ABC Baby Quilt

When I was making the ABC blocks from Temecula Quilt Company I didn't have any ideas about what I was going to do with them.  I was making them to have fun.  Well now that I have a new great nephew Billy I know where one set of the blocks is going to go.

Front View

Close Up of Front

Back View

The borders added just the right amount to make it large enough for a crib quilt.  I had a little help deciding how to put the back together.  My original thought was to use some of the solid blue Kona fabric to increase the size of the piece of fabric I was using.  But the ladies at "Sit and Sew" on Saturday  convinced me to use the scraps from the front.  I'm glad I did.  Now the back will be as bright as the front.  After making the back there isn't enough of the checked fabric to cut even one more 2 1/2" square.  The few narrow pieces that are left will find eventually find themselves in another scrappy quilt some time in the future, I'm sure.

I mentioned baby Billy a couple of weeks ago.  He was born very premature on March 4th.  I'm happy to say that Billy is now three weeks old.  He is gaining a little weight and is up to 1lb 11ozs.  He has his good days and bad days.  We just keep praying that the good will out number the bad.  Billy and his family need all the prayers they can get.  So please add them to your list.

Have a wonderful rest of your day.

Julie

Looking Back

In Leah Day's newsletter she asked "What were you doing last year?".  So I looked back at my March of 2014 projects to see.

On March 18, 2014 I posted a picture of the progress made on my version of "Shakespeare in the Park".  I love the way this top turned out.

In March of 2014 I was also learning to do Baptist Fan quilting on this little table topper.  The pattern is from Temecula Quilt Company.  A cute little project (approx. 24" x 24") that was a lot of fun to make. 

Since then I used the Baptist Fan pattern on the Quilty Baskets quilt that Quiltmaker's Quilty Pleasure blog keeps advertising.  I'm just glad that they are not showing a close up of that particular Baptist Fan quilting.  It was much more difficult on the larger quilt.  I was going to post a picture of the whole quilt but I see that I didn't get a good picture of it before I sent it to Quiltmaker.  And I was asked not to use their pictures until they are ready.  What's up with that?

What were you working on at this time last year?  Can you remember?  I'm not sure I would have come up with it if I hadn't been able to look back on my blog.  Another good reason to be keeping this quilting journal.

Enjoy the rest of your day!

Julie

New Project?

Do I really need to start on something else?  You betcha.  One of the blogs I follow on bloglovin is Sew Fresh Quilts.  Lorna has some terrific patterns.  But the one I really couldn't pass up is her "Elephant Parade Quilt".  And to top it off - the pattern is FREE.

Here is my first block.

I cut this block out on Saturday but just didn't take the time to make it.  So this morning when I had an extra few minutes I got it made.  It took all of twenty minutes.  And it wouldn't have taken that long if I had cut a few of the pieces the width that is needed.  The hardest decision about starting these blocks is what colors do I want to go with.  This may need to be another one where I make two sets of blocks.  One that is the original grays and the other in brighter colors.  I see an orange elephant in my future.  It was super easy to follow her directions.  So if you are at all interested I would highly recommend this quilt.  She is just about done with the sew-along but it's obviously not too late to start.

Have a great Tuesday!

Julie

"I Am" Quilt

I have a finished top. I think I actually may have she'd a tear or two over this one.  It's more the message than the quilt. We always want our little girls to grow up healthy, happy and with a good sense of self worth. I feel the same way about my granddaughter Grace. It's so important for her to know how great she is.  And no matter how young or old she is she will always be able to look and see it in words.

Grace's "I Am" quilt

Now I should finish this post and get started creating the back.  I'm eager to get this one quilted.

On a different note - Please take a moment and say a prayer for my great-nephew Billy.
He was born about four months early on March 4th.  He and his family will need prayers for quite some time to come.  And many of us know prayer can be a powerful tool.  Thanks.

Have a great rest of the weekend.

Julie