Has anyone made any pretty beach quilts or wall hangings lately? I would like ideas to make some for a townhouse we recently just bought. I'm in "hog heaven" and can't wait to cozy up quilting there. I've already taken a machine and all the necessities to enjoy as a quilting retreat. If you know of any free pattern downloads, that would be especially great. Thanks for your help.

How about a flip flop quilt with a terry backing.

That might be an idea - but I have 3 boys, 2 grown and 1 at home who will use the beach house a lot.

Where are you from in Alabama Granny?

Lighthouse quilts? Mariners Compass? :D:D:D

I made a lighthouse quilt. I'm at work so I will post tonight.

Good idea, Amma! Mariners Compass would be great!

Great. I would like to see that. I think that might work.

Is mariner's compass paper pieced? I have not made a quilt that way although I have done just a couple of blocks... I like this idea too.

One of my co-workers made a flip-flop wallhanging a couple of years ago... and it was just adorable. For the flip-flops, she used a number of different fabrics that actually had flip-flops on them. And I think she used a blue fabric for the borders that looked like bubbles. Then she sewed on the occasional pearl or button for embellishment. Looked really, really cute!

seashells

Here's the one I did. It was paper pieced, but it could probably be done as applique also.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-34242-1.htm

http://www.quiltseeds.com/catalogue.html
If you scroll down to the Tides pattern or the one with the beach chair, they might be fun?

I made one a few years ago with free colouring book pages done in machine appliqué, but guess I don't have the picture in this computer, but you could check out that option for ideas.

Very nice. I like this one.

You could adapt this to a beach quilt.
http://www.hoffmanfabrics.com/EDocs/...%20pattern.pdf

If you decided not to do a themed quilt for the beach house, you could make a traditional quilt with blocks made in "beachie" colors like shades of blues or sandy beiges.

I have some really neat wallpaper border in my bathroom that my son adapted to painting on the window that's right over the shower/tub. It would make a really pretty wall hanging...waves coming into the beach, white lawn chairs grouped with an umbrella, a few shells scattered about, some seagulls in the sky along with puffy clouds. Could add a sailboat or lighthouse off to one side.

Here's my lighthouse quilt that I PP years ago and finally finished it...The beginning of this year I think.

Window quilt with fish, dolphin sandy border. Would be fun.

You could make a very simple scene of a sunset over water. Maybe take some photographs or have your sons take some and adapt them to a simple landscape quilt.

Thanks everyone for the great advice. I will post pictures later.

I really enjoy the Patchabilities patterns, have you seen this cute little one?
http://www.patchabilities.com/122sandinyourtoes.html