WIP Wed: Another Project Linus Quilt, Summer Sampler and Art Project

It's Wednesday, so I'm linking up with Freshly Pieced WIP wed, and letting you know what I'm working on!

In the box with the striped squares that I used for my first Project Linus Quilt was a bunch of "puss in the corner" blocks that were made up.  I decided to pair them with another yard of fabric I had in my stash to make another Project Linus Quilt.  When I dropped the first one off yesterday, one of the coordinators was in the quilt shop, and it was fun talking with her about the project.  She told me that one of the agencies who gives away quilts also receives many nice stuffed animals to give away, and when the kids are given a choice between a toy and a quilt, they ALWAYS pick the quilt!  Is that neat, or what?  I had already started the quilt, and as I was sewing the rows together, it occurred me that the puss in the corner and striped blocks were originally meant to go together as one quilt... they were the same proportions, same box and all.  Oh well...  That's what happens when you have a WIP for 3-4 years shelved away in a closet.  I'm really happier with the 2 separate projects than the initial one.  So sometimes I guess all it takes to resurrect a WIP or UFO is to split it into a few different quilts...

I also decided to get out my Summer Sampler Series Quilt to finish, now that the weather has turned.  Originally I was planning to add additional blocks to make it bigger, but I found a cream fabric on clearance that was a good match, and now I'm going to make it bigger by giving it nice wide sashings and borders.

Finally, I'm taking part in a local art challenge that's perfect for me!  The challenge is to go to a community thrift store here in town (which raises money for local charities), spend no more than 5 dollars on items there, and create a piece of art to be displayed in their street window.  We can also use items from our own stash.  Here's what I bought yesterday, a $3 polyester/rayon women's suit, and an orphan flannel brown flat sheet for 25 cents.  As a bonus, I found a vintage sheet that was ripped that they gave me for free, and 3 men's silk shirts, all under $3 per shirt!  If my husband won't wear them, I may have to make a quilt from them!  Has anyone ever made a quilt with silk?  Any tips?  These shirts are so luxurious!!

We are finally getting our fall rains here, after many, many weeks without measurable rain, which is typical here.  It's so nice to see clouds and rain again!  Best of all, rain, clouds, and cold means perfect sewing weather!!

Vintage Sheets

I think it was this post, by Amy Smart, of "Diary of a Quilter" blog,  about vintage sheets that really got me going...  Seeing those colors and patterns triggered a primal memory flashback from my childhood, spent sleeping every night on those similar patterns and colors.  Colors and patterns are indeed powerful mind seducers.  Sports teams know this (yellow and green cheeseheads, gold and black fleur-de-lis), and indeed one of the most powerful symbols of a country or people is a flag (more colors and patterns). No wonder these captivated me!

Once I saw an announcement that our local art center was looking for people to sell "upcycled", or "repurposed", hand made, local art at this summer's farmers' market, I sprang into action!  I knew right away that I wanted to make a quilt (or something) with these vintage sheets!  I'm all about recycling and doing good things for the environment, so it really taps into that part of me as well.

I found the striped sheets at our local Salvation Army thrift store, for just a few bucks a piece, and then searched on Etsy until I found the purple and green flowers to go with them.  I just realized that Amy has the same ones.  They just arrived in the mail this week, and I have another sheet on the way.  Even though quilting is all about using scraps and bits of clothing and such, I've never really used a poly / cotton blend, so I'm eager to try it out.  I've also never used stripes in a quilt.  I have some ideas, but mainly, I am trying to decide if I should buy some more solid colored sheets to use with what I have, keeping the fabric content similar, or if I can use traditional 100% cotton with it.  Have any of you made a quilt out of vintage sheets?  Stripes?  I'd LOVE to hear about them, or any ideas.

Speaking of which, I really want to thank everyone who has left comments!  I really do love them, and try to respond to them, but life sometimes gets in the way, and I just don't have time, but I do read and cherish them all!

And I know some of you are still under feet of snow, but here's a picture I took this morning!!  Spring is indeed on its way!