Blogger's Quilt Festival: a quilt for my niece

Welcome, Bloggers!  Hope you are enjoying the Festival, thanks for popping by!

I have a new niece!  You can read more about her story here.  She has stolen all of our hearts :)

This is a quilt that brings me so much joy.  I have been waiting to make it forever.  My sister is not a "pink" person, and, growing up, had her own room decorated in purple, blue and black.  So, I used those colors as inspiration for my niece's baby quilt.

I don't often use patterns, but this time opted to crack out one of the MANY quilting books I buy (but rarely use!) for a simple pattern.  I settled on Elizabeth Hartman's Fenced In, from her Practical Guide to Patchwork, and modified it to baby size.  Though a generous baby size...it finished up at about 50"x50'.

I used and assortment of fabrics from my stash, choosing light and dark purples, navy and aqua blues, a splash of pink, and some yarn dyed Essex linen in black as my base.  A new color palate for me, and I love how it turned out.

On the back, I made a patchwork heart, with the center being my label, with some words of love for my new sweet niece.

I quilted it with loopy hearts to add even more love!

My sister used the quilt in a newborn photoshoot with the amazing May Arason-Li.  If you are in the Winnipeg area, I highly recommend her!  She has taken photos of our family as well, and they are spectacular.  Here are a couple of my favourites :)

And another on my New Wave quilt, pattern, by coincidence, also by Elizabeth Hartman.

And who doesn't melt at the sight of baby toes and puppies??

 

Thanks again for stopping by, I am off to enjoy the Festival!

a long time coming

Life has been pretty exciting around here in the last couple months!

My sister and her husband, one of the most wonderful and loving couple I know, have finally had their sweetest wish come true.  After years of infertility, failed in vitro treatments and heartbreak, they received a life-changing phone call, giving them the amazing gift of becoming parents to a perfect baby girl.

Our families could not be more thrilled or instantly enamoured with this most precious little gift.  And of course, Aunty has been celebrating with a frenzy of handmade gifts!  Let's start with this sweater.

Made all the sweeter when worn by my beautiful niece!

Instant love.  Look at that soulful stare.

I used the same purpuras purple Malabrigo yarn that I used to make a sweater for The Middle Child and for myself.  Someone is over the moon to match her new little cousin :)

The pattern is a free one from Ravelry, Cascade, and the size 0-3 month is the perfect fit for this 7 pound bundle of joy.  More details on my Ravelry page.  I love the details of this sweater, it has a sweet leaf motif along the button band.  I used lavender pearl buttons to finish it off.

It's exhausting work being this cute!

This Mother's Day, my sister's first, our entire family is so grateful for the gift of this beautiful child.  We cannot thank the courageous birth mother enough for entrusting her to our care.  We promise to love her and treasure her, always. 

Happy Mother's Day!