Ezra's Quilt

 
Oh, I'm so happy this is done. So happy. Or, rather, Ezra is really so happy that it's done. I don't think I moved that slow on it, but to a four year old -who asked a couple of times a day, 'is my quilt done yet?' - my production rate was s-l-o-w. All is forgiven now that it's done, though, because now I hear several times a day, "thank you for my quilt, Mama. I loooooove my quilt, Mama." Be still, my heart.

I chose a simple patchwork for my daydreaming Ez - I was envisioning him finding lots to look at and dream about with these fabrics. There's lots of our old favorite Munki Munki prints in here, and a few newer Superbuzzy bits, too, as well as one special fabric that Ez picked out on his own (can you guess?) - it was the only fabric purchased for the quilt. I really, really struggle with color - I was trying to stick to his favorite color of blue, with some greens and yellows too. But that brown? I have no idea why I put that in there - it stands out more than I thought it would. Oh well.

For it's simple patchwork design and easy piecing, the rest of the quilt got a little complicated. I kept getting stalled out on boring details along the way - no tape in the house just when I needed it (what?), a broken walking foot (seriously. not cool.), the wrong batting purchased (super high loft, and not the right size), and some seriously awkward wrangling of the quilt through my machine. I was a quilting sailor mouth, I tell you. But thankfully, I had some help along the way - Deborah gave me some fabulous advice that saved me from even more bumps and cursing. Thank you!

So yes, the puckers and flaws abound, but of course, they were never noticed by Ezra and completely forgotten by me the second it was placed on his bed. I borrowed some words from Blair and told him that with his quilt, I was hugging him all night long. He loved that thought as much as I.

Comments

[lyn]

It's lovely.
: )

[Plumtickled]

What a lucky boy...... and he seems to know it too! I absolutely love the weight and thickness it seems to have.... the kind of quilt you can use in the summer but still be kept warm with in the winter. It's really great.

Now, how many more do you have to go to reach your goal of each bed getting a quilt this summer? Do I sound like Ezra?

[jean]

It's really beautiful. And so is Ezra for loving it so much.

[Eva]

what a great quilt to snuggle up in!

[Julia]

how beautiful! now i'm really inspired to start a quilt--well, not just yet, got a few projects to finish yet. but i'm getting there. wonderful work and ezra is truly lucky!

[Julie]

It's beautiful... and I love the borrowed words from Blair!

[shanna murray]

amanda, you're an inspiration. what a beautiful mother you are.
the world is so blessed to have you!

[jenn]

I like the brown bits in it. it makes me think of grass, sky and earth. I think it is just lovely.

[Meredith]

Oh how absolutely lovely!!

[Kelly]

You are incredible, as well as the QUILT! It is just lovely! Lucky Ezra! Much comfort to all of you!

[Qalballah]

It's lovely. Well done.

[Amy]

How refreshing it is to see the way you mother your children,especially in this age of cheap thrill materialism.(I hope that makes sense.) You inspire me. Can't wait to get my hands on your book!

[Hananh]

Great quilt! Love it!

[Amy]

Finished my coffee, I mean it's nice to see a sweet, innocent child delighted by something lovely a mother makes. I remember that feeling, so special.

[Hope]

So precious! I love the farmers market and all the other Heather Ross. Oh, and the hedgehogs. This quilt is so sweet!

[Heather]

I think it's nice ... thanks for sharing it!

~Heather

[Stacy]

It's really wonderful. I'm guessing Ezra's addition was the baseball fabric?

[Melissa R. Garrett]

It's really quite lovely!

Melissa R. Garrett
www.LittleWoolgatherings.blogspot.com

[flora]

it's absolutely lovely! One day, I'd love to pick up sewing and try my hand at one of these for my daughter!

[Amanda]

Ahhh that is utterly gorgeous!

[shari]

so lovely amanda! hope you had a good weekend. xo

[kirsten]

amanda, that turned out lovely. i love scrappy quilts and think they're especially fitting for kids - and the dreamers.

[colleen]

i love that quilt! ezra is a lucky boy for many many reasons! the brown is great -- quilts need some popout color, i think. nice!!!

[Alicia A.]

I really like the brown. It makes it feel more patchy, less perfect, more handmade. (You know what I mean, right?) The quilt and your words are wonderful!

