preppy the whale

Yay!  Another baby shower!  This one for a family that loves to fish.  

I know, I know, whales are mammals, not fish.   
This irresistible pattern is Preppy the Whale by Elizabeth Hartman.  

I used various solids from my stash and an aqua ombre fabric from  V&Co. for the background.  PSA:  If you are vacationing and forget your cutting mat, the back of a cutting board works great as one!

Not till the top was completely finished did a glaring mistake start shouting at me.  How did I miss that third whale in the middle column?  So...my first time undoing a block on a finished top.  

I quilted this with organic wavy lines, of course!  Aurifil #5006 from my prize box was a perfect match!

The back is a super thick and cozy flannel by Robert Kaufmann.  For this reason I used the thinnest Quilter's Dream Cotton (request loft) batting.  I didn't want the quilt to be too heavy to be dragged around by a little one.

Then came time for binding.  Originally I planned a wide satin binding.  I was going for lots of different textures in this quilt.  The width and the satin became such a struggle that I changed my mind.  My second attempt was the flannel from the back.  Remember how super think and cozy I said it was?  Not great for binding.  So my third and final choice was the ombre fabric from the front.  Just right!

Wrapped, "ribboned" and ready for gifting! 

 Thanks for stopping by.

Linking up with Sew Fresh Quilts Let's Bee Social

alison glass mini swap

I'm playing catch up today.  I should have posted this in June...

I participated in the Alison Glass Mini Swap on Instagram.  My partner was from Australia and a mom of SEVEN children!  The moment I read my partner info I knew I wanted to make her a heptagon.

I found this beautiful bundle at Pink Castle Fabrics but couldn't find a pattern anywhere so I made my own.

I started slowly and learned quickly that when you are paper piecing every thing is backwards and upside down.  I intended for this to look scrappy so ultimately it didn't matter.

When the heptagon was complete I spent an evening removing all the paper.  I should have included my tweezers in this photo!

I appliqued it onto a solid.  This blue is from RJR and called Cove.  I love it!

I quilted in the ditch throughout the shape (never had to lift my needle) then around and around the seven sides.

Because I was sending this to Australia I needed to keep the extras fairly flat and light weight.  I cut some of the leftovers into 2 1/2 inch squares and arranged them in a color "spectrum". (We were on team Spectrum.)

Then I turned the squares into a  One Hour Basket.  This is a free pattern from @kelbysews who I know wishes she had a nickel for each download!

I made a label for the back of the mini and added a few small/flat extras and sent it on it's way.  It was warmly received and I've made a delightful new friend in Australia!

In return I received this beauty from @steffanikburton.

And these amazing extras.  #yayburtongirls!

Another successful swap!!!

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts and TGIFF.