Two UFOs done!

 

Good morning!  It's actually warmish here by Vermont standards, in the 20s.  Apparently, we're going to have a little snow later.  I'm heading to the quilt shop to drop off another quilt to be long armed and to pick up one that's ready for trimming and binding.  Marie is a speed demon.  Sometimes I wish it took her longer, but I know she thinks hard about what she's going to do with a particular quilt and can't stand to wait before working on it.  

I did quilt this sampler myself, though, with my walking foot, and am pleased with the result.  The pattern is called "Optimism" by Aby Dolinger who ran a block of the month during 2025.  I only made 12 of the 16 blocks and then used cut offs from the blocks for the two borders.  

I love the red binding, and the back is soft, pieced cotton.  I'll be giving it to a neighbor who is moving to a nursing home as soon as bed is available.  She is younger than me, so it's a real tragedy.  Paul and her husband go out to lunch frequently as a sort of respite.  

And here is what I'm calling the "Orange and Black Sampler," which includes blocks of the month from my local guild.  I made blocks in the color prescribed for the lottery each month last year and then another for myself in the orange/black color way.  I used the polka dotted fabric for the back and added a solid(ish) black binding.  Quilter Marie was impressed by the border, which was just made of 4" blocks divided by a solid 1" strip.

I still have a lot of the polka dotted fabric (which shows up as gray) left for future backs as I bought almost a full bolt from a friend who was closing her shop.  I think I paid $8 for the bolt!  I am planning to make another quilt this year using a black background and bright colors, so I have already decided what to use for the back!

Both pictures were taken at the guild meeting Tuesday night.  In winter, it's hard for me to take outdoor photos because they involve Paul holding the quilt on the porch and me standing in snow with my phone.  We are too wimpy for that these days!  But, at guild, we are lucky that one of the members always takes photos to post on Facebook for people who missed the meeting.