Masami's Quilt

I started working on a quilt for each of the kids when I was pregnant with them.  With Alethia's I got a fair amount done before she was born, but once she was born I found very little time to work on it for months.  I did, however, manage to get hers done in time for her first birthday. 

With Masami's, it was really just a concept by the time he was born.  I have worked on it off-and-on over the past three years.  Other projects just seemed to take precedent, so I would have to put it aside and then it would take me a long time to get back to it.  Finally, I decided that it was time to commit and finish it.  So, just after his third birthday, I completed his quilt and he seems to like it (especially since I backed it with soft minky).  As I was quilting it by hand, he would often come cuddle with me and "help" me pull the needle through the fabric. 

I'm happy with how it turned out.  I love the bright colors of the hot-air balloons and the fun swirls of the sky patterns.  But mostly I hope it speaks to my son of my love for him and my prayer for him to have lots of adventures and to experience life to the fullest in the Lord. 

Happy Birthday Mom!

For my mom’s big milestone birthday this year my sister and I decided to pair our talents and make her a quilt.  I have been quilting for about 8 years now…mostly self-taught, so I’m no pro.  And my sister has really gotten into it in the last few years.  My mom has made it no secret that she wished we would make a quilt for her.  So in celebration of her 60^th year we did it.  

My sister chose the pattern and made the quilt top.  The pattern is fashioned after the Tokyo subway map.  The bright colors are perfect for my mom and the theme of international travel fits her.  Little did we know that as I would quilt it, Japan would be suffering mass devastation from the earthquake and tsunami.  Many prayers were sewn right into the quilt as I worked on it.  

  

Once my sister was done putting together the thousands of tiny squares, creating a gorgeous quilt top, she sent it to me.  I put together the backing, quilted it by hand, and binded it.  It was a lot of work, but totally worth it and I LOVE how it turned out!  

 

Off in the mail it went…I nervously waited, hoping it would make it on time.  My mom received it before her big day and got to enjoy it on her vacation.  She really loves it, knowing all the thought, effort, and love that we put into it.