A Sweet Baby Girl Quilt

This Kinder Layer Cake of fabric by Windham Fabrics turned out to make the perfect quilt for our Kinder teacher who just had her first baby. I figured new mom received plenty of "baby things" so it was fun to make a bright and happy quilt her new daughter could use as toddler and beyond.

It measures 46"x53", so easy enough for her to drag around as she grows into it.

 

I used a bright flannel backing and love the checked green binding.

 I had my daughter make me this quilt label and easily added it to the quilt with a zig-zag stitch.

  

And of course, my ABC-123 pantograph put the finishing touches on it don't ya think!

This was a fun one to make.

With smiles, Val:)

A New Baby Quilt!

Nothing like the anticipation of a new baby to get one's sewing mojo back!

Pattern used: Summer Song by Villa Rosa Designs.
Quilt measures 44"x55".

I love watching a fat quarter bundle turn into a wonderful quilt. 

For this one I used a Purples Bella Solid pack. 

I've never made a commissioned quilt. But this was for a work friend who wanted something special for her new little niece. She requested solid purples with grays. 

I don't think I've ever made a quilt from solids...and this one has quickly become a favorite!

I used my Beautiful, Colorful, Butterfly pantograph to add a girly touch.

I found a fun "Love You To The Moon and Back" gray backing...

...and I was sure to create a tag that our friend could personalize for her new niece.

I had some backing left over so made a matching receiving blanket too. 

I love the texture of the pom-pom trim, don't you?

I have more baby quilts to make before December and may use this pattern again??

Between the cooler Fall weather and the anticipation of babies, it feels good to be sewing again.

With smiles. Val

I Heart BABY Quilts

Sometimes some easy-peasy sewing quickly rejuvenates the ol' soul on whats been a cold, foggy morning. This little cuddle quilt will now be moved to my Winter Break quilting pile as...

...I look forward to using the rest of the weekend to finish up my Anni Downs project 

as I relax and enjoy some holiday movies. Grateful for a quiet end of the week spent at home.

H2H: Spring Flower Finish for Little Lambs

  I finished this little backpack quilt measuring 36"x42" using the left-overs from my 2014-15 Sat. Sampler quilt. I had the panel that goes with this line of Deb Strain's Bloomin' Fresh fabrics so I just squared them up and alternated them with polka-dotted blocks. I'm hoping this quilty hug finds its way to a preteen/teen in need through the Little Lambs Foundation for Kids.

I think my flowered backing and Daisy on a String Pantograph finished this one off nicely.

 Jackson loves it. 

 Spring is sure slow coming this year, but it's nice to see the Plum trees finally blooming and the grass getting green with all the rainy days we have been having.

So this is my fourth stash-busting finish this year and te first of two charity quilts that I'm creating as part of Sara's H2H Charity Drive. Oh! and come to think of it, I'm half way to my April OMG goal. Sweet! I have to admit it feels good to have such productive time in my sewing studio this year. 

As always, thanks for stopping by. 

I specialize in edge to edge pantographs with over 100 designs to choose from.

Check out my Long-Arm Quilting page for details.

I offer FREE Return Shipping on all quilts in the U.S.A.

H2H: An Extra Blanket for Little Lambs

My mom is one of my most faithful followers (thanks Mom!) and when she read about our H2H Charity Drive she asked if she could donate this knitted blanket: 

Do you like the Tulip Quilt the blanket is on? Click HERE to check it out! 

Like us quilters, she likes to experiment and "play" with different skeins of yarn. This skein she tried turned right into the above pattern. She had fun trying something new and wanted to see the blanket go to good use, so I immediately emailed her the information for the Little Lambs Foundation for Kids. It operates out of Utah and provides comfort kits for children ages newborn to 17 years old who are transitioning into foster care, emergency shelter or who have been hospitalized. Her blanket measures 36"x 36" so would be the perfect donation for a little one's kit don't ya think!? 

I love and am grateful that my mom and I support each other's love of knitting and quilting.

Thanks for joining me Mom as we both send warm hugs to kiddos in need. 

I specialize in edge to edge pantographs with over 100 designs to choose from.

Check out my Long-Arm Quilting page for details.

I offer FREE Return Shipping on all quilts in the U.S.A.

Knitted Baby Blankets and More...

Many of you who follow my blog regularly know I sometimes like to highlight the beautiful projects my mom knits for our family and friends. I just received this one in the mail yesterday as a gift for my previous teacher partner's family, as they just had their second child, a baby boy, two weeks ago.
They named him Everett and for some reason I just love that name. 

I love the pattern in this knitted blanket. It is super soft and the babies will often be found with their little fingers weaved through those tiny holes when you are cuddling them. It's so sweet.

She also made a small, car seat blanket. I love how the yarn is variegated and the pattern it creates.

I made two receiving blankets last night. Dad's a local high school football coach and mom loves elephants. Needless to say, they both loved their personalized blankets. Upon request, this summer  I'll be making them a football designed quilt in our town's school colors. I'll use minky on the back and it will be perfect for mom and son during those Fall football games next year. 

