Fabulous Support Group

As 2014 comes to a close, I’m thankful it’s been a great year of discovery, of finding like-minded folks! In October, I created a “closed” group on Facebook, the Lone Star of Texas Quilts for Others. The membership is full of supportive and encouraging people sharing the same goals as we journey through creating quilts for national and community based service endeavors.

The collective group creates quilts to honor and comfort our Veterans and Active Military, for children and adults in need of a hug, and even Veteran Service Dogs who are instrumental in the emotional wellness of our veterans.

Sometimes we have questions, or someone is looking for something specific…

Like this morning… I had a longarm stitching question… wondering what I was doing wrong writing with the machine and within minutes, two members explained what I was doing, and what I needed to do!

I can’t recall how many times someone has requested specific print fabric needed and someone else has it in their stash – ready to mail it out if it will work!

Oh, and don’t forget the math questions…

And, the wonderful tips to make a quilt design easier…

And, oh, all the creative ideas that runneth over!!!

I’m thankful for this fabulous support group!

Are you like-minded? Join us!

Daily Journal Writing

I know it takes discipline to write a daily journal. I wonder ~ will I be able to maintain such an endeavor? We’ll see. I started one on the 10^th of December. It’s been 10 days today. So far, so good.

The focus of the daily writing is simply to log what I’m doing ~ basically how I spend my time ~ and what’s going on around me. I decided when I started, I would omit sharing any feelings or rambling thoughts I happen to have that particular day/time/moment. It’s just the facts, Jack!

In addition to the daily journal, on December 10th I also started an excel file, recording time spent creating/working on quilts for others. This is not only for my personal information, but also for the local Texas Extension Education Association group I recently joined. They need a monthly report from members as to time spent on community service, and the other mission aspects.

The mission of the Texas Extension Education Association, Inc. is to work with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to strengthen and enrich families through educational programs, leadership development and community service.

I’m using MS Word to keep the daily journal. I now click SAVE after every bloomin entry ~ already learnt the hard way to do this!!! After 3 days, I decided rather than go to the bottom for the current day, to always use the first page (which is what automatically opens up) to add the new day. Okay, did you get that? Hope so!

Do you keep a daily journal? Do you hand write or type it? How detailed do you make it? This inquiring mind would love to know!

Barn Quilts

A recent post, and its following discussion, on a Facebook group page caused me to explore further the concept of a barn quilt! Goodness, I’ve mention many times how I’m “late to the party” on a variety of things. This is indeed one of them!

Of course, I had to do a goodsearch.com (my default search engine where each one of my searches provides a penny to the non-profit I selected – Wound Warriors Family Support)!

Straightaway, I found this one that I absolutely LOVE!

At Barn Quilt Info, there is an interactive map of the United States. This is an amazing resource… did you know about The American Quilt Trail? Click on the map, then click on the state of interest… maybe you’re going on holiday and would like to make this part of your trip!

My sister is going to Tennessee for Thanksgiving… I clicked on Tennessee… WOW! I can hardly wait for her to see this map!!!

Oh my goodness… only TWO counties within Texas – and they are opposites sides of the Great State of Texas! This is pitiful! Maybe there are more, and the website hasn’t been updated… maybe….

How fun would this be in Lampasas County, like stated on their website:

 … quilt trails take visitors on a drive through the countryside where barn quilts are mounted on farm buildings, on homes, along fences, and sometimes on freestanding posts. A quilt trail may include stops at galleries, farm stands, wineries and other points of interest that make the journey a day-long event.

Okay. I live on a ranch. I have TWO barns and NO barn quilt square either structure!

This will change in 2015.

So, I need some ideas…

On Quilters Cache, she has created blocks for each one of the US Armed Forces. Due to her copyright instructions, I can’t share a picture of the actual blocks, but trust me! It’s worth taking a look!

The Marines Star Block

Army Star Block

Navy Star Block

Air Force Star Block

The Coast Guard Star Block

Not to mention the 1,000’s of other patterns she shares!

In addition, QuiltViews had an interesting article, A Barn Side Salute to American Quilters, dated October, 2014, stating:

Now, barn quilt trails have sprung up all over America, as rural communities re-ignite quilting’s important national presence.

Of course!

So, what to do, what to do…

Pinterest was also full of different ideas for Barn Quilt squares… go explore! Make a barn quilt block and put it out! Let us create a trail of our own here in Lampasas County and all across Texas!

Side note:

You’ll see in lots of the Pinterest pictures that “barn quilts” aren’t for just barns!

Celebration Time Is Here!

It's liberating, I know!

Doing for others is what it is all about! 

Do you have the time?

I need your help! It's difficult making the selection because I love them all!

I’d like to make something like this quilt I found at Block Central (but not as big so minus the outside border), 

Sentimental Journey
Block of the Month Quilt

using Downton Abbey fabrics!

I found this "team" chart on a Mystery Quilt that Love Bug Studios will hold in January 2015, but I'm not participating because I want to see what I'm working toward!

