Tickertape Animals!

I finally got Felix's quilt finished this last weekend. I call it "Tickertape Animals."


This is a fun, simple tutorial from Piece N Quilt called "Tranquil Baby." The pattern actually calls for a charm pack, but I just cut my own charm squares from a selection of 9 fat quarters. The only other change I made was to use Monica's method for preparing applique circles. I'm really happy with how it all came together.


What with the big expanses of solid fabric, choosing a quilt design was really challenging for me. A stipple just wasn't going to cut it on this one!


Inspired by a quilt I recently saw at During Quiet Time, I decided to try some letters. I used soapstone and wrote out the names of the animals that appear in the various fabrics: lion, frog, elephant, mouse, bird, giraffe, and spider. This worked great for the most part, but there were a couple areas in the middle of the quilt where the soapstone rubbed off and I couldn't read what I had written anymore. So I guessed, and ended up with a double "lion." Ah, well.


I backed the quilt with a soft flannel star print. The quilting shows up really well on it. Which looks just a little strange, since it's all backwards.


And, here's the label.

Another note: I used a soy/cotton blend batting for the first time in making this quilt. It was "Soy Soft" from Luna Quilt Bating by Moda. I was really happy with how it worked. No bearding, no lint problems with my machine (after prewashing the batting, there was practically no lint in the dryer, even!), and the quilt is soft and supple. I also love that it is organic and has anti-bacterial properties (which seems a nice thing in a baby quilt). Definitely a good experiment.

I'm really excited to give this quilt to little Felix tomorrow!

A little bit of progress

I haven't done a whole lot so far this week, but I did get Felix's quilt quilted and have attached the binding. Hopefully, I'll get it stitched down and finished up this weekend!

Holiday weekend

This last week has just flown by! Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday-- a wonderful opportunity to spend time with friends and family and have LOTS of fantabulous feasting. We had 12 people at our tables last week, and both the food and the laughter were plentiful. I am so bummed that I failed to take any pictures! But, I was very busy in the kitchen and by the time all the food was out and ready, the only thing on my mind was getting off my feet and eating.

After all of the cooking, I took it easy over the weekend. There were lots of leftovers, and even a little crafting. One thing I'm really happy to have done is prep work for quilting Felix's baby quilt. I got it marked and basted. Yay! Now I just need to get it quilted (hopefully, soon!).

I also managed to finally get going on some sashing in my Jane Stickle quilt.


It's not much, but it's a start. Six blocks connected now!

Also completed now is the center of the "My Friend, Maisy" quilt:


I'm loving this bright and happy quilt! And with the center completed, I can now put the top together. Hopefully I'll be able to work on that this weekend. My goal is to get this one finished for the Boy in time for Christmas.

Frenetic packing

Tomorrow, Evelyn and I head out for our three day quilt retreat! Woo hoo! I've spent the last couple days frantically trying to put together everything I need/want to take with me. Making lists, checking things off, stacking stuff in a corner... and finally (I think!), all is ready to pack in the car tomorrow morning.

Here are the projects I've decided to bring along:

• Prairie Pinwheels-- What was to be a Christmas gift last year is coming out from the closet in hopes of becoming a gift this year. We'll see how it goes.


• Felix's Baby Quilt-- I can't believe he's already 6 weeks old! I gotta get this baby quilt going!


• Parallel Paths-- this is a Project Linus quilt that I've had cut for a couple of months, but haven't started.


• Jane Stickle Quilt-- I'm bringing along a bag of blocks. Who knows? Maybe some of them will have some sashing by the end of the weekend.


• Maisy Quilt-- I have yet to make a quilt for my son. (I know... bad, mama, bad!!!) He loves Maisy the Mouse. When I saw that Andover Fabrics had a new collection featuring Maisy, and that the Fat Quarter Shop actually had a kit featuring all of the fabrics, it just seemed like fate and I immediately ordered one. Tonight I cut it all out and I hope to get the top put together this weekend. This one is my priority project, I think.

With all that, I suspect I'll have plenty to keep me busy this weekend. And who knows? Maybe I'll even get some stuff done!

Some much needed inspiration

Oh, wow! I've been taking time to stroll about the Bloggers Quilt Festival - Fall 2009, and have seen so many beautiful, amazing, wonderful quilts (and many of the stories are equally as special). I'm finding myself full of inspiration-- not only for some new projects, but also for some of those UFOs that have been languishing. If you haven't yet checked it out, I really encourage you to explore and wander through the Festival entries at Park City Girl. I know I'm looking forward to seeing even more of the Festival over the next few days (or weeks!).

Speaking of the fabulous Park City Girl, I was browsing through some of her recent posts and found even more inspiration. She had attended a Girls Night Out and met a designer named Natalia. I decided to check out her link and found the perfect design for my next baby quilt-- and it's a free tutorial to boot! How fabulous is that? The quilt is called "Tranquil Baby" and I think it is going to be perfect for little Felix, who was born on September 22.

I had really been struggling with what to make for Felix, thinking about it over the entire summer. I knew what fabrics I wanted to use (the prints are all from Hoffman's In the Wild collection), but just not what to do with them.


Now I have a plan! And it feels so good. Blogland is awesome.