This is a side swap block for GramE. I hope you like it.
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Lovely quilt for Joan, Janice! The green you chose is perfect!

Wow, your grandbaby is due in only three months? Time flies! The last three months are the most exciting as the anticipation builds. (How come everyone else's pregnancies always fly by but not mine? :D)

It is gorgeous, MJ. I love it. And i’m Working on yours but life keeps inserting itself in my planned sewing days!

Love that block, MJP!

Well, honestly, aren't i as slow as molasses in the winter? Life's been busy lately! 2 borders are going on the quilt today. It's not my strong suit, putting wide borders on QAYG, but with DH's help holding the weight of the quilt, it's going better. If I finish 2 today and the other 2 tomorrow, this weekend I'll start the binding. That part i love. It's so relaxing.

Grand is due on 12/23. Once i finish Joan's quilt, I'm going to make some cradle sheets and bumper pads. I've got all the fabric but I won't begin them until Joan's is done or it'll be next year before I finish hers. Sheets are easy, bumpers are easy, too. After that, well, I'll make some little burp pads and then a couple of little sleep sacks I guess. Beyond that, I haven't a clue. DIL isn't giving any direction so I'm just going to do what I want. She's got her hands (tummy) full working and growing that baby so I'm good with whatever guidance she gives or doesn't give. She's wonderful and my son is so verrrrryyyyy happy.

I'm sure she will be grateful for anything you make Janice. It's so wonderful when you really like your DIL and your son is happy. I know I'm so happy for both of mine, couldn't have asked for better partner's for my son's, love both of them so much.
It's a whole 11 degrees here today, wind is blowing and the snow is dumping. It is miserable!!! We're suppose to get at least 6". Can hardly wait until the 26th and board that plane for sunshine!!

New mom popping in, if you don't mind? :D Everything you listed sounds perfect for your new Grandbaby! It might seem basic, but I know they will be much appreciated. I can't believe how much crib sheets cost, considering how easy they are to make especially if you use a serger. It's always so helpful to have spares to grab in the middle of the night when the baby spits up in bed, or has a leaky diaper (my life 24/7!) I also love baby sleep sacks! My little one always kicks of any blanket, and with the temperatures dropping now at night, the sleep sack is like she is wearing her blanket. I have also found that sleep sacks help newborns learn how to control their little body temperature when they are first born. My Fall baby (now 2 yrs old) had a hard time keeping warm after birth unless she was being held, until I started dressing her in a sleep sack over her one-piece suits. I also made a baby sling/carrier and I use it all the time, very similar to this one.https://www.amazon.com/Luxury-Ring-S...HZP93N8H1WA31E . I just used three yards of quilting cotton and some sling rings I bought off Amazon.

Sewbizgirl gifted me a boppy pillow when my little Isabelle was born, and it has been so helpful! (Thank you again, Sewbizgirl!) I'm generally exhausted at night while I'm nursing and I pass out with Isabelle at the breast, but because of the boppy pillow, she's safe in my arms and I can't drop her. Seriously a life saver for me and her! I think the pillow also helps my back and posture. After both of my first two girls I had to go to the chiropractor many times to straighten my back. I was told that nursing puts a lot of stress on the back. But so far I haven't needed to!

Also don't forget the mama. :) I know for myself, after giving birth and going through