Scrap Control and H2H Challenge

Not much done regarding Scrap Control...I had a request for an emergency Quilt of Valor.  Sometimes a little recognition of a veteran's service can bring a good day to an otherwise challenged period.  I will show more later on when the blocks go on the wall -- right now, I'm just chain sewing half square triangles. 

In addition, our host Sarah, Confessions of a Fabric Addict,  has called for the last link-up of H2H quilts...my quilt has been shown before (including a tutorial), however it is time to say good by as it travels to Utah for Happy Chemo.

Hands2Help/Have Faith Pattern

It's that time of the year ... Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict is hosting her annual Hands2Help Charity Quilt.  This is her 8th year and the contributions are growing in numbers with the help of so many giving quilters.

This year, I am her first guest blogger, introducing my charity pattern "Have Faith".  For the story and pattern, please visit  Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

If you have been directed here from Sarah, please feel free to browse a little.  Become a follower or add L'Fair Quilts through Bloglovin' (link on my home page).  

I am also one of the designers for Black Cat Creations and encourage everyone to find us on FaceBook,  a growing little show and tell community of our designs as seen through the creative eyes of other quiltmakers.  My first encounter with Black Cat Creations was the pattern "Short Stacks", designed by Judy Reynolds....and who has not heard of "The Big Block Quilt", by Minay Sirois?

Now .... a little "Have Faith" Show and Tell (the pattern is posted with Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict:

Above is my H2H Charity Quilt for 2018, "Have Faith".

Donna's Black/White/Brights "Have Faith", donated to the Katy, Texas Floods.

A retirement "Have Faith" Quilt I made for a good friend, Paulette.

Tina's "Have Faith" quilt -- loved the bright yellow border.

A few months ago, our guild had a "Have Faith" Sew Day.  We were able to make enough blocks to assemble four quilts for Texas Flood victims.

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If you make a "Have Faith" quilt in the future, please email me with your quilt picture and story (see profile for address) and let me share.

Thank you for visiting and come back soon!

2017 Hands to Help

 It started with a shoe box of 3 1/2" nine patches, then I added a cute little fish fabric....too blah, then I added in the pops of colors in the alternating sets!  

Then a night of binding while watching TV....done!

Then....off to the Hands2Help/Happy Chemo.  This is my 7th year participating and I look forward to the excitement every year!  Many thanks to Sarah, Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Emily, Ems Scrap Bag/Happy Chemo.

2016 Hands2Help Quilts

Em's Scrapbag has already received and delivered my 2016 H2H Quilt.  I used a large stash of 2 1/2" squares and strips on the design wall, ending up with a HUGE finish (no pattern available).  The second quilt (Short Stacks) was sent out to Texas (my home state) to the Covered in Love Program (East Texas Medical Center).  Unfortunately, in my rush to mail it, forgot to take a picture.

This was my 6th year (and 7 quilts) with Sarah, with Confessions of a Fabric Addict H2H,   I can't wait to see how many participated this year -- I am sure the number is growing.  Congratulations Sarah on another successful year.

H2H Finished

This is a quilt top I started last year when Judy at Patchwork Times introduced monthly blocks to use up our stash.  I finally put my blocks into a quilt, but now it is quilted, bound and ready to ship to Sarah's Hands To Help Charity Quilts.

And .... picking blackberries to make cobbler this afternoon.  The blackberry plants were from my Great Uncle Dan's backyard in Columbus Texas.  He has been gone since 1983, so these plants traveled here to Louisiana over 30 years ago.  They were planted on the bayou side of my in laws property and are obviously thriving to this day. Must admit, I ate so many of them while picking, my insides are purple.  

Hands 2 Help Challenge

My quilt is boxed and ready to head to Sarah's ....another year has come to a close and time for the Big Reveal.  I love participating in the Hands 2 Help challenge each year....one that I have been with since the beginning.  

I am blown away by the number of quilters who have come together each year.  Congratulations to Sarah for another successful year!

Friday Finish - H2H Quilt

Almost done, the binding is ready to put on .... just have not found the time to sit at the machine this week.  We have a three day weekend, however we are getting the house ready for new floors on Monday! The carpet HAS TO GO!

I used a black/gray variegated thread -- here you can see a peek at the backing I used, an Alexander Henry print.

Right after I removed from the quilt frame...

And a side few that shows off the thread.  

Linking up with Sarah, Confessions of a Fabric Addict for her Whoop Whoop Friday party --- see you there.

H2H Challenge and Guest Host

On the wall -- my H2H Challenge Quilt. With just a few more rows to sew together, it will soon be heading to the quilting machine.  