You can find more, and bigger swatches at Hawthorne Threads! 

So I need six (6) different pieces of fabric! I need:

2 darks (one will be used for the dark border & binding)

2 lights

2 mediums

What are your picks? Which six do you think will go nicely together? Because I love them all, I'm not mindset on sticking with one specific person/character.

Moving On

Several times within the articles I’ve written for Lanetta’s Creations, I’ve offered links to various community and national services projects I found, and support their missions, their purpose. For well over a year now, I have been actively involved with a specific non-profit organization because I supported (and still support) its mission: “to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.” I’ve made and awarded several Quilts of Valor® over the past year. A separate blog shares my journey, albeit short under the umbrella of this organization.

It’s with a heavy heart that in January 2015, the powers-that-be will put in place a set of new policies and procedures toward a direction I cannot fully support without further information. Enough said on that. I will add, however, that fortunately they do not have a registered trademark on creating and presenting quilts for our veterans!

Many other non-profit organizations and simple gatherings of like-minded people are creating quilts across the nation that honor our veterans and service members!

Of course, a new ~ closed ~ Facebook group has started! If you want a place to gather for support and encouragement while creating quilts for our veterans, and other fabulous community and national service projects, feel free to join our Facebook group, Lone Star of Texas Quilts for Others!

Lone Star of Texas Quilts for Others is a place for like-minded folks to gather while creating quilts for others! As we journey through National and Community based service endeavors, we offer support and encouragement to one another.

And, a new blog is in the works! The Lone Star of Texas Quilts for Others will be the place I’ll share pictures, the journey, and events for those that “Honor Your Years of Service” quilts and beyond!

Our 2nd gathering = a fabulous start!

The ladies and I, in the Lampasas County Chapter of Lone Star of Texas Quilts for Others, are in the process of creating 30 quilts for our Lometa American Legion Post 116. Once presented, LCC will move on to cover the members of Post 277 in Lampasas. Beyond that, who knows! I know Lampasas County has many more veterans that do not belong to an American Legion post!

As of today, I’ve changed the non-profit organization that benefits from the following websites I frequently use:

Goodsearch.com (instead of Google or Bing etc)

smile.amazon.com (instead of simply Amazon)

I hope you will select a non-profit that you can support and use these simple tools to help fund their operational expenses.

2014 Fundraiser Quilt

2014 Fundraiser Quilt

Proceeds benefit the

American Legion Auxiliary 

Unit 116, Lometa, Texas

Local Sponsorship of "Girls State"

Drawing to be held Veterans Day, November 11, 2014

tickets are $1 each

or 6 for $5.00

Send me an email if you are interested in purchasing tickets!!! 

You do not need to be present to win!

ALA will notify winner via telephone!

ALA will pay for postage to mail quilt to the winner!

57" x 72"

Quilt created by Lanetta J Sprott

The Only Time

Poor Romeo... it is the only time I make the time! Fortunately, it doesn't happen often (a broken machine, that is)!!!

Of Course!

Need I say more?

It’s a Wrap!

If you’ve followed along during 2014’s National Sewing Month, I’ve concentrated on creating a quilt top. If you’ve made one this month ~ or anytime ~ you know it’s not quite a “wrap” ~ yet! There are a few more steps before you, or anyone, can wrap up in your handmade with love quilt!

But, it’s a wrap for me, for this month-long daily post series!

Of course, it’s not a quilt until it’s quilted, then binding set in place! Oh, and don’t forget to apply a label telling your name as the piecer (and the name of the quilter, if different), the date (I use date finished!), your city/state, and anything else you want to share – like maybe washing instructions. Trust me! Decades later folks will want to know about you and the quilt's process!

Until the top is quilted, remember to always fold so that the right side is out. This protects the cut edges from raveling out from all the little pieces sewn together!

(The bold words below are what I used in my goodsearch.com search to find a link to share with you! I’m sure you can find other great resources as well!)

There are three ways to turn a top into a quilt…

Hand quilt – Sew Mama Sew

Home machine quilt – Quilt Bug 

Longarm Quilting Services – depends on your location…

The Next Step – apply binding – Hope Yoder 

One of mine, in the process of sewing on the binding!

The Finishing Step – adding a quilt label – Creative Bug 

But then, sometimes the quilt will hang on display ~ make a quilt sleeve – Tallgrass Prairie Studio 

 

An example of one of mine: A stitched-in sleeve pocket for a wall hanging

Oops, a few things I failed to mention before…

1. On the Stitched in Color’s website, you’ll find a great informative article on Choosing Fabrics. Among several points, Rachel talks about scale and value – something to think about!  

2. Sew Red Glasses “Color Value Made Simple” is a relatively new product that does indeed help with color values! I love mine!  
   

3. When sewing most everything besides quilt pieces together, we backstitch a few stitches at the beginning and then at the end of a seam. Never backstitch (beginning or end) when piecing pieces together for a quilt top!

I hope you found this series helpful and informative!

Wishing you all ~ Happy Quilting!