baby quilt from last summer

I found the pictures that my husband's cousin emailed back in February 2010--the quilt was made in spring 2009 for DH's cousin's new baby.

 

This was the first time that I used fabrics all from one line.  Red Rooster's Paisley Party caught my eye when s-i-l and I went to the Minnesota Quilt Show in Duluth.  I first found fat quarters at a shop on the way up (potty stop), and then found more at the show.  I love the colors so much; they remind me of yummy colorful candies.  It's good that I didn't see the other fabrics in the line, because the Paisley part of the Party is just as fun!

 

I used fabric markers to color in this label.  It's from "Make Your Own Quilt Labels!" Volume 4, by Kim Churbuck, whom I got to meet at the quilt show.  She has a bunch of these little books of inspiration for quilt labels--I soooo wished that I had thought of the concept first.  I also wish I'd have seen her booth in the first few hours, not the last 10 min., as I was pretty low on $$ by then, but had enough to buy one of her books.  Thank you Kim, for sharing your talent with all of us!  I will buy more next time I get to a quilt show...

Quilted Advent Calendar

Here is our family's Advent Calendar. I made another last year for the family of one of our Goddaughters, Anika. The pattern, which I changed a bit, is from Quiltmaker #58, November/December 1997. The inverted triangles under the buttons are little fabric pockets, where the buttons hide until it's time each night to pull one out--the kids have been faithful and attentive to that part!

The hardest part about making this is collecting the buttons! I am a little picky about having to have a star at the top, so not just any buttons will do. Plastic buttons are easier to come by, and less expensive, but you have to pick out the nice ones, like some from Mary Englebreit. Ceramic buttons are nicer, but are harder to come by; good ones are expensive! In the photo you can see the very first ceramic gingerbread boy who started my collection in '97; I found him at The Country Peddler, a fine quilt store that sadly, is no longer around. I just checked my button collection recently, and have enough to make another, but I would have to choose for whom I would make it.