Birthday Signature Quilt

When we had our first baby, it seemed like a long term quilt project was in order.

Finding the perfect pattern took some time, but I eventually came to the place where a birthday signature quilt was born.

On his first birthday, I found a cool font, printed out some numbers that were just under 5" tall and used hand applique to sew them onto background blocks.

At the birthday party all the friends and relatives signed their names to the quilt block wishing the new arrival a happy first birthday.

Every year a new block is sewn up and well wishes are shared.

Over the years, more babies came into the family and other quilts were started.  In our family alone we have 4 of them going right now.  Two for our boys and two for my nieces.  One of my best friends (who is basically family) started one for her baby daughter so I think the count is up to at least 5 quilts that I'm aware of.

Some of the usual folks who sign every year put a lot of thought into their messages.  Others draw small pictures.  Still others are just learning to print their names and at times write their letters backwards.  All of these are very treasured.  Some who have signed are no longer here with us.  Their messages touch our hearts in a unique way.

A few tips and tricks:
- Use a .05 or so sized Pigma pen, they work great.  Practice your writing on scrap fabric
- Buy enough backing fabric to make all your blocks and some extra if you want to use it in the border at all
- Remember what color Pigma pen you are using!  We mixed brown and black ink in the same quilt without realizing it
- Use painter's tape or some other light tape to mask off the area outside of the 8" block.  This will help people sign inside of the lines of where you will sew and assemble the block
- I cut out freezer paper and iron it to the top of the right side of the fabric to use as a needle turn guide.  Wax side goes onto the fabric...not the bottom of your iron (that wouldn't be good!)

Birthday Quilt - girl version

I'm making a couple more signature blocks for some 6 year olds and a 9 year old who will celebrate their birthdays in September.

By the time you are nine, you don't really want a birthday party anymore.  I find that rather sobering.  This whole growing up thing is happening at lightening speed.

The girl version is out of Liberty of London fabric and it needs to go in the mail so I always try to do that one first.  They don't take long really.  With a bit of traffic and a sweet DH behind the wheel I can finish the stitching of one on the ride to San Francisco.

One down, two to go.

Birthday Siguature Quilt (part 7) and chillish weekend fun

We didn't do any big trips on our 3 day weekend, but we did have a great time chilling out at home.

- Listening to the Songza app - love this app, the 'hanging out with your kids' station includes the Wheels on the Bus song, and for under $5, you can split the audio ending arguments and curbing the popular refrain "MY TURN!!" (priceless)

- Checking out indie French band M83's album Saturdays=Youth.  Pretty cool, I think.

- Finishing knitting my sweater: yes, yes, I did finally after 6 months finish knitting a sweater.  More on that later of course.

- Making Japanese Hamburgers:  This is soooo easy to make (especially when your husband is willing to go to the store for you 3 times in order to drum up the ingredients).

- Falling in love with the art of Camilla Engman and the pottery of Karin Ericksson: I'm using one of their small vessels to store my short knitting needles for socks.  If you have a few moments to watch a video of Karin making her amazing hand thrown creations, this is one of the most beautifully shot videos I've seen in a while.  The light is stunning.  Her studio is called Manos and is in Sweden.  Teamed up with the art of Engman, the work is to die for.

- Awe stricken that rapper Ice Cube loves Eames architecture: this is such an amazing surprise to me.  If you are sensitive to rude language, please don't watch this, there is at least one bad word in this video.  Not for kids.

- QuiltMania did some pretty cool quilting videos as a guide to creating Yoko Saito's mystery quilt block.  If you speak French, you'll probably enjoy them even more than I did!  Parlez vous francais?

If all those links don't keep you entertained, I don't know what will.

The photo at the top of this post is the 7 year old's birthday signature block, in progress.

Birthday Signature Quilt

There are four birthday signature quilts floating around our family universe, well in progress.  

I am making one for each of my boys, and my sister is making the other two for her kids.  We picked out a unique font for each kid, and applique down a number on some plain white fabric backing.  

Around the number of their birthday that year, their friends and family sign their names and write well wishes for them using a pigma pen.

I usually let the kids help pick out the fabric to use that year. The final quilts will contain 16 blocks. 

The kids think that their 16th birthdays are a million miles away.  Funny how you sense time when you're a kid.  It's a gift.

Japanese Taupe Fabric: where to get it

Above is a photo of my son's 3 yr old signature quilt block with well wishes from family and friends.  The '3' is appliqued down and the fabric is Daiwabo yarn dyed.  It's got a thick weave but I didn't have a super hard time working with it.

It's not easy to get Japanese Taupe fabric if you are marooned here in the US (or other countries, for that matter) as opposed to those lucky ones that actually live in Japan.

The  quilt shop that I teach at has a small but growing collection of Japanese taupes which is great, but if you don't live in Oakland, California....there is a fresh option out there online.

