Looking Back: Nature Quilt for a Nature Girl

I completed this quilt in April of 2010, in honor of my daughter's 17th birthday.

Deb Strain's Cherish Nature fabric line was the perfect choice for my nature loving girl.  I chose a very simple design utilizing a layer cake and jelly roll, and emphasized the graphic layout with straight line quilting.  The thin sashing is Kona white.

I set the quilt on her chair in her bedroom, so it was a surprise when she woke up on her birthday.  It was hard to find chunks of time when she was away from home to work on this, so as I neared my deadline I had to coax a few friends into inviting her out for sleep overs so I could work!

I had a bit of a tricky time with the backing, but after shuffling lots of scraps, I'm happy with the outcome.  I wished the pieced border would have extended the entire length of the quilt, but I got over it.

 I sketched out a butterfly that was on one of the focus fabrics, and I embroidered that on the quilt label.  I had so much fun with that, and liked the outcome so much, that I have embroidered a little something on all my subsequent quilts.  It's become a little trademark.  :-)

 I made it big enough that it can someday be used on a twin bed if she chooses.

My oldest.  She keeps me balanced, inspires me to be a better person, and has no doubt taught me more than I could ever teach her.  She's my favorite person in the world to go antiquing with, to eat chips and queso with, to be lost on a road trip with, and to make a nature quilt for.  Love this girl.