So Charming {Quilt}

 "Your prince charming will come one day.  

He may not ride a white horse or live in a big castle, 

but he will love you and only you!"

 This quilt was a quick start to finish that was solely based on the fact that I needed a break from some other quilts.

 I had pulled out some charm squares from in the Fall to use for a pincushion, but lost somehow lost all desire to make it.  I'm not a big pincushion user and not a collector either.  

 It was actually a half open pack of Pat Sloan's "Eat Your Fruits and Veggies" line for Moda Fabrics, with only 17 charms left, the others used on various swap or bee blocks in the past

.  

When I found it two weeks ago, I really contemplated tossing them in my scrap bins. But, I just really liked the play of the colors together and felt that I had to do something.  

I came up with a quick design.

I took 3 of the charm squares and cut them in four 2.5" squares each.  Then surrounded them with sashing to make 5" blocks to match the 13 blocks.  To make it a baby size quilt, I added really large borders.  I raided my stash for binding and backing.

I miscalculated when I started loading the backing and realized that I needed to add a strip to make it wider.

The borders allowed a lot of fun free motion with very large and exaggerated pebbles with feathers and paisleys sprinkled in.

I then used a ruler to play in the big squares and emphasize the tiny squares.

I loved how the quilting showed up on the back and how the orange dot strip up with one of the rows on the front.  

Completely unintentional!

I had a moment of indecisiveness to change the binding to the orange dot when I finished quilting, but told myself to stay strong.

 Definitely some texture on the front!!!

Quilt Stats:

Measures: 36" square

Pattern: Inspired by box-in-a-box blocks

Fabrics: Moda Fabrics Eat Your Fruits and Veggies (circa 2012) by Pat Sloan, Moda Fabrics Simply Color by VCo, Robert Kaufman Kona White, Dots from Joann Fabrics

Quilted: Freemotion and rulers on HQ Avante longarm

There is still one charm left that I'm saving for the quilt label or it will land in the scrap bin.  

Had to share the photo bomb.

He thinks he's sooooooo charming.

Oh well....what can a mom of boys do other than shrug?

Pink Rodeo Rider {Quilt}

Back in January, I made some baby quilts with Rodeo Rider fabric by Riley Blake fabrics.

 For no real good reason other than I wanted an excuse to play with the rodeo fabrics!

I convinced myself that I could give them as gifts or sell them to some Texan friends. 

 I really loved the colors,  and if anyone knows me well, my favorite thing to do when we lived in Houston was to go to the Rodeo!

 I love the gorgeous Shannon Fabrics, Rosette minky backing. It wasn't a perfect match to the front pink, but it was leftover stash and I just love it for baby quilts.

And the paisley binding again.  I still have some of this leftover and am tempted to make myself another Rodeo quilt for myself to have up in the studio!!

I gave the Baby Rodeo Star to a friend in June. 

 And wouldn't you know it?  Just as I was going to post this one for sale, I got a request for a baby quilt commission from another friend. I was happy to make her a new one, but she loved the girl version I had already made and asked that I monogram it. 

I love how the simple monogram made it shine!

Quilt Stats:

Measures: 36" square

Pattern: Blooming Bliss by Fat Quarter Shop

Fabric: Rodeo Rider by Riley Blake 

Thread: Omni Thread Natural White by Superior Threads 

Quilted: Freemotion meandering on HQ Avante

Ironically, Button ended up needing a blanket to take to school for "rest time" this year, so the boy Rodeo Rider quilt found an owner too!  He wouldn't take his precious "Buddy" blanket because it had to be left there, so he asked me if I had one or if I could make one.  I forgot to take a picture of the embroidered quilt label I made before he took it in. Next time it comes home for a wash, I will do so!!

Rodeo Rider {Baby Quilts}

This little quilt brought back all the memories of Texas, the place we called home for 13 years.  Where our youngest, my little cowboy, was born.  The corner of the world where I fell in love with the Houston Rodeo and made a rodeo baby quilt, shirts, and my very own rodeo quilt.

Fat Quarter Shop is celebrating their Top Ten Videos of 2015.  The Joyful Jelly Roll Tree Skirt I shared yesterday was one and now this top is from the popular Bloom and Bliss Receiving Blanket pattern.

I had thought I would step out of my quilting shoes and make a flannel receiving blanket.  

But then I found myself rummaging through my minky stash and couldn't help myself and made a quilt.  This backing is an embossed minky by Shannon Fabrics and is a leftover piece from my oldest son's Marquette University quilt.

I quilted it simply with a meandering pattern.  I loved the rounded look of the flannel blankets and rounded out the corners and made bias binding in a coordinating Riley Blake Rodeo Rider.  

Oh.  And did I mention I still have a girl version too?  The great thing about the pattern is that you can grab a layer cake stack and make more than one!!!  

