the birthday quilt

This is the 12th birthday quilt . I made it just a day before the new birthday arrived.  It has taken almost a year to finish and gift. The first few months were about collecting the fabrics that I had in mind for this quilt then I didn't plan the quilt size well, so ran short on a couple prints. I've gone back to the fabric store for more yardage cuts, but a couple prints were sold out by them. I had a little bit hesitation for changing color, the blue print was the second choice. But I went ahead and used it and though it turned out to be a nice breaking color, such a nice fresh add on! 

There are a couple music sheet prints I have used for this quilt as music has always been big part for S. Whenever I see a good music sheet fabric print, I like to purchase a half yard and collect them. A couple prints were from our trips to Japan last couple visits and have been saving for, as always! 

This quilt is quite different from other quilts that I made for her. It is a nice soft pastel combinations. Something soft, original, and fresh to speak! I've been thinking that in this upcoming time will be more noise in the change of learning new self and finding new paths of who she is. 

Maybe a quiet quilt that to represent a time that she could be think of something be thankful,  time to be quiet, life to be spontaneous, and speak with calm and generous...   

The quilt measured at 88"x84". It is considered a large quilt to machine quilt at home for me. It was taken a good 7 fully winded bobbins, one broken needle, and on small finger cut (ouch)! It always a joy and maybe feeling more proud to have another handmade birthday gift to be ready and being cuddle from time to time. 

The backing print is used a large music sheet print ( 2 yards) that I've had for years and pieced with the remaining fabrics from the quilt top then added few other prints that would go well with it.  I tried not to worry about the backing so much for this quilt. The randomness is just a nice call for it. Using fabrics that I have instead of acquire more for the backing is a big saving. 

The binding is used gingham print that I've been using for a couple of quilts now. I really like the classic finish look quilt. You might not know, but I like my binding a little narrower, so I cut 2" wide for most of my quilt bindings.  

I have been thinking so hard for the first teen birthday quilt ideas. Nothing spark my mind still. 

I knew it would be something simple, random, and loving! 

Meanwhile here are the previous birthday quilts that I made: 

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010 

xxc 

Happy Birthday Stella Joy

It seems like the day has been shorten by hours rather by minutes.  I am not sure how time fleet away from my clock, but it did! I feel slightly uncertain about sharing this quilt every time when I am in front of the computer. When I take a pause of my writing, I ended up erase all. So, today I am going to take a time ship down to the memory lane again and wondered if you'd join me for this birthday quilt that I made for S' 11th birthday...

Every year right around this time of the year, I've always careful paying attention to the the conversation between S and I. I rarely ask her "what do you want for your birthday quilt?" I tried to listen to her words or maybe some moments that we shared in our drive to music classes, times at home or just something that she is into. You know I take it in my head and think how could I transferred something like that into a quilt. Um...

We have always loving and wowing the Fall season's sunset here in the Midwest. You need to see it before you believed in my words. Around late 6p.m. the sky turns into the warm yellow, orange, then at the far end of the sky is slightly blue. By 7p.m., you see merely bit of orange, yellow, and then the sky is almost in a shade of dark blue and maybe a bit of turquoise/orange. We talked so much about the pretty of sunset and somehow one night; it clicked into my head. The 11th birthday idea landed my head and you know I was overly excited because birthday month were a few month away!

After collected, cut, and sorted the prints for the birthday quilt, I aimed to finish the birthday quilt in 2 weeks, but it actually took me 11 months to finish and your probably didn't know that I almost walked away from making this birthday quilt.  S and I had a serious conflicts right after her birthday. I had no idea how she started behaved difficultly for me or maybe I was not paying closer attention on the changes that she made during the time? I had to step away from this quilt making and was so mad at myself and on top of my head was all about how could I fix this. I didn't want to have any regrets and it was the right decision to leave it along and come back later.

Our trip helped out and relax our relationship! The intense and the anger between us have quit melt down after a summer long time together with families and of course lots Lucky time. We talked about the right choices of how we live, how we appreciate each other, how we want to be respect and wish others do so, and how we gain trust from someone we love. Maybe there were moments that she can't wait to be so growing up and I on the other hand was holding that tied and wasn't ready for it.

