Tag: #2019Makes

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Again this year, Cowboys for Kids held their annual fundraiser! This Lil Pig Studios donated a Heart Strings throw-size quilt. I have made several of this particular pattern, and I am pretty confident in it’s appeal. My furthest hope is that it sold well. 

This post is not about quilting, it is all about the kids and the devoted coordinators that make this event happen every year.

<Camp Quality Kentuckiana Link>

Welcome to Camp Quality Kentuckiana

Did you know more than 500 children in Kentucky and Indiana are diagnosed with cancer each year?  Camp Quality Kentuckiana is not in the business of finding a cure for cancer, but we are in the business of ensuring that every child who has been diagnosed with cancer can not only have a summer camp experience, year-round programs to enhance their quality of life and encourage quality family time.

Our Campers

When a cancer diagnosis comes to a child, in a lot of ways, childhood stops. Vacations, family time, crafts, and campfires are replaced with doctor visits, chemo, isolation and restrictions. With children’s safety and medical needs forefront, Camp Quality Kentuckiana breaks down those barriers for children and families and restores the childhood experience.  Surrounded by new friends that can relate, loving volunteers who care, and loads of fun experiences, Camp Quality campers find joy, courage and renewed hope for the future. They are free to be themselves . . . free to be kids again.

Complete remission is the only positive spin which could be put on such a daunting situation; however, it’s the little victories that are often celebrated – a day here and there with no tests or treatments, eating a tasty meal without it hurting the stomach, having enough energy to play with favorite toys. So, I can not begin to imagine the joy in these children’s hearts when they get to experience activities such as swimming, archery, a high ropes course, horseback riding, zip lining, and crafts.

I also have no words for the emotions parents must feel knowing their child is able to experience these things in an environment with specially trained staff and other children who understand. Another relief – this is made possible at no cost for the children and their families by volunteers, donors, and organizations like Cowboys for Kids. I have a bit of extra warmth in my heart knowing I was able to contribute something, however small, to this beautiful endeavor.

Thank you for spending some time with This Lil Pig Studios!

Robbing Peter to Pay Paul

My Mother tagged me in a quilting hack video for the Robbing Peter to Pay Paul quilt and it piqued my interest. So I delved into the collection of quilting magazines that I have looking for some direction. Yes, a paper magazine with black and white pictures and graph paper patterns.

Let’s go back to the beginning, way back. The term Robbing Peter to Pay Paul dates back to 1296 in the Science of Cirurgie of Lanfranc of Milan in reference to the taxes that were required to be paid to Saint Paul’s Cathedral of London and Saint Peter’s Cathedral of Rome. With the Reformation, London parishioners neglected paying Peter’s tax to pay Paul’s. In subtle, gentle fashion women put this rebellion into their blatantly domestic voice – a quilt. I might be obsessed.

I set about re-creating this pattern with craft paper and testing. My first attempt was off by about half and inch and left lots to be desired. Not discouraged, I tried again and changed the order of my piecing. In this process, I learn. I learn more about my pattern drafting. I learn piecing order. I learn patience and understanding. I learn why young women of years ago were required to make 12 quilts before marriage. They were not only learning a skill of homemaking, they were learning so much more about themselves.

Denim Up-Cycled Quilt

A little over a year ago my very talented photographer Jen Whitfill ( Check out her website showcasing her beautiful work at https://jenwhitfill.zenfolio.com/ ) gave me 50 gallon garbage bag of denim blue jeans that were out grown, worn,or otherwise not being used.

Stacks of jeans

I started this project by deconstructing the jeans. Removing the waist band, pockets, and thick double stitched in seams. This leaves large leg irregular rectangle pieces that can be cut into the 7 1/2″ squares for piecing the quilt. A side note: a cutting mat, rotary cutter, and square are essential tools for the heavy duty fabric cutting.

Breaking the king sized quilt into 4 patch blocks makes it manageable for a home machine. This also provides an opportunity to check the squaring of the blocks and make any corrections needed.

I used my White Serger to complete the piecing. I am very pleased with the quilt top and look forward to the completion of the basting, tie and binding to wrap up this project!

Thank you, as always for stopping by and spending some time with us at This Lil Pig Studios!