On a whim, I've decided to enter my "Big Boy Quilts" in the Blogger's Quilt Festival hosted by Amy's Creative Side. This will be my first entry in to a "quilt show." I feel like I'm putting myself out there a little bit, but I'm curious to see what happens, and see what sort of feed back I get on my quilts. So here goes! (Note: I first wrote about these quilts on my blog here.) Blogger's Quilt Festival Stats: - Finished quilts measure 64" x 84" - Quilts are machine pieced and quilted by me on my home machine. - Best Categories: Favorite ROYGBIV Quilt Favorite Bed Quilt Favorite Home Machine Quilted Quilt Here is the story of these quilts: Back in January of 2010 I decided that I wanted to make quilts for my twins to use on their "big boy beds" some day. At that time they were 1 1/2 or so. I put the design together (my original design) and ordered my fabrics. Note: 2 months before this, I had started my Etsy business, and at the time I was 4 months pregnant with my third son. Somewhere between January and June, I decided to put these quilts aside and completed two (2?!) quilts for my soon-to-born child. Somehow life then took over and I didn't get back to quilting for another year...or so. Then in January 2012, I had a few free days and jumped at the opportunity to layer and pin-baste these quilts. That's when I really decided that I MUST have these finished by the twins' 4th birthdays. By this time they had been sleeping in those "big boy" beds for at least 6 months. Between now and then I attempted to be very disciplined and didn't allow myself to start any new quilt projects until these were done. Fast forward to September 2012! I did it! The quilts were DONE - just in time for the kids' fourth birthdays! Specifics of the quilt: The quilts are identical, other than the backing. They are roughly 64" x 84" and each consist of 48 blocks that are 10" x 10" (with a 2" border around the outside). For the quilt top & backing, I used Kaufman Kona Cottons in the following colors: Canary, Clover, Purple, Surf, Tangerine, Rich Red, and Snow. They are bound with Michael Miller's bold black and white stripe, "Clown Stripe." I machine quilted these guys myself on my little Janome machine. I outline-quilted each bright colored square, and then made a series of 3 lines of stitching along each block and around the border.
Thanks for looking!
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Hallelujah! After 2 years and 8 months, I have finally finished "big boy" quilts for my twin boys. I had set a goal for myself to finish these quilts before their birthday - and I did it! With 5 days to spare! Back in January of 2010 I decided that I wanted to make quilts for my twins to use on their "big boy beds" some day. At that time they were 1 1/2 or so. I put the design together (my original design) and ordered my fabrics. Note: 2 months before this, I had started my Etsy business, and at the time I was 4 months pregnant with my third son. Somewhere between January and June, I decided to put these quilts aside and completed two (2?!) quilts for my soon-to-born child. Somehow life then took over and I didn't get back to quilting for another year...or so. This January I had a few free days and jumped at the opportunity to layer and pin-baste these quilts. That's when I really decided that I MUST have these finished by the twins' 4th birthdays. By this time they had been sleeping in those "big boy" beds for at least 6 months. Between now and then I attempted to be very disciplined and didn't allow myself to start any new quilt projects until these were done. Fast forward to today! I did it! The quilts are DONE. And I can't wait to give them to the kids tomorrow (a few days early). Specifics of the quilt: The quilts are identical, other than the backing. They are roughly 64" x 84" and each consist of 48 blocks that are 10" x 10" (with a 2" border around the outside). For the quilt top & backing, I used Kaufman Kona Cottons in the following colors: Canary, Clover, Purple, Surf, Tangerine, Rich Red, and Snow. I was inspired by Rita from Red Pepper Quilts, and decided to put a bold black and white stripe binding on the quilt (Michael Miller Clown Stripe). I machine quilted these guys myself on my little Janome machine. I outline-quilted each bright colored square, and then made a series of 3 lines of stitching along each block and around the border. I debated long and hard about what color to use for quilting the top: if I used white it would stick out on the red fabric, and if I used red it would stick out when I crossed the white stripes. In the end I decided to go with red - and I'm happy with the results. Now on to new projects!
Greetings All! This is my first attempt at a blog post, so please bare with me here. Back in '10 I opened an Etsy shop to sell my fabric gift bags. Then more recently I started a Facebook page for Gooses Bags and Gifts. However, in those outlets, there really wasn't an opportunity to share my quilting projects. The quilts that I make seem to take a long long time...and I usually am making them as a gift for someone, so they don't end up on my Etsy store. So now I am going to use this Blog to share my quilting adventures. One caveat: since I only seem to get to finish one, maybe 2, quilts per year, I'm not sure how frequently I'll be "blogging." But when I do start a quilt, or make progress on a quilt, or even FINISH a quilt, I will be sharing it here. Lyle helps to model his big boy quilt. Two years ago I learned that I was pregnant with my third child. I was very excited (and already had twins), and decided to make the new baby a quilt. And then I made him another. One is shown here: Then I began to feel guilty that I had never made a quilt (or quilts) for my twins. When I was pregnant with them, I was still working full-time and wasn't comfortable - and didn't have much extra energy to spend on quilting. So they never got a baby quilt. Two years ago, after making 2 quilts for my 3rd child, I decided to make the twins "big boy" quilts. However, 2 years later, they are still unfinished. Oops. I got wrapped up in having 3 kids under 3, and then opened my Etsy store...and somehow the big boy quilts got shelved after being pieced. Then last January I had a burst of energy, and some corresponding free time, and managed to get the quilts layered and pinned. At that point I had a deadline (a birthday) for another quilt for my nephew. I managed to layer, pin, and quilt (myself!) the quilt all in a weekend and got it off to the birthday boy just in time (or maybe a week late). Here it is: Now, I am back to staring at the quilts for my twins. April and May are already filling up with activities, trips, and commitments. But my goal is now to have these quilts done for my kids' 4th birthday in September. I'm writing it here, and hopefully that will motivate me to accomplish it! I'll keep you updated on progress as I go. |
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