Baby Girl Quilt

I made this quilt for my niece Paige, when she was 2 (shocker!) so that must have been in 2007 I think. I love this one because its a true baby quilt, the bubble
minkee on the back is so cozy soft and the colors are all very sweet.


There are a few colors I would switch out given the chance (the pink stripey one and the bolder sky blue color) but in all, I think this is one of my favorites. I love the light green backing as well.



I made this one using a quilt patten from Country Threads, called Baby Shower #520.

Whenever Paige comes by I steal the blanket back from her...she really hates that and totally eyes me up thinking I'm going to run off with it. She's right on. Better keep your eye on me Paige!

Yellow Brick Road

My sisters have also had little boys, and I find it very difficult to get good baby boy quilt patterns and they seems to be about frogs and snails and puppy-dogs' tails. For this quilt for my nephew I went loud. And loud for me is really tough to do, I like soft colors and any bright reds are just against my nature, but I tried to have fun with it. I was also able to find a really fun soccer pattern for the border. My neices say that this quilt aged the best as it wasn't too baby-baby as the other two were. Good to know. Also, this quilt (as with the others) is also still on his bed. I made this quilt in 2005 I think, as that's when little Michael was 2, and two is the magic quilt year.


This quilt was made using the Yellow Brick Road pattern, which is so quick and easy! I also discovered the wonderful minkee fabric, this is the plain blue and its silky soft. Its a bit more expensive than the cottons but it comes twice as large and...its worth it!! Here are some close ups of this loud, fun and conversational fabric quilt. Puppy dogs (tails) in the rain, how cute :)

Wild Goose Chase

My second quilt was for my niece Katherine, also in 2003. Katherine is a sweetheart and the most loving child. For Katherine's quilt I had learned a few more tricks and was able to put in a wild goose chase border. This quilt is the most time consuming child's quilt I have made because of that border. I remember putting together all of the little geese for the border and my mother was so excellent and she ironed all of the edges down on low-heat, which is no easy task.

We had a blast and it was so rewarding seeing this one come together. I went for old-fashioned fifties prints and love them still today. They are still popular prints 7 years later, as I can find matching fabrics in the stores today, excellent for putting those scraps to use someday.
I loved the little blue bunny backing and the pink border.

Hmm... looks like my edges are a little rounded...well, it was only my second quilt! Geesh!

My First Quilt

I made my first quilt for my neice, and goddaughter, Alison. I love her, absolutely. I made this for her when she turned 2, she is now 9, so that must mean I made the quilt sometime in 2003. There is a lot to say about giving gifts to children, but one thing I have to say about giving quilts...this quilt is still on her bed. Nothing like having a comfy cozy blanket. I think she's due for a new one.

As you can see from this image, I used a large animal print for the larger squares and alternated with 9 patch. It was a great starter quilt.

Getting Quilty With It

The past few weekends I've been showing my friend Ilaria how to quilt. She is an excellent cook and is also very gifted in the arts & crafts department. She actually didn't need any instruction whatsoever as she learned the skill intuitively. I was just there for moral support, I think! Evenso, I decided that the best way to teach someone how to quilt was to take up my own project along with her-that was a mistake! I've spent over 40 hours on this project, I don't think it will ever end!! After a few weeks of doing the quilt top (and fussing a bit too much about the border-I decided to do just a plain white border to keep it simple) I've finally attached the batting and backing and am quilting it together. The hard part right now is outlining the stars so they "pop", and my sewing machine is getting a bit fussy in its old age as midway through it sometimes decides to snack on the thread. Here is a picture of what I've been working on.

Ilaria has since finished her first quilt and is almost done with her second one! And here I am, the seasoned veteran and I'm taking my sweet time finishing this project. Well, hopefully it will be done in time for Christmas (as its a gift for dear old dad, although the colors look more fitting for mother dearest), and before Ilaria gets the motivation for another project!

Honeymoon conversation, part I

Oh no...my fiance keeps joking (hopefully) an island vacation means any island. And I don't mean any island in the caribbean. I mean any island, anywhere. No Dear, we aren't going to go to the Isle of Wight!! And no, Rhode Island isn't appropriate either! This may be more work than I thought.

For his benefit, I have pulled together this quick map, showing the areas that have palm trees and those that require winter jackets. Please take a look:


I think we would prefer to go to the islands with those gorgeous palm trees and beaches, not the ones that require jackets and ear muffs. Let's hope he commits this to memory.

Channelling Marilyn

Everyone has a friend that always has hysterical things happen to them and to their daily stories of extreme embarrassment you can only respond "only you". Well, I'm not one of those people...but for one day, for some unknown reason, I was.

On the eve of the day of dress, we were walking down a very busy road in Boston, Tremont Street, on our way to see Julie and Julia at the theatre (not that the movie matters, but that's what it was. Meryl was great, Amy did what she could with that other character, overall the movie was alright). I had just picked up the cute little flowers and shirts to sort out the Running of the Brides outfits and I was carrying that in one hand. In my other hand was my usual work travel bag. So we're walking, nothing crazy now, and the train comes by. Which wouldn't be a big deal normally, but if you are at 148 Tremont Street, at the exact time that I was, with two bags in your hand, in a flimsy skirt...while walking over the subway grate (pictured left)...there's trouble. At stage left enters the gust of wind...and on stage right I have become Marilyn Monroe

AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMIGOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now, if a woman with a Marilyn skirt up over her hips on Tremont St doesn't get your attention, a woman with a Marilyn skirt up over her hips on Tremont St screaming her head off will.

In those pictures that are so famous of Marilyn, with her holding her skirt down while standing sexily on the grate, notice she was NOT holding two bags. This is a very important detail. Not only does it keep her skirt down, but it also assists in hiding her underwear. Yes, THIS was my first concern...I didn't wear the *cute* underwear out and now everyone knows it. The woman behind me (the one that is laughing, yes her) she knows, the two girls in front of me now know (they would not have known had I not called their attention by screaming), the cars passing by know, the bellhop at the hotel knows, the people in the stores know...I chose the granny panties.

So, a little word of advice my little Marilyn wannabes. When you chose your undies, please do keep in mind my little experience and make sure you are wearing something that you wouldn't mind all of Boston seeing at any possible time of the day. Makes you think doesn't it? Yes, its time to go shopping.

Another piece of advice...if something embarrassing happens to you, please don't call attention to it by screaming, it doesn't help.

And if for some reason, you find yourself over a grate, in a skirt, when the train comes, do have the good sense to put down what you are holding to cover yourself! Good luck out there girls!