I have been really loving different Japanese prints lately. They are just so cute and perfect to use as a design centerpiece for children’s quilts, especially for little boys. I picked up this great orange print recently and knew exactly what I wanted to do with it. I used long strips so the design wouldn’t be interrupted and coordinated with various geometric prints.

This quilt features fabric from Denyse Schmidt’s Katie Jump Rope, Lizzy House’s Red Letter Day, and a couple Monaluna Mingle prints. I just love the look of all the prints and colors together. I’m so sad a few of them are out of print.

The back of the quilt has several coordinating solids and a couple modern stripes featuring each fabric from the front. I secretly might like it more than the front!

The binding is another fabulous print from the Lizzy House Red Letter Day collection. Quilted in a free motion design, it is crinkly and soft. It measures 40″ x 51″.

And I added one of my new tags! This photo is from before I washed the quilt. It faded a bit in the wash, but my husband says he thought it still looked great so I’m going to keep putting them on the quilts.

The quilt is now listed in the shop! Sold!

There is nothing like coming home from a weekend away to this goodness. I finally bit the bullet and bought more Echino. I already have the scooters, and used that great Birdsong panel last week. That fabric is addicting.

I stocked up on some basics I’ve been wanting or had used up.

And hopefully I find time to use it all. Because I just scored this bench at the curb for *free* and am hoping to figure out how to refinish it for our front porch!

It’s finished! I still can’t believe it. I have been working on this quilt for 6 months and boy am I glad to have it completed. So many things to say about this one…

As I mentioned in my sneak peek post (um, a LONG time ago!), this quilt is inspired by a beautiful quilt by Rita of Red Pepper Quilts. Her work is simply amazing.

Oh, SO many lessons learned and things I would have done differently on this one.
1) I made the first 3 blocks forever ago and then waited months to make the rest. I didn’t write down anything – sizes, seam allowance, squaring up size…not smart.
2) I switched sewing machines in the middle of making the blocks. And used different feet. Again, I wouldn’t recommend this! LOL
3) I used charcoal thread in the bobbin and really am not happy with how it looks on the back. Sigh.
4) In my quest to be Rita-like, I tried machine stitching the back of the binding instead of hand sewing it. Let’s just say, I’m no Rita. LOL

This quilt ended up being a 64″ square which I think will be perfect to fit our family for lunches in the park this Spring. The binding is a stripe by Lizzy House Red Letter Day. I know I just used that for a binding, but I had a lot and I like it. Although the sashing looks black, it’s really Kona Charcoal. And the prints are just a rainbow selection of my favorites.

The back is 9 large squares using giant blocks of colors from the front. This part was a bit painful for me as I used up some of my favorite out of print fabrics. But I kept telling myself that I bought the fabric to use, not to hoard. So use it!

I quilted it using free motion and used Warm and Natural batting. I prefer Dream Cotton Request Loft batting and even though it’s more costly, I think I will go back to using that. It’s more lightweight and I feel like it’s just a better quality.

So now I’m moving on to my quilting bee quilt, my Dolce quilt and my Hope Valley quilt. Always more in the pipeline than coming out of it!

On a side note (but more importantly), today my little man is turning 1. Happy Birthday Kyler!

ETA: more gratuitous baby and quilt cuteness.

It’s about time, right? I love this quilt, but it has been hanging over my head for what seems like forever. I think it’s my love of it that is the reason behind the length of time it’s taken me to create it. First I wasn’t sure of the layout. I wanted it to be perfect. Then I wasn’t sure what to do for the backing. Then I wasn’t sure the thread color and quilting design. And already I’m not sure of the binding. Does this ever happen to you?

Well I have quilt a few quilts in progress, so I decided I needed to make a decision and act. Here’s to one step closer to finishing this quilt!