Hugs and Butterfly Kisses

Remember my last post? The one in which I wondered whether Nod to Gees Bend would be quilted or if I would start another quilt? . . . . As every quilter knows, sometimes life, well life happens and when it does, a quilt must be made! Here's the background. For those that have been following for awhile, you know I have a daughter, you know we have made a quilt together and you know she has Down Syndrome.

She selected the fabric herself. . . chip off the old block huh? LOL

Almost two weeks ago, she called me to tell me she was moving out of her father's house and into a home with three other women. YAY!! I cannot tell you how excited I am for her to be making this transition to more independent living. She will be moving to a smaller town and although will be 30 minutes away from her father, she will be living in the same community as her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. She is very excited about this move and the prospect of gaining more independence. No more answering to dad ;) I of course made Cally a quilt when I first started quilting. It's small, made in her favorite colors and she has mainly used it as a wall hanging.

I think this girl needs a proper quilt for her new bed, don't you? :) Nod got folded up and put to the side and I started planning. . . cutting and sewing. Every aspect of planning and making this quilt was done with Cally in mind. First, the focus fabric. . . what to do. . . I just happened to have a FQ bundle of Lizzy House Butterflies that I snagged last month on Massdrop. And then I saw this block called Raspberry Kiss and tutorial. And a quilt was born! I have a considerable amount to say about the making of this quilt, and I will do that in another post. If I put everything in one post, you won't read it all - heck I don't know that I would read it all ;) Let's just say I started with one plan, and ended up with something different and much better! Here's the flimsy :)

It won't fit on my design wall so I took a picture of it laying on the backing prior to basting. It is 86.5"x 98.5". . . At least my math blunders ended up in a bigger, not smaller quilt ;)

The gray text background is On Time in Ink by Whistler Studios (BTW, Hawthorne Threads has this fabric on sale for $4.95 a yard!!!), the white text background is from a text bundle that I bought from Pink Castle Fabrics. The two X (or plus depending on which block you are looking at) block background fabrics are Sunprint Feathers in Charcoal (Allison Glass) and Lazy Stripe in Gunmetal (Tula Pink - True Colors). The purple butterfly stop border is leftover from the backing of Cally's first quilt! :) It worked perfectly, don't you think? I'm thinking binding is going to be from this fabric as well. . .

Here's a close up of a couple of the blocks. Can I just say that Lazy Stripe fabric is fabulous!! I want a bolt!! LOVE! :D

Because one of the FQ in the bundle was just a little short (I used every inch of those fat quarters and having one be off even by a half inch.... meant I was short one block....) so I had to improvise...

I just LOVE the messages on this text fabric! It encompasses all of the positive messages I have tried to instill in my girl throughout her life. This block is placed in the center top border of the quilt. And I intentionally faced the text up - so she could read it when she is under the quilt :) If any of you know what line this particular fabric came from, I'd LOVE to know! I only had a FQ and I was thinking that having it bound in this fabric would be pretty cool too! :) If I can identify the fabric. . .and of course find some to purchase!

I am well into the quilting now :) I'm guessing you'll see a completely quilted and bound quilt a week from today :)

Linking up with Kelly for NTT and Amanda Jean for Finish it Up Friday. There's always so much to look at and be inspired by these linky parties. Head over and check them out!

Until next time, keep on quilting!