Blue & Orange Baby Quilt

 A sweet little baby quilt...

...inspired by this brick wall that I pass on my walk to work everyday. 

These colors are my favorite. I could make a million more blue and orange quilts. And I probably will!

Another Happy House Quilt

This must be the year of buying houses, because I've made so many little housewarming mini quilts!

This one is for a co-worker who loves the color turquoise.   

Tried a new quilting pattern here - wavy lines and leaves.

Headed to the housewarming party now!

Happy House Quilt

Sometimes, I'm so excited to deliver a quilt that I completely forget to properly photograph it!

This quilt/wall hanging is for our friends Kelly and Nicole, to celebrate their recent wedding.  When Ian and I were married a few months ago, some of the most special gifts and cards we received were a play on our wedding invitation, so I wanted to do something like that for Kelly and Nicole.  

I appliquéd the buds on the invitation, and added a sweet little house to celebrate that they just settled in to a lovely new home together. These colors are so them - bright, joyful, and exuberant!

Congrats, Kelly and Nicole!

Hannah's Quilt

The final quilt I made in preparation for the wedding was for Hannah, our amazing wedding officiant.

I met Hannah through my life coaching certification program - we connected right away, and it was clear to me that she is a wise and loving lady.  

So here they are, all three quilts together: Monica's quilt, Hannah's quilt, and Alyssa's quilt!

Alyssa's Quilt

The second bridesmaid quilt that I made was for Alyssa.

She is a fantastically talented illustrator, and was so generous to create THE CUTEST illustration of us for our wedding invitation:

It perfectly summed up the joyful and whimsical vibe of our wedding.  And it looks exactly like us!  

Alyssa creates custom illustrations for baby and wedding gifts, and she has an array of playful and poignant greeting cards.  Check out some of her adorable designs in her Etsy Shop.

This is the quilt that I made to thank her for the illustration and everything else she did to support us and our wedding.

I revealed this quilt earlier this year, since it was part of the Madrona Road Challenge through the Modern Quilt Guild.  But I designed it from the beginning for Alyssa - the colors are so beautiful and serene, and the layout so simple and clean.  It reminds me of Alyssa's living room.

More fun free-motion quilting here: pebbles and boxes.

The back might be my favorite.  The chevron print that I echoed on the front holds it all down.

Alyssa was so calming throughout the wedding planning process.  She always helped me stay focused on what it's all about.

Here's hoping this quilt brings her the same comfort that she generously gave to me.  Love you, Alyssa! Thank you so much!

Monica's Quilt

I wrote a few months ago about how I came to realize during the wedding planning process that I needed to carve out the time to be in my studio - that it is essential to my process of recharging and reinvigorating myself.

So what better way to build it in to my life than to add quilting to the ginormous wedding to do list?

Sundays were my sacred day: no tea dates, grocery shopping, or even leaving the house.  Just wide open studio time, and countless episodes of Gossip Girl.

I made three quilts: two for my bridesmaids and one for our wonderful officiant.  It was such a natural way for me to express my gratitude to these wise, loving ladies who supported us all along the way.  When I give someone a quilt, it feels like I'm giving them a piece of my heart. It was the perfect way to take a step back, make space for reflection, and feel all of the love surrounding Ian and me.

Here's the first one: Monica's quilt.  

She is such a warm, optimistic, and passionate person - bright, sunny colors and patterns always make me think of her.

I had some fun with my new Angela Walters books - trying out some fun quilting patterns..loops, cobblestones, and connected boxes.

This quilt is the perfect size for curling up on the couch with a good book.

Just a simple large print on the back.

Monica is the creative genius behind Monicakes Bakery.  She was SO generous to make Monicakes as our wedding favors - a perfect and unique tasty treat for everyone!

Enjoy Monica!  I love you so much!

Tiny Quilt #5: A House-Warming Quilt

My brother and sister-in-law just bought their first house.  Moving just a few weeks before their baby is due couldn't have been easy!  I was thinking about them a lot as they got settled and assembled all of the baby furniture.  

My favorite way to think of someone is to make them a quilt.

It was a great chance to make another tiny house block from Elizabeth Hartman's Modern Patchwork.   And to use some of the fabrics from the Modern Quilt Guild's Madrona Road Challenge.  I love these fabrics - they're so playful and sweet!

One of my goals for 2013 is to practice some more free-motion quilting patterns.  Santa Clause brought me some great books about it!  In this tiny quilt I tried some swirls, a flower, and writing the family's name in cursive.

The countdown is on - this baby is coming soon!

Twin Quilts

 A friend of mine from college just had twin baby girls! I was so excited to make some cozy quilts for these little ones to snuggle up in.

Congrats, Erica & Keith!  Welcome to the world, Fiona & Riley!

Wedding Quilt

This past weekend, two of my dearest friends in the world were married.  It was a beautiful, personal, meaningful ceremony in the groom's backyard - a place where I can remember playing pretend about weddings with him and his sister when we were kids.  

I wanted to express my excitement and joy for the beginning of their new journey in my favorite way - making a quilt, of course!

{ quilt front }

I used solids and Denyse Schmidt fabrics to put together a design that I felt really captures who they are.  I just love how it came out.

{ quilt back }

As soon as they got engaged back in February, I set to work on this project.  It's been torture to keep it secret all of this time!

Congrats, Elliott & Steffi!  

Special Booties

I know that I call every baby project I complete "special," but this one really takes the cake.

These little booties are for my very first little niece or nephew, who will be joining this world in January.

I am on a mission to be the greatest aunt that ever was.  Any tips???

Rachel's Quilt

Another secret project ready to be revealed!  My dear friend Rachel spent three months traveling in India, and gosh did I miss her while she was off adventuring.  I channeled all of my "Rachel love energy" into making her this quilt.  Now that she has returned (!) she's preparing to head off to Med School in a couple of weeks, and I hope this quilt is just the thing to keep her cozy while she studies - and, more importantly, relaxes!

Quilt front

 Quilt back

 Front pattern: New Wave by Elizabeth Hartman

Back pattern: improv with the leftover pieces of fabric. 

My first shot at "lightning rod" quilting - a la Elizabeth Hartman. 

Label love. 

 

Thanks to the fellow members of the RI Modern Quilt Guild for helping me pick the bold orange binding!

There she is - back safe and sound but wiser, tanner, and even more full of love (if that's even possible)!

One more secret project to be revealed by the end of the summer.  Check back for more!