Yesterday, I headed to the Michiana Mennonite Hunger Relief Auction (check out this link for lots of details) with my friend, Joyce.  We had made and donated a quilt and drove up to see the auction.  (I had shown you the border blocks that I made in a previous post.)  The main attraction at the auction this year was the Psalms Quilt made by Carol Honderich.  I imagine many of you are familiar with Carol's online quilting classes that she has been hosting for many years.  She's created and taught The Women of the Bible, The Psalms, and The Names of Jesus.  When I say "taught", I mean that she did everything from designing the patterns (pieced, foundation, and appliqued) along with commentary and history discussing each block's inspiration.  I've "attended" all of these classes, although I have never finished one of the quilts.  Carol's web site is Patterns of Faith and you can contact her and find out details about joining one of these Yahoo group classes.  They are free, of course, and full of inspiration, regardless of whether you even touch any fabric and make any blocks.  She continues to combine her love of God with her love of quilting and reaches thousands of people all over the world.  Her quilting ministry is amazing! 

 

Joyce and I walked into the auction facility and Carol's quilt was the first quilt hanging on the featured wall of quilts.  I was so drawn to Carol's quilt that I didn't even notice that the second focused quilt was the one that Joyce and I had made!  We were elated!  Each year, three of four quilts are picked for this special spot and we hardly expected to see our quilt hanging next to such a wonderful quilt as Carol's!

 

 

So here's our quilt.  It's draped behind protective plastic so the colors are a little dull.  I think we were chosen for a featured quilt because our quilt was quite different from the "normal" quilts that you typically see at this auction.  Generally, they are very traditional in both pattern and fabric.  Our quilt was an original pattern made with batik fabrics.  Just different enough to be chosen, I guess.  It was very exciting and humbling. :) 

Here's our quilt on the auction block.  It did not do as well as we had hoped but $800 will feed a lot of hungry people and that's the whole point behind donating these quilts.  Overall, the quilts did not go for very high prices.  You just never know what the trend will be each year.

 

 

We are already thinking about next year's auction.  There were some very tiny wall hanging quilts (like 18" x 18") that did very well.  I love to paper piece and may make a small wall hanging for next year.  It would certainly not cost much with so little fabric.  Gotta sleep on this one ..... there's plenty of time to make a decision.  If you'd like to donate a quilt, go to the link at the beginning of this post and get the details.  You can always mail your submission if you are not close enough to attend.  Until next year......

 

Oh, I forgot to tell you the best part...... I got to meet Carol and thank her personally for her devotion and hard work.  It was an honor and a pleasure!

 

September's BOM from the Fat Quarter Shop is finished.  I love opening the package each month to see what pattern they have selected and what fabrics they included.

 

 

 

And, as usual, here's a block made from some of the excess fabric.  My excess fabric stash is actually growing, even though I'm making two blocks out of every kit. 

 

I've also been working on my Fall Leafs Me Happy blog hop blocks too.  I've actually finished a few, in spite of life's issues along the way.  October 4th is my blog hop day so be sure to come back.  Check the link on my sidebar for more details.

  

 

 

Here's a stack of potential fabrics for the Fall blog hop.  I have many more bins of fabric that I could have pulled from, but this is already more than I'll ever use.  I'm hoping to complete at least a couple of blocks but it will all depend on how I'm feeling.  We were instructed to use fall fabrics, not Halloween fabrics, so I've tried to stay away from rats, bats, etc.  I have now been assigned my day, October 4th, so I MUST get busy!

 

And speaking of rats....... here's some wonderful cut outs that I found at the Dollar Tree.  They are just paper, but would make great templates to transfer to fusible web and fabric.  I also picked up the fuzzy brown spider.  Gotta love a good lookin' spider!

Yes, I love Halloween!  I love rats, bats, cats, spiders, snakes, and all the creepy things that we associate with Halloween.  I find them cute, not scary, and love all of the wonderful Halloween fabric choices that are available to quirky people like me!

 

 

I managed to get my Giant Granny Panties top pieced into strips this afternoon.  The strips are not sewn together yet but I have completed all of the instructions that we have been given to this point.  I couldn't get the full quilt top in this picture.  There is another round of cream blocks on all four sides.

 

I've never even seen a picture of what the finished quilt looks like so I don't know if we will be inserting side setting triangles (filling in the zig zagged edges) or just trimming off the edges of the squares to make everything flush once the rows are sewn together.  Oh well..... it's on a need to know basis and I can wait for the next chapter.  Sewing the rows and adding borders is expected to be the next step.

 

I like the fabrics so I'm pretty sure I'll be pleased with the finished product. 

 

Now..... on to the Fall blog hop (see left side bar for info) that I joined.  I haven't received the date that I'll be showing my blocks yet, but it could be as early as October 1st.  Time to get moving if I expect to have anything to show!

 

 

 

 

     

You may have noticed a new gadget on my left sidebar, just like the one above.  I joined another blog hop that begins in November.  We will be making cute little coin purses like the one in the picture.  There are still some openings if you click on the picture..... go to the link to sign up and get full details.  The pattern will be free to those who chose to participate.  Oh.... you don't have to have a blog to join.  They will host pictures of your little purse for you, so don't let the lack of a blog keep you from playing along.

 

They are practically guaranteeing that we will be able to make these with clear directions and sources for the purse closure and batting.  They are small, so a little fabric will go a long way and maybe these would make a nice Christmas gift for someone you know..... and one or two to keep for yourself too, of course!

 

 

My fabric is cut for the Giant Granny Panties Quilt Along.  Pretty easy cutting, with large pieces.  We'll get the sewing instructions this Friday.  I get impatient, having to wait for each weeks' directions before proceeding. 

 

This second picture is the package that I received today that contains the binding and the backing for the Giant Granny Panties quilt.  This is a shout out for the Sew Lux Fabric & Gifts online fabric shop, the place where all of these fabrics came from.  They also have an Etsy shop.  Their service is outstanding...... the fabric comes wrapped up like a gift...... the fabric is cheaper than on other sites (at least the fabric that I have ordered so far)...... the orders are shipped out immediately....... and there is a personal note written on the back of their business card.  In other words, they are doing everything right to make a successful business and I wanted to pass along my recommendation in case you were not familiar with them.  Happy shopping!