I wiped away the weeds & foam. / I fetched my sea-born treasures home... Ralph Waldo Emerson







Friday, January 6, 2012

A New Quilt

What a fun way to begin the New Year, and to welcome the lovely quiet months of winter! A new quilt to make---for a new baby! Such joy...


Ah if only...my sewing machine hadn't died the other day. I'm pretty upset about that, I just paid half its admittedly meagre value to repair the darn thing! But break down and die it did. Off to the sewing machine doctor,  again.
Anyway, back to the quilt...
for a new baby girl.
You may recall these funny random blocks I made awhile ago.


I decided they could be a perfect modern quilt for a baby beach baby, redundancy intended.



I know I am supposed to make the baby things "new'' colors..., oh so chic! What is it again? mole grey, monkey brown, fog, sage, mud, dirt? I'm sorry! I just couldn't....

But I thought this was modern. In its way?



To tie everything together I chose these batiks for the outermost "logs", to unify the  blocks...


And these are for the baby's name blocks. I always piece the new baby's name into the border, if it is being made for someone specific....[need high contrast, hence the pastels.]



And then! borders, maybe---yellow rubber ducky prints, in both pink and blue. Who could resist!


But THEN!--- in my stash I also had a batch of traditional baby girl pinks mixed in with reds and some aquas. Most are toiles with seashore motifs, etc...but dainty. Old-fashioned. I pondered, I dithered. I put the girly stuff back and cut another couple blue seashore strippy blocks. But every time I opened my fabric closet the pink and red and turquoise called to me. So one day during the hols I sat down and cut a few light/ dark pinwheel blocks. Like this....



I figured I'd make both tops and then decide which suited the new parents and their little one the best...



I can always sell the second one on etsy, right?
Too bad my sewing machine  is dead...

Another fun January challenge: a doll quilt quilt-along with Lori at Humble Quilts. A dear little prim and shabby quilt for us to make with Lori's directions. You can see more details and ongoing instructions here


I love, love. love these colors! (Could this not be, if clean? and enlarged somewhat, an adorable baby quilt? Is that absurd to even contemplate? Maybe for my grandma-someday hope chest?)
I had fun gathering fabrics to  ''audition" even if I can't sew yet. This is the only time I've ever made a quilt according to someone else's plans---it's so fun! (My daddy taught me always to design my own stuff....)


Maybe it's all good---the broken sewing machine, I mean---I still have to undo the Christmas tree and decorations. Seems like that all was eons ago, doesn't it?

What are you guys up to? Not cleaning ,I hope!

Tomorrow or the next day we'll make soup, okay?

love


    lizzy


            gone to the beach



sanderlings...they come HERE for the winter!
To them it is warm
compared to their far arctic nesting grounds...
always so busy, chasing the waves


6 comments:

  1. Pretty fabrics! I'd have trouble choosing, too.

    I got my tree taken down today -- Spook, the little you-know-what, has been doing his best to "help" - pulling the garland off in the middle of the night, etc. Now I remember why I wanted to get the small tree - it took about 10 minutes to take it down! I think that's a record! I still have to carry it back downstairs and pack away the ornaments (including your cinnamon-apple ones!) and other Xmas stuff like the booties and tree skirt.

    My 'resoloution' for this year is to pick a small project each month and get it done. January is to clean out my spice cabinet, toss the old stuff and replace what I use. There's really old stuff in there!

    Thanks for sharing!
    ~Melody

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  2. Happy January... No SNow here in Maine.. Cold Days of 13 degrees but 40 this Saturday.. a Beach Day! Hahah.. I misplaced my needle for Needle PUnch.. But no Fear Another One is in the Mail.. Till then..I have designed up some Heart Needle Punch Rugs For Little Early Bottles I found.. 3 Valentines Rugs for Tins.. and still Working on My Big Hooked Rug for my Kitchen.. I dont know if I will ever get that Done.. Happy Sewing My Friend.. Email me ~ Would Love to talk 2 U
    Your Friend
    Michelle

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  3. Oh my goodness, a lovely baby quilt you will be making! I love either combination!!

    I hope your sewing machine gets fixed quickly! I can't wait for you to start sewing with us!!

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  4. cant decide which colors i would want, the bright or the blue..sigh
    can hardly wait to read about the soup..60's here in kansas.

    loved the sanderlings there hangin with my girl.

    love margaret

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  5. Love, love, love the quilts!

    Sorry about the sewing machine - at least that doctor's needles are ones we can all appreciate (as they lead us to more of your art)!

    L

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  6. Hello! I just love love the colors of the top quilt. It will be perfect for any type of baby. I am all for the wonderful vibrant colors of the world. Bummer about your machine. That sure puts a crimp in your day for sure. Making soup today! From my New Year Ham. Bean and Ham with hot rolls and chocolate cake. Yummy on a snowy cold day. Have a great week! Kit

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