Baby Shower Gift = UFO Resurrection

Unfinished Objects (lovingly called UFOs) is a much dreaded word in the Quilting World. A Work in Progress (WIP) is much more acceptable.

Do you have UFOs?
Absolutely not. I have several ideas. To be able to see what that idea would like in fabric, I usually try a few blocks. Once I get the concept, I put it away so that I can go back to working on the project at hand.
And that is how a UFO happens.
No, it is not a UFO
It is not finished either.
I agree. When the right opportunity comes, those initial idea blocks will be made into a quilt. I call them practice blocks, idea seeds, or musings...
Uh huh!!!

Not a UFO (to be made into a quilt soon)

Let me give you an example. I put together some blue/green scraps from previous quilts. And here are some pink blocks using leftover fabrics from Keeley.

Pink Blocks (not a UFO)

Fast Forward to three weeks ago...
"We request the pleasure of your company to bless the mom to be....." A baby shower invitation.

I had blue/green blocks top and I had lovely floral pink blocks. It would take me a weekend of dedicated quilting time (ignoring all chores) to whip anyone of those into a quilt. I was ready. I needed to know just one thing - blue or pink.

Here is the "fun" part. The dad to be would not say.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH.................

Time for Plan B
Remember "Charmed"
When I made Charmed, I had enough blocks for a twin size bed. But ended up making a baby quilt and the remaining blocks were put away. I could use them now!!!
And therefore, here is Charmed Encore!!! See, those blocks were not UFOs. They were just waiting for the right baby!!!

Quilting Charmed Encore

Close-up of Blocks

I chose the Red/Gold Border

Cuteness!!!

I really love this fabric line - Wee Woodland. It is suitable for both boys and girls. It is kid-appropriate without being too much baby-like, which gives it a few more years of use than the pink teddy bear quilt.

Here are a few more pictures

Thank you, Paul, for modeling!

Backing - Birds and Blocks

Backing - Close-up

I really like this backing fabric and the buntings are the best part. The buntings signify celebration and festivities. And all babies should be celebrated.
It is all gone now, I used it for two quilt backings. All I have left is a 6" strip. Scraps, yay!!!

Labelled!!!

It was a beautiful shower. The mom-to-be glowed and I wish her all the best.

This is my 14th finish of 2014 and it is not the last one. Can you please refer a good "Quilters Anonymous" De-addiction Center?

Pretty, playful and pattern-less

It is said that beautiful skin needs no makeup...

Similarly, a beautiful fabric does not NEED a pattern. Some (a lot of) fabrics are like that - they are just so pretty (cute, adorable, adjective-of-your-choice) that sometimes we quilters do not have the heart to cut them up.

In other words, that skin is so beautiful, you do not want any make-up (or pattern) to distract from it...

As quilters, we do buy a lot of pretty fabric, and if you cannot cut into it to make a quilt, where does that leave us. I know, with a big stash :-D

I have the perfect solution. MINIMALISM... All you do is frame that pretty fabric to highlight its beauty and enjoy the compliments!!!

In 2013 I had just been bitten by the quilting bug, when I noticed the Wee Woodland Charm Packs. I immediately bought four of them. And then I admired them for months. I could not bear to cut them up. Finally, I decided that I will not cut them. I took each little charm square and framed it - some with yellow and some with green. It took me a over a year to come up with a simple solution!!! 

Charming, is it not?

These framed charmed squares make my design wall look good. They actually light up my design wall!!!

What shall I name this quilt? Framed? NO. It has an evil sound to it for a quilt so cute.
Charmed? Perfect.
















And for the very first time, I decided to be adventurous with the binding :-) I used a pieced binding - those yellow and green striped fabrics are my new go to favorites. I stitched the binding to the back of the quilt and used a decorative stitch on the front to secure it in place. Fast and Easy!!!




Here are the pictures of the finished quilt.

Charmed :-)  

Charmed - Detail

                                                                             
You can see that my yard is a mess and I am celebrating the mess - using the yellow flower (weed) to accentuate my quilt :-)

And here you can see the decorative top stitch on the binding. Completely wild...

Quilt Back, no label

I have a feeling that I will be donating this quilt. And that is why I am shying away from putting a label. May be, I will add a label with just the quilt name, and the year 2014. Would you label a quilt (with your name) if it was for charity?

Stitch over the Ditch Quilting

This picture shows my go to "stitch over the ditch" quilting and my "matchless" seams...ha ha ha!!!









So, what are my thoughts on make-up? In my opinion, a smile and a twinkle in your eye is the best make-up. It makes your friends happy and keeps others wondering - what is her secret???