This is a first birthday present for my fourth niece. She has 2 older sisters so I thought a BIG quilt they could all play on was in order. It measures 58 inches by 58 1/2 inches.

This green children’s print was my starting inspiration. All the fabrics used were from my stash. I loved making all the colours come out and play together!

This quilt is my original design. Each section of the quilt is made up of blocks or techniques from quilters I visit in blogland. The centre is from Yolanda at Urban Amish. This is a block design from Urban Amish lesson 2. The red with white polka dots fabric became a focus fabric joining all the different blocks together. (The polka dot fabric was from my husband’s grandmother’s stash that I inherited when she died. I love using her fabric in family quilts.)

I also got to finally make some cottages using Nanette’s (from Freda’s Hive) tutorial! I see more fun cottage blocks in quilts to come. Like a Halloween one! Here they are on my design wall beside the courtyard steps I made to go in the quilt.

I won a copy of Kay MacKenzie’s new applique book and tried out a few of her fun flower blocks. Look, more red and white polka dot fabric! The background fabric in these blocks is from my mother’s stash when she used to make us doll clothes.

I used the Quilter’s Cache to find the perfect 10 inch block to put in each corner. Using THE fabric, of course:) Then I added the lime green sashing to make the border of blocks fit. Finally, one more round of polka dots. I measured this fabric out at the beginning when I had a rough idea of how big the quilt would be. I was so glad that I had enough!

Some may argue that this isn’t a REAL quilt because there is no batting. I used the envelope method to sew the two layers together and thus – there’s no binding either! But I think it’s a real quilt. The love, joy and motivation were all there. The best wishes and intentions are still stitched into this lightweight, summer coverlet or picnic blanket, like many quilts made in times past.

It’s real enough for me:)

I used some “cheater cloth” that I’d been given as the backing.

I was originally going to tie the quilt, but I ended up using my domestic machine to quilt it.

Happy 1st Birthday, Arabella
Made with love by Aunt Sarah
2009

Thanks for stopping by to see my special quilt.
Thanks to Amy for hosting this amazing festival once again.

ENJOY the show,
Sarah Vee