Cozy Flannel Self Binding Receiving Blankets for Charity

“Charity is not an act but a way of life, a condition of the heart.”
Robert Millet

Hey there from Nannyland,

I recently hit a little bump in the road on my breast cancer journey and will be starting a more aggressive treatment plan in the next few weeks. I have faith that all will be well in the end, but in the meantime I will be spending more time at home, which translates to many blissful hours in the perfect place for distraction and healing... right here in Nannyland.  I am so blessed to have a peaceful retreat with so many wonderful cheery projects just waiting for me to dive in. 

Nothing can lift my spirits more than sewing projects for charity, especially those for children.  I still haven't settled on the perfect home for my baby quilts and receiving blankets, but I have found very appreciative recipients in women's shelters in the past.  I plan to make many of these fun blankets and I am researching several different organizations and hospitals to make sure I find good homes for them.     

I found tons of beautiful good quality quilting flannel in my stash to start my projects, along with this extremely helpful video tutorial on sewing self binding receiving blankets.  I made several appliqued ones like this one and this one to sell in my Etsy shop years ago, but I really learned some new things in this video that helps them to turn out perfect every time. 

I love using the best quilting flannel I can find for these because it is so soft and sturdy, and they will obviously be washed over and over again.  The cheaper fabric just doesn't hold up the same after washing. 

                                                                                        

The fabrics in my stash are pretty old but some of  the most adorable kids flannel still comes from Robert Kaufman, as seen in most of the fabrics above.  The darling owl fabric is from Riley Blake. I'm always thrilled when I find cute flannel at my quilt shop because it inspires me to get going and create more kid quilts for charity. I can never make too many!!!

These quilts are just the right size and weight to roll up and tie with a bow for a favorite charity or a fun shower for a precious little one. Fast, easy, fun, adorable, useful and they need no quilting.  What's not to love?

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit.

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

Welcome, Sweet Indy - Conie Fong Mother and Baby Digi

 Baby girls are like flowers that are forever in bloom. 

Hey there from Nannyland,

Baby Indy made her entrance into the world a couple of days ago and everyone around her is smitten.  She is beyond adorable!  I already have her quilt wrapped up in a pretty box and all I need to do is tuck this card inside to complete my love-filled handmade gift.  When planning this card, I saw several darling images of babies in my digi library, but THIS exquisitely drawn image from Conie Fong really caught my eye.  I enjoyed being on Conie's design team so much because I absolutely adore her gorgeous artwork.  This image is perfect for my beautiful friend who has lovely thick locks of blond mermaid hair. 

After coloring the image with Copic markers,  I added details with a white gel pan.  I fussy cut her and adhered her to a water-colored dp panel, which I edged with a gold leafing pen.  I cut a shaped card with a Heartfelt Creations frame die and added a matching gold panel to fit the card front.  The intricate embossed layer was die cut in white card stock and the focal panel was attached with foam tape for dimension.  The flower embellishments are handmade from  Heartfelt Creations stamps, dies and molds, with punched gold swirls and a mini die cut butterfly for accents.  

It's such a joy to spend hours creating baby gifts and cards because the recipients are so precious.  I like imagining them all warm and cozy wrapped in a quilt that I created especially for them.  It's like giving them a never-ending giant hug!  I hope you have some sweet little ones in your life to share your creative talents with...and maybe pass some of your skills on to them to keep the creative cycle going. 

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit. 

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

Playing along with:

Crafty Gals Corner #249

Double "D" Challenge - Stripes and/or dots

Digi Choosday Challenge - WK 45

A Place to Start November Challenge

Cutie Pie Challenge #188

A Perfect Time to Craft Challenge #11

Ally's Angels Challenge #76

Classic Design Challenge #11

Morgan's ArtWorld Challenge #11

Worldwide Crafters and Colorists Challenge #11

A Heartfelt Quilt for Baby Indy - Accuquilt Wonky Heart BOB

Please bless the little head that lies beneath these quilted threads.

Hey there from Nannyland,

I've been super excited to have the opportunity to sew a baby quilt after a very long break with no little ones waiting to appear.  Happily, a sweet little mom, whom I think of as a granddaughter, recently announced that she would be giving birth to a darling baby girl in November.  Indy Jean, as she will be called, will certainly be beyond adorable because her family is already the cutest in the world, with a three-year-old boy named Tuf who has already stolen my heart. 

