Michael Miller Challenge = baby quilt

New Baby Quilt: 32 x 40 inches 

The Modern Quilt Guild was given small pieces of fabric from a Michael Miller quilt fabric company's line called Petal Pinwheels. Five fat eights came in each set to make something quilted for a chance to win a years worth of fabric samples from the company for 3 winners. I used four pieces of the fabric plus two solids in pale silver gray & Curacao turquoise and a yard of orange Michael Miller tiny gingham purchased in a quilt shop.

by hand my embroidered label 

The finished quilt is 40 x32 inches and perfect for a new baby. I used my singer feather weight to piece together randomly the challenge fabrics in 8 inch half square triangles with the solids and plaid as my base neutrals.  This spread the special fabric as far as possible while trying not to loose the big printed designs hopefully with a modern feel. Then for the last guild meeting I made a embroidery label and turned it into an oval.  I like how the curves look on all those hard edges and angles. The quilting is zig zag to match the 45º angles of the half square triangles set in alternating rows. Naturally I used the orange plaid as my binding to bring out the oranges in these patterns. 

the back used remainders for a simple construction and an oval label 

zig zag quilting detail 

Now I need to find a baby who needs a blanket! Maybe this one is to be donated for the 100 quilts for kids project that comes along later this year. 

Meron's garden bird

Our neighbor, Meron recently immigrated as refugee from Ethiopia and was just  officially approved by INS last week to stay legally in USA. She was out in the garden this afternoon handling a baby bird. Keith was alarmed that maybe a robin had fallen from the nest out back and told me to come take a look. I determined this was a great photo opportunity, what ever the reason she was holding the bird so I ran for my camera. Took a few shots and watched, it seemed very attached to her so I decided to go ask where she found this baby bird and what the story is of how it became so attached to her.

It's always fun to talk to Meron about the new things she is discovering living here in our northern climate and American culture. This baby bird she first saw on the ground last week near a bus stop and the mother bird was very upset and chasing people away at the bus stop... She caught the bus and hours later, upon returning, found that the baby was laying passed out on the ground so she decided to rescue it and bring it home. Google search told her not to feed it worms but to give it dog food every 20 minutes so she has been very busy this past week. It was clear as we sat down at the garden table to talk that this little bird has marked her as family. It jumped on her and it cries in a sharp loud squall for food. She went in and brought out some soft wet dog food in a little cup that she proceeded to feed it using her finger.

you my mother?

fill me up please 

The baby walked across the table as we talked and moved toward my edge of the table. Stretching it's little wings now and again, she is concerned it hasn't begun to fly yet and wants it to eat bugs and get ready to be out on it's own but is cautious about the big cats that she knows stalk our garden. Next thing I know the little gray creature hops up on my shoulder! She asks if she can take a picture with my camera of her bird on my shoulder. Yes, please do, I say...

what's it doing? 

smile for the camera baby

that's a good bird 

what's next?

She asks me to try and get a shot of it stretching it's wings. Lifting it up and down was a bit difficult to capture but eventually it jumped on her chest and flapped them for the camera. We have baby robins in the lilac bush and baby house wrens in the wren bird house in the back garden. Now in the apartment below a rescued baby we aren't sure what type of bird it is yet but I suspect it is a baby house sparrow. It fell from too great a height to replace it in it's family nest so now it's mom is Meron. Good luck This baby may be yours for good.  What a treat to meet my neighbor's new room mate today it really made my day special.

Washington DC Modern Quilt Guild

Elle Irby gets a first look at her new baby quilt made of members donated blocks and assembled in this modern design by Jessie Aller

Yesterday was the beginning of our new international modern quilt guild in the local chapter for Washington DC.  We have been meeting under the name DC Modern Quilt Guild for a number of years but the official dues taking for our non profit group began this month. From now on we have to add Washington to the DC to distinguish it to the people who don't know that locals just call the city DC for District of Columbia. We welcome new members anytime and next month will be charity quilt month where we spend all day making quilts to give to 100 Quilts for Kids and other groups who need bedding at the meeting in Arlington VA.

Since I joined this big group of quilters as the only guy last September, I find I always learn something and have a great time visiting and sharing my work with this young group of very talented quilters. Yesterday's meeting was no exception only we got an extra treat when former president Elle brought along her latest project to show which she and her husband started about 11 months ago named Miles. What a tiny package of sweetness! She got a nice surprise too when the group quilt that current president Jessie gave her the gift from the group she organized only weeks before the birth of Miles. It's a very modern aqua and chocolate brown baby quilt.

Miles still sleepy grabbing a golden lock of hair to hold on to as mommy jostles him about. 

Proud Mother let everyone who wanted to, hold and play with her new baby. 

the quilt back got a lovely block worked in.

Elle taking in all the great blocks 

Touched by the love, moisture welled up in Elle's eyes with a big smile. 

Sure was nice to see Elle after a few months away working on the baby. I was so impressed with the quilting as usual and I wish we had a better way to document these quilts at our meetings. Snapshots help to remember but some formal quilt portfolio portraits would be really nice to have for Wash. DC Modern Quilt Guild archives and for future shows.
I am happy to announce that my Orange Explains It quilt will be in an art exhibition opening Friday August 23rd 5-9 PM continuing until September 15th, 2013. Its a big group show called ART ROMP curated by Molly Ruppert at the Anacostia Arts Center 1231 Good Hope Road. SE, Washington, DC.  A host of Washington DC area artists are in the show and it should be a great good time and site to see. $5 Parking in the garage across the street.

detail: Orange Explains It quilt