Flora - A Baby Doll quilt from Park blocks

Flora

36” x 36”

She’s a sweetheart. Flora loves all things nature, especially plants and birds. But she will also stop to rescue a bug. Even the caterpillars because, while kind of gross, she knows they will turn into something beautiful. So drink the nectar, watch the sunlight move through the trees, and count birds eating mountain ash berries outside your window, Flora will be right there along with you.

Earlier this year I finally gifted an overdue wedding present to my husband’s cousin and her wife. Around the same time their son was enjoying the new baby doll that Santa brought him. Knowing I hd a few extra blocks around, I turned them into a coordinating quilt. Now he can snuggle with his baby just like his Mamas snuggle with him.

There were already 3 blocks started (and none finished). They combined my old Tag Fabric and some prints from Heather Givans’ Succulents collection. Went into the vaults for these! I made the last block with another of Heather’s prints and something else I found in my stash. It was kind of neat to have a theme to the fabrics - all plants. The Park pattern by Carolyn Friedlander is a good opportunity to show off fabrics. On the back I used a Charlie Harper print with birds on it that I know the Mamas would appreciate.

On the original quilt I also quilted a grid. That one was a vertical/horizontal. On this one I went for diagonal. In both cases it should be sturdy enough with the hand applique. Both quilts are going to get some good snuggles.

To finish the quilt I had just enough of the green fabric from the original quilt to also bind this one. It’s another way to tie the two of them together.

Flora is already in her new home, already in use with that loved baby doll. She’s big enough for snuggling under right now. At one point in life I made a few dozen doll quilts and there were tiny. Just big enough to cover a doll or stuffie. While they are loved and used this way, I like the idea of making them a bit bigger so kiddo and doll can be snuggled together. It works while the kiddo is little, at least.

First Delivery

The first set of doll quilts were delivered last week. There is always some anxiety, especially when people have given me free reign on design. But this was part of the email I received:

Truly wonderful beyond words. I cannot take my eyes off them, even as I type with them on my lap and not wanting to put them away! So worth the wait!

And suddenly the stress goes away.

Focus Girl, Focus

Have you been paying attention lately? There hasn't been much quilty goodness shared here of late. It isn't for a lack of quilting, just a lack of anything to actually share. Despite my commitment to no obligation, I feel a tad bit guilty. 

The reason for little to share is that I've been buried under commission quilts. Namely, 13 doll quilts and 1 baby quilt. I haven't nearly made the progress I've wanted. Here are 8 of the doll quilts in various states. 2 finished, 2 with binding ready to hand stitch (yes, I still handstitch on commission quilts), 2 waiting for binding, and 2 waiting for quilting. I have the remaining 5 designed and waiting to be sewn.

As for the baby quilt, the special order fabric has arrived, the sketch is made, and the plan is set for a spree starting in a week. It must arrive before the baby!

And after all this, I can get back to the outstanding projects I just want to finish. Like this one, this one, and even this one.

Workshop in Progress - May 12

Let's change things up a little bit, shall we? The Workshop in Progress has always been about sharing our works, asking for advice/opinions. Following on the dialogue that started and you can follow here and here, I've decided we should expand the WIP to include more on process.

By process I mean sharing our ideas from inspiration to completion.  This will include things like sketches - as seen above - picking fabric, playing with layouts, challenges with piecing, and even the finishing touches.

I feel like I've been doing this on the blog for quite a while, but I am committed to a much more conscious effort on this. That's why I've included the sketches today.  I have a few commission orders on the go and these were my sketches and notes on my ideas to fill the orders. 

As you can see, sketching is not my forte. But a couple of quick squiggles with a set of markers that are just mine and a few notes and I can capture the idea as I see it. While I do have a notebook that I carry around with me for anything and everything, it doesn't get a lot of sketches into it. Most of my sketches are either like above - on office paper, made at my day job desk - or they are quick scratches in the back of my work notebook. Yes, I do seem to get most of my ideas in the midst of my day job.  Daydreaming? So I make a two minute sketch, set it aside, and resume my work.

How do you capture your ideas?

Speaking of branching out and learning something... Okay, that was a horrible segue. But we do need to share Lesly's latest quilt top.  She's brought it to the workshop before and it is great to see the progression on this piece. This time she is looking for opinions on the appropriate back - one that compliments the front and makes her feel good about the piece.

And here's a technical question for you from Nichole.  What needles do you use? (Schmetz here, size depends on the task and thread at hand.)

So, let's see your process posts.  Don't be shy. Learning how others approach their projects is eye opening and refreshing. Sharing your process is liberating.