Sun & Moon Baby Quilt

While I was making this quilt I was so pleased with how the fabric squares looked next to each other but in looking back on it now in the photo I'm thinking, "oh, I don't really like the yellow there, and not all of the squares lay flat after the machine quilting."
I enjoyed the process of making the quilt more than the outcome, and I learned what I'd do next time to improve. I think that's what creating is all about for me. I love the process of making the quilt and while in the process I'm feeling like 'this is the prettiest one yet". Then on to the next one and that becomes the fairest one of all.

After completing this quilt I realized in order to have the top layer lay flat I would need to machine quilt the pieces together first and then bind the edges. This was something I had been avoiding because of needing to cut edge strips on the bias and miter the corners. It's the traditional way to finish a quilt but I balked at it. I found a solution to this online which I will apply to my next quilt.

Moon & Stars Bear Quilt

As I move through the process of making these small simple quilts I learn something with each one. What a surprise, isn't that how all learning processes work? I learn what works and what doesn't. With each quilt I see what I would do differently next time and therefore my motivation to dash over to Joann's Fabrics to begin again.

While I'm working on whatever the current one is, I think "wow, this is the best one yet," until I work on the next one and look back at the previous quilt photo and then think, "oh, that is just okay." This is a good thing because then I can see progress. If I'm not progressing in some small way then I know I will get bored and search for something else to learn from.

Rose Garden Baby Quilt

I can't believe my last post was in May! I guess I'm not a very dedicated blogger. In any event I did finish the Baby Rose Garden Baby Quilt I was starting back then. I've been sewing additional quilts in between all our summer excursions. I've been enjoying creating these small projects.

I finally got around to taking photos of them so that I could post here.

Beginnings of a new baby quilt-Rose Garden

I'm getting adventuresome, starting to design my first quilt. I got the idea for this new quilt from the cover of Joann's Fabric weekly flyer. This will be for Baby Quilt #5. I've chosen 5 fabrics to be sewn into 25 squares with 3 fabrics per square. My plan is that the finished quilt will measure close to 36" x 36". Here are the first two of the 25 squares.

Rag Quilt

For my 4th baby quilt, I decided that I wanted to try something different. So while I was shopping for flannel at Beverly's Fabrics, I found a Rag Quilt the store had made and put on display. It looked cozy and cute and something a little different to tackle with the sewing machine. I went online to their site and found a tutorial that was easy to follow. I just had to try it. It was fun and easy as promised and here is the result.

Floral Photo Gallery

I've been on a flower craze lately, I just love the way they photograph, and now that it's spring there are so many varieties in full bloom. This weekend we visited Santa Barbara and I discovered several beautiful roses there. These are my two favorites.

Sewing for Newborns

http://www.newbornsinneed.org/