Slowly we learned to slow down, spend time together and listen to each others'  words, not just hear the words from our own mouth, but listen to each other!  We started some weekend activities, somewhere we could walk around and enjoy! It was hard to start the early weekend walk, but we are really loving it now!  S talks more than I do now and most of the time I listen close up what she is trying to tell me; there are worries, maybe unfairness, and giggle moments at school.  I often shared a bit of my childhood schooling time with her and we compared how my days and hers together! She loves my talks sometimes; as long is not picking up your room; collect your books from the floor,etc.

I made a self-commitment after the summer trips;  finish up the birthday quilt was the priority. I tried work on four 36 patchwork blocks a day then needed 56 in total. You know, it felt mission impossible!  It was hard to finish because my quilt math wrong! I had intended to make a throw size quilt, but ended up to a closed queen-size , but I will be so honest with you. I actully am so glad that I got bad math skill for this quilt. It will be perfect for a Full-size mattress that S will be getting next year! win-win?! 

It seems like I am no longer produce quilts in a fast speed. The slow and steady making time have really been working out so much better than trying to jump right in and finish up in no time.  I preferred iron open seams for each blocks and preferred spend 2 hours the most on one quilt, but likely more hours than that have spent.

When all the blocks sewn together and pressed into a quilt top, I was so fulfilled! Indeed, there were lots of my mind went with this quilt the same time I made this quilt. It feels like this promise didn't break down, but slightly delay. It always feels that it is the best gift I could make for S. I know it is not true, but somehow it always does to me. My heart sings when the gifting time comes closer!

However, it gets harder to make the quilt for S now.  She will be happy with any thing I made for her, but see I always want to be different from the last one and surprise her! You will see me getting excited very soon with the 12th birthday quilt!  I love seeing each year the birthday quilt coming together! There will always be some interruptions for making the quilt on time, but it will always turns out fine to the end.

For the quilt backing, it was simply paper-pieced with S' name and middle name and the year. It turns out really simple and is so S! Perhaps a bit skylight looks from my original sketch only I switched the dark backing colors to low value prints.  There were near 10 yards of fabric for the backing! I ordered the 108"wide print, which saved a bit cost on the backing.

I had wished to send this quilt for long-arm quilting, but it always feels so great to finish the quilt from the beginning to the end by myself. It was quilted by my little machine and took a good two days (5 hours each day). The quilting pattern was puzzle, which is nothing fancy, but it work out well.

To accompany the quilt, I made two pillowcases. I know I had to spoiled S this year! It seems just so approirate to have something newish for her! You know that I have had spilled the bean out when the quilt top was done and S was already giggled about this quilt. When the day, I hung the quilt on the wall for photo shooting and ready to gift to S, I pictured that jumping so hard!  She did jump so hard in her room and hugged me so tied and told me, "Mommy you made my room to a blue room! I finally have a blue room!" You know that moment all that struggles and challenges that I have had were just really nothing! Then she talked about the new birthday quilt for next few weeks and show it to her cousins via Skype and felt proud of the quilt. She keeps telling me that I am the BEST mom in the whole wide world that afternoon. I do hope the Best Mom stays very a long time, no just one afternoon length time!

There will always time that we get so mad at each other, but it is reality of our life surround from each other. We disagreed from each other and will also learn from each other small to big! These time will always be challenging, but it will bring the goodness indeed! Oh.. motherhood is something that I learn from the day one that S arrived! and....


It is always,  priceless!


birthday quilts from

2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015

Hope soon, I'll be adding up 2016 on this list...

xxc

Dear Stella

S' 10th birthday quilt looks so festive now! A little holiday-ish look? Oh, you might want to bring a cup of tea or coffee and join me with this quilt making business journey!  Many of you know that each year, I make a birthday quilt for my little girl, S. I still love the idea of a year a quilt for S. It indicates the year, the time and almost a bit of story telling! S always loves and proud to share each quilt story when friends visit. Oh.. She will tell you how she loves drag quilts from one place to another, use quilt for picnic blanket, set up a tent with lots quilts to hide under, quilt that she snuggled up..., so on... and for the 10th birthday quilt it just like every other year. It was late!

