Although this pattern was just published on BOMquilts.com in 2014, its classic shapes and design are definitely baby-pleasers. Not to mention how quickly it goes together! Go ahead, give it a try and see what you think! Free pattern available at BOMquilts.com!
Baby Bunting designed by TK Harrison for BOMquilts.com
My Monday wish for you is that you are able to use all five of your senses to enjoy a touch of nature. Vibrant colors, amazing smells, listening to the birdies as they chirp away, touching the soft petals of God’s creations and tasting the edible flowers that beautify our world.
Don’t wait until the last minute to make your holiday gifts! Many quilt shops are selling off their 2014 holiday quilt fabric at great discounts to make room for their 2015 stock. Here’s a quick and easy – and delightful! – wall hanging project sure to cool you down.
“Snow Days Snowman Quilt” from BOMquilts.com
Sometime in November 2014, one of my daughter’s friend’s mother asked if I would make a t-shirt quilt for her graduating daughter (whom I’ll call T). I was still having side effects from the failed MS therapy so was not ready to commit to doing anything that required a timeline. I had so much to do already and no gumption to do any of it. I did not relay this info to the mother because I had no idea when I would come out from my funk and be rearing to quilt again. I basically ignored the question.
In January 2015, I found out our friends were coming near where we live and wanted to get together for lunch. They also wanted to see the t-shirt quilt I was making for their daughter and son-in-law. Except, all I’d done on that quilt was stabilize the t-shirts and cut them to-size. And buy the fabric. I had to work fast and furious, over the course of a week, to get that quilt top finished. And I did it!
A week or two later, I found a paper sack on my cutting table. I knew I didn’t put it there so started asking around the house. Finally, my daughter said her friend’s mom sent the bag home with her, to give to me. As I peered inside, I saw t-shirts. This was the t-shirt quilt I ignored. UGH
Another week or two later, I decided to take a look at what T’s mom sent. As I pulled out the t-shirts, they weren’t what I expected. T has been in the one-act play group at school and I expected her play t-shirts. What I got, instead, were camp t-shirts. Summer camp t-shirts. Church summer camp t-shirts. I pulled them out of the bag, not paying attention to anything on them except for the years. I had t-shirts from the summer of 2007 through 2014.
And once again, I did nothing more with them.
Until I realized I didn’t have a whole lot of time to finish the quilt top and it was way past time when T’s mom could hire someone else to make the t-shirt quilt.
I start going through the shirts and really paying attention to them because I need to figure out what will and won’t work for the quilt and the sizes they need to be.
While reading the shirts, I came across this on a shirt:
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now have in the flesh, I have by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Galatians 2:20
This is what I call a “God Moment” in my life. You see, I was confirmed at the end of my ninth-grade school year and each of the confirmands in my grade had to choose a Bible verse that they felt suited them. Then we had to memorize it and recite it to the congregation during our confirmation church service. THIS was my Bible verse. I can still recite this verse from memory – and its meaning continues to speak to me, about me.
There was absolutely no doubt in my mind, after seeing this verse on one of those t-shirts, that I was meant to make this t-shirt quilt for T.
I don’t know how many quilts other quilters have made and keep for themselves, but I do know that I have made hundreds of quilts and have only kept three for myself. To clarify that statement, I have one quilt that I made as a wedding quilt for myself and my husband and that one remains ‘ours’. I have made my children baby quilts and now older-kid quilts and they have kept them. I also made a quilt for my husband many years ago and we still have that quilt.
But me personally? Not so much. And what I find even more interesting is that of the three quilts I kept and our family uses regularly, they all have RED as a main color! Red isn’t my favorite color. I don’t dislike it but it is obviously a color I’m drawn to though still not my favorite color. In fact, it doesn’t even rank as my top three favorite colors! LOL
I must also state that friends and/or family have asked for at least two of my quilts that I have saved for myself. One wanted the quilt outright because it matched her own favorite color palette. The other has been requested by a number of people (as a gift or to purchase it) but it is the most precious one of mine and I don’t care how much someone offers for it, I will not give it away or sell it
This is a smallish lap quilt. Well, small for my 5’9″ frame! But it is also the quilt that is nearest and dearest to my heart. When I was 12-years-old, I had already been moved to my third foster home. My foster parents had three biological children and one of them was a daughter who was a year younger than I was. She and I shared a bedroom and we became quite close – well, as close as to pre-teen’s could be. She was diagnosed with stage IV Hodgkin’s disease (cancer of the lymph nodes) about six months after I moved in and she passed away less than a year later. On the cards that were handed out at her funeral service was a quote, “God gave us flowers so we could have roses in December.” This quilt of roses is in loving memory of my foster sister and I am always reminded of her innocence and love when I touch it and allow its loving quilt-i-ness surround me and keep me warm.
I made two of these quilts, one in this deep red and dark green color tones and one in beach color tones which I gifted to a dear friend. Although there are parts of this quilt that aren’t ‘me’, the bold colors definitely add color enough to jazz up a room!
Finally, I come to this quilt. The design is fun and eclectic and is the first quilt I had designed using the newly released Charm Packs from Moda. There are only two fabrics that I needed yardage for, to make this quilt – everything else is made from 5″ fabric squares. Besides that, the reason I retained this quilt is because the fabric name is also my maiden name. Whether I’d like to distance myself from the paternal side of my family or not, it is part of me and part of a legacy for my children.
I have one more quilt that is already quilted (I just need to bind it) that I will keep – and believe it or not, it’s not red! :-) It is my 2013 BOM from BOMquilts.com “Pendleton Inspired” quilt. That quilt was designed with an amazing summer of fun inspiration where our little family spent three months touring the Pacific northwest. We stopped in Pendleton, OR for about a week and were blessed with being able to tour the Pendleton Woolen Mills factory. Once we read up on the history behind the Pendleton Woolen Mills and their woven Pendleton blankets, I knew I had to create a quilt design out of some of their historical blanket designs.
That leaves four quilts specifically saved for me. And each will go to one of my four children, at some future time – with a special handwritten ‘story’ about each quilt. Until then, we shall all enjoy some lovingly made quilted hugs.