Girls at Play

Happy November! I finally finished a quilt. I have not finished a quilt since July!! I've been busy in my sewing room (check instagram for proof) but I've been wandering from project to project. And of course, the real problem is that I dread that final step of quilting.

Thank goodness that a friend requested a baby blanket or else I might not have finished any quilts during the second half of the year.

I've used this pattern before... all with the same line of deer fabric. See my list below
Deer No. 3 in 2014
Deer Crossing in 2013
Deer in the Woods in 2013
So it was a delight to branch out of that fabric scheme.

The white fabric is from Sarah Jane Studios. The other fabrics are all from my stash. I collect a lot of those colors so it was easy to select what I wanted. If you zoom in, one of those orange fabrics has little bicycles and tricycles. Adorable, right?! There are also itty bitty strawberries!

The backing really excited me. I can't remember where I bought that blue fabric but I love it. I have to force myself to buy blue or green fabrics normally because they don't automatically draw my attention. And the triangles on the right side are from my first or second quilt that I made. You can deduce my introductory sewing level by looking at those blunt triangle points. I'm happy to see that early work get brought in with a more recent project.

Girls at Play 

38 in X 38 in.

(stamped and handwritten label included on back- added after the photos were taken)

The front

The back

The quilting

My first quilt from which the back triangles originated

Pajama Scrap Quilt

Good friends, Brehan and Jocela, had a baby girl in late November-- the day after Thanksgiving.  I was still working on their quilt, but didn't actually finish it until December 2nd. Here are photos of a blanket and a pillow with a pocket.  The bird fabric and (all the other square fabric) was set aside by Brehan's mom who passed away in 2013.  She had cut out all the pieces to make pajamas. Her husband was kind enough to let me browse her fabric collection, choose this pj fabric and cut it up to create the blanket and pillow.

Pillow on the bottom, Blanket rolled up on top

Pillow with a Rabbit book peeking out

Quilt, of simple design and the pillow

A glimpse inside the book

I included a book, Rabbits, to stuff inside the pocket of the pillow. The text is simple and charming. This page reads, "Rabbits like to get all dressed up if they are going to be in a storybook."

Summertime baby quilt

It's December and I'm only now recapturing the quilts that I've finished in the past months.
 In August, I finished a quilt for the grandmother who ordered Primary Alphabet.  It turns out that she wanted her own baby blanket to keep at her house. I used the exact same pattern, but varied the fabrics. What I enjoy most about this photo is how summery it is. (The background, really. Zack has his bicycle out, there are lush green leaves on the tree. Ah, summer.)

Front

Look at the quilting!

Oh my gosh, the funnest thing on this quilt was that I switched up the quilting. I quilted the two halves differently. Look at the above photo, and you can see how I changed directions.

Back

Elephant Alphabet

Fourth of July weekend a friend asked me to make a baby quilt for clients who just welcomed a grandbaby into their family. I was excited, accepted the project and then as life seems to go, things got busy. Zack and I went on vacation, got engaged and then were married a short two months later.

So I am absolutely thrilled to finally be done with this project... in late November... a good five months later...

 I've been holding on to this bright elephant fabric, just waiting for the right idea. I knew I wanted to use it, but didn't know how to. There are so many "novelty prints" that I love! But it's difficult for me to place them in a quilt. I suppose, that it's the idea of cutting through the fabric that holds me back.

But I had the adorable elephants, I chose some equally bright orange and teal alphabet prints and then just pieced as I saw fit.  I didn't use a pattern, like I normally do. I just chose matching green/blue and orange and "went for it."

Instead of quilting on the machine, I chose the more peaceful option of hand tying. Traditionally I think I would have kept the knots on the front side, but I wasn't sure if the little ties would be bothersome to the baby lying on it. So all the knots and loose ends are on the back, which leaves a refreshingly clean front amidst the chaos of color and print. ; )

Back

Front

Barely see the light blue thread from the ties, right?

Ready to be shipped!

Primary Alphabet

Primary Alphabet for Baby Houston

I had been working on this quilt, somewhat simultaneously, as I was finishing What a Bunch of Squares.  It was ordered at the same time and I felt guilty for "neglecting" it.

I was happy to have finished it right at the beginning of June when the baby was born.  (Apparently this was especially lucky because he was unexpectedly early.)

Zack and I got to drop off the quilt and spend time with proud parents Mary Beth and Brian. Grandma Lynn even put in a request for her own quilt! 

Houston is so adorable even while he was fussing a bunch and making really loud farts that Zack fully enjoyed.  I'm sure this quilt is going to get a whole lotta lovin!

Congratulations Mary Beth and Brian!