If you have made your way here from Sarah's Confession of Fabric Addict ..... Welcome!  My name is Jamie Janow Elfert and I live about 50 miles South of New Orleans, in Houma, La.  By day, I work in Accounting .... and as a hobby, I am one of the quilt pattern designers for Black Cat Creations.  I would say that I am somewhere between a strong traditional quilter with some tendencies to float in and out of Modern. 

I am so honored that Sarah asked me to be part of her Challenge this year, as a guest host today. My Southern Color-Block Quilt is the second time used for the H2H Challenge, so it is only fitting that I share the pattern with our readers.  If you do use the pattern, please send me a picture and its story for sharing.  

Above is the 2012 H2H Challenge Quilt, which has three borders of black, orange and floral.  The quilt traveled to Sarah's then headed back to Louisiana for a Katrina survivor.  

The same year, I made a quilt for my new great niece Jolie (above modeled by her cousin Alexis). Jolie is now two years old, but she will be able to use this large version for many years to come.  

The latest version, was for my great nephew, Trevis, who plays baseball in Texas.  The quilt was used to raise money for their team.  I have actually made the same quilt two more times for my nephew and his brother, with orders for two more to come.  

My friend Gail's version is so handsome!  I love the plaids, which are perfect for a young boy/man.  The pillow shams are a great addition to the bed, which now makes me want to make them too.

Enjoy!

Cowboy's need Quilts Too!

In January, Judy at Patchwork Times challenged her readers to a scrappy block project.  Well....I have scraps!  I have several HTSs ready to go!  And...I love scrappy.  So....here is the finished quilt top.  The red setting stars are made with cowboy fabric.  The cheddar yellows are scrappy too.

The finished top is 72" x 88" and is quilted with simple swirls (quick). I am hooked on Mad Men via Netflix, so the binding was leisurely done by hand (my favorite method).  I have tried the binding by machine, however I need more practice.

Of course, the backing had to be something with a Western Theme....so in came the cowboy boots.

Sneak Peek!  With the H2H challenge going on at Confessions for a Fabric Addict, Sarah has invited me to guest blog and share one of my favorite "go-to" patterns.  Here are the fabrics, each chosen to compliment the other and a black contrasting Kona Cotton.  Sarah is also the host of  the "Whoop Whoop Friday" link up party...where many of us share our Finished and/or in progress projects...I am heading over there now to take a tour of those who are already there.

H2H Happy Chemo

We have had rain today -- so my hubby was nice enough to stand in the drizzle so I could quickly snap a picture.  I used the green 16-patch blocks made as part of the So Scrappy Rainbow Challenge, which was perfect timing.  I made a purple one too, which went to a local friend undergoing treatments for cancer.

Pattern Used:  Arkansas Crossroads

Size:  48" square

Quilting:  Free Hand Swirls

Destination:  Happy Chemo

For H2H Challenge

Hosted by:  Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

H2H Update

Sarah, at Confessions of a Fabric Addict has a link up for those of us participating in the H2H Challenge. My quilt top is now loaded on the rack ready for quilting. This is the 5th Quilt on my brand new Gammill and I am getting better at loading the tops. It takes a while, although it is very easy.

I have named the H2H quilt pattern -- I am calling it "Jolie". In a matter of days, I will be a great aunt for the 18th time. I made two of these quilts, one for this challenge and the other for Jolie. I delivered the finished quilt to her mom Samantha this afternoon and have pictures for tomorrow.

Monday Design Wall - H2H, BOM

All the blocks are done for the Hands 2 Help Challenge hosted by Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict. The quilt will be heading here to Louisiana in St. Bernard Parish (hence the bright colors of Mardi Gras), who is still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. For those of you visiting New Orleans on vacation, take the time to ride a little south east and tour this area. They have achieved huge goals, however they still have a long way to go.

On Sunday, the new Blogger's Block of the Month was announced by Allison at Cluck Cluck Sew. I took advantage of the day off and made my duo blocks (bottom left and top right). My fabric choice is Basic Grey / Origins by Moda. A big thanks to Jackie at Canton Village Quilt Works for hosting and inspiring this fun little BOM!

For more Monday Design Walls, visit Judy at Patchwork Times -- I can't wait to come home tonight and take a tour of all the links.

H2H Pattern -- No Name Yet

It's Friday and time for an update on my H2H Quilt Challenge. Along with a few instructions you can use to make the same quilt (no details -- I am using scraps). My choice for colors -- all brights (orange, yellow, purple, green and blue) with a black background. Since I have all the squares and HST's done, I will start here.

Finished size units -- 4 1/2", unfinished 5"

Black Squares:

(18) 5" squares

Half Square Triangles:

(14) 5" Black/Orange Scraps

(10) 5" Black/Green Scraps

(14) 5" Black/Yellow Scraps

(10) 5" Black/Purple Scraps

My favorite method for HST's is using the "Easy Angle II" cut from 5" strips.

