wee wander

I started quilting two years ago hoping that when my daughters and their friends started having babies I'd be decent enough at it to offer quilts at baby showers. This past weekend was the first...YAY!  

When I first saw Amy Smart's Wee Wander panel quilt I ordered the fabric.  Someday I would make this quilt.  While the prints aren't necessarily "baby" they are definitely "little girl" and this little one will grow quickly.

I altered Amy's pattern to enlarge the patchwork around the panel. This fabric is just too perfect to not fussy cut some of the scenes.  Like that girl hanging onto the horse's neck, the deer, and I had to leave one birch tree whole.  Baby quilts need some "I spy"!  

My plan was to quilt the patchwork with straight lines and just do the swirls on the panel.  But that didn't work so I unquilted - the whole thing - and quilted it again.  I'm getting lots of practice and more comfortable with my swirling...and my seam ripper!

 The back is a single piece from this super soft collection.

I struggled with lighting in these photos.  The bright snow and shadows are challenging me.  (As are the frigid temperatures!)  The way the shadows work here I can almost see the Northern Lights flickering in the sky.  Anyone else?

My daughters and I spent LOTS of time with this new mama and her mama and sisters.  We share lots of memories of summer and winter adventures wandering throughout Michigan's spectacular peninsulas.  (Our springs and falls were all about soccer - if you know what I mean.)  This post wouldn't be complete without sharing one of those days...

We weren't wee, but we were wandering - and resting on one of seven bridges in a Northern Michigan forest. 

Linking up this week with Crazy Mom Quilts Finish it up Friday.