One World Fabrics is the new kid on the block with some very interesting Japanese taupe fabrics - both prints and yarn dyed. 

You can see their entire collection here - lots to choose from.  The owner, Steven, also has an interesting blog with a focus on Japanese quilting.

Steven is kind enough to read my blog, and has created a coupon code for readers of Quilt Otaku.  If you are like me, and cannot resist picking up just a couple more pieces of taupe fabric (or a boat load of them!) you can use the coupon code "otaku15" to get 15% off your first order between now and Dec 31, 2011.

If that isn't a green light to start holiday shopping for yourself, I don't know what is.

I haven't ordered yet, but I am thinking I may need to pick up a few things...I'm a HUGE sucker for the yarn dyed fabrics - especially love this one - and they really are hard to get your hands on.  One World's prices for these sorts of fabrics are also below what I've usually seen, so that is nice too.

Thanks for your cool offer Steven, and best of luck launching your new taupe-a-licious shop!

Birthday Quilt Block

The kid birthday extravaganza has finally drawn to a close.

I for one will miss this time of the year.  As soon as it's over I feel a small twinge of relief as the prep and execution is complete but there is a big swell of sadness as it really is my most favorite couple days of the year.

We had a gathering for some of the boy's school friends at the ice rink, and even some tiny 2-yr-olds got out there and scooted around on the ice.  It was magical.  My older son decided he can now skate without leaning on the 5 gallon buckets or clinging on the side of the wall.  I was so proud.

All four grandparents were present and accounted for which was the icing on the cake of the entire event.

I made birthday signature blocks for them and will be adding them to the collection of blocks.  On their 16th birthday I'll turn them all into a quilt to enjoy the history of all the celebrations of the past.  I like to use a black size 05 pigma pen for the inking, and I iron on some freezer paper to the back for added stability.

The kids to came to the party were sent home with handmade goodie bags.  I was so rushed to get everything together I didn't get a good photo of all 20+ of them together, but I will have to show them to you anyhow in a future post.

Birthday Signature Quilt - more blocks

Getting ready for more birthdays around here.  My sons' back to back parties are just around the corner.  I'm digging up their birthday signature blocks, prep'ing new ones, and gearing up for some serious boy party fun.

Let the cupcakes roll!

I decided to made handmade goodie bag pouches to put the little party favors in.  Crazy?  Perhaps.  I did finish them all up tonight, so I'm feeling quite pleased. 

Quilt blocks from past years are out on my bed in the photo.  The set on the left of obviously the older one's blocks.  I used hand dyed fabrics from Primrose Gradations (a company that unfortunately doesn't exist anymore) for the applique numbers.  For the blocks on the right, I'm using Daiwabo Japanese yarn dyed fabrics.

Daiwabo Fabrics

Here is the '2' birthday block. I'm using Daiwabo yarn woven fabrics for these blocks. Check out the 1 yr old version here.

The older boy's blocks have hand dye fabrics by Primrose Gradations, a company that no longer shows up at quilt shows I go to but looks like I can still get fabrics online.

The older versions of the previous year's blocks for 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 are of course in the collection waiting for assembly.

My son's favorite color is pink right now, at 5 years old, which is why I made his block with pinkish fabric (photo in my last post). I love that he doesn't realize that is typically a 'girl color' (why is that anyhow??) and he just digs it for the cool color it is.

Someday in the not so distant future, his friends may convince him that pink is not a 'manly' color. Until then, I love his innocence and his passion about opinions that he has uniquely formulated all by himself.

Quilt Class Give Away: from Annie Smith

My friend Annie Smith is not only an amazing woman, a famous podcaster, and an incredible quilter, but she also teaches classes in her global online classroom over at Quilting Stash Classroom.

She is offering a free seat (!!!) in her awesome online class "Quilting 101" as a give away to some of her favorite bloggers and it looks like you'll be the one to benefit from this contest.

Annie has an intro video posted here talking about why this class is good for beginning, intermediate, and advanced quilters alike.

Want to take quilt classes in your jammies? Well, now's your chance.

In order to win, submit a comment here and I'll pick a winner by random on this coming Saturday night. Polls close at 10pm Pacific time.

I'll pass your name along to Annie, and she'll hook you up.

Each lesson she does includes video instruction. How killer to take time to watch your class 'whenever' instead of having to show up in person? Sweeeeet.

Oh, and the above block is of course another Liberty of London birthday signature block I did for my niece. I'm ahead of the game, this one is for next year.

Falling into the iFold

I've finally done it. Taken the plunge. I'm the proud (and maybe terrified) owner of a new iPhone.

I originally thought, wow, this thing could really distract me from my quilting. That was only until I downloaded two new apps for it - QuiltFab and QuiltRef. They are really cute little iPhone applications that allow you to calculate how much fabric you need for the backing of your quilt or the binding you need to put on. Gee, handy.