 

My dilemma has been designing this quilt in a more modern style, since the last ones I created for my Etsy Store several years ago rocked ducks and bunnies in shades of pink, blue and yellow.  While I think I could still come up with something cute using that recipe, I really wanted to make this one more current, since my friend (and hairdresser) is a very stylish lady.  I've been noticing the popular colors for babies are more muted shades of pinks, blues and neutrals, often referred to as boho colors after their earthy hues.  I searched the internet for fabric that would "make the cut" and found a pretty collection by Moda in Etsy called Songbook.  The peachy pinks and tans match the colors in little Indie's nursery perfectly.   

I cut my layer cake with my favorite  Accuquilt Wonky Heart BOB die to create 35 six-inch finished blocks and added white 1-1/2 inch sashing and aqua corner stones to set my blocks.  The back is the same aqua fabric with small metallic flowers as  the corner stones and the swirly heart edge-to-edge pattern my long arm quilter used to mimic my heart blocks shows up beautifully. I added my usual striped binding in aqua and white and I love how things came together.  I carefully washed my finished quilt in Dreft baby detergent on the gentle cycle and dried it on the low setting to bring out all the soft crinkly texture. I don't often wash my quilts before I gift them, so I'm always surprised and amazed at the change in texture after they come out of the dryer.  I really love it and hope my recipients do, too.  I have made a decision to wash all my quilts in the future before I gift them so they are fresh, newly crinkled and cuddly soft when they reach their new home. 

This quilt still feels quite different from my usual brightly colored creations, but I loved going out of my comfort zone for my special friend and her baby.  I hope little Indie and her mom will cherish it for many years to come.  I opened up Indy's closet and it was full of the cutest little wardrobe items in all the boho colors of her quilt.  Now I just can't wait to meet her in a week or two!  I also think my boy Tuf needs a quilt all his own.  Hmmm.  What would a three year old boy like?  Another creative conundrum to tackle.

Thanks for visiting Nannyland.

I'll just be here blissfully creating until your next visit. 

Nancy (aka Pink Panoply)

For Rosie - Machine Embroidered Ballerina Quilt

   👉   I love these little people; and it is not a slight thing when they, who are so fresh from God, love us.   Charles Dickens  

Embroidery Library Ballerinas,  Accuquilt Go Big fabric cutter and dies, Riley Blake Fabric, Isacord  Thread, Embrilliance Embroidery Software

When one of my dear friends excitedly announced she was finally going to get her first girl grandchild, I joined in  her elation.  All of her grandchildren so far are boys, and this little sweetie has been greatly anticipated.  Then, when she announced the baby's name was going to be "Rosie," my head swam with delightful ideas on a gift I could make for her.   

I knew I had these adorable Ballerina embroidery files from Embroidery Library just waiting to dance on a darling little girl's quilt.  Their flower tutu's are perfect for a beautiful garden in which Rosie takes center stage in the middle block.  My Embrilliance Embroidery Software allowed me to resize my ballerinas to fit my six-inch blocks and curve Rosie's name around the rose tutu in the center block .My Accuquilt Go Big fabic cutter is always my favorite way  to cut perfectly accurate blocks and sashing.  Beautiful floral Riley Blake fabrics created a lovely palette for my quilty flower bed. I didn't photograph the backing before I sent the quilt, but the fabric matches one of the floral prints on the front.  I stitched in the ditch to quilt and handmade some of my favorite striped binding.  Now all this quilt needs is a little sweet  baby slobber to make it perfect!

I love making baby quilts so much because the recipients are definitely my favorite people!  

Thanks for visiting.

Go forth and create something fabulous.

Nancy

Pieced Valentine Hearts Wall Hanging - Accuquilt Go Wonky Hearts

👉 "What the heart gives away is never gone ... It is kept in the hearts of others."

- Robin St. John

I had the most fun cutting this fun Wonky Heart pattern on my Accuquilt Go Electric Fabric Cutter.  The pieces are truly wonky and I had to hold my tongue in the right place to make sure everything came out perfectly but I love the results. This YouTube video  has excellent instructions.

I used a Valentine fabric layer cake to get this cute random pieced look. In this case, it was well worth a little extra expense to get to choose from so many darling fabrics.  I tried to pair lights with darks as much as possible, but I wasn't obsessive about it.  I really like the look of the sashing with corner stones and it sure helps keep all the blocks lined up.

