Thursday, April 24, 2014

Rachel

I am sure every quilter loves making baby quilts!  I know I do!  
When I discover someone special in my life is having a baby, the wheels start spinning!

    
Rachel is a friend, fellow blogger {Family Ever After} and a neighbor!  Well, she doesn't exactly live in my neighborhood, but just around the corner.  Less than 5 minutes away... I consider that close enough to borrow a cup of sugar!

Her children attend the same elementary my kids attended...I love seeing pictures of them walking in front of the building.  Brings back sweet memories!

Rachel is just a wonderful person!  I mean, she really is wonderful! There are numerous adjectives to describe Rachel....
beautiful
happy
good
faithful
talented


I could go on and on....
Rachel has 3 adorable children and is expecting her 4th. in June.  I should add 'patient' to the list of adjectives!  Actually, she is the perfect person to have a large family.  She is also very resourceful.  And I know she has a reliable support network of family and friends.

So I had to make her a quilt for the new baby.  She is having a boy.   I didn't ask her about nursery colors...I thought this quilt should be used and used.  No need to match colors.

 
 I began with these two fabrics.  The sweet little fabric on top is a Japanese from Superbuzzy and the gingham is also a Japanese from Purl.  

 
 I added some additional fabrics from my stash...and pieced together using the technique I outlined a couple of posts ago.  I stitch the rows together on the diagonal and then true up the sides. 


I quilted with a combination of machine quilting and pick stitching.
I used Aurifil thread for the piecing and machine quilting straight lines. And hand quilted with Valdani perle cotton....every other row of triangles.



The binding is the same sweet Japanese print with a little of the gingham thrown in!

 

    The backing is a large check gingham...also from Purl.

And, finally, a label to mark the year of his happy birth!


What a lucky baby!  Born into a family that is so excited to see him!  A mom and dad who put faith and family first!  It just doesn't get any better than that.

xo mary

  

27 comments:

  1. An adorable gift! I love the colours and that gorgeous gingham! Such a sweet label too :-)

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  2. This will be a treasured family heirloom forever. The baby isn't even here yet, but I've been snuggling up to this every night, hehe. You just embraced what sewing and friendship is all about... the gift of a handmade quilt is priceless. Thank you so much for your friendship. I love you dear friend!

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  3. I love the combination of machine stitching and hand stitching, I'm inspired!

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  4. Such a wonderful gift. I think the fabrics are great, and the embroidered stork label is icing on the cake. Sounds like one lucky baby boy!

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  5. just perfect in every single way Mary.

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  6. There is just so much to love about this quilt- the soft colours offset by that bright green and chocolate brown; the cute prints ( love foxes!) and gingham; and of course your beautiful hand stitching in the quilting and label! Perfect in every way! Best wishes to Rachel and her new baby boy too!

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  7. What a beautiful post and lovely tribute to Rachel and her family. It's a gorgeous quilt obviously stitched with love. The embroidered label is to most special touch.

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  8. MMMMMM lovely! A an awesome label!

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  9. Love that label! Is it your design?

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  10. Just darling. Mom and baby will love it

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  11. Adorable quilt. Questions. - what size is your binding? It looks small and amazing. When attaching your label is it only sewn on with the (valdani?) thread? Do you find that works well for a quilt that will be used over and over? I'm just getting into labels and am trying to figure out my options. I also love your combo of machine quilting and pick stitching. Make a quilt doable.

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  12. I never would have thought of quilting like that - the combination of hand and machine, looks fantastic, and so much texture! Dumb question from someone who has never done a triangle quilt before... I read the post about the technique (which is very clever and may inspire me to make one of these), but what is the difference between piecing the rows on the diagonal, or straight across?

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  13. a lovely quilt, like that you have used both hand and machine quilting. great label and I am sure this will be treasured

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  14. What a sweet baby quilt. I'm sure Mom and baby will enjoy using it! I love the stork label on the back, could you please share where you got the design for the embroidery? Thanks!

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  15. Very cute baby quilt and the label is adorable. Lucky neighbor/friend.

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  16. Such a sweet quilt... So nice of you to make this for her! She will treasure it I am sure! I love Rachel too! She is such a good friend!

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  17. I love absolutely everything about this totally gorgeous quilt. It's so perfect in every way, I love the colors, triangles, and your quilting. Just amazing.

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  18. What a beautiful quilt, I'm sure it will be treasured!

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  19. Such a sweet post!!! Lucky baby, lucky family and lucky to have such good friends nearby. This quilt will be much loved I am sure.

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  20. So it is true - the stork does deliver babies! Sounds like this one has the right address! And a beautiful quilt too!

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  21. I have just discovered your blog, and after going through it excitedly, I just want to say how happy I am to have found you. You make lovely stuff, and I will be back to see more!

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  22. LOVE this! I already have four kids, but this is so sweet it (almost) makes me want another! :) It's perfect. Lovely work! (charlottesgraceforacure@gmail.com)

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  23. such a beautiful quilt!!! my hubby worked with her hubby the year we were in Columbus :)

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