I even made another "taggy" blanket with minky on one side and satin on the other. I like to use books as "my card" and included The Baby's Handbook of Songs thinking is was perfect for big sis to "sing and read" to her new baby brother as all the pictures are in black and white.  

Well...I hope you found a little inspiration here and perhaps even a few baby gift ideas.

Hope your weekend is filled with sunshine and happiness.

PS: Here's one more gift idea perfect for preschoolers. Their preschooler "cut" for the entire two hours I was there. Bless her little soul. She was having so much fun before she noticed a new little blister on her finger. Luckily it was nothing a band-aid couldn't fix and she was back to cutting before we knew it. It was cute. She is three and our grand-guy who is four, really enjoy this book:  

I specialize in edge to edge pantographs with over 100 designs to choose from.

Check out my Long-Arm Quilting page for details.

I offer FREE Return Shipping on all quilts in the U.S.A.

Tuesday Archives #173: Baby Bibs

Welcome to the linky party that rejuvenates your old quilting/sewing posts! 

Please click here to read more about this linky party.  

This week's theme is: Baby Bibs 

Bernie, who blogs at Needle and Foot became a grandma for the first time earlier this year and made these adorable bibs for her new grand-daughter. It's always so fun to make useful home-made gifts.

I specialize in edge to edge pantographs with over 100 designs to choose from.

Check out my Long-Arm Quilting page for details.

I offer FREE Return Shipping on all quilts in the U.S.A.

Five and Dime Quilt Finish

I decided to finish this "five and dime" quilt with no border and can't help but think it will make the perfect baby quilt for a little girl. It finishes at 33" x 55"...just right for a crib don't ya think.

I love it's black binding and red with tiny white polka-dot backing.

And though it's hard to see, I used a Lazy Daisy pantograph to add to it's charm.

It's always a good feeling to empty your stash to build one's stash of baby gifts isn't it!?

Annnddd to squeak in one more finish for 2016! Yippee!!!

Tuesday Archives #136: Lone Star Quilts & Projects

Welcome to the linky party that rejuvenates your old quilting/sewing posts! 

Please click here to read more about this linky party.  

This week's theme is: 

Lone Star Quilts & Projects

Having never made a Lone Star quilt myself, I found myself "wandering" the internet...educating myself as I prep for our linky. I found this Lone Star color sheet at the Quilting Board. (Click here to get it.) I kinda thought it would be fun to sketch a pattern according to my scrap stash.

 Admittedly, I have to say this tutorial below that I found at Amy's Diary of a Quilter Blog is more my "quick get 'er done" style. This quilt finishes at 40"x 40"...perfect for a baby quilt. It's a great stash buster or just the right pattern to get rid of that layer cake that's collecting dust on the shelf.

 (Click HERE to check out Amy's tutorial.) 

Four Patch Baby Blanket

Soooo I tried that layer cake pattern I highlighted for our Tuesday Archives Four Patch Linky.

Okay....first, it was quick. I had this little quilt top finished in three hours and I love how scrappy cute it came out.  But then I found myself  "all charged up" to just get it done. I thought: "Oh man, I'll have this made into a little throw blanket by the end of the day." I was envisioning something between a receiving blanket and a quilt. So proud to be trying something new, I pieced some leftover red minky from my stash (this is not the new part btw), threw on my Quilting Queen Cape and boldly ventured forward as I decided to just quilt the top and back together without any batting. Easy Peasy. "I was going to have this one done in no time!" I thought...

Measures 36" x 42"

HAHAHAHA! Oh that Quilting Queen Cape disintegrated pretty quick! Envision quilt falling to ground as rivet breaks on long-arm frame, midway through row one of pantograph. Hour later, I return from quit ladies house with new part. Frame fixed. Quilt reloaded. I restart confident I can still create "my quilt in a day!" HAAHAHAHAA!! Half way through second of only three rows of a panatograph I might add, long-arm stops working all of sudden. Need a new power cord. Have to wait till next day for new one. Anyone else seeing Murphy's Law coming into action here?? LOL!!

Funny, as I sit here writing this post, no quilting queen cape in sight, I am grateful that my "mission" was still accomplished.   I mean, I really  do like the "weight" of the blanket. Since I didn't use batting, it "feels" like a blanket that will definitely be cozy soft for wrapping a wee baby in...just like a receiving blanket. But, it's more wrinkly than I really like. The red minky came up through the stitches...I'm thinking this is because there was no batting??  I think the quilting may have been too dense and now in reflection,  probably just a stitch in the ditch between the squares would have been fine. But, it all came out in the wash and there was no color run!! YEAH! As I tell my students (Note: they are only seven), we learn what we like and don't like, by trying new things. So, Okay, okay,  my simple, "make a quilt in a day" didn't happen but I learned that I like my flannel receiving blankets just fine and my quilts made with batting. Oh! and I don't need that Quilting Queen Cape.  Time certainly is not wasted when lessons are learned and our strengths are reaffirmed. Besides, this will make a cute baby gift for a co-worker or school auction basket. So it'a a win-win. Lucky for me:

I'm sure I'll feel rejuvenated after a walk with my buddy. Thanks for sharing my adventure with me.