My latest Quilting projects.
In the last few months, I have completed two quilting projects that I began two years ago.
The first is Mackenzie's quilt. Mackenzie is my great-great niece, the great granddaughter of my sister, Joanne Persons. Mackenzie is now 2 years old, and has a baby sister, Keelyn. I began Mackenzie's quilt before she was born in 2008, and completed it in December 2010!
After piecing each block, I arranged them in different orders on the floor, to see how I would like to sew them together.
Showing Mackenzie her quilt in progress when she visited us in 2009.
Putting on the final touches of sewing on the binding of Mackenzie's quilt. Luckily, Mackenzie likes stars, and this quilt had plenty of them.
Soon after finishing, I was able to visit Mackenzie, and her family and her new baby sister, Keelyn.
Here is Mackenzie with her quilt.
Her Mom, Valerie, and Keelyn greet us, too. 
Valerie & Mackenzie's baby sister, Keelyn. I had found a perfect baby quilt for Keelyn in Marietta, at Red Hen Quilts, with kittens on it and brought it, too.
Making a quilt is a long process for me. First, I choose a fabric that I would like to build the quilt around. Then I begin looking for a pattern and coordinating fabrics to match the main fabric. I found the inspiration & basic pattern for Mackenzie's quilt in the quilting magazine, American Patchwork & Quilting, October 2008 issue, (pp. 36-41) from Better Homes and Gardens. The quilt design was one of their featured quilts. "Fiesta", designed by Amy Walsh of Blue Underground Studios & quilted by Janine Burke of Blue Underground Studios. I loved the design because it was bright and cheerful, looking like a puzzle. So I adapted Amy's pattern into my plan for MacKenzie's quilt. (After all, isn't that what quilting magazines are for?)
I cut and pieced the top together, which takes me a long time because I sew between traveling, working, and wood carving! After piecing the blocks together, I decided to add 3 borders, a thin blue inner boarder, a medium white with stars middle border (also the backing fabric), and a piano keys type outer boarder. (Amy Walsh's quilt pattern just took on a life of it's own for Mackenzie's quilt.) When the patchwork top, batting, and backing were sandwiched together, I took the quilt to Mervyn Paz for long arm machine quilting. Mervyn used a variegated red, white & blue thread. She machine stitched the quilt with a design of stars. It was perfect for this quilt.
Mackenzie was very happy with her quilt. She took it and spread it out on the floor, gathered up some of her favorite toys, and sat and played. I was happy with the thoughts of her using it as something that she treasures.
Mackenzie plays on her quilt, (with matching pillow) and her grandmother, Jan McKay catches her pictures. (Mackenzie's Dad's feet, too!)
![IMG_0269[1]](http://ratiocinate.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55389a02e88330147e2b0d342970b-320wi "IMG_0269[1]")
The second quilt that I finished in January, was a sewing machine mat for my good friend, Karen. Karen had invited me to go to the first Tiny Stitches (quilting & fabric shop in Marietta, GA.) quilting retreat held at Amicalola Falls State Park Lodge, in January, 2009. Since that first retreat in 2009 we have attended the (now) annual retreats together.
Karen's sewing machine mat
Karen & I at this year's Jan 2011 Tiny Stitches Quilting Retreat. I had started her quilted sewing machine mat at last year's retreat.
It all began with the first retreat and me seeing creative others at the Retreat with quilted sewing machine mats. I wanted Karen and I to have them, too. So after returning home, I looked for a material to suite Karen. She loves the color purple, and the time she spends volunteering at the Georgia Aquarium. When I found this fish fabric, I knew it was perfect for the central theme and colors for her mat.
Fish under the sea fabric
I had also been inspired during this time by different quilting magazines' pinwheel block designs. As my mind percolated with ideas for a pattern, I picked coordinating fabrics to go with the fish fabric and designed my own pinwheel block the size (6 1/2") I wanted for the mat. I set the blocks on point & just designed the rest as I pieced the top together. I think it turned out colorful & cute and the mat is useful with pockets for sewing notions at the bottom.
Now I am planning my own quilted sewing machine mat. I have the material, and have finished my pinwheel blocks. I am thinking, "What could I do with them for my mat?"
