Now that these quilts have made their way to their new owners, I can share what I’ve been working on this winter and spring…
Here’s the baby quilt I made for Emily. The pattern is called “Cracker Box” and takes lots of tiny scraps, so I have to save up scraps from several quilts before I have enough to make one of these. Navy polka dots to match Baby Somerville’s room, of course!
I had a ton of “in progress” pictures of Hannah and I working on Mariel’s wedding quilt all winter, but unfortunately most of them got lost when my computer crashed last month. Mariel will just have to imagine us plugging away on it on cold Monday afternoons…Here’s one in-progress shot of Hannah showing off the quilt layers ready to be quilted together:
And here we are, proudly showing off the finished product!
For those who wonder, the pattern is “yellow brick road” and the fabrics–picked out by Mariel last fall–are Amy Butler’s “midwest modern” collection. I loved working on this for the past six or so months because I would never have picked out these fabrics myself (I tend to go for civil war reprints), but they are perfect for Mariel and so much fun to work with! They cheered me up on the dreariest Chicago days. =)
This is definitely my favorite hobby. Quilting is relaxing and fun for me, it’s a creative outlet because I always try to make each quilt a little different, and because so much of the process is repetitive, I have a lot of time to pray for the recipient as I work. I can also tell you what tv-series-on-dvd Derek and I were watching for most of my quilts (lots of A-Team during the early stages of Mariel’s quilt, Mission: Impossible for Emily’s, and Jeeves and Wooster for some of last year’s productions).
And for the record, both of my college roommates are now provided with homemade quilts. As much as I would love to make a queen-sized quilt for every dear friend who gets married, I have a feeling that I’ll have even less time for hobbies with two kids, so I’ve made the decision to limit this particular gifting tradition to roomies. Baby quilts are more manageable…so everybody else should just have babies (after getting married, of course)!
It’s even prettier (and “my” Derek would prefer I say “awesomer” because he doesn’t sleep under pretty quilts, only awesome ones) in person!
i love my (well the baby’s) quilt! it matches so perfectly. i just can’t wait to use it!!
Emily & Hannah,
Mariel and Derek’s quilt is just beautiful. She told me when she picked out the fabrics – which sounded like her – but the picture in my mind was murky. The real thing is so bright and cheerful. Now if only they had a bed! I’m glad Mariel has quilting friends; I am not a quilting mother.
Best wishes on the soon-to-come birth of your new one. We are sorry that you cannot come to Minnesota now, but really will try to get you here some other time. Mariel suggests a Laura Ingalls Wilder experience when your children are older. http://www.travelsw.org/plumcreek/
http://www.sodhouse.org/
http://www.walnutgrovemn.org/Community/AreaAttractions/
You are always welcome.
PS I occasionally post on Dr. Carroll Smith’s blog and think you might enjoy my recent post on the children’s books I have been reading with my middle schoolers. If you have the time . . .
http://childlightusa.wordpress.com/
You’ve inspired me to start sewing again. Thanks! Any baby yet? I am going to call you tomorrow 🙂 Will be praying for you tonight.
Isn’t this the “official” baby day??!!! 🙂