more quilts and a few crochet projects.  It was cold here for a couple weeks in August, especially unusual for around here.  But, it put me in the mood to crochet some scarves.  I also completed 4 baby blankets, one of which I give out tomorrow and another 2 I give out to twins that were born a few months early and will be spending the next couple of weeks in ICU.  They were four pounds, so they have a pretty good chance of making it out okay. I haven't seen them yet, but I understand they are quite cute!  My prayers are out there for them for a quick and speedy healthy exit out of the hospital.  The fourth quilt is also for a baby that's already here.  I've seen pictures and still another cutie!  In addition to all of the baby quilts, I made a quilt for my brother Don, who served in Vietnam and recently did a stint in the hospital for a blocked carotid artery.  There were some moments that were touch and go, but he's safe at home now.

My daughter Rachael graciously offered to model the scarves.  I made the gray one for her.

Baby Quilt top completed

There are a lot of babies on the way in my neck of the woods.  I have finished 6 and have to quilt 4 of them and bind 5.  I still have 6 or 7 more to do.  I lost count of the babies that are coming up.  I think I should probably make a list.  This pattern is from one of the Quilter magazines.  I can't tell you which one since I tore it out of the magazine years ago and filed it in a protective sleeve in a binder.  It's utilizes HSTs and 1 1/2" strips and squares in between.  I also decided to dive into the dragon fly fabric that I've had for years.  I don't know why I was so afraid to use it.

This one I completed a few weeks ago, but I think it needs another border along two sides.  I'll have to think about it and figure out what I want to do.

Octagon House Quilt Show

There's an octagon shaped house near where I live that was built in the 1800s.  Ever since I saw the structure, I've wanted to go in and this was the perfect excuse for me to take a look.  I took some pictures of some quilts on display there.  I was so enamored by the quilts, that I forgot to take pictures of the house.  Below are some of the quilts that were on display and caught my eye.  There were some old and some new.  I was especially impressed by the one that was a whole cloth quilt that had been completely cross stitched.  I saw two different versions of this quilt with different colored threads used for the cross stitching.  What a lot of work and love went into these quilts.  I wish I had taken pictures of all of them along with the house.  It was a nice little diversion from life and I even talked my husband into joining me.  He really wanted to see them inside of the house as well.  Here's a direct link to the group that is trying to save the house if you'd like to see a little bit of the history behind it.  It was actually a stop on the Underground Railroad.  Pretty cool!  I apologize, but I didn't take pictures of the names of who made the quilts either.  Next time!

http://www.octagonhouse.org/

 

The quilt below used repurposed materials to create it.  There were laces, buttons, fabric and all different types of materials used and it looked like it took a long time.  This one got my vote for the most creative.  They had one there made out of neckties, one made out of handkerchiefs and another made out of t-shirts.

The quilt below was the one that was crossed stitched.  Incredible amount of work!