I am thrilled to share that I made a beautiful heirloom baby quilt for my grandchild, who was due to enter the world soon! I wanted to create something special for my baby's baby.
My daughter with her new jungle baby quilt
My daughter loves her new baby quilt!
Stitching the quilt at my sewing machine
Many thanks to my college roommate and quilting mentor, Peggy, for offering endless guidance along the way.
The jungle baby quilt, ready for the crib
I chose a sage green jungle theme to complement the baby's nursery, with a classic gingham pattern for the backing. My favorite fabric has to be the sloths, or the bananas, or the pineapples. It's hard to choose!
A few favorites from my quilt collection
I've collected quilts all my life, but I've made only four.
Self-portraits by the class and teachers
The first quilt I made was for a school fundraiser. It sold for more than anything else, raising the most money for the school. I had my daughter's classmates and teachers create self-portrait squares. Then I stitched the squares together, adding sashing and button accents.
Fun fact: Taylor Swift was attending her school at the time.
A thank-you quilt for Ms. C
The second quilt was a gift for a middle school teacher who went above and beyond for my children. I added photos, squares created by her students and more. It brought her to tears when the principal presented the appreciation quilt to her during a school assembly. This teacher gave everything to her students. She deserved this quilt and so much more. Rest in peace, Ms. C.
Upcycled ties and denim jeans, now a quilt
The third quilt was a fun upcycling project. I used all repurposed materials, including men's ties, jeans and dress shirts. This homemade quilt hangs on the wall right outside my kitchen.
All smiles on his jungle baby quilt
Update: My grandson has arrived! He's all smiles on his jungle quilt, made with so much love, joy and anticipation. Here's to more cozy quilts and happy memories.
Picture one of my paintings above your own sofa. Browse my Animals collection and find the size and style that complements your wall.
You'll also find my paintings as museum-quality giclée prints in my Fine Art Prints collection.
My illustrated book, Party Animals, brings my animal characters to the page.
See my originals, prints and books in person at my art studio + gallery in Spring City, PA (Chester County). Reach out to schedule a private tour.
xo,
Merrill