"Layla's Garden" Quilt: Done!

Layla's Garden quilt is now quilted and bound...and ready to give to our little grand baby when we get back to Raleigh!

I really had fun custom-quilting this one.  A flower meander in the center block, lots of feathers...

I added quilt art to the back with some leftover blocks.

Layla's "Flower Garden" Baby Quilt

Finally, I finished the quilt top for my newest grand baby, Layla Grace.  She is now five months old!  Here is the finished top.

The green borders are more of a spring green than the photo shows.  

The birds and butterflies and center panel are from patterns that I have had for many years.  The patchwork squares are from coordinating fabrics for Layla's nursery, as well as fabrics from my stash. the vivid oranges and pinks are hand-dyed fabric.

Today I used some leftover blocks to make the pieced back, and mounted it on the machine.  I hope to get some quilting done tomorrow.  

Here is the sweet little recipient of the new quilt.  She is lying on the first quilt I ever made...for her dad!

We worked hard on the sewing room/studio space in our basement last weekend.  We got great help from Charlie's brother Richard, and our nephew, Jason.  Most of the ceiling is now complete, along with some wonderful LED light panels.

Next up:  finish the ceiling over the steps and in the bathroom, put in the bathroom fixtures, and then the floors.  I am thinking of using porcelain tiles that look like wood.

We have been having a great week here at the cabin in the North Carolina mountains.  Some pictures from a recent walk:

We will be here through the weekend.  We are hoping our nephew will come back and help finish the ceiling.  If not, it will keep for a few more weeks!

Garden Quilt Progress

I have been working off and on to get a quilt done for my newest grand baby, Layla Grace. 

 I made a block with a pot of tulips.

I used the freezer paper appliqué method, and machine-stitched with invisible thread and a size 8 needle.  It went together pretty easily.

Then I remembered the problem with stitching through freezer paper.  You have to cut away the backing fabric and pick all the paper out of the seams when you are finished.

My team's football game was not very exciting today, so I picked with tweezers while halfway watching on TV.

I think I got most of the little dribs and drabs of paper out.

I also embroidered antennae on the butterflies and eyes on the birds.

Layla is getting excited about it...hurry up, Gigi!

Handwork is a little difficult for me because I have a dislocated arthritic thumb on my left hand.  I have been getting by with steroid injections, but I think it may be getting bad enough to have the surgery to fix it.  It is not an easy process, and will require a big cast and weeks of rehab. 

We are in the North Carolina mountains this weekend, and are blessed with beautiful sunny weather to show off the autumn foliage.

We are also celebrating my husband's retirement from work.  His official last day is November 1.  He is going to go by on Monday and say goodbye, but his office is cleared out and his work is done!  We are so blessed that his cancer is in remission, and now we have some time to enjoy his retirement together.  I am looking forward to this new phase of our lives.

Great News, a Fun Week, and More Great News!

We have just returned from a week on the Gulf Coast of Florida.  The purpose of the trip was to revisit the Dattoli Cancer Center in Sarasota for my husband's six-month check-up.  If you have experienced cancer in your family, you know there is always a bit of anxiety when you go back for tests or exams.  Fortunately, Charlie got the all-clear:  he is still in remission.  Yippee!  Charlie had Stage 4 prostate cancer that had spread throughout his skeletal system and lymph nodes.  We are still numb with shock that he is in remission.  Thank you, Dr. Dattoli and your staff!

On to a week of fun in Florida!


We stayed in Sarasota for two nights and enjoyed great dining, the pool, and some sunsets.  Then we spent one night in St. Petersburg on the beach.  Great sunsets!

On Thursday we drove south to Fort Myers to visit my brother Jeff and his wife Anna.  We had some great meals, a beach day, and a boat ride.  

We left on Monday, and got home before Hurricane Hermine would have affected our flight.  

After that we planned to go to our mountain place for Labor Day weekend.  Instead...my daughter-in-law went into labor!  She was about a week early.  Maybe the change in barometric pressure from Hermine had something to do with it.  

Now I am proud to present my newest granddaughter, Layla Grace McBrayer!

We kept big sister Charlotte all weekend, and then had a family day on Sunday.

Of course I have not finished Layla's baby quilt, but I have at least started it.  Here are some patchwork strips and pieced butterflies.

Baby Quilt Fabrics for Layla

We have a new granddaughter arriving soon...and her mama and other grandmother (the interior designer) have selected fabrics for her nursery.  I now have a package of fabrics to use in designing and making a quilt for little Layla!

Looks like a lovely garden theme in soft pastel colors.  I will use these plus, hopefully, lots more that I pull from my stash.  Butterflies, birds, flowers...some of my favorite things!

Not sure it will be finished by her arrival around September 8, but I am glad to know the theme and color palette so I can get started!

This little one is looking forward to being a big sister!