[Vicky]

I love the quilt and the hugging bit.

[Mama Urchin]

It looks so good.

[hannah]

oh amanda. you are giving me the bug again. it is lovely lovely. did ez pick out the green paisley swirly looking one?

[Wendy]

I'm slowly learning how to sew again and can't wait til I'm ready to do a quilt. My mom taught me a bit when I was younger, but now that I'm really ready to learn, she has passed away. I still have so many things that she made for me and last night I found a stash of her old labels like "Hand Made with Love", "Made with Love by Mama" and my favorite, "Specially Fashioned by Wendy". :) I guess she knew I'd come back to it one day.

I love every single thing that she has made me, some of the clothing I've passed on to my daughter and she loves it to. I've been meaning to do a post about the smocked dresses she made. Maybe I'll get to that later today.

Anyway, I know that Ezra will always cherish this quilt. You can actually feel all the love and time and caring that go into things like this.

[Jen]

The beauty of quilts is they are made with love. The flaws that may appear to you go unnoticed and I love the way things can be so imperfect with them. Well done. Ezra will cherish it.

[cloth.paper.string]

simply divine.

[Anna]

I actually love the brown. It makes the quilt more lively :-)

[emily]

what a great quilt and a keepsake for him! my goal is to make a quilt for each of my 3 little girls . . . one day!

[Karen H]

What a lovely quilt Amanda. I'm trying to talk myself into a making a picnicking quilt for our family (my first one ever). Thanks for all of your inspiration!

[Melissa!]

What a lovely way for your love to be displayed - and felt while slipping into slumberland :)
I started cutting squares 7 years ago out of clothes my daughters had outgrown. The squares are in a box - my goal is to have it ready for when they go off to college! (I have 6 more years!) You're inspiring me!

[liz elayne]

so beautiful! i remember looking at quilt sqaures for hours as a child...i love that you know ezra will do that and chose fabrics accordingly.
this brings a smile to my face.

[Sarah]

The quilt came out great! My mom made me a quilt when I was around Ezra's age. It was a four generation quilt in that my mom cut and pieced it, my grandma helped back and border it and my great-grandma and I helped hand tie it. It also felt good to be wrapped up in so much love - I'm sure your babe will feel the same way!

[Grace]

Oh. That quilt. Oh.

I have told my wee ones (well, at least my bigger one) the same thing about blankets their grandmother (my mama) has crocheted for them. Only I didn't know Blair said it first. ;)

If Ezra picked out the baseball fabric ... and it's new ... will you share the source? It is awesome!!!

[Nadine]

this looks so adorable!!

[emily]

lovely, beautiful, wonderful, and more. the quilt, the story, the hard work and bumps. i just love it.

[Julie]

Love it! It looks so comfy!

[Blair]

it is really really beautiful. your binding looks perfect too (I was wondering if you were busy sewing it this weekend). doesn't it feel so satisfying to create what will be an heirloom for him?

[Kim]

Oh that is just wonderful Amanda! I'm glad that he loves it as much as you do! :) And I adore the colors. I really like the brown in it, I don't think it stands out too much at all, it's just perfect!

[leslie]

i love the "quilter sailor mouth" oh man! too funny! i need to get lizzies bedspread done (not ready to quilt just yet, not good enough at sewing!) but emily loves hers and the little one is definitely in need. thanks for the inspiration yet again.

[Alina]

The quilt is beautiful, made with so much love. I can see why he loves it so much.

[2hcreative]

Breathtaking!

[melissa f.]

hurray! it's wonderful. and it fits his bed so well-- that's the sign of something good.

[Dawn]

You amaze me....so quick and this quilt is perfect. I LOVE it. What a lucky, lucky boy. xoxo

[Peggy]

really love the brown bits! they pop! Beautiful work

[Amber]

Ah, so cute! I love the colors and I'm sure it will be treasured for years.

It seems that quilting abounds in blogland these past few days. I first read stories of quilts on Knitting Iris' blog, and then posted my own on my blog, too. Unfortunately for my daughter, I wasn't as quick as you were in finishing my daughter's quilt. Now, I'm feeling inspired...

[Amy]

What a fantastic quilt!