Blogger's Quilt Festival Baby Quilt

WOW!  Blogger's Quilt Festival time already?  I missed being able to participate last fall and am so happy that I will be able to join in the fun this time!  Thank you Amy so much for hosting this fantastic event again.  I cannot imagine how much it takes to coordinate all this twice a year.

The quilt I wanted to share last Oct and was not able to is the Pineapple Princess.  This quilt was made when my Doctor from San Diego ( he was our doc for about 12 years before we moved) posted a photo of the sweetest baby and when I asked whose baby it was he told me he and his wife had just added to the family.  I have to say, he was the best care giver to me and my family.  He was always there for questions and concerns and even though he would tell me I was crazy at times ( this may actually be a bit true) he is the bestest doc ever.  I had to do something for him since he did put up with me for so many years.  He also added bonus points when he told me her name and mentioned she was named after my girlie ( true or not he got the points).

The stars are from the fab Solstice Stars Series by Fresh Lemons Quilts.  I added the scrappy lines when I was playing with layout and they really work.  The STUNNING quilting is by the overly talented Laurie Tigner.  Laurie saw the quilt top on facebook and sent me a message asking if she could please quilt it...I have never said YES so fast IN MY LIFE!  

The stars are made with Amy Butler fabrics from different lines.  It was fun to see how they all complimented each other.  I loved the combo so much I am reusing this idea with the Lucky Stars BOM  from  Don't Call Me Betsy.  I used was two layers of Pellon batting.  Laurie suggested it and I can see how that second layer makes the gorgeous quilting POP!   I used Aurifil 50wt for all the piecing and sent my Aurifil cone to Laurie to do her magic. Laurie also used same cone for the Irish chain comfort quilt for my son's teacher and I have done numerous projects in between. This cone has been more places then I have been!

One of the most special things about this quilt is that it has been seen by and touched by each of the people that have had input into it's making. Laurie brought it to KC Market last year and I took it around to all the wonderful people that had made this quilt possible.  Amy Butler, Faith Jones, Alex Veronelli, Cris Haskell, Laurie Tigner  I do not know that all of these fine people get to see all the creations that are made with their inspirational vision and excellent products.  It was very cool to be able to share this with them and I thank them for their contribution :o)  Could not have done it without them!

This is one of my most favorite pics EVER ( Sara is so dang cute)...

I am submitting this to the Baby Quilts category.  Now I just want to sit back and drool over all the other fab entries!

Beach ball block tutorial !!!!!!!

I have had beach on the brain which, at my age, is WAY better than baby on the brain ;o)

This is the excitement with the dots!

The DC Modern Quilting Guild is doing a great thing by trying to collect 100 quilts for kids!!!!! You can read more from Kate at Swim,Bike,Quilt. And I *think* there is a giveaway involved too :o)

So, that is what started me thinking about baby blankets and how cute beach balls are and how much babies LOVE beach balls so I am going to make a beach ball quilt to donate to this very worthy cause!!!!!! 

I hope you all enjoy this and feel inspired to make one to donate too!

I started with a 5 inch square

Cut it in half

Matched up some colors

Choose two and sew down the side of the triangle

It should look like the top one not the bottom

Match up two sides that you like

Sew along the bottoms of the triangle. It should look like a very colorful square now :o)

Now cut that square in half both ways

Now you should have these cute guys!

Match two up and sew

Place them so that it looks like two bird beaks

Sew the beaks together

Pretty!!!!!!! Do not worry if the center is not perfect it will be covered. This is not a sew perfect quilt.

The back will look like this

Next, make two 2 inch circles, I used my Accuquilt but they do not have to be perfect either!!!!! I used two different colors to show the front and back.

Sew around the circles

Trim the excess

Pinch them apart

and cut an X in the upper side . Turn inside out and press.

Pin the circle to your square

Use your zig zag to applique your center to the ball

This is how it looks now

This is how the back will look

Pinch again to separate the center from the back

Trim the bulky from the center

The ball is about the size of a cd

Or if you have an accuquilt is is the largest circle

Cut your ball out

Then pin the ball to a ten inch square of your choice!!!!!!

ALL DONE!!!!

Now how easy was that one!!!!!????!!!!!

 I am hoping to be done with the quilt top by this weekend to share next week.



I hope this is clear. If not please ask and I will try to help. I started a Bouncing beach balls Flickr group in hopes that you will share your blocks with me :o)

Linked up to W.i.p Wednesday at freshly pieced

Kim :o)

Baby bibs for little Miss C

I love sewing for babies and I love sewing for baby girls!!!!!

My neighbor had a baby girl, Miss C, about two weeks before my grandson was born. I am just getting around to making a gift for her , bad me!!!!!

I made three bibs 

One is Munki Munki, Linen and Kona Pink

The second is Alexander Henry, Brown linen and Kona pink

The third is a patchwork of Heather Ross Mendocino, and Fandango with the brown linen

The backs

This was about the only time today we have had sun!!!!

Hope everyone is having a great day!!!!!


Linking it up to Fabric Tuesdays on Quilt Story!!!!!

Kim :o)

Blake's sock monkey baby quilt

I love sewing for babies! Who doesn't :o) My son and his wife had a baby, my newest grandson, his name is Blake. He was born under the special full moon we had in March. He had heavy competition for a special birthday since his older brother waited to be a New Year's Day baby and his father is a St. Patrick's Day baby. He just needed the right event to make his appearance a noteworthy event and a really good story. He was very successful and I could not be more thrilled with this little guy!

I started making his quilt in December and finally got  around to binding it last week when Adam was so sick and I was not able to do much more.

I used  this tutorial from The Silly BooDilly. It is super easy to follow and I recommend it highly.  I used Erin Michael's Funky Monkey fabric mixed with some Urban Chicks Sweet for the blocks and the binding is Katie Jump Rope. KJR seems to be the perfect accent to almost any project I have ;o)

We have been having unusual weather here so the pictures are not the greatest. We went from this..

 To this...

 It was crazy :o)



When it calmed down I yelled for Katy to come help hold the quilt up. Poor Katy.

This is the quilt front.

The back

Beautiful Aunt Katy!!!!!!!!!

My favorite monkey!

This was the first time I attempted stippling so I am sure there are many mistakes but I am very pleased with the way it turned out and I cannot wait to send it to Blake.

Kim :o)