Here is my progress so far --- actually this is more than I expected since they are coming together using Bonnie Hunter's "Leaders and Enders" for another project I am working on.

And .... here will be the finished pattern.

Sarah from Confessions of a Fabric Addict is hosting the Hands 2 Help Challenge and a Friday link up. This is Sarah's second year for hosting a charitable collection of quilts for worthy causes which you can read about here. The pattern and quilt above is my contribution to Sarah -- I just need to find the perfect name, which is harder than designing the pattern.

H2H Quilt Pattern

My pattern for the H2H has been chosen. My wonderful sewing machine (Janome 6500) has been in the shop for 7 weeks and is now home working beautifully. I have been very lost, so now I am making up time. Above is a little EQ pattern I designed for Sarah's (Confessions of a Fabric Addict) H2H Quilt Challenge. Each block is 5", 4 1/2" finished. I will update the progress every Friday, as I put together this simple little quilt as a "Leader and Ender" project (technique made famous by Bonnie Hunter).

Alexis' Quilt

A few weeks ago, I shared a quilt top made by my five year old niece with help from her grandmother (Phyllis). Today, I have been quilting the top -- not much else to do with all the rain.

Alexis sat on my lap and placed her hands on top of my gloved hands to help me quilt -- Worked for a little while, however she is five and found other things to do.

The back of the quilt has the cutest fabric with the number "five" as a theme. Phyllis had the idea that Alexis will always remember when she made this quilt -- perfect choice.

A preview of this week -- more quilting. Phyllis brought three child size quilts, the one above and two more. They are so cute, so I can't wait to start the other two.

I have also started a post all about Backings coming soon. Thanks to my friend Cookie, she gave me the inspiration to talk about how I choose backing fabric. Are you "matchy-matchy", "scrappy", or "close-enough". Do you buy ahead, do you only buy when needed? Most of us are a combination of each -- so stay tuned for "Back to Back" .

Next, I am patiently waiting for the rain to let up so I can take pictures of my Orange Monochromatic Quilt for Judy's challenge at Patchwork Times. It's HUGE! Like ... Queen Size! My favorite monochromatic so far.

Now it is time to hurry over to Sarah's so I can link up to the ''Whoop" end of the week report at "Confessions of a Fabric Addict". I have already visited a few others and see the H2H Challenge is coming together. So glad mine is done and off to Green Fairy's.

Indigo Challenge and H2H Friday

My Indigo Challenge Quilt has not left the wall for some time now. June is one of two busy months for me at work -- so glad July is here. I am off today and on my way to our Guild's workshop for "sit and sew" time with the gals. I will stop off at the Quilt Shop for a border -- I hope she has an Indigo, because it just needs another border.

I will be linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times to show the Indigo after I add the border, and maybe a sneak peak of the quilting. Do you remember the "Orange" quilt? I finished quilting and now I am "picking". I started something new and became better the more I quilted, so I am going back to fix a few areas.

Here is the back of the H2H Quilt -- all quilted, bound, labeled, washed and ready to mail. Special Thanks to Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict for hosting this worthy project and to KatieQ for the fabric exchange.
The simple pattern is from the 2007 "Quilt Pink", in the Better Homes and Gardens, American Patchwork and Quilting. I have made SEVERAL -- let's see --- the Red/White/Black, a Green/White my sister somehow has now, two Orientals, and two Black and Whites. Did I mention that I really like this pattern. AND thank you hubby for helping to stage the quilt.

H2H Update and Stash Report

Not a fancy picture, but the H2H Quilt is done except for hand sewing the binding down. Just in time to join Sarah for her monthly H2H update over at Confessions of a Fabric Addict. A special thanks to KatieQ for setting the pace with the beautiful fabric swap. After the hand work is done, I will take a few more pictures, along with the backing for the Friday Finish.

June Stash Report:

Used (Finished) (17 yards)

Used To Date: (96.40)

Purchased: 5

Purchased To Date: 70.25

NET BUSTED: (26.15) -- Goal 150 yards

For more Stash Reports, visit Judy over at Patchwork Times.

H2H and Indigo Update

The Quilting continues -- on the H2H, a simple all over floral. The H2H is the Hands2Help Charity Quilt Challenge hosted by Sarah, at Confessions of a Fabric Addict. My fabric exchange partner, KatieQ sent me a collection of blues and yellows which fit nicely with my stash.

What a difference a day makes -- if you compare the Indigo Challenge with yesterday's post, you will notice a few changes. I replaced a couple of HST with squares to continue the weave. The best way to catch mistakes or see what doesn't work, is to take a picture. The smaller version helps those little hiccups stand out. The Indigo is part of Judy's Monochromatic Challenge over at Patchwork Times, which has absolutely "stretched" me to try new things. I have continued to use only what is in my stash and design each on the design wall.