Monday, August 18, 2008

a winner, quilt along news & baby quilt week

The winner of the fabric giveaway is Shelli. She will be receiving a bundle of green fabric from my stash. Thanks to all of you for playing along. I did pick the winner on Saturday, I just didn't get around to posting it until today.

In quilt along news...I have decided (based on John's suggestion) to do a bunch of tutorials to help you with your Christmas gift giving. I have a hefty line up planned. More news on that next week.

I'm declaring this baby quilt week here at Crazy Mom Quilts.

I plan to post a completed baby quilt (top at least) each day. This pattern is Plain Spoken from The Modern Quilt Workshop.

In a personal challenge to myself, I am trying to make several baby quilts for a few reasons.

1. I find it hard to make small quilts. My mentality is, if small is good, big is better. I think it just boils down to selfishness. If it's at least a lap quilt, I can keep it and use it myself. As much fun as that would be, I really don't need that many more quilts.

2. I have a list of quilts that I want to make that is out. of. control. This should be a helpful tool in whittling down my list. At least that's the hope.

3. One of my new year's resolutions was to make more quilts for charity. I haven't done very well with that. Yet.

If anyone cares to join me in making a baby quilt (or quilts) this week, I'd love to see what you come up with.

43 comments:

Shelli said...

squee! I've NEVER won anything before, I'm SO grateful!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Cheryl said...

Hello AmandaJean!
I have been perusing your blog for a while now and love the quilt alongs you have done. I have never particiapted in one yet...only because life was too busy. I plan to go back and do your star one. Star quilts are my fave.
I have a baby quilt top I plan to finish up this week and then have another I need to start on...so, I will join you in this. I will post on my blog how my quilts came out.

Anonymous said...

I make crib-sized quilts almost exclusively because I love the size so much. I'm a hand-quilter, so it gives me a great canvas without the risk of getting burnt out from working on the same piece for too long. Also, I think it's a really good size for experimenting with different kinds of quilting, especially over-sized patterns.

QuiltedSimple said...

What great ideas (both the Christmas giving and the baby quilts)!!! I need to start thinking of christmas presents - they won't make themselves, right???
Kris

Danetta said...

You are so full of great ideas!

I might actually be able to work on these!

Congrats to Shelli!

Lauren The Artist said...

What an ambitious idea! Love it. I'll definitely be checking each day. ~jen~

Anonymous said...

Oh I love the idea of help with Christmas gift ideas! And while I normally am making one baby quilt after another, I'm currently deep in the midst of a full sized so I can't join you in makin' tops this week. But I can't wait to see all that you make. I love this one that you posted today!

Anonymous said...

Oooooooo! I'm so excited to see your Christmas gift tutorials. I have decided to make all of our Christmas gifts this year and I don't want everyone to get the same thing so I need some more ideas!

And that's a brilliant idea about the baby quilts. I, too, have a HUGE list of quilts that I want to make and this is a great way to make them without spending too much time on each one. Thanks for the idea!

Tine said...

I'm aiming to make all our gift too.... Don't know how well I'll do, though, since classes start in 2 weeks! And I just don't work that fast!!

Sarah said...

I love the yellow and pink! Baby quilt week is a great idea - I can't join you this week (too busy) but I might have to borrow your idea in the future since I have three baby quilts to make in the near future...

Nichole said...

i LOVE that quilt! so great!

i find that i like making little baby quilts more because they're done quicker. i can see the fruits of my labor sooner! :) i also really love giving my quilts away, and they seem to be easiest to find owners for.

Anonymous said...

You are so full of great ideas! I love to see how productive you are, it gives me inspiration. Can't join the baby quilts week because I have to finish a moving away quilt for a friend (boohoo), but I look forward to gift ideas.

Mama Urchin said...

I have the opposite problem. I'm afraid of the big ones.

Linda said...

I might have to delay the baby quilt until next week. The girl at work that I want to finish one of my tops for has her sonagram on Friday and will hopefully find out if she is having a boy or a girl. Then I can finish one of my tops that I have started for her.

jacquie said...

i'm with mama urchin...a bit afraid of the big ones. have this twin sized grad quilt to finish this week...it's a stretch! good luck with the challenge...loving the plain spoken. i'll be checking in to see the others.

Anonymous said...

What a great idea! I'm just the opposite-I'm kind of scared of the big once( I have hard time quilting them). I can't wait to see all the small quilts you will make this week! And can't wait for the Christmas tutorials! Have a great day!P.S. love your blog!

nettie said...

I wish I had your problem...I make baby ones all the time. It's so easy to fit them under the sewing machine (no wrestling!).

I also have lots of friends/sisters/sisters-in-law having babies, so baby quilts are always in the works.

dutchcomfort said...

Congratulations to Shelli!

I bought the Modern Quilt workshop book last week to make the plain and spoken quilts. Lots of wonderful ideas!

