And She's Off!

She's off the design wall, and she's off to the quilter! My Star Sampler is a flimsy! I don't know why I struggled with this one so much. I wanted it to be special to showcase all the great blocks from friends - something I'll enjoy displaying this summer for America's 250th birthday and for many years to come.  Regardless, too much over-thinking going on for sure.  

Better pictures soon. My planned blue border just didn't work (for me).  It felt too heavy or something so I stopped with the white border. I'm considering the blue star print for the binding to give it a nice frame. Anyway, she's a flimsy! Michelle randomly had an empty quilt frame on Thursday going into the weekend. So I dropped her off at the longarm spa, and she will come home all spiffed up and beautiful in a few days I'm sure.

May Shopgirl Stash Bee 

I'm the May queen bee for our Shopgirl Stash Bee so my blocks were done early.  I jumped on the potato chip block bandwagon and came up with this variation.  I need to dive back into Pinterest to find the block variation that inspired my plan. I'm sure I saved it somewhere so more on that later. 😐 If it comes together as planned, it will be a nice QOV for a family member.

String quilt flimsy

Speaking of QOVs, I also picked up my string quilt from Donna's longarm spa. I love the stars and ribbons she used.  

More (and better) pictures after it gets a binding and label. And Oh I have a plan for these. We have SEVEN (living) veterans in our immediate families. Gratitude starts at home, right? 

Sunday afternoon's bike ride didn't disappoint. Far fewer butterflies this time but plenty of bird watching along the way.  And the headwinds were much more tolerable. 😂 

My cute squirrel friend made himself at home under the cushions!

Yesterday was a long day cleaning the front and back porches.  Squirrel friend evicted, pollen eradicated. Today, I am feeling it all over but the back porch is open for business! Hoping to fill the flower pots this weekend.

May goals:

1. Bind and label Star Sampler (May OMG!)
2. Quilt Honey Bouquet
3. Orange RSC blocks
4. Bind and label the string quilt
5. Layout Carolina Chain blocks
6. Wrangle batting scraps

Piece...

Cheryl

🧵🪡

Linking up a day late 😣 with Judy's  Design Wall Mondays and with Anne-Marie's One Monthly Goal (OMG) for May.

Patriotic Stars (2025)

 

Patriotic Stars

I committed to donate a patriotic quilt to an organization in GA that works with Veterans in 2025. I decided on No Point Stars and recruited some quilty friends to make a block or two. Quilty friends are just the best. 💗

On the design wall 

I saw this layout on Instagram (I think), and just had to re-create it. Of course, I can't find that post now to credit the original maker.  I love the oversized stars mixed in. 

I pieced the top at a January quilt retreat, and then my friend Michelle generously quilted waves on it for me. Finished it with a striped binding (my favorite).  We even had a bright sunny Saturday late January for a quick photo session.  Thank you Mr. Quilt Holder and Supervisor Sophie. 

Sophie is always ready for a photo op and a test drive. Patriotic Stars was subsequently donated to a local Quilts of Valor chapter after the timing didn't work out with the original organization. I'm already working on another quilt for the local group for 2026. The star blocks we used are No Point Stars by Allison at Cluck Cluck Sew. 

Quilt stats:

    Size: ~60" x 70"
    Blocks: 10 1/2" and 20 1/2"
    Fabric: Red, white, blue & gray from the stash

~ Cheryl