Doll Quilt Show and Tell 2

How is this for an improv piece?  

I started with a pile of fabric and scraps that I thought would go together.  Of course, I couldn't resist adding a circle, and then another (can you see it?)  This one isn't photographing well, but I assure you, it's cute.  This one is for the daughter of dear friends, a little girl who is essentially a big sister to my girls.  Her birthday was a month ago.  She has the busy social life of a 7 year old, so I haven't even seen her since her birthday.  Just a belated treat.

There is a mix of old and new fabrics in this one.  More Amy Butler...  And some fabric that has also been seen more than a handful of quilts produced on the dining room table.

I stole my quilting idea from one of the fabrics, the pale pink with black outlined flowers and dots.  A few lines to anchor the batting and a scattering of flowers.  It isn't perfect, but I imagine that this one will get some rough love.  It will more than stand up to Clare's love, and hopefully her sister's!
Rather than make big labels for these doll quilts I decided to make tags.  Each tag has my name and "Naps" on one side. (More on "Naps" later).  The other side has washing instructions. Every other quilt I've given away has gone to people I know, so I can verbally pass on washing instructions.  These doll quilts are almost all going to strangers, so I had to include the instructions in an easy format - love generously, wash and dry gently.

She just couldn't resist getting her hands on it...

Doll Quilt Show and Tell 1

There has been enough whining and pining for better days on this blog.  Let's get back to some quilts, shall we?

This is the first of 7 doll quilts I am wrapping up.  Six of these are for a special order, and one for a precious little friend.  With the order the request was made for 4 modern, 2 traditional quilts.  I think this one could qualify as either.  It is a rail fence design, but I made the middle section larger than the two side ones.

Isn't that middle bar fantastic?  I'm not supposed to be buying fabric, but I fell in love and bought it in three colour ways.  This one is my favourite.

With such a busy design I went for a simple loopy swirl to quilt it.  Nothing fancy, nothing distracting.

All of the doll quilts have simple backs, no piecing on something so small.  I sadly let go of this favourite Amy Butler for the back of this one.  It's been used on more than three quilts I've made, plus one that was made for The Monster.  It's time to move on.

Over the next week or so I will share all of the doll quilts, and hopefully a few other finished pieces (if Hubby will hold up the quilts in the freezing ass cold for me).

Bright Days Ahead

Sorry about that.  I didn't mean to take such a break.  I've been plugging away on a few projects, but none have really been going anywhere.  My doll quilts are almost all done and ready for shipping.  Project Improv is slowly moving forward.  And all has been put aside to get that baby quilt done. Life has taken some unexpected twists and turns lately.  Some great (a pipsqueak of a nephew) and some not so great (hospital visits and such).

The good thing about such times is the opportunity for reflection.  Actually, the motivation to force yourself to regroup.  That's the same thing, right?  Sure, life is crazy and will only get more so in the coming months.  It's a perfect time to launch a new career!

I've decided to make a good and honest woman out of myself.  With quilting, that is.  I'm putting together some class notes and a few pitches and I'm going to get out there and try and convince someone to hire me to teach.  I've been thinking about it for over a year, but haven't had the nerve or the commitment to do it.  But with the return to work looming and the prospect of a few more years at a job that no longer excites me I decided I had to do something. I still have to go back to the desk job, but with Hubby's support I'm taking the plunge, and the time sacrifice, to launch this new path.  To be honest, I'm quite giddy about it.  If only the girls would coordinate their nap schedules a bit better so I can get more work done!

Any tips from you pros? Any notes from the dedicated class goer? 

In Progress

There are 7 doll quilts in progress at my house.  One is a present for our friend's little girl.  The rest are for a special order.  This is the first time I've sold quilts.  I'm excited and nervous that the recipient won't like them.  But the process is great.  I do enjoy the opportunity to try something new without great fabric expense.  It is also a great way to play with scale and colour.