Must start somewhere!

Alrighty. First post. No pressure. :)

Hoping to use this site to post ideas for pattern/fabric combos. Four quilts are already swimming in my head and I have yet to cut anything!

#1 Cousin Ann: need a baby quilt for upcoming girl offspring (July 2015). Seems like a great smaller project to get back in the swing of things. And it has the soonest target completion time.

2 ideas: use current flannel fabric to make a simple 9-patch sashing quilt with peach fabric.
Or: make Elizabeth Hartman's cat quilt in a crib quilt size:

Though more inspired by the random coloring of this version from this blog:

I did purchase 8 different 1/3 yard cuts of bright snuggle flannel at JoAnns in anticipation of making the cat quilt. It was more than 1/2 off and I couldn't resist. Have 3 simple flannels already that could also serve as cats and surely something that would work as a back fabric. Need white flannel as the background but I probably have enough.

Very focused on the flannel fabric -- which I know is not ideal as it is not stiff and definitely needs to be washed and it stretches easily. But I have a lot. And it takes up a lot of space in my crowded house. And it seems so nice for a little kid. Colleen -- the quilt you made Doug years ago is always the starting point in my head for anything I'd make for a baby. :)

The advantage of the 9-patch quilt is that is very easy (quilt #1 in a book of 101 9-patch quilts). No triangles, only squares and rectangles. And it allows me to use up fabric I bought long ago when my tastes were apparently more traditional/country. I have a nursery novelty print that matches a darker peach color and light blue. I am now very much into bright color and bold design. My closet of graphic skirts is definitely the best gauge of my current tastes. And, well, I *love* this:

But back to Ann. She is very, uh, victorian and traditional. She is a banker. I do not picture her with the quilt above, but she does have cats she loves. And the little girl would probably love the cat quilt as years progressed....

Quilt ideas will come soon for the two college-bound kids (niece Rachel and neighbor Sarah), and for Sarah's sophomore sister Annie. As well as links to the books I've been coveting. Several of them rely on a hearty supply of scraps...which is another discussion point. Now that I've entered "retirement" I have to trim the expenses more, and this is not an easy task.

I'm not naturally drawn to writing/blogging but I'm excited to have a place to organize my thoughts and see where my mind travels over time. And hopefully for showing something underway (and completed!). Fingers crossed.