I'm debating over pink or Aqua minky backing. Meanwhile, I will just sit in my rocker, add some hand embroidery and dream about Texas.......

Bloom and Bliss Receiving Blanket Video

Bloom and Bliss Receiving Blanket Pattern

 If you do make a Bloom and Bliss Receiving Blanket (#fqsreceivingblanket), or any of the quilts featured in the Fat Quarter Shop's Top 10 Videos of 2015, make sure to post it on Instagram before January 31st with the hashtag #FQSTop10 to be entered to win a $100 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop!

Baby Bridesmaid {Quilt}

I couldn't help myself. I could not stop calling this quilt "Baby Bridesmaid". 

Why do you ask?  The satin is from a bridesmaid dress!  

My friend messaged me and asked if I could make a baby quilt using the dress she wore to her friend's wedding.  A memory quilt of sorts. 

I knew right away that the best quilt would be to make the Ruffle Quilt from the Moda Bakeshop. I thought that the Satin would not be fun to piece and quilt over.  So why not make it an accessory for the quilt. 

My friend sent me the nursery line. Wouldn't you know it?  No blue.  A girl nursery!

I did have a

Dear Stella bundle that had perfect baby's, but the peach just wasn't pink enough. So the search was on!!!   I stumbled on Cybthia Rowley's "Oh Baby" line.

Perfection. 

Before I knew it I had a patchwork top to quilt with flowers and leaves.

With a super warm and soft Minky backing.  

Then I Added the cut strips from the dress and did a rolled hem and attached the ruffles.

I wish I had enough of the dress to bind it with satin, but ended up using the same solid blue I used under the ruffles.

This quilt was UTTERLY scrumptious! 

And I was so happy to hear it was well recieved by the mom-to-be!! 

Excited to also be linking up a finish post for March!

ALYOF: March Goal

March's Mission includes four quilts. A memory quilt, two t-shirt quilts, and one super secret project. 

The memory quilt seems to be the best choice to make my March ALYOF goal. 

My friend messaged me and asked if I could make a baby quilt using the dress she wore to her friend's wedding.  A memory quilt of sorts. 

I've already purchased the fabric.

 And cutting has commenced. 

If I could have this done by the end of the week?  I would be extremely happy!!

Linking up with A Year of Lovely Finishes 

Charlie's Whale Song {Quilt}

Yes.  I am talking about THE Charlie again.

 My friend was determined to make Charlie a whale blanket.  We hunted for tutorials and fabric.
Unfortunately, he landed in the hospital with chest tubes and other paraphenalia galore.

Which means she couldn't make it for him.
Which means I, of course, had to make it for him because he NEEDED it!

I.  Love.  This.  Quilt.  

Not because I made it but I will ALWAYS see mermaids and whales in my head when I think of Charlie.

Always!

 I can hear whales calling from afar when I think of him.  Calling me to listen.  Really listen and remember that sometimes things are out of our control and that we have to just float along in this world and see where the currents take us.

 

Jessica sent the Out to Sea fabric that we found online.

I pulled some stash. Some blues to say "boy".  I knew Jessica would be fine with purples and pinks, but I really wanted dark blue so the white whales would pop.

 Orange is one of her favorite colors.  I think it gives the quilt the unexpected pop and draws the eye to the mermaids hair and the fish.

 The blue gingham is part of Buttons stash from his nursery.

The memoirs text....well of course I had to include my scraps.
It talks about the sea, and princes, gypsies, and princesses...

Simple patchwork.  I don't actually think I have ever made one.  

I am not sure why, but will now rectify that situation from this day forward!

Love doodle pantograph quilting.

Love Doodle #1 by Sew Thankful

Love doodle says it all.   I loved how it had movement like water, but there is also a subtle heart pattern.  

There was enough of the Out to Sea for backing since I went with patchwork.  However,  I had to use minky.  I just can't resist minky for the little ones.   Especially the ones with dots!

Then I had a HORRIBLE problem.  Extra fabric.  What to do?

Two pillowcases.
I did two different bands of fabrics.  We have a running joke that I have everything matching in my house and she has no two pillowcases alike. So I couldn't have these two ENTIRELY matching, right?

I had just enough to make two throw pillows.

I have to admit, I wanted to keep the patchwork one.

Then I took a few scraps and made him a birthday hospital gown.

A simple t-shirt that I cut the back and made ties on.  I felt bad, however, because he was recently released from the hospital...so now I need to make him a full t-shirt!!!
A part of me hopes that he doesn't need a hospital gown again, but with his diagnosis, that certainly isn't a guarantee.

His auction is still running today until 10pm Eastern time.
I added my recent Christmas Star Quilt to be bid on.

It's not to late to help out the family with their expenses!!!