Got a fav iPhone app? Please pass it along to me, the new kid on the iBlock. Meanwhile, I'll be here playing Stairway to Heaven on my ocarina.

The quilt block above is the 1st birthday signature block for our baby boy. He's a sweet and adorable little 1.

Quilt Appraisal: More study time for me!

As I mentioned before, I'm a huge fan of antique quilts and quilt appraisal in general.

My hope is to someday become an AQS certified quilt appraiser. So far, I have been getting some practice, but it has been a bit more slow going since the baby arrived. I'm getting back in the swing of things - starting now.

Pacific International Quilt Festival (PIQF) - a huge and really nice quilt show - is coming to my home town in October.

At the show, Cindy Brick (AQS Certified quilt appraiser) will be there to appraise quilts. She is taking me under her wing as her scribe, so I'll be volunteering to assist her the day during the show.

Really looking forward to learning more about how somebody else does appraisals.

Cindy's web site is an insane wealth of information. She has all these articles published here.

Ones I really loved were on best way to store a quilt, washing and caring for your quilt, and what to do with an old worn quilt.

Oh, and yes I really did cut into my Liberty fabric collection. The above block is the 1st birthday signature block for my darling niece.

I will confess that cutting into Liberty fabric is like taking a small slice into heaven itself.

Birthday Signature Quilt: 4 yrs old

I whipped up this number 4 block so folks at my son's birthday party can sign it and write a message on it for him.

You can see the 1 block that is done already with signatures, an early version of the 2 block, and the blank 3 block featured in previous posts.

I'm starting two new quilts just like this. One for our baby who is turning 1 year old this year, and one for my favorite baby girl on earth - my niece. She'll be 1 as well.

For the girl quilt I'm going to use my collection of Liberty fabrics. Yes, sports fans...I'm going to actually CUT them. I think I deserve a drum roll or something here.

Anyhow, I applique the numbers down on 8 inch sized blocks, and ask all the party goers to sign their names with a little message for the birthday person of honor. In total there will be 16 blocks. Hopefully it doesn't become too embarrassing before that age. Do you think we'll make it that far?

Birthday Quilt - almost turning 3 years old

I am not sure I like the ring that the number '3' has to it.

Having a 1 year old or even a 2 year old boy really sounds like you still have a very small little person living with you. Having a 3 year old has a very different feeling in my mind, and I can hardly believe my tiny darling little infant (no longer!) is going to turn 3 very soon.

In preparation for his birthday, and as therapy for me, I I decided to applique the 3rd number block.

Each year, on our son's birthday celebration, I bring out a quilt block with white background and the birthday number appliqued down. All the party participants sign and wish him well. I have enough blocks planned to make a 4 x 4 matrix, of 16 total blocks.

While I was at it, I made a couple more blocks too just to get ahead, since they whip together so quickly. If interested in how I make them, let me know and I'll cover in future posts.

Oh, and other HUGE NEWS! I'm finally getting taken off the Two Small Farms CSA wait list. Let the veggies roll on in.

Welcome to our ool

Tonight, we had our first ever swim lesson.

It reminded me of my childhood friend's pool. She had a sign that said "Welcome to our ool. Please help us keep the P out."

I'm wondering of all the thousands of kids that cycle through that swim school, how many of them actually observe that little rule. After dunking my own head, perhaps I don't want to know the answer.

Over at Wee Toes and Noggins blog - it looks like Wendy has broken down and bought her first Japanese fabric. Her creation is so adorable, you really should check it out.

Above is the 2 yr old block - signed! Another 14 to go and we'll have a quilt.

The fun's almost starting...

This morning there are some very strange clouds in the air because we had some huge fires in the hills above San Jose, CA last weekend.

This makes for some red-looking light peeking through my curtains. I used it to photograph the "Happy 2nd Birthday" block this morning. The "2" itself is actually more purple than anything else.

I used that freezer paper method again, and silk thread by YLI to applique it down. It's my favorite thread for applique. It literally disappears.

We'll be asking the party guests to sign the block on Saturday, so really looking forward to all the fun. My mother-in-law is arriving today, and most of the other guests arrive tomorrow. The fun's only just around the corner!

Last year's block

This is the block that I did last year for our son's birthday. Picture of this year's blank block coming soon!

I just used Word on my computer to type giant numbers, and enlarge them to like 100 pt font or something. After printing them out - one number per 8.5 x 11 in paper, I then traced them with freezer paper, and attached the paper waxy side down on the right side of the fabric. Then, I turned the edges under, did a bit of applique, and there you go!

At the party, I asked all the guests to sign with a pigma pen.

I hope all of you in the US had a very nice long weekend, and that your Labor Day was nice. My Labor Day was certainly full of labor (rather than rest, as it was originally intended when it became a holiday in 1882). I spend some time sewing up goodie bags for the party, and offering painting advise to my husband - "You missed a spot!"

Is summer officially over now? If so, I'm sad it's gone.