Andee's Wedding Quilt Gift

This is the recent top I quilted for Andee, it is a wedding gift for a cousin. Andee's family and friends must each have a quilt by now I would think but there still always seems to be someone near and dear  to her who does not have one!

It's a very pretty quilt, I forgot to ask her which line of fabrics was used but maybe I can find it on her blog.

Red So Fine Superior thread makes the floral design stand out just enough without overpowering,
Bottom Line in the bobbin and Hobbs Heirloom batting for nice definition.

The Week In Review

This was The Boy's last week in school until August, and they had an excursion to a local water feature. I think all children love to play in water and our little man is no exception.

 He played in the water until he was shivering and had goose-bumps and his mom had to dry him off.

After lunch............

 They sang and danced for us.............

 then lined up..........

to play outside until time to go home.

 In case you were thinking there is nothing quilt related in this post, I sent this quilt to a new home, labeled for The Boy's amazing, dedicated and gifted teacher. Once in a while in any given profession someone stands out so clearly that special recognition is necessary and Mary Ellen fits that category. I can't even begin to tell you how and why she deserves such praise it would take way too long, suffice to say she is outstanding and we were blessed beyond telling for her part in the little man's development this past year. Unfortunately he will not likely be in her class next year but we are hoping for another wonderful teacher.

The teacher's aid was not forgotten, my selvedge collection came in handy for these cute potholders that due to a lucky guess, fit right in with her color scheme.
I send blessings to all those who are dedicated to helping children develop to their highest potential, you know who you are, thank you!
Last night to cap the week with another celebration, our oldest grandson graduated from HS.

Daniel has joined the family tradition of serving his country by swearing into the Navy Reserves while he goes to university. In 2018 upon graduating with his Baccalaureate he will enter the Navy as an officer and plans to follow Grandfather's lead and become an aviator, specifically in helicopters. In July he goes to Basic Training, that will be a tough eight weeks I am sure, then he will be off to Pensacola for Flight Training but he will return fitter and stronger than he has ever been. This delays his univ. entrance by a year but then his tuition and expenses are all paid plus a stipend for the next four years.
It was a busy week and next week promises to be similar as we prepare for JW's graduation from Medical School and our cruise to Alaska.

Wordless Wednesday

Linking with Wordless Wednesday

Summer fun.

A Minkee Giraffe Quilt!

Youngest grandson loves the lush Minkee fabric but he also likes a heavy covering. It has been discovered that people with autism find comfort and calm with a weight across their legs/bodies, so I made this newest quilt heavy [it weighs 3lbs, a lot for such a small quilt] by using very thick, plush minkee for the background and then adding a soft drapey batting called Dream Angel by Quilter's Dream. 

This batting has an added advantage- it is genetically engineered to be inherently flame retardant without chemicals or PBDE, and will not melt or flow. It never loses it's flame retardant qualities through a lifetime of laundering, and I use it in all baby/children's quilts.

This is the pattern I adapted from Custom Creations by Cindy Surina.

The plush blue minkee that remained was cut up and added to the backing adding even more weight.

I left the outer border unquilted but stabilized the inner border, another advantage of this batting is that it may be quilted 6" apart so I was able to keep the quilting minimal. The thread used is Superior Sew Fine on top and Bottom Line in the bobbin. These are superfine threads that sink into the fabric and become almost invisible. 

The minkee giraffe fabric has a smooth, velvet-like texture and the true color is brown and pale blue. The binding is wider than usual and single fold, the whole quilt sandwich is too thick for a narrower binding and zigzag stitch was the only way to sew it down securely.
I won't see little man again until this weekend so I am anxious to see how he likes it!

I Want One!

A blogger friend sent me this photo with a link to the blogger who showed it first, Jeanne at http://backyardneighbor.typepad.com/ . Check out her blog, Jeanne has several more pics of this amazing quilt and the story of how it came to be!

The Quiltmobile, aaaarrrrgggghhhh, I want one [the quilt I mean]!

 Do you suppose I can make one for this vehicle??

It's a lot bigger than the Quiltmobile but I am inspired - I could use up all those orphan blocks!

Batik BOM

These blocks were made last year when I participated in the Craftsy Block Of the Month.
I found a good red Indian batik for sashing, and haven't yet decided on a border. There are about half a dozen blocks left over plus a few really large Dresden Plates, too large for the quilt, not sure what to do with the orphans! I could make a table runner or place mats with the larger DP's I guess.

I have been playing with the arrangement of the blocks, balancing the dark/light and the predominance of blues. Likely I will continue to move them around until I tire of the game and sew the sashing on!

Block Of The Month

Today I got my four May blocks done for the 35th. Ave BOM.

Not ever feeling comfortable waiting till the last moment I am pleased to have these done early, now I just have to keep them all together and remember to take them with me to pick up the blocks for next month, LOL!

Six More Quilts Of Valor

These six warm and cozy Quilts Of Valor are off to Alycia, coordinator for QOV in CO. They are intended to comfort our heroes as they rehabilitate from wounds of war and to let them know that they are loved, honored and never forgotten.