"Is that Christmas Candy Cane, mommy?" S asked! It was probably the first time S saw quilt blocks lay on the living room floor. " It is a little early for Christmas sewing, don't you think?" S said to me. It was probably back in September sometimes. The quilt layout has been moved around every other day for a good two weeks then finally finalized to the final version. To avoid my indecisive mind, I went ahead and sew the blocks together right away! You know, I really don't like rip sewing seams off!

This is the S' 10th birthday quilt and I was only 7 months plus late! You know she didn't mind it at all! I love how the red and white stripes shifted around this quilt and how the other 25 different prints added the charm to it!  This quilt has two different quilting pattern and was quiet a challenging for me to attempt two designs. For the backing, I used the Far Far Away reprint in cotton; Princess and the Pea.

After finished the quilt { my birthday; it was one of the birthday gift to myself; sew all day long}. I stored the quilt away till next day. I spent the morning pin up the quilt on S' room and photograph it. Did a little bit of cleaning in her room. Around 4p.m. I heard the key turning in the front door then the sound of  "I AM BACK"! Loud and Clear! When S gets home from school, the first thing she always does is find me and with a must tell mama how school day been time then went to her room unpack her backpack! After shared her day, she went to her room and she spoke loudly to me from her room {studio is just right next to her room}, "Is the candy cane quilt for me? I though you love red and white and thought you made it for youself! I had big giggle!  When I walked in her room, S was looking at the fabrics and tried to find the quilt label then I show the quilt label to her and told her it wasn't a fancy one! She gave me a big hug, a big kiss then a big {Thank you, mommy}!

First of all, I would like to Thank my friend, Doe helped me to start out this quilt! She sent me a stack of varies width of red and stripes fabric then from there I ordered a few yards more. I have had the vision of this 10th birthday quilt to be a little bit grown up look; less colors and focus on just two values.  It gives nice strong statement and in a very simple way! Half triangle sewing are great and perfect for interesting composition layouts.  I didn't love all the trimming at the beginning, but I learned to love it after all!

Sometimes, it is hard to believe having a 10 year-old in the house! It feels like having a little friend sometimes, but the 10-year-old is still my little girl! After 10 years parenting, I'd say I am a better parent now,  but not a perfect one! I learn to share with S in good and bad! The good part always covers the bad part! There are always challenging days at our home! Oh, yes! There are name calling and you are in big trouble moments here as well! She tries her way to push the boundaries and rules around as she always does! When she was a little one, she kept good manner up for months.  Now, it seems like she pushes more often! As this pre-teen stage coming around our home, there are much to make it right then make it perfect! More respect, more responsibilities, and more thankful to life!  I hope these will help S in her life time eventually!

I am always thankful when she comes home with a smile and lots to share! The new school has been wonderful! I can't really ask for more! Teachers are kind and school friends are fun! Best of all, she is feeling comfortable and settle-in at HOME again! It really has been a challenging move for both of us! She has been the biggest cheerleader and always my number one fan!

Having the 10th birthday quilt ready for S is a big satisfaction for me! I do think that this birthday quilt making will be a big impact in her life and cheers in the memory lane as she gets older! There will be the 11th birthday quilt soon, then 12, 13, 14,15,16... I do look for that opportunity comes every year! Each year, I noticed I ordered extra yards of fabric for the quilt backing. This year was 5 yards of backing and last year was 3.5 yards. I plan on making the quilt to 80"x90" now, so she has enough room for her long legs! Yes, kids don't get smaller, they only grow bigger! I found this so true as I went through the all the infant and toddler stage boxes last month! I had to show S how wee bit she was and she looked at me, I wore that? Indeed, lots baby clothes have been saved! Someday I like to make a quilt out of clothes I made for her and clothes that were wore in the traditional ceremony.

The 11th quilt fabric has been pulled and I can't wait to share with you the next birthday quilt! I need to order a few more print to contrast some of prints then have been pulled. Lots hope this quilt won't be too late!

{Thank you} for all the comments! I careful read through each one of them! Thank you for all the support and encouragement! I never though how this blog would have reached out so many of you in world wide! I am honored to have so many friends out there and thinking of us and thank you for all your kindness! All from our button of heart!  

Check out S' birthday quilts  2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008,

xxc