New life...

Remember how I said that five of my co-workers were having babies this spring?  The shower for baby number 3 is tomorrow, and I am READY!  I pulled out a small top that I finished a couple years ago, thrilled to see that I had also already pieced a backing and stored them together.  Good thinking, Erin!

I pressed and basted on Thursday,

quilted and started binding it on Friday,

Instead of just plain cross-hatching again, I stitched on both sides of painter's tape in a modified cross-hatch.

I don't watch nearly as many shows as I would like, but binding a quilt is the perfect time to watch.  This is Heartland - I absolutely LOVE the scenery!

and finished binding it on Saturday (today)!

It is currently in the wash, and when it comes out, I will sign it, wrap it up and pat myself on the back.

The block is inspired by Melissa of Happy Quilting's Summer Breeze pattern.  The sashing and cornerstones to create the little Shoo Fly blocks in the corners and middle are my own spin on the pattern.  I'm happy to say that I used up every bit of the fabric scraps that I chose for the front by incorporating them in the back. 

The quilt measures 39" square and is destined for a little girl who is due later this month and whose name has yet to be revealed.

That is FOUR finishes for me already this year.  What took me so long to jump on the "simple quilting on the domestic machine" bandwagon?  Yes, I love to hand quilt, and I will likely continue to hand quilt those that I make for my own family, but I'm definitely going to keep machine quilting these tops that I've completed over the years who have been patiently waiting their turn to go under the needle.  Hmmm, which quilt should I do next?

Actually, working on a baby quilt and thinking about new life has been sustaining me during what has been an emotionally trying couple of days.  On Thursday, I learned that a friend with cancer was just told she has no more than 100 days to live.  I want to find a quilt from my stash of tops to finish up and send to her to let her know I'm thinking of her.

And then, this morning I received the phone call that my beloved aunt suffered from a ruptured aneurysm yesterday, and is now in a coma with a CT scan that reveals that she is brain dead.  The doctors say there is no hope for recovery.   They removed the breathing tube and she is breathing on her own now.  They say she doesn't feel any pain, but that it is only a matter of time before she is gone.  I'm alternately numb with shock and weepy with grief.  She is one of the most beautiful, loving, generous, fun and fierce people I know, and I am going to miss her deeply.

This is a happy memory from a visit the boys and I made to her house two and a half years ago.  She was pretending she was going to drive off in our new Jeep.

I will be linking up with Oh, Scrap and Monday Making.