I finished a new baby quilt for some friends whose last name is Sparks.  It’s such a good last name, that I’m using it for the name of the quilt! This is another gender neutral one ’cause they are waiting to find out.

I love how this quilt came out.  It’s sort of a mini version of my Land & Sea Quilt.  I actually kept track of the measurements as I made this one, so I’m thinking I’ll post the pattern soon.

A fussy cut center of each block will be fun for the baby as he or she grows up!

One of my usual pieced backs:

I started this very simple baby quilt a while back in 2008, but I just finished it, so I’m counting it as #1 for 2009!

The little baby girl who this was made for, was born a couple of weeks ago at only 29 weeks due to risk to the mother’s health.  Luckily the doctors say that all will be ok for both Mom & daughter.  The planned shower is still happening this coming weekend so I hope that the mother likes the quilt.

They are doing their nursery in a ladybug theme so I picked up this cute Flutterby fabric that has little ladybugs all over it and I’m calling it the Ladybug Baby Quilt.  I know, not so creative. I have a hard time coming up with names for my quilts…

I also did a simple pieced back with the same fabric:

And one of my usual embroidered labels.

I do so enjoy sitting and stitching these while I watch a tv show or two. My husband and I are on a binge of The Wire these days. I had never seen even one episode before and oh it is so good!

Otherwise, I’m feeling like I’ve been getting tons of sewing done so far this year. I’m motivated these days… it’s great and I hope it lasts!

I hope you’re all feeling the same way! Back to the sewing room I go…

Last night I finished up the breast cancer charity quilt.  Shannon contacted me a while back about making a quilt to donate to help them raise money for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and I jumped at the chance.  She even sent me pink ribbon fabric which I was thrilled to include in the quilt. Otherwise I pulled from my stash (other than a bit of solid brown & the batting). It’s a lap quilt and I hope that people like it so that it raises them a bit of money!

I still need to toss it in the washer and dryer so I’m excited to see this back all crinkly!

2008 and has been an amazing year for me.  This was my year in a nutshell:

Quilting? Quilting! I love quilting!  Quilting, quilting, quilting.  Yikes, I could use a paycheck.  Quilting, quilting, Obama!, quilting.

When I think about the role that quilting has come to play in my life I can’t believe that it’s only been one year that I’ve been at it.  And this blog?  I just started it in August and I never imagined that it would be as wonderful as it has been.  Becoming a part of this crafty bloggy community, getting to know some of you, knowing that there are so many more of you to get to know, and the excitement of that all being in the year ahead has brought me, and will continue to bring me, so much happiness. You are all so nice and generous and fun and it’s a thrill to be involved!!  Thank you to each and every one of you who has been so warm and welcoming.

I made 19 quilts this year.

I have all but the binding on a 20th.  Does that count as this year?  Nah.  I’ll make it quilt number 1 of 2009!

Happy New Year everyone!  May 2009 be a great one for you.

Amanda Jean made a version of the Land & Sea Quilt I made and also was nice enough to post the pattern!

And let me know if you make it!  I’d love to see the results!

I finished up the set for my friend who is expecting twin girls.  She told me that she’s doing her nursery in greens & tans, but I can’t resist pink!  I figured this way, they will match but add a fun pop of pink.  To my knowledge, my friend doesn’t know about my blog, so here’s hopin’ it’s still true!

I used the same fabrics in both quilts, but one is simple squares and the other is a zigzag quilt.  I had fun making them both, but it’s official that I just don’t like working with triangles as much as squares.  I’m just a squares kinda girl I guess!

In looking at this next photo, I’m made highly away of the fact that I could be a bit more of a perfectionist in my quilting… I need to work on that. Just a tad more diligence and this line wouldn’t look so stupidly wonky.  I generally like wonky, but this was unintended wonk…

And the zigzag!

I broke a few needles quilting these triangles… how does one make the bump of layers where all of the triangles meet, thinner? Is there a trick or tip I don’t know?

And a couple of close ups:

And on a completely different, yet quilt related, note this is so great!