I tied everything up with crisp striped binding, my absolute favorite choice for my quilts these days.  I got lots of good practice piecing these hearts and now I'm ready to make some baby and lap quilts for family and friends using some bright sunny fabrics.  Who wouldn't adore cuddling up in a fabulous quilt full of  so much love!

Thanks for visiting.
Go forth and create something beautiful.
Nancy





 

Patchwork Christmas Bibs - Machine Embroidered Applique

👉 Do something creative every day.

Hey there,

It's holiday gift-giving time and I just happen to have some of these fun festive bibs in my stash for the littles on my list. 

Check out these Easter bibs from my earlier post to see how I made them.   The holiday embroidery patterns all come from Etsy shops.

Having a fun and simple sewing project during the holidays is a delightful respite from all the hurried commotion going on this time of year.  Add a little Hallmark movie binge watching and a cup of hot chocolate and your holiday joy might just make it all the way through  New Years Eve.

Thanks for visiting.

Go forth and create something fabulous

Nancy.

Rockin' a Jelly Roll Quilt - Benartex Sunny Days Fabric

Hi everyone, 

Jelly rolls are so yummy and satisfying...both the edible and the fabric kind!  I made this fast and easy baby quilt, measuring 36" x 36", with a gorgeous Benartex  Jelly Roll.   

The roll contained 42 2 1/2" strips of  the Benartex "Sunny Days" collection. I downloaded a free easy-to-follow pattern after I watched  this Fat Quarter Shop YouTube  video.

I love the bright sunny patterns and colors in this collection.  But most of all, I love having so many different fabrics to sew into one happy scrappy quilt.  

Thanks for visiting.

Go forth and create something fabulous.

Nancy

Riley Blake Rag Lap Quilt - Embroidered Heart Detail

A beautiful pieced embroidered heart in the corner of this lap quilt is one way I can subtly tell my recipient I love her.  This machine embroidered heart is an Anita Goodesign design and I have "signed" several of my quilts this way.  One half of the heart is applique and the other half is a beautiful filigree pattern. I like the fact that the applique blends right into my quilt..

 

If I had to choose a fabric line that I'm drawn to the most, it would have to be Riley Blake Designs.  Her bright, whimsical designs always catch my eye.

"Quilt-as-you-go" rag quilts are simple and sew up so easily, they are my first choice for quick gifts.  But lately I'm getting in the mood to do some more detailed piecing with my ever growing stash. I'm excited to embark on an anniversary trip Scandinavia soon and I'm sure I will come home inspired to do some cozy, winter quilting. 

Thanks for visiting.

Go forth and be fabulous.

Nancy

Sunny Rubber Ducky Rag Quilt - Baby Gift Set

I went treasure hunting in my fabric stash and discovered some super cute rubber ducky print flannel that I just knew would make the perfect snugly rag quilt for my friend's new baby boy.  I also unearthed some bright sunshine prints in coordinating colors.  Don't you love shopping in your own fabric hoard?

It only takes a couple of yards of designer fabric to sew up a rag quilt, especially if you back it with some solid flannel.

I already had some cute ducky peel off stickers from Elizabeth Craft in my stash, so I put them on some double stick tape, sprinkled on some microfine glitter and painted the adorable ducky with my copic markers.  You can see how I did it here.  I attached my image to an embellished flip card cut from a Sizzix die.  

Here's my fun gift all ready to wrap in a pretty bag. I think my duckies will make my new darling baby friend giggle. And I found almost all my materials in my own craft room. I'm going to have to shop there more often.

Thanks for visiting.

Go forth and be fabulous.

Nancy

Cheery Rag Quilt and Card - For My Sweet Friend's Little One

These fun rag quilts are my answer to being machine quilting-challenged.  I can just sew as I go and end up with a soft, fluffy finished quilt - no top quilting necessary. Babies seem to be fascinated with the texture of these quilts and, happily, they get fluffier the more they are washed. (Both the babies and the quilts.😄)

I bought these adorable bright cotton charm squares in a kit at my fabric store a while ago and decided they would make a perfect quilt for my friend and her little baby girl.  I linked directions for this quilt in an earlier post here.

I used premium quilting cotton for the bottom and top layers on my blocks and white cotton flannel for the batting.  This produces beautiful fraying on the finished quilt. These vibrant colors and dainty prints are delightfully girly and  the juvenile patterns are adorable.

The quilt is reversible because the back is just as pretty as the front! 

