Sew Some Love - Positivity 2023 QAL

Welcome to another edition of Sew Some Love Sunday!!  I'm stopping by with a quick reminder for those of you who might have missed the following announcement out on the interwebs.  I wouldn't want you to miss out on something SEW special!

Doesn't this block look like fun???

Photo credit - Preeti @ Sew Preeti Quilts

Preeti has posted a tutorial for this sweet Flower Block on her blog in an effort to entice us to make quilts to benefit Mercyful Quilts.

The links to Preeti 2023 Positivity QAL tutorials are listed below:

The full 2023 schedule is posted HERE.

Other posts in her series can be found at the following links:

Fabric Requirements

Imagine the Possibilities

Find Preeti's tutorial for the Leaf Block HERE.

The Flower Block instructions ca be found at THIS LINK.

Here's hoping YOU jump on board Preeti's Quilt Along!

Until next time...

Be SEW Positive!!!

Sew Some Love Sunday - Positivity 2022 - QAL Announced

Welcome to a new edition of Sew Some Love Sunday!  I'm stopping in to say hello and share an important announcement.

Hi, there!  I'm SEW glad you are here.

What's the BIG announcement, Joyful???

Preeti @ Sew Preeti Quilts has announced her plans for Positivity 2022.  I just wanted to make sure that YOU knew about it!  I know that many of you enjoy quilting for a cause.  Mercyful Quilts will be the beneficiary of your generosity.

LINK to Positivity 2022 and the schedule of events (and prizes.)

I hope this announcement peaked you curiosity and you will head over to Preeti's blog now.  Be sure to tell her that Joy sent you, if you plan to leave a comment.  :o))

Until next time...

Be SEW Positive!!!

Sew Some Love Sunday - Positivity QAL Block Drive - The 1st Completed Quilt

Welcome to another edition on Sew Some Love Sunday!!  It's a very good day here at The Joyful Quilter.  Look what Needleb brought over yesterday:

She cut the binding before working on the other project she brought:

Once she moved over to the sewing machine, I decided to trim up the quilt and prepare the binding:

This morning I worked on sewing down the binding during my weekly Zoom call with Knittingsuek:

DS2 helped with photos this afternoon, but they didn't turn out:

So we headed out just before dinner to try again:

Thrilled to have this one complete:

Blocks were donated by members of the Quilters Knitting group on Ravelry, my local Bee members, and generous blog readers like YOU.  Special thanks to Needleb for the beautiful longarm quilting on this one and to Maggie for arranging and assembling the blocks!!  I prepared, attached, and stitched down the binding

Thank you, again, to all who contributed.  What a fabulous team effort in response to Preeti's 2021 Positivity QAL @ Sew Preeti Quilts.  This quilt will be headed to Mercyful Quilts in the next day or so.

FYI...

Positivity 2022 is coming soon.  Details to follow.  If anyone is interested in another Block Drive, please indicate that in the comments below.  In the meantime,  my Quilting Angels and I will be finishing up the other quilt tops from last year's QAL/Block Drive and I will share those here as they are completed.  I was assured that the need is ongoing so the delay that was caused by my moving house would not be a problem.  All blocks received were documented here on the blog and the completed quilt tops are safely tucked away to be loaded on the longarm and finished between our various other projects.

Sharing with Alycia

for

Finished (or Not) Friday

Until next time...

Be SEW positive!!!

Sew Some Love Sunday - The Positivity Prize

Welcome to another edition of Sew Some Love Sunday!!  Back before my great migration to the new house, I offered a prize to one lucky participant in Preeti's 2021 Positivity QAL.  As luck would have it, many months were taken up with the packing, the move and the aftermath of it.  By and by, things started to settle down and I was finally prepared to accept delivery of the winning quilt for finishing.

Here's the paper(less) trail...

The Positivity prize offer can be found HERE.

The Prize Winner was announced by Preeti @ Sew Preeti Quilts.  It was @AstridReflux on IG and she can also be found @ Blahg Blahg Blahg (but be forewarned that she uses a bit of colorful language on her blog.)  Fortunately, considering the ongoing need, everyone understood that with the extenuating circumstances of my move and The Beast's need for a doctor visit, the quilting would need to be delayed.  (None of us had any idea just how long that delay would be!)

Just over two weeks ago, I received a gentle reminder/request for the quilting to be completed in the near future.  Preeti and Bernie @ Needle and Foot Fine Fabrics were hoping that the 2021 QAL would (finally!) be completed before the 2022 Positivity QAL was announced. More on that later.

Timing is everything...

It turned out that their timing was impeccable!  I was preparing an email to the winner when Preeti's call came in.  A few days later this box arrived:

It contained a note and this pieced backing...

Along with this amazing Positivity quilt top:

Light to dark or dark to light, this thing was gorgeous and I loaded it up right away:

I took some time to decide on the thread, but quilting with a selection of threads to coordinate with Astrid's gradated background...

