Signature Quilt - Finish

Just over a year ago a friend of mine announced that she and her husband would be adopting a second girl from China.  I, of course, needed to make a quilt for newest child.  You see, I made one for the first girl they adopted and you can read all about it here.

That was a huge undertaking, and while I enjoyed putting it all together, it asked a lot of the people who wanted to participate.  Its hard to go buy fabric for a project if you are not a sewist.

So, for this quilt I wanted to make it easier for our church family to be a part, so I decided on a signature quilt.

 I started with the Falling Charms pattern by Missouri Star Quilt Co - I got mine out of the Block Magazine that they put out.

 As you can see, I did planned the fabrics opposite of the pattern.  I used the charm squares as the signature blocks and the jelly roll strips in between. 

 I'm very happy over all with how it turned out.  I ended up buying two jelly rolls of Gooseberry by Lella Boutique.  This allowed me to get seven blocks with the same fabrics.  In hindsight, I suppose I could have made less blocks of each fabric and used more fabrics.  Eh. Whatever.

 A little bit about signature quilts, if you should ever think of doing one: Control is good.  I had all the charms cut and marked on the 1/4" line with clear instructions that anything over that line would not be seen.

 The fabric squares are ironed to pieces of freezer paper for stability in writing.  I purchased Pigma pens in a few colors and black and made sure that they were the only pens used for the signature blocks.  I tried to make sure everyone signed them in front of me - but two people actually managed to abscond with blocks and pens!  I did get them back, though.

 There is a single layer of Pellon cotton batting as this will be a wall hanging, mostly.  The quilting is a simple wavy stitch along the seams that make up the steps of the blocks.  I didn't want to worry about quilting over anyone's signature.  (also no close-ups of the quilt - privacy, you know)

 This is the back.  I have had the floral fabric for a long time.  Easily 10 years waiting for something special and this was it.  The colors matched perfectly.

 The green gingham strip is left from my three year old's baby quilt!

 Also a green gingham hanging sleeve across the top.  I used a leftover block for a label on the back.

 Binding is a matching pinky/red Kona Cotton.  I forgot to look at the name when I bought it, but its perfect.  I actually had a border on this originally that I took off.

  Finished size:  52" x 80"

Upcoming Projects: Quilts and Clothing

 A glimpse of some up and coming projects I've got in the works. 
First up will be a signature quilt for a friend adopting a girl from China.  This is their second adoption from that country and are there Right Now.  The quilt will not be done when they get back.

 I am using two jelly rolls of Gooseberry by Lella Boutique

 And lots of signature squares.  Lots and lots.  More than I anticipated.  This is a good thing!

 When I was in Pella, IA in August I stopped in their local quilt store, lovely place!  And picked up the above pattern.  I think it will be my next hand work project.  I didn't buy any fabric because A. I have so much and B. I have a ton of blue and blue and white.  Case in point:

 These fabrics came out of my mother's stash.  I've never known what to do with it, so I think I'll pair it with the Dutch embroidery.

And lastly I picked up this pattern and fabric at our new Joann Fabrics today.  I was disapointed in my treatment: basically the lady at the cutting counter assumed I didn't know what I was doing - hate that.  But I'm thinking maybe this top for Thanksgiving?  I've got a whole pile of clothing patterns and fabric I'd like to get to.

What I'm Working on Now

 Mostly I feel like I'm working on packing/unpacking and laundry.  No one seems to be home for more than a few days at a time.  We have two more family trips to squeeze in before school starts on Aug 24, too.

But I am slowly starting on a couple of projects.  This first one I'm going to bring up north and maybe at least start cutting squares, even if I don't actually assemble anything.

It's not the first and I'm sure it won't be the last Minecraft quilt out there, but this is what WD wants.  I promised him his "big boy quilt" while he was 10.  He'll be 11 in about 5 weeks.  I better get a move on.

I've had the fabric for a while, all RJR hand sprays.  I think it will look good.  The best thing about webfabrics.net is they tag the fabric so you can reorder exactly the same color! (no affiliation, just a happy customer)

I am also getting started a signature quilt for a dear family from church who are adopting a second girl from China.  For their first daughter I coordinated an 100 blessings quilt (here).  This time around I'm trying something simpler, for more participation, which is a basic signature quilt.

I've got the white squares ironed to freezer paper for stabilization and am having everyone use Pigma Pens.

 I plan on using the Falling Charms pattern from Missouri Star Co - but somewhat reversed, the squares will be the white and the stairs will be from Gooseberry by Lella Boutique. BTW do you get their Block Magazine?  I love it.  It's all patterns, no ads, fun stories and usually a helpful tips section in the back.  (again, no affiliation)

 I'm also getting ready to celebrate my paternal Grandmother's 100th birthday with my family - so there is some work for that as well, but those pictures will have to wait until after the party.  Wouldn't want to spoil anything!