Central Park Squares Baby Quilt

There's a new baby in my world...

one of my friends has waited for a very long time

for the safe arrival of little Samuel.

I just had to make a quilt for this special little boy!

{ALL babies are very special, but Samuel is truly a miracle.}

Samuel's nursery is filled with animals,

so I started with an animal print

from Kate Spain's Central Park line for Moda.

I found most of these coordinating fabrics at Rose Room Quilts.

I had recently stocked up on polka dots,

and they were fun to use in this quilt.

I love the Ta Dots in Sea...

 the small cream dot in orange from Riley Blake...

and the solid olive green.

My favorite print, though,

was the Random Pencil Check in Linen,
which I used instead of a plain background solid.

I labored {hee hee} over what pattern or design to use,

and in the end, I decided to use colorful squares,

set off by the neutral pencil-check blocks.

Before I knew it, I was ready for the quilting step.

I kept the quilting very simple, 
just stitching 1/4" on each side of the seams.

{I wanted to give this quilt to baby Samuel before he is ready for kindergarten.}

This quilting looks so cool on the back, too!

For the binding,

I chose those happy orange polka dots.

I finished the binding by hand-stitching,

and that is a process I really enjoy.

{Do you like that part, too?}

So there we have it...

just 5 different fabrics, made into a finished quilt, 

ready for a bundle of joy!

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Chestnut Hill Diaper Bag

Once upon a time,

back in Spring 2007, to be precise,

Joel Dewberry released a beautiful line of fabric, 

called Chestnut Hill.

I bought some prints from this line quite a while ago, including

Black-Eyed Susan...

Modern Petal...

and Buttercup

{Actually my print was in a different colorway.}

I needed a diaper bag as a present for a lovely new mom!

The baby is a boy, so I decided these fabrics would

make a nice tote.

I've used this pattern for several diaper bags...

It's called Pocket Parade, by Quilts Illustrated.

Mine looks sooooo different from the one on the pattern cover!

{It's the one I used, though - believe me.}

I love all the pockets on the outside...

front, back, and one on each side!

AND all the pockets on the inside!

{Here's a peek!}

 I used a strip of divided pockets for one side.

They are so handy for pens, sunglasses and what-not.

{I always have a lot of what-not.  Do you?}

And on the OTHER side,

I varied from the pattern and added

a zippered pocket!

{You can put stuff in here like money or credit cards.}

The bag has lots of detailing and a sturdy strap.

Fusible fleece makes the tote soft and shapely, too.

The bag holds its shape so nicely, even without anything inside it.

Here's a view of the cute little tab with a D-ring.

{You could hang keys or a baby toy on there!}

I sure hope the new mommy will enjoy her diaper bag!

I've got pictures of more bags from this pattern. 

Leave me some comments 

if you'd like to see them in another post sometime!

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More elephants...

What is it lately with me and ELEPHANTS?

In my last post I shared my pincushion

from Heather Bailey's pattern,

Ollie and Effie Elephant.

And now, today's post is all about more baby elephants!

My husband's goddaughter recently welcomed a third baby boy into her family.

I made her this diaper bag...

And a matching baby elephant softie for the little sweetheart to cuddle.

Then I thought it would be fun to make a couple more,

for the two big brothers!

You have to admit there's something really sweet about baby elephants.

They're as much fun as a 3-ring circus.

This time the pattern is from Retromama on Etsy, called Tilly and Tommy.

  I just LOVE the little knotted tails and floppy ears!!!

Suddenly a lot of my work friends are becoming grandmas, 

so I needed lots of new baby gifts. 

Perfect!  And so much fun to make. 

They're my new "signature" baby present!

Watch for an extra or two in my shop on Etsy...OR...I could always make a custom baby elephant just for you...I'm just sayin'...

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