I almost always make matching cards for my gifts, just because I can...and it's loads of fun trying to match colors and designs.   The card base was made from the Sizzix Framelets Die Set - Friends Forever Step Ups.

The cute onsies were die cut with the Sizzix Triplets "Oh, Baby" die set. I've made several of these cards for friends because it's easy to adapt the onsies for a boy or girl just by changing the colors.  It would be fun to match the print on them to one of the fabrics in the quilt. I'll try that next time!

Thanks for visiting.

Go forth and be fabulous.

Nancy

Spring/Easter Bibs - Better Than Chocolate

What do you give your sweet little snuggle bunny friends when a big chocolate Easter bunny is out of the question?  How about a stylish  Easter bib for their gooey chocolate drool? Guilt free and adorable, yes?

I have sewn these fun and easy bibs in every theme I can fathom. There are loads of  darling machine embroidery applique patterns out there. ( I downloaded these from Etsy.) I'm a quilter so I love picking out coordinating fabrics for the appliques.  Easter colors are so bright and cheery!

The internet has several free baby bib patterns (check out my Quilting for Baby board on Pinterest) or you could just trace one of your favorite bibs.  Here is a really good basic pattern and tutorial.

 I like to piece the front with two different fabrics for a little extra flair. I line them with white flannel and use terry cloth on the back.  I prefer snaps over Velcro because I think they look better and are  just as easy to attach.

You don't need to use machine applique to make these bibs adorable.  There are so many cute fabrics and/or simple appliques out there.  I hope you give it a try!

Thanks for visiting.
Go forth and be fabulous.
Nancy

Sew-y Saturday - Robert Kaufman Flannel Baby Blanket

When I found this adorable Robert Kaufman giraffe flannel print I knew it would make a perfect self-binding baby blanket for a girl or boy. I immediately went on the hunt for a cute machine embroidery giraffe pattern and found this handsome little guy on Etsy. 

It was easy to find fabric to match this fun color scheme. What little munchkin wouldn't love a turquoise and orange giraffe?  

I always make sure to use the best quality flannel when I make one of these quilts  because I know it will be washed often and the lower quality flannel tends to pill.  It's worth a few extra bucks to make sure it will last. Who knows...the recipient might even take it to college:) 

And, of course, I created a coordinating flip card.  My cute little Stampin' Up giraffe matches perfectly, don't you think?

Thanks for visiting.

Go forth and be fabulous.

Nancy

Sew-y Saturday - Shabby Chic Rag Quilt

It feels like I've made about a hundred of these fun rag quilts, but  maybe scores would be more like it. The fact that they don't need to be quilted makes them such an attractive option for a baby or lap quilt.  

My favorite fabrics, even for baby quilts, are these vintage looking cotton florals and  calico prints. The shabby chic look is very popular, even with young moms. I use white cotton flannel for the batting and the three layers of cotton fabric fray beautifully.  Some people choose to use flannel for their quilts and opt for only two layers.   It works anyway you choose, as long as you use cotton fabric for the fraying. Here's a simple Beverly's tutorial on the basics of making a rag quilt. 

When I first started making these quilts, I had to hand cut the fringe in the raw edges with scissors.  It's an easy process and can go quite fast when you get in a rhythm, but it is a little tedious. My whole world changed when I got an Accuquilt Go for my birthday and found out they had actual rag quilt dies. Although it's a little tricky to sew straight on the fringed edge, it's much faster than snipping the fringe manually.  Once the fringe is cut, all that's left to do is throw the quilt in the washing machine and let the magic begin.  The seams get softer and fluffier with every wash. My husband and I each cuddle up in our own rag quilt every night in front of the TV.  Everyone needs a blankie, don't you think?  

Thanks for visiting.

Go forth and be fabulous.

Nancy

Sew-y Saturday - Flannel Baby Quilts for a Cause

What do you do with an enormous stash of bright colored chevron flannel fabric?  I found just the project to spread some crafting joy. These fun and easy baby quilts are made with five inch squares and stitch-in-the ditch quilting. This is the way I assembled them. There are some sweet little babies in a women's shelter in my city who will love these warm soft blankets to snuggle in,

I enjoy donating handmade bibs, burp cloths and baby blankets to this women's shelter along with much needed diapers and baby wipes. It's my very favorite way to serve the women and children in my community. and they are always extremely appreciative.  Do you know a place in your area that could use some of your handmade TLC?

Thanks for visiting.

Go forth and be fabulous.

Nancy