Nap Time

It was like waving chocolate or caramel in front of me. Better yet, chocolate with caramel.

…and I could not resist. Look at the gray, white, and mint green together! I could not help myself. Look at those elephants! Are they not adorable? The plaid and triangle fabrics blend beautifully. But, the I Love You in white and gray? I had to have them. All of them. A couple yards of each. It’s not my fault: they were 40% off.

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I’m leaning on a dream (1) I’ve had for many, many years. Work, children, home improvements, and paying for college (theirs and mine) prevented me from taking action.

Until now. I’ve decided that now is the time. Right NOW.

That dream? Designing and selling quilts like those I made for my children.

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When my kids were in grade school, I made each of them a blanket they could call their own, one they didn’t have to share. My only rule: they weren’t allowed to carry (drag) them up and down the stairs. If they wanted it for TV time, fine; someone would bring it downstairs. Likewise taking them upstairs. With hurried little feeties, I wanted no disasters. To my knowledge, they obeyed. (Key phrase: to my knowledge.)

It’s a quilt made with fabric of their choice and pieced together, scrappy style. They chose the fabric for the back–in this case whales, aviation, and bears–and for the top, they chose and I arranged. The borders on the back were each different depending on how much fabric I had or needed. They are quilts but not “quilted” in the usual manner; rather, these are tied because I wanted fluffy blankets.

This one, now faded and worn, belongs to my daughter:

See the blocks with hot pink alligators? Two are badly torn. See the black and white polka dots? It used to be midnight black. The shoes were neon bright. The bears fabric on the back is coordinating, but not necessarily matching. That makes each blanket unique and personalized.

My daughter was the only one who took her blanket to college. It worried me–especially when she “left it” with a friend who fell in love with it–but I demanded she get it back. She did.

The next went to my oldest son. The orange spiders were neon bright, the background in the train fabric was fire engine red. See the striped fabric near the top? Every single color popped. Now, all are dull. All three blankets became worn and faded, but in their day, they were bright and full of energy. My children loved them.

This last one belonged to my second oldest, my second born son. Can you find the cracker jacks fabric? The football fabric? He chose whales for the back. It made a darned cute Christmas picture that year. Sadly, my son tossed it several years ago because, of the three blankets, by the time he left for college it was nothing but threads.

As I perused the aisles in the fabric store today, I was reminded of those much-loved blankets and how much I loved making them. I recalled their happy faces when each was completed. I decided: this must be carried on. The next one you see here will go to my as yet unborn grandchild. Oh, no. There is no news. To my knowledge, there are no plans for grandchildren. Yet. To my knowledge. None that I know of. So far…

But who says I can’t start on the blankets? 😉

I planned on buying flannel for the back when the top is finished but I might not have to. Look who jumped off my fabric shelf! Little mint green bears.

I bought this piece when the kids were little and I’m guessing it was for my girl. When she was little, I stenciled mint green bears on her bedroom walls. I used to say, “Good night, Kelsey!” and “Goodnight bears!” when I’d put her to bed. The bears are long gone, but, to this day she remembers my goodnight wishes.

Oh, yes. Something tells me the time is RIGHT NOW.

Photos are coming. Stay tuned. Meanwhile, I’m nurturing my dream….

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(1) OK. I’ll fess up. This is only one of my dreams. The other (major and long-time) dream is also in the works. More on that very soon. Hint: it has to do with teeth.