A new baby is reason enough to make a new quilt.  My on-in-law has a brand new nephew and since I haven’t made a baby quilt in some time, I figured that this was the perfect opportunity.

I’ve made this pattern a number of times for Kid Comfort Quilts and figured that it would be a perfect quilt to welcome in a new member of the family.

I asked for some pictures of Gabriel with family members, printed them on fabric and added a few borders.

To complete the quilt, I put Gabriel’s birth information to the front of the quilt.

Every year we show appreciation to our outgoing guild president by making blocks of her favorite theme and/or colors.  This year we made sunflower and 9-patch blocks  for Lisa.  The sunflower blocks were a pattern from Cathy Van Bruggen Designs.  It always interesting to see how different quilters execute the same block.  I was able to combine needle-turn and invisible machine applique with embroidery to finish my block.

At first I appliqued the leaves, stems and flower centers by needle-turn applique.  I tried to use the same technique with the pointy sunflower petals. but wasn’t happy with the result.  There are too many changes from inside points to outside points in a very small space.

Lisa's Sunflower Block

(I wish that I had the skills of someone like Elly Sienkiewicz. I’m sure she would have produced a perfect needle-turn flower.)

I decided to use Kim Diehl’s invisible machine applique technique and think that it turned out well.  I decided to embellish the center of the flower with french knots – and even put a few yellow knots for interest.  I think she liked it – at least she said that she did when I gave it to her on Tuesday.

After seeing all her beautiful blocks I had to pull the blocks for my President’s Quilt out.  Guess I’d better start working on my quilt. I added sashing strips to the blocks and decided on the layout when I received them.  But then put them away.  That was 2 years ago!

Guess I’d better get working on my quilt.  I need to have it ready to hang in our President’s Corner at our guild’s July 2010 Quilt Show.   -   A New Year’s resolution already!

Well my angel swap projects are finished and were sent to my secret “Angel”, Debbie, last month.  She has now posted them on her blog http://makinquilts.blogspot.com.   I particularly enjoy reading the ‘Thoughts for the Day’ that she published with every post.

The projects were so easy and fun to put together.   Pictured here from top to bottom:

journal with embroidered cover; needle case holder and pin cushion.

Participating in swaps is an interesting way to meet new quilters while sharing something that we both love.  Debbie is a neighbor to the north from Alberta Canada.  I’m hoping we’ll keep in touch through our blogs.

The anticipation is over.  Each year ‘the group’ exchanges names and completes a quilt to be finished by the next quilters’ weekend at Watson Homestead.  Last year we anonymously exchanged envelopes of fat quarters and background fabric.  What a surprise the finished quilts were this year for all of us!

Just to confuse the person receiving my envelope, I chose patriotic fabric rather than my favorite – fall colors.  The patriotic theme is a favorite of Lisa and whoever receives  patriotic fabric in one of our swaps, assumes that it must be from her. It worked!  My exchange partner, Ruth, had no idea that the quilt she was making was for me and not Lisa.

Patriotic Quilt made by Ruth

Ruth always adds a surprise to the quilts she makes as she likes to add blocks to the back of the quilt  -  making it reversible -  I actually received quilts!

Back of Patriotic Quilt

Both Ruth and I completely missed at guessing who was the owner of the quilt that we were making.  I was certain that I had received Pauline’s fabric collection of soft pastels.  Knowing that she really likes baskets, I decided to make a miniature basket quilt. (Brown Basket, Timbleberries Pint Size Traditions.)

We both discovered that it’s unwise to assume anything. In the workroom at the retreat, both Ruth and I pulled out our projects when Pauline and Lisa went out on a shop hop.  We wanted to put the finishing touches on them before our exchange that evening.

Imagine our surprise when I told Ruth that the patriotic fabric was mine.

The joke was on me, however, when Mae said,”Hey, that’s my fabric!”  as I pulled out by finished miniature.  Luckily she is a fan of baskets also.

My quilt for Mae

I didn’t make a mistake when I chose the pattern after all.  In addition to the fact that she likes baskets, Mae is a basket maker.

We all had quite a laugh as we shared our stories at our exchange that evening.

For our project next year, we will all use a fat quarter of Paisley Tan from the Blessings collection by Brannock & Patek, add our own fabric for a quit to be given to our exchange partner.  The colors of this piece are some of my favorite.  Can’t wait to see our finished quilts!