Don't you just love it when things work out as though you'd planned them that way?

My good friend Hanna's birthday is in June and she's coming to visit in late July. I'm in Maryland and she's in California, so it's not very often that we get to see each other. She tries to make a point of visiting at least once a year during the summer.

I decided on my way home from the doctor today to stop in Tuesday Morning, just in case they had any cute fabric with blue (her favorite color) as a focus. There was a nice jelly roll there with four different fabrics for $15 with lots of blues and greens. Perfect! I picked it up, brought it home, and unrolled everything.

Low and behold, the two prints are nature/hippie/recycling/animal themed. All of these are pretty much her favorite things! She's studying to be a biochemist and is very environmentally conscious, especially living where she does by the water in California. Swirls are also one of her favorite patterns. Plus, the green fabric sort of resembles funky cells like the ones she's working with in the lab. Score, right? I hadn't realized when I bought it - I just liked the colors!

Then I search a bunch of jelly roll patterns and send her some links to paw through for a pattern she might like. About ten minutes after sending the email, I re-stumble across a Missouri Star Quilting tutorial using jelly rolls and tube quilting to make a really fun-looking quilt. I've been wanting to try tube quilting for a while now! I send her an email basically saying "I know I said to pick whatever pattern you wanted, but I reeeeally think this one might be fun..." and she totally bites. Perfect.

And then. Then! After sewing the first set of blocks! I realize that the quilt pattern is called Summer in the Park. Well, her Mom works for the state parks and she volunteers there every summer. Add to that the general nature theme of the fabrics and the fact that I'm giving it to her for her summer birthday?

Really. I ask you. How cool is all that? :mrgreen:

I totally planned it that way. Riiiight. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Anybody else want to share a "happy coincidence" for a nice feel-good?

Now that's really a great story to go along with her quilt. Lovely!

that quilt is meant to be!!

Love your material and story. The pattern you picked out is perfect for the occasion.

Very pretty. She will enjoy the quilt and the story.

Love it when things work out, have fun making the quilt, I'm sure she will love it.

Cute story!

Nothing better than a quilt with meaning :)

Great story!

Fate. That quilt is meant to happen

That's going to be a lovely quilt.

That looks great! I didn't know Tuesday Morning had fabric. That would be perfect for my "hippie" grand daughter! Closest TM is over 30 miles from here, though. Maybe I can con my girls into a trip there when we do our yard sale-thrift store day on Saturday!

Very neat story.

:thumbup: :thumbup:

Isn't just wonderful when things like that happen!

LOVE your story!!! I can't think of one at the moment- just enjoying yours!! :D:D
Be sure to post the finished quilt- so far it's beautiful!!

Thank you for your responses, everyone! I definitely think this quilt was "meant to be". I'll need to pick up another jelly roll to do what I really want with it, but there's no problem there - the store had plenty.

Is 40" x 40" an okay size for a casual lap quilt or should I strive to make it larger?

Love it when things fall so nicely into place! Really pretty block - be sure to post your finished quilt - would love to see how it goes together.

I think your size is a bit small, but that's just me. I don't like them too little :)

The person it's going to is five foot nothing, so I'm waffling back and forth on whether or not to figure something out. As it stands, the quilt will come very easily to 40" square. Possibly 40.5" due to the jelly roll strips. I would have to piece things strangely to make it any bigger, I think.

Love your story. And I love that fabric and block. She's going to love it.

Great story, and the quilt will be terrific!

isn't it wonderful when all the forces of the universe come together for good?? lovely fabrics and pattern

Just love it when things fall into place.

Totally awesome!

What's "Tube quilting"?

"Tube quilting" is where you sew a long series of strips together, sew them into a closed tube (no open seams besides the ends), and then cut them a particular way to make a block.

Here's the video to explain the process for this block in particular. They have lots others!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5WgTyqB8Pc

Great story, pretty quilt block. Very nice!!!

Thay looks like a fun quilt.

There is no such thing as a coincidence. The universe is working as it should and your happy situation is just proof of it. :)

Serendipity at its best. What a great story.

Sometimes it just all comes together. I love your quilt block.

I love hearing stories like this, if I thought long enough, I'd have one back in the cobwebs somewhere...

I love it when things work out like that!

The cosmos works in funny ways. Love the fabrics and your choice of pattern!