Baby Shower and Practice Quilt

You might need to sit down, two posts from Tanya this week.  I've been slacking lately.  At church we have a baby showers for the new moms and I was asked to be on committee that  helps with them, I guess they thought that was I needed out of my comfort zone.  I usually am better with dealing with the 10 and under crowd.  We do freezer meals or tie a baby quilt.  So far everyone has chose the meals.  

Anyway this is a quilt I finished for my gift.   I usually give a rag quilt, but chose to give this quilt that I refer to it as a  practice quilt.  My points are not the best,  my plan to work with 8 1/2 inch square cut in half for HST's wasn't so great. I actually quilted this instead of having Richard. I did borrow his machine, my little Brother is great for simple things, but doesn't have the neck room or speed of his Janome.  I decided to quilt the jack prints with tighter vertical lines, and leave open space on the white and owls. Overall it turned out quite well for a beginner. Yes, Richard did bind it.  I still struggle there, but am getting more daring.

 I am glad that it is Saturday. Jared's Birthday, James' Graduation, and the last day of school, and baby shower in one week is a lot of work.  Then throw in Julia cutting 2 new teeth, not a good combo. 

Richard taking over to show off some details in this quilt.  Tanya did some amazing work on this quilt as seen here on the back you can see that she quilted some tight and other parts not.  Tanya is new to this quilting stuff and I am sure if you wanted to be critical you could be.  Tanya is critical enough for herself.  I am proud of her and would like to publicly say so.

Here is a close up of some of the quilting you can see the edges there are some rough starts and stops but it looks wonderful.

Here is an example close up.

Link A Finish Friday #70

It is now time for Link A Finish Friday.  Today I would like to start with a big thank you to Fat Quarter Shop who has offered to Sponsor our Link A Finish Friday with Prizes.  This month's winner (June) will win a $15 gift certificate to spend at Fat Quarter Shop. 

Please remember to thank our sponsor by visiting their store at http://www.fatquartershop.com/ their blog http://www.fatquartershop.blogspot.com/ and Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/FatQuarterShop

Quilt Show - Peas in a Pod Creations

Another Finish - Joanie's Quilts

Quilt - Life in the White House

Are 3 of the fantastic items linked up this week.  Now its time to link your finishes up.

<center> <a href="http://richardquilts.blogspot.com/search/label/LAFF"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7qXTAJie7G0ghuAU0KS32w8KlUExqal-Wlv6YLpJTmDGicbYKwa9J8fEzNhD3sjUlmC_VNvpZNjibX2VVA_oSxwLnBmhrtBJ6OGmnOhdFAbhImedCBpTdcHMX3Xu_y1R-EEAMTNQmxs4/s1600/Button_Friday2_Resized.png" width="120" /></a></center>

1) Who likes rules. Toss them out.

2) Add a link to your finish blog or where ever you show off your finishes (Not limited to quilts but I like them the most).
3) Visit a few of the finishes and comment or encourage them on.
4) Monthly random winner picked from all of the months linkups to $15 gift card from Fat Quarter Shop.

Not required but fun to do

1) Follow my blog.
2) Follow the blog of all those that link.
3) Link back to my blog.
4) No finish, go quilt and stop reading the web.

Orange and Gray Baby Version

 

Here is the first orange and gray baby quilt. The lap size version of this is waiting patiently to be basted.  Maybe by the end of June it will be finished. I like the look of scrappy backs, but basting them is tricky.  They seem to stretch more, because of the weird cuts of fabric.  I like solids backs for that reason.

Here is a picture of the front. This quilt is echo quilted in one direction, but not the other. 

 A picture of the back.  What do you like to do more, pieced or solid backs?  This baby quilt is on our Etsy store.

Graduation Day or Crossroads

This post made by Tanya.  I am feeling a bit emotional the last couple of weeks.  I don't know what is harder, turning 40 or having a kid graduate high school all in the space of 1 1/2 weeks.  I found  a pattern, out of the Sweet Celebrations book I won recently, for a pillow  that was for a graduate.  I made a similar pillow for James. I chose to use my machine to embroiderer a year, instead of applique. I probably should have done it lower on fabric, but live and learn. I didn't do the pocket in pillow, he wouldn't use it. A finish that isn't a quilt.  Anyway it will match his lap quilt out of the same fabric.  Here are few rushed pictures we took of him in casual and cap and gown over weekend before he had to go to work.

Jared's B-Day and Progress on his Quilt

Jared is 9 today.  His favorite color is green and he liked the helix pattern I designed for Pillar of Fire and wanted a green and gray version.  He wasn't so pleased when he was told it would be more like a wall hanging, since it is a baby size quilt.  Anyway here is the progress on this. Not quite done yet, but at least a good start.

Jared had some troubles with the candles it took not 2 but 3 tries to get them out.

Lastly Jared was not happy with the lego's we got him for his birthday (you can see the eagle on the table above) and he made me go shopping and get the one he wanted.