293. Fireworks

 Over the years, I have collected many beautiful batik fabrics. It seemed that they fell out of favor for awhile but I held on to my very favorites. 

 I decided to participate in Moda Blockheads 6, where a new quilt block pattern is released every week for several months. The batiks I had kept were mostly brights and I had a beautiful black fabric with gold accents that looked like a night sky to me.

I'm always behind when it comes to making blocks but when we knew were downsizing, I needed to use up this fabric rather than pack it to take with me.

The blocks were several different sizes

 

There was one large block that was 26" square. So many little half square triangles.  And when it was done, I hated it with the rest of the blocks. The yellow was too bright. I didn't like the orange-green combination. 

 First I thought I could get by with just slightly changing the large center triangles But still no...

So I started all over again and  went with completely different colors and was much happier.

 But there was no way I was getting rid of the first block after all the time it took me to make. So I made it the centerpiece of the backing. I used some hand dyed fabric by Ricky Tims so the backing definitely makes a statement!

There were a lot of blocks that were just little nine patches. Here I'm auditioning color placement.They were quick and easy--they kind of made up for the big star in the middle.

The front.

 I used a bright red with gold metallic sparklers as the binding. Because of the bright colors and the gold metallic accents, it seemed like Fireworks was the perfect name for the quilt.

So of course when the fireworks stands started popping up before the 4th of July, one of them seemed like the perfect photographic background.

 Quilt Name: Fireworks

Quilt Pattern: Blocks from Moda Blockheads 6

Made by: Cindy Wiens

Quilted by: Helene Shannon

Completed: 2026

Size: 62" x 79" 

 

 

292. Petite Plaid

 Petite Plaid is the second plaid quilt I've made from designer Brittney Lloyd of Lo and Behold. 

It was made for a very special couple as a wedding gift--Daniel and Sera Neufeld.

This was a little more involved than the first plaid quilt, but I enjoyed making it. After getting the okay for the colors by the mother of the groom, I purchased the kit from Lo and Behold.

I love the backing fabric.

Quilt Name: Petite Plaid

Quilt Designer: Lo and Behold 

Made by: Cindy Wiens

Quilted by: Helene Shannon

Completed: 2026

Size: 63" x 75"

Gifted to Daniel and Sera Neufeld for their wedding in May 2026 

291. Show and Tell

 You can never go wrong with a pattern by Elizabeth Hartman, even though they are almost guaranteed to have a gazillion little pieces.

I fell in love with Show and Tell from the first time I saw it. What is not to love about cute animals holding up little quilt blocks?! 

 I really enjoyed making each block in this quilt. I knew from the start that it would be a donation to the MCC quilt auction in April 2026.

  

Probably my favorite photo of this quilt (cute grandson not up for auction...)

It's always fun to donate a quilt to an organization that raises funds for such a worthy cause--Third World Relief. It sold for $650.

Quilt Name: Show and Tell

Quilt Designer: Elizabeth Hartman

Made by: Cindy Wiens

Quilted by: Helene Shannon

Completed 2026

Size: 75" x 85" 

Donated to: West Coast Mennonite Relief Sale 

290. Aaron's Quilt

 Years ago, when Aaron and Christa were living in the Portland area and he was going to optometry school, he made a quilt. I had completely forgotten about it. But he was going through some things awhile back and found it. It was only the quilt top and he wanted to know if it could be finished.

He had done an excellent job of piecing--the top was all flannel, which is not always the easiest to keep nice and straight. 

I was happy to take on the project. It mainly involved piecing together a backing and then handing it over to Halene for quilting.

  

Look at the precision of all those intersections!

I had some California-themed fabric that I had never found a use for, along with some Portland bridges and a California state panel. To finish it out I had some other travel-related fabric that I added to the sides. 

He didn't know I was finishing it for his birthday so it was a fun surprise.

Quilt Name: Aaron's Quilt

Pattern: Unknown

Made by: Aaron Wiens

Backing by: Cindy Wiens

Quilted by: Helene Shannon

Started: 2002 or 2003 

Completed: 2025
 

289. Ramona

 Ramona is a pattern based on a traditional quilt block called Broken Dishes, using four half square triangles for each block.

I had a beautiful minty green fabric that I used for the background. For the prints, I had some 10" squares by Tula Pink and I added some prints from my own stash that went well together.

Quilt Name: Ramona

Quilt Pattern: Ramona by Penelope Handmade

Made by: Cindy Wiens

Quilted by: Helene Shannon

Completed: 2025

Size: 65" x 72"

Gifted to: Christa Wiens for Central Valley Justice Coalition
 

 

288. Inner Light

 

Twenty years ago, I purchased some gradient fabric after seeing an article in a quilting magazine.

I had eight half-yard cuts, in both a light colorway and a jewel-tone colorway. The blocks were constructed by cutting strips and sewing them end to end, and then constructing a log cabin block. The fabric was very clever in that the end of one colorway would blend with the end of the next colorway. 

The published pattern showed five light blocks and four jewel-tone blocks but I wanted to use up ALL the fabric, so I made as many blocks as possible.

 

I found the perfect stripe for the binding.

I also had two half yards in gray scale, one light and one darker. I used that yardage on the back along with extra blocks.

 

This was a really fun quilt to make. I'm not sure why it took me 20 years to do it.

Quilt Name: Inner Light

Quilt Pattern: Inner Light by Michael and Debra Lunn

Made by: Cindy Wiens

Quilted by: Helene Shannon

Completed: 2025

Size: 50" x 67"

Gifted to: Judy Kulekjian