The current project that I would love to get out of a state of blocks and into a state of quilthood has an applique wreath of hearts (my first ever), which was taken from a quilted pattern on a quilt when I was a child. The fabrics from the applique is made from are bits of my daughter's clothes, and the yellow bunny fabric was present throughout my babyhood.

I'm planning on using a narrow black border around the 24" yellow bunny fabric block (which I have attempted to draw on my photo below), and then around that will be a border of nine patch blocks all made from the applique on my daughter's old clothes.

My issue is that I have no idea what to PUT inside that wreath!?!?!?!?!?!?! The childhood quilt that had the hand quilted weath had a bunny inside (which I don't have access to the pattern, and it was orignally only a 12" block). I had thought to use that, but that really hasn't worked out...

Sorry I didn't iron it before I took the photo...

maybe a baby photo, one of you and one of your daughter?, since it represents both childhoods

That's a good idea Kathy, I'd been thinking about embroidering her name and birthday into it, but then it would HAVE to be a wallhanging and not over her bed. I'll have to think about how I could balance two photos... It might be time to dust off my illustrator program!

You could do a yin and yang design with the two baby photos. The unity in duality idea fits pretty well with mother-daughter relationships and the format would balance both the circle and the hearts.

Talk about an "ohhhh wow" factor... that would really take that software to get the photo layers to mesh like that... I wonder what photos I have...

Can those printable fabrics really be used in any printer? I was thinking it would be better to take them to be printed at a copy place? Perhaps with black (grey) and white it wouldn't matter so much? I don't personally have a printer, but my mother or sister would print it for me, I'm just not sure of their print quality?

I'm all for the "Wow" factor! :D Wouldn't it be easier to meld the photos before you try to get them on the fabric? Maybe blow them up to the right size, make a template of the yin-yang, cut the photos (copies of course), and paste them to a backer sheet. Then use that for the transfer. Am I making sense? If you could find photos that would be looking at each other it would be simply awesome! You could even put the names and dates in the tails.

Love the ideas suggested - I am clueless - sorry. I liked the bunny idea too.

Thanks Loretta, it's good to have an honest answer, I seen them lots of spots that were "sponsors" or from someones not having real experience with the product. If I make it a wallhanging it would be around 45" square, and if I make it for dd's bed it would be twin size... Not sure where I would put something that big...

could you do both? make a smaller wallhanging or a cushion with photos in the same fabrics and then make a matching quilt..

So far the printed treasures photo fabric has worked well for me. why not try finding a rabbit pattern from a coloring book or somewhere and make a fluffy bunny out of fleece or flannel. Each bunny could be a different texture even corduroy. You could use a color from your hearts. Give me a pm if you want fleece (sweatshirt) material. My mom has a bunch from when her grandkids were little and she made outfits for them. I do like the idea of both a quilt and wall hanging. Was the applique easy? I did some 20 years ago for a baby quilt but can't remember how and now I want to do some again. Love the fabric and wreaths, good luck with the rest of the project.

A fluffy bunny or three might be just the right thing... I don't have any fleece, so if you really don't mind sharing I'll let you know if I go that route.

blahel~ it's a shame really how limited I am with this quilt. What you see of the bunny fabric is all there is that I can find, and now I can say I've raided my mother's stash too! If I remember I have seventeen ninepatch blocks, I need 18 to go all the way around that yellow bunny block - it will be a tight squeeze to find enough of the applique fabric from dd's clothes to make the last...

It sure is looking cute so far! You could always pretend it's a round robin and keep adding creative borders to make it bigger. You could make it "grow" like your little girl.

That's seriously what I was thinking Chele! :D But I don't really want to start adding borders, until I know what will go in the middle.

Here's my two cents ..I like the photo idea....good luck :-)

It's done! The entire quilt from beginning to end, even the binding. It took me a little while with how to come up with the center (thanks for all your suggestions, but after that the rest seemed to fly by. This is our little family outside under and beautiful Florida sky complete with a Mickey Mouse up in the clouds. Thank you all so much for your input!

My daughter LOVES playing outside, Mickey Mouse (of course), and I put us each in little outfits we wear. DH in a cowboy hat decked out in black, me in a blue dress I wear all the time, and dd in the pink dress I made for her.

Around that are the applique pieces that would have been ruined if used in my heart quilt (just a little bit to big most of them).

Lorretta gets full credit with the top and bottom pink block rows, she had a garage sale find that she gave me. :D I'd bet I'd still be thinking about how to grow it big enough, if she hadn't sent me that fabric!

And the outside edge is a Winnie the Pooh Blue Toile that DH picked up for me on super clearance.

Oh and I nearly forgot I labeled this one on the front, each corner says one of the following. It's hand stitched and done with my own signature which I think will be nice for her down the road.

Baby Clothes Applique Quilt
Spring - Summer 2008
For dd
Made with Love by me

I love your quilt. Jessica will treasure it. She is a lucky girl to have it. I'm so happy to see that green block and the pictures of you, your dh, and Jessica. Thank you for showing me this. You did good sweet friend. :thumbup:

Wow one green block, I never notice there was only that one little green block right there nearly centered underneath the center! That was a hand me down gift from a dear friend of mine, I made it from the bib that matched the outfit!

Have you thought of handprints in dark and light blue fabric? Just a thought......

Susan

Well handprints would have been a good idea... But it's done already. :D ;)

That is a keeper I can see there is lots of memories in that blanket....Now what you gonna do since you done?????

Oh it is gorgeous!!!!! Your daughter will treasrue that forever!!! :)

I've already done all the cutting to make a blue Christmas quilt. :D If I could just pull myself away from the board... :D :D :D

your quilt is lovely! very nicely done!

Thanks Loretta, this is one that had to grow a little at a time in the back of my head. The scrappy nine patch blocks are the first I ever sewed on a sewing machine. Then grew the center with the applique wreath, and then the arrival of your wonderful little girl fabric let me bring it all in together. She's sleeping under it right now. :D