study quilts

We have a very functional homework set up for Emma.  A comfortable desk and chair, good lighting, quiet (it's in her room), some cool pencils/erasers/desk accessories (very important).  But it seems she's always in the cushy chair in her room, snuggled up.  It occurred to me the other day, when the temperature drop outside had me needing a quick quilt fix (I'm contradicting myself with that statement, I know) that it would be nice to make her some sort of study quilt.  (Well, that would probably occur only to people like me who are looking hard for an excuse to make a quilt.)  Anyway...

I did a version of the easy lap quilt in Amy's book and pulled the Heather Ross fabrics I bought not too long ago for it, which I really wanted to use in some sort of quilt anyway.  First off, I really can't say enough about the quality and hand of the Free Spirit/Heather Ross fabric, it feels so nice and it gets even better with washing.  All Free Spirit goods seem like great quality, but they really got something right with the feel of this line.  I believe in good quality fabric cause I swear I do my better sewing when I'm dealing with the best stuff.  Plus the Westhill prints are so sweet, so very Emma.  Just girly enough for my 'kind of feminine but holds her own with the guys' kind of girl. 

Secondly, how many projects have I done from Amy's book now?  I follow sewing directions very haphazardly, if at all, and look to craft books mainly for inspiration, and this book has tons of it.  This is a straightforward quilt project that produces some great results, and it doesn't take forever to do.  And that's where I'm at these days.  Quick and good, people...quick and good.

I laid out the solids and patterns very randomly, and finished it off with a pieced binding, which I'm really happy with.  I've started one for Ian, because he asked for one (perhaps for future studying?) and honestly how can I resist a request like that I tell you?  He loves the darker Heather Ross fabrics I have in my stash and is pretty much dictating how he wants it to look.  Much more opinionated than his sister.  Again, hard to resist a man who knows what he wants in a quilt.

I could see making a much larger version of this, but the size is really great for the kids to use around the house (it finished up to about 40" x 40", as the book said).  My goal is to keep our heating turned down a little more this winter, not only because it saves money, I really think its better for us in general to keep the house cooler. 

So, I probably should make one for Peter too.

Just a simple label for the back (hoping the edges will fray up with washing), and an added loop of ribbon with Emma's initials. I'm realizing at this stage of girlhood, it is very good if everything is labeled in some way, I actually find it kind of necessary.  I never got that before now.  This initial tape I bought years ago, when Emma was born.  I have some with Ian's initials too.  And now even some for me, thanks to my friend who surprised me with some this summer.

P.S.- Please do not think I have forgotten you blog winners from my last drawing!  I haven't, just really slow.