Afforded me the opportunity to earn some bonus points for using up some random bobbins leftover from other projects!!  :o))

With those selections made, it still took me a week to begin the quilting.  A prime example of w-o-r-k getting in the way of my quilting.  Here are the first stitches:

Within a few days, the quilting was complete:

Then came the task of choosing binding fabric:

Trimming the quilt that evening would have to wait.  There are MORE issues in the studio - my lovely new BRIGHT lights are OUT!!  Unfortunately, my in-house handyman was away at a conference!!!  :o((

The next afternoon, I trimmed up the quilt and pared down the binding selections before dinner...

And took a quilt photo to share another look at the colors, too:

Here is the prepared binding:

The next morning, I celebrated my day off by attaching the binding:

This is the porch swing photo of the Positivity Prize completed:

A spin through the washer and a tumble in the dryer and the quilt was ready for mailing....

Before the week was out, I wrote a note to the newly appointed recipient of donations for Mercyful Quilts...

... Sealed the addressed envelope in the bag protecting the quilt...

And went straight to the Post Office to mail it off:

Whew!  Mission accomplished.  Thank you SEW much for trusting me with your Positivity QAL project, Astrid.  My apologies (again) for the (massive) delay!

Like I mentioned earlier...

The 2022 Positivity QAL is coming soon!! May 29 - September 4, 2022. 

Preeti will be sharing another free tutorial this year. No registration is required.  She is offering prizes, again, too!  Follow the link below for details.  

More information about Mercyful Quilts can be found in yesterday's post by Preeti @ Sew Preeti Quilts.  Are YOU in???  I'm hoping to complete my contribution in a more timely manner this time around (now that my new studio is fully functional.)

Until next time...

Plus LOVE for the WIN!!!

Sew Some Love Sunday - Positivity QAL - The Block Drive - Exhausted

Welcome to another edition of Sew Some Love Sunday!!  The last update was a couple of months ago.  Our "Piecing Fairy" was busy with other projects and I've been busy moving house, so not much was happening with the Positivity QAL Block Drive here at The Joyful Quilter.

Until recently...

I heard from Maggie last week, but already had an LWR post scheduled.  She has been sewing up at the lake and had good new for us.

Take a look at what Maggie made...

Not ONE, but TWO more quilt tops for the Positivity QAL:

Yay!!  These two finish up the last 96 blocks from the Positivity Block Drive that I hosted here and on the Quilters Knitting group on Ravelry in conjunction with the Positivity QAL hosted by Preeti @ Sew Preeti Quilts.  We've missed the finishing deadline, but the need for quilts is ongoing.  Our quilts, whenever they are finished, will be welcomed gratefully.

Sending out a special THANK YOU to ALL who donated blocks!!  These two bring our total to SIX quilt tops to benefit the Mercyful Quilts program hosted by Bernie @ Needle and Foot Fine Fabrics.

THREE from Preeti and Maggie

ONE more from the Quilting Knitters and my generous readers

Until next time...

Do SEW much good!!!

Sew Some Love Sunday - PositivityQAL - The Block Drive - An Update

Welcome to another edition of Sew Some Love!!  I'm here with an update concerning a set of blocks for the Positivity Block Drive going on here at The Joyful Quilter.  It's being run in conjunction with Preeti's Positivity QAL @ Sew Preeti Quilts.

Last week...

I reported the following:

My apologies to Nann @ With Strings Attached!  Her 12 blocks seem to have gotten waylaid.  The package tracking says the blocks arrived on July 26th.  Unfortunately, I haven't seen them.  :o((

Update...

Funny (not funny) story about the delivery:

Our across the street neighbors recently moved.  The new people are collecting the mail for them and handing it off to their next door neighbors.

Those neighbors save the mail to ship off to our old neighbors. Unfortunately, the substitute mail carrier delivered Nann's package to the wrong address.  Fortunately, it caught the shipper/neighbor's eye and she happened to notice my name before sending the package on to Atlanta!!!

The package arrived with the following note:

These 12 green blocks were enclosed:

What's up with the green, Joyful???

The purpose of the color change was so that Maggie could have something a little different to work on. Why green? Because purple and green are a favorite color combination of mine. It always reminds me of my iris garden.

Thank you to Nann for sending these lovely blocks!  I apologize for causing such a scare.  I'm SEW glad that the missing package was found with your blocks safely inside.  They will soon be delivered to our Piecing Fairy for assembly into another fabulous quilt top for Mercyful Quilts.

Until next time...

Whew!!!

Sew Some Love Sunday - SEW Much More Positivity

Welcome to another edition of Sew Some Love Sunday!!  My mailbox has been a happening place the last few weeks.  I thought you might like to see the scrappy blocks that have been pouring in.

Feast your eyes on the following...

This package arrived while I was away:

Inside were these four blocks from Cindy @ Delighted Hands:

Later in the week...

Miss Pat enclosed a sweet note:

Quilt related, of course:

These are the eight blocks she included:

Wildcard Fiber (Ravelry) sent eight batik blocks:

Doris7264 (Ravelry) was kind enough to send a baker's dozen:

Blog reader Susie H. @ Knitty Quilter made these four blocks:

Then a special rigid mailer arrived:

These well protected blocks...

... came all the way from Australia!!  EmeraldKnitter (Ravelry) sent six of them to be added to one of our group quilts:

And possibly the LAST package at the old house...

From Connie W.:

Along with the very 1st package at the new house...

From Darlene H.:

A stack of 18 blocks:

Special thanks to each of you for your generous contributions to the Positivity QAL Block Drive!!

Speaking of generosity...

My apologies to Nann @ With Strings Attached!  Her 12 blocks seem to have gotten waylaid.  The package tracking says the blocks arrived on July 26th.  Unfortunately, (as of the writing of this post) I haven't seen them.  :o((

Sharing with Cynthia

for

Oh Scrap!

Until next time...

SEW seeds of Positivity!!

Sew Some Love Sunday - PositivityQAL - The Block Drive Quilters Knitting Group Quilt Top

Welcome to another edition of Sew Some Love!!  As you know, my mailbox was a busy place all during the month of July.  This week I got a BIG surprise when...

... Our Positivity Piecing Fairy brought out the second PositivityQAL Block Drive quilt top to start off Show and Tell at my Weekly Quilt Group on Thursday:

 

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, Maggie!!!

She warned me that this top wouldn't come together as quickly as the first.  Technically, she were correct.  From a stack of blocks to a completed quilt in ONE WEEK is a delay that I can totally deal with!

If you are new here at The Joyful Quilter, I'm running a Positivity Block Drive in conjunction with the PositivityQAL being hosted by Preeti @ Sew Preeti Quilts.  The resulting quilts will benefit the Mercyful Quilts program spearheaded by Bernie @ Needle & Foot Fine Fabrics.

There is still time for YOU to send a block (or two or 12!!)  We are using the Basic Plus tutorial found HERE.  I've extended the mailing deadline to the middle of August.  Leave a comment below if you would like to join the community effort.  Please make sure to include your email address, if it's not attached to your Blogger account, as I'll need a way to contact you about your contribution.

The Block Drive highlights...

Quilts will use both PURPLE Plus/WHITE background blocks and WHITE Plus/PURPLE background blocks are needed, as shown in the blocks received above. I had originally thought of using batik for the purple, but quality quilting cotton prints or solids will work just as well.  Any shade of purple is fine.  For the white, we will use solids, white on white, or white-based neutral prints.

Pairs of block preferred, but NOT required.

Since I am SEW thrilled with this collaborative quilt top...

I'm sharing with some of my favorite Link Parties, including:

Joining Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

for

Needle and Thread Thursday

Whooping it up with Sarah

at

Confessions of a Fabric Addict

and

Linking up with Alycia

for

Finished or Not Friday

Until next time...

Add SEW much love!!!

Sew Some Love Sunday - Positivity QAL - The Block Drive

Welcome to another edition of Sew Some Love!!  If you've visited lately, you may recall that I am doing a Block Drive for those of you who choose not to make an entire quilt for Preeti's Positivity QAL.  Since the last update, my mailbox has been a happening place.

Look and see...

Paulette @ The Way I Sew It sent seven blocks:

This set of six from Fairfaxknitter on Ravelry also arrived:

The next week...

Plynn sent this pair of blocks:

Then, much to my surprise, these six blocks arrived from Sheepless a full week ahead of their expected arrival from Canada:

This week...

I received six blocks from Mumsiemagoo:

And these two from blog reader Amanda R.:

Thank you SEW much, everyone!  I have passed your blocks along to Maggie for assembly.  She has chosen a setting and plans to make some Snowball blocks to accompany your contributions.  I'm looking forward to receiving the remaining pledged blocks AND seeing just how many quilt tops will be made.

Remember...

It's not too late, if YOU would like to make blocks to donate for Mercyful Quilts.  Leave a comment below and let me know how many you would like to send.  Find Preeti's tutorial for the Simple Plus HERE.  Details for the Block Drive can be found in THIS POST.

These are the highlights...

Quilts will use both PURPLE Plus/WHITE background blocks and WHITE Plus/PURPLE background blocks are needed, as shown in the blocks received above. I had originally thought of using batik for the purple, but quality quilting cotton prints or solids will work just as well.  Any shade of purple is fine.  For the white, we will use solids, white on white, or white-based neutral prints.

Pairs of block preferred, but NOT required.

Since I'll be busy the first 2 weeks of August, I've extended the mailing deadline to August 15th.  Leave a comment below with the number of blocks you would like to pledge.  Please make sure to include your email address, if it's not attached to your Blogger account, as I'll need a way to contact you about your contribution.

Until next time...

Be SEW positive!!!