Quilt Beginnings, Endings & In Between: Without a List

One Sweet Baby Quilt Ready to Deliver

Week 2 with No List

Welcome back to another weekly narrative of living/working without a list. I've gained unexpected insight while purging the house of too much stuff, and am eager to share it with you. I keep hearing in the comments how many of you are on the same journey, and feel I'm in good company. 

Sweet Modern Baby One Patch

I was asked to make a baby quilt for a little girl soon to make her way into this world. I drove home with my fingers crossed to see if I had enough of my favorite fabrics still on the shelf, and this time I was in luck. These prints are whimsical, floral, and graphic all at the same time. I added a soft pink polka dot to keep it a little sweeter since this is for a new baby.

Details: Amish Inspired Roman Stripe Quilt

Amish Inspired Roman Stripe Quilt

I think it is important to show quilts in our homes in use, and for what they were intentionally created for--both warmth and beauty. This picture was not staged because I would have been a bit more careful with a dirty box full of sweet corn from the field, but was that a pretty sight when I opened the front door! Now let me tell you about the process of making this very traditional, Roman stripe quilt. 

"A Walk In the Woods" Two Baby Quilts Done

Finished, Bound, Mailed & Delivered

Actually, the quilts are just on their way, but the babies themselves have arrived. I was told by another blogger that having the quilts there within the first year was a reasonable goal, but hitting the first week was remarkable. I was hoping for sooner, but later worked, too, since the twins' arrival was a bit early.

Twin Baby Girl Quilts

Twice as Nice

Oh, no, not twins for the same person, but my chance to do a second set of twin girl quilts this year! The first set was for 4 year olds, but this set is meant for soon-to-be's. While the first set was made-to-order and needed to be very close to identical, this set was a gift from Auntie Julie, and I could do whatever I wanted. I wanted them to be similar, but distinctly different.

Jen & Jan's Mini Blog Hop QAL

The Little House On Daisy Street

I stumbled on Jan & Jen's QAL a few weeks ago, and though I said no more extra things for a while, this little house block spoke to me. It was so darn cute I said, "Count me in." From the first moment, I saw it in the 1930's reproduction prints on my shelf. I set to work, and it was a quick make, though my chimney found itself on the opposite side. 

Mish Mash Monday: Piecing, Projects, & Partnerships

A Little Bit Sweet

Oh, Sweet Monday! Through the wonders of air travel, I woke up in foggy Florida, and was back in a snowy Ohio by lunchtime. I was travelling very light, and my computer was stashed at home--not my choice. My little phone had such a workout to stay connected, but with big limitations for me. Can I please do a quick catch up for you?

Last Friday morning I started a quickie project with 2.5" strips, and a Creative Grids ruler. I turned out this Dresden Plate early in the morning, then used the rest of my free time before my trip to blanket stitch it on to a low volume background. I added a few spunky borders to round it out to a 36" square, and it was ready for something I'd never tried before.

E's Hexie Quilt: Modern Baby

E's Quilt

This baby quilt was on the top of my list to get done, and it went from single hexies to pinned in the frame yesterday. The backing is Minkee, and the batting Warm & Natural. My customer requested a peach thread, and I've come to find out my source doesn't carry peach. A Natural White Omni laid on the top fools the eye into blending with some of the pastel colors, but I have a grey that matches well, too, with both top and backing.

Happy Baby Snapshots Finished

 Yes, it is March, 

and, Yes, we still have snow in Ohio.

Keep the faith! Spring is on it's way,

and this quilt is all ready for a new baby!

Floriography Quilt Finale

Floriography is defined as 'the language of flowers.' 

In times past, sending certain flowers referenced specific things, possibly secret messages or hidden meaning. We've heard of the different meanings of rose colors. Yellow for friendship, red for true love, and so on. Flowers mark milestones in our lives today, and I love both sending and receiving. Give me a bouquet of mixed wild flowers any day over roses, though. I'm all about color, you know?

Starts, Stops, and Catch-ups: Floriography Quilt

Here's a sneak peek of the baby quilt done in Floriography.

I had to chase down binding fabric today, 

and it will be a finish by Friday.

The echoed flower was FUN to quilt,

and it went fast! I used a bright pink

Aurifil thread here, but it's blended well

with the pink gingham.

Happy Baby Snapshots

No baby pictures here--just a new quilt in progress using "Snapshots" by Riley Blake. 

I picked up a fat quarter bundle a few months back, but had no ideas for it then. When I found out two of the three babies expected this spring were girls, I knew right away.

Babies aren't little very long. Those of us who've raised a few realize they grow up in a Snap, so I wanted a girly quilt that would grow with her. I introduced some funky solids, and I think it did the trick here.

Plus One or Splitting Hares Finish

It's early here. The clematis paniculata is in full bloom already. The outside lights haven't even shut off yet, but I have to run out to get you pictures before my busy day starts. I think the colors are showing off truer, too.

I am most thankful the Plus One is done. Isn't it amazing that we can pick out fabric, dream it up and stitch it all together, and it still gets changed up into something more than what we anticipated?  I love that moment we see it for the first time. Our creative energy investment is fulfilled. But, you know, I feel so emotionally connected to something while in the throes of the project, and the minute it's done I'm off thinking about the next one. Call me fickle, Doxie girls. It's the thrill of the project!

It's not a secret, and most of you know I am really the newbie out here.

Purely a Labor of Love-Splitting Hares

Labor Day Greetings, Doxie Girls!

What do people say to you when they hear you quilt and sew? Do they share with you their own passion--I hope so, or do they say, "Oh, I could never do that! It's just too hard." Well, Yes and No. Yes, it is kind of hard in the beginning, but we all start somewhere, and we get better with practice. No, it's not impossible, but it does take effort. I would venture to say that to some of us, and especially as beginners, it could be defined as "labor". 

Splitting Hares

Yesterday was an enlightening, productive session for me. I completed the new baby quilt design, finished the cutting, started the piecing, and made a new personal rule for myself. I need glasses for distance, but not close work. Therefore, my glasses are on and off dozens of times in a sewing session, and I can't tell you HOW many times I've lost them. How frustrating!

New Rule #1-- If I take them off, they go on my designated doxie tray by the machine. No exceptions!

Churn Dash Update

I spent the weekend hand quilting the Churn Dash baby quilt. I think it's turning out well, and there's a sense of satisfaction to quilt by hand. We watch a little t.v., and in no time I'm another block down. Six blocks down now. I'll finish it up tonight, I hope.