It's a girl! Kate makes her entrance!

It's a girl! Sweet granddaughter Kate, posing on her special quilt, So Many Hearts.  
Katherine Louise was born 5/14/2020, a full 3 weeks early!  Long story, but mama and baby are healthy and doing well!  The quilt pattern was a simple heart block, 4 squares (3 pink, 1 white) sewn into a 4-patch and set on point.  I think the squares finished at 2", and the simple white sashing finished at around 1". I did a loose meander for the free motion quilting.  The batiks for the hearts were all from my stash.  Many were from a jelly roll purchased about 5 years ago, to make mug rugs for Emily's bridal party.  Perfect use for the leftovers!  I filled in with other scraps I had - pinks, purples, oranges, and a few green/pink prints.  

All of the newborn pictures from the hospital remind us that Kate was born during the Covid-19 outbreak, so both mom and dad are wearing masks.  Even so, you can see the love and wonder in our daughter, Emily's, eyes as she holds her newest daughter.  Her 2-year-old, Ella, stayed with us a week during the hospital stay.  

And check out little Kate and her daddy, Matthew,  sharing a special moment together.  How sweet is this! 
Since Kate was early - and I was late getting her quilt started - plus the fact that Scott and I kept Ella here for a full week (we didn't get much else done that week), the quilt was not done in time for Kate's homecoming.

Emily had hired a painter to paint her nursery - but because of Covid and not wanting workers in the house, she ended up painting it herself.  She even added one wall of peel and stick adorable bunnies wallpaper.  So soft and pretty.

Pretty mama and sleeping baby - welcome to the world, little one!

Oh My Happy Star

Oh My Happy Star delivered!  It's a good thing, because baby Henry arrived 15 days early!  Quilt was done in time for them to use when bringing Henry home from the hospital. 
The quilt had a long journey to its completion!  Once the muse finally spoke to me, it was easy:

Simple squares and half square triangles in bright, fun prints plus pure white Kona make for a sweet and simple baby quilt.  At the time of its making, we didn't know the gender of the baby, but I did know the nursery design and color scheme (gray, white, and bright colorful accents).  But it didn't start this way. 

My first idea was pinwheels - bright happy scraps, leftover from another quilt I made for Hannah and Danny (parents of the baby to be).  I spent LOTS of time making this, pressing seams open, picking fabrics carefully, figuring out the math to add the sawteeth borders (ugh).  And after I got it all "done", I hated it.  Hated. It. It was just TOO TOO  - too bright, too big, too scrappy.  So while thinking of another baby quilt idea, I ripped apart the pinwheels. 

I trimmed down the pinwheels to a smaller size, added white sashing and soft gray cornerstones. Aahhh.  

I added some simple white borders, and this top is done.  This quilt will go to another baby someday.  But in the meantime, this quilt is hanging on a hanger, awaiting quilting.  

Baby quilt idea #2 for Hannah's baby.  I used a simple color scheme of gray, white, aqua, and peach, and cut lots of 60 degree triangles.  Nice and simple, and I loved the result.  For about a day.  Then - I started rethinking it.  I thought it was too scrappy for Hannah, and not modern enough for her taste.  

Triangle quilt, take two - nope!  this is not it either.  All of the pieces are in a box, and will work for another baby quilt someday, but not this one.  Thankfully, the muse spoke to me, and I ended up with Oh My Happy Star.  I think I finally made the quilt, start to finish, in less than a week - including free-motion quilting.   I work full-time, and teach 18 piano students a week.  

Baby Henry's homecoming day!  I think they both look super cute. I love that Hannah is using the quilt, and not just hanging it on the wall, or storing it away in a drawer. 

Oh My Happy Star at home in Henry's adorable nursery. 

Sweet dreams, Henry!