Welcome to the World Quilt for Baby Clara

My friend Vicki became a Gramma a few weeks ago with the birth of her first grandchild.  Of course that is an occasion that requires a new quilt to welcome the little one to the world!

It looks wonky in this picture because we have to tilt it to catch the light in the kitchen, and we can't photograph it straight on.  Believe me--It's square.  

If this looks familiar, it's made with the leftover fabric from the Arc en Ciel Quilt from a few year's ago. 

This is the back side.  I picked purple because Vicki likes purple -- not a baby color, but I wanted Baby Clara to be reminded of her Gramma Vickie when she sees this quiltie.

Here's a detail shot of the blocks and the quilting from the front.

And here's me, as the quilt-maker sending love and light to my old friend, embarking on this new role in life.  I have no doubts she'll be a wonderful Gramma!
[Vickie -- I'll try to get it in the mail this week ...]

I have this picture Vickie from 9 or 10 teaching Oliver to make homemade pasta noodles.

 

The Quilt Label says :

"Welcome to the World"

for Baby Clara

from Gramma Vicki Moen

Quilt by Michele Matucheski

June 30, 2017

Oshkosh, Wisconsin 

This is how it looked in the washing machine when it was done with the spin cycle.  

It just made me happy to see it on display at the bottom the washing machine.

Sunrise Quilt for France

There's a new baby among our Family in France, and so I made a little quilt for him.  This was a fun one to make, and it went quick with 40 2-1/2 inch strips from an Island Batiks set purchased years ago.  The pattern makes it look woven.

Sunrise Quilt for France - Whole View

 I started this one at Quilt Camp back in November 2016. 

The pattern is Timeless Treasures Tonga Treats Interweave.  I think I got it from Craftsy.

 Here's a shot of the front and the back together.

I took lots of pictures of this one, since it's going to be given away.  I won't be able to stare at it wonderingly and discover new things through the years.

The batting is my favorite Hobbs 80/20 Cotton / Poly batting.  It gives such an old-timey crinkle after it's washed.

Sunrise Quilt - backside - Matrix Pattern

The quilting pattern is Leah Day's Matrix.  This stitched layer gives a whole new dimension and movement to the pieced-block and color layer beneath.

These are the threads I used for quilting the top and the back, respectively.  Purples, greens and reds on the front.  A sunrise-y orange and yellow combination on the back.

More pictures ...

And here is the little man himself (again).  It will be a while before we get to meet him in person. I hope he (and his parents) are as fascinated with it as I am!

Arc en Ciel Quilt Finished

Just finished this baby quilt for our newest little cousin in France : Baby Eole.    In American English, we think of him as Errol (as in Errol Flynn, the great swash-buckling actor from those old movies).      
This was the Baby Bargello kit from Keepsake Quilting several years ago.  I worked it up into a cascading rainbow pattern rather than the cardiogram shown in the pattern.
  

I quilted it with swirls and loops--Eole seems to mean wind.  It was a character in ancient Greek myths.  Eole was the one who blew the wind into Ulysses sails on his epic journeys.   With all those rectilinear squares in the quilt, the quilting needed some softness and curves to counter all the right angles.  

I like to use Hobbs 80/20 cotton/poly batting.  I LOVE the way it crinkles up and looks antique after it's washed.  It's a magic moment to pull it out of the dryer to see the transformation from a stiff and compacted piece you've been working on to the soft and crinkled work in the pictures.

I just need to show my Mom and Aunt Rosita next week, then make a label and pack it off to France. 

Here I am with little Eole back in May when we got to meet him on our trip to France.  I offered to hold him during dinner so his parents could eat their meals.  I remember how hard that was with a little one ...  He's a good baby, with very attentive and wise parents.  ;-)

Baby Quilt mailed to Japan

I finished the quilt for my sister's new baby, due any day now. Mailed it off to Japan yesterday.

Wow! That riot of color is a bit much for me, but Oliver liked it, so I suspect the new baby boy will also like it.


I made a little tassle for one of the corners. I thought this would be a good "handle" for little hands.