I will try to make ‘a’ charity babyquilt this week. I have to decide on a pattern though!

Christmas gift tutorials! Great idea!!

kira said...

I have two baby quilts I was wanting to finish this week, count me in! :) Love all the information you put out there & I can't wait to see what ideas you have for Christmas!!!

Anina said...

Your baby quilt week coincides perfectly with the little squares I received. I'll take you up on the challenge!

Reg said...

I just finished a baby quilt top for a little girl and I'm working on quilting a little boy one right now. I will hopefully have it finished tonight! You can check out my blog for pics. The girl one is made of triangles-into-squares (bold colors) and the boy one is 3 strips-into-squares (I think it was Wee Play by moda fabric). I have another little girl one planned using long strips the entire length of the blanket with different shades up purple. Maybe I'll have that one out tomorrow. I know so many people having babies!

Unknown said...

Shelli's a lucky duck! I love the Plain Spoken! I've seen a few while out and about (in blogland) and feel the need to make one. Maybe I should buy the book!

wyndesnow said...

Oh, I have to finish up 2 baby quilts for charity this week. Both of the mom's had their babies. One is almost done and the other is not even started. What a great motivator. I can't wait to see what your tutorial line up is going to be!!!

Kim said...

I made a baby quilt recently enough that it can be counted in this challenge...love to make those baby quilts ya know! It's a Pooh inspired quilt and you can see it at my blog. Happy quilting everybody! :)

Holiday Tutorial line-up huh? Sounds GREAT!!

Anonymous said...

I was scrolling down waiting for you to say you were expecting.
Is that bad?!
Your duluth friend, Teresa K
Love your blog. Thanks Amanda

Karla said...

Hi!

I enjoy your blog! I'd also be happy to quilt along with you on baby quilts. My blog already has a couple on it. I'm thinking of doing the fall craft show circuit and seeing if any of them would sell. I'll keep posting my baby quilts and I'll be eager to see yours!

Karen said...

Christmas gift tutorials would be super! I look forward to joining!

QuiltNut Creations said...

so pretty! i love the softness of the colors

Leslie said...

wow that is a hefty challenge! One a day sounds wild...i am not sure that i could even get one in this week. Although there are several on my to do list. That quilt is beautiful...you do wonders with solids. I always get caught up in patterns.

Roxanne said...

Can't wait to see your Christmas ideas! ;) Love the plain spoken pattern, and it is especially cute in "baby" colors!

Anonymous said...

I just love the colors in the quilt. It's beautiful!

John said...

Wow, I'm happy that you liked my gift idea enough to go with it! Can't wait to see what you have planned.

Amy Jo said...

Love the quilt top. Can't wait to see what you complete the rest of the week. I also can't wait for next weeks tutorials on Christmas/gifts!!

I am starting work on my sewing for the Arts and Crafts show - sure wish you were here to play fabric with me!!

miss ya~

Rebekah said...

so pretty! I love the pastels that you used. I can't wait for your Christmas tutorials. The ladies in my family want to do some sort of craft project on Thanksgiving while the men watch football and I'm on the lookout for ideas :)

Anonymous said...

I'm really looking forward to your Christmas ideas. Not to early at all to get started, this was a great reminder. I love the baby quilt and your colors!!

Marcia said...

I'm really looking forward to some gift making. I've got to get me a list together and get started so I can enjoy the process rather than rush through it.

Jeanette said...

Isolette quilts are also a great way to use scraps and spend an afternoon. They use them in the NICU to cover the incubators and they get worn out really fast because they have to be washed so often.

Call your local hospital to see what size they like. I make mine 45x45.

sulu-design said...

A quilt a day - yikes! And you've kept up with it. I love the modern ones you've posted. Very cool designs. And I cannot wait to see your handmade gift suggestions.

Rebecca said...

Thanks for the kick start, I got a baby quilt top done yesterday and hope to get some more done for charity. It's something I've been wanting to do for awhile too.

Anonymous said...

hello amanda, I made my baby quilt too, please check to my blog.
thanks

Anne said...

Along that line, I'd like to tell you about Love Without Boundaries! We're a bunch of folks that try to help as many orphans as we can in China each year. We tried our very best to win the quilt at The Old Red Barn, but we didn't. We still need a quilt for our Art Auction this year, so if you're looking for a charity to give one to, come on over....

http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/borninmyheart.cfm

Marmee....a volunteer

GranthamLynn said...

I love your idea. I work in a ministry where we make quilts for charity. I know what you mean.
So many patterns quilts to make so giving to charity is cool.
I enjoyed looking at your quilts and reading your posts.
You have inspired me.
Thanks,
Sherry

Sheree said...

Wow, I have just browsed this first page of happenings...and you have been so busy. I love all the new quilts shown and the Christmas projects are great! I'll be watching this series. I already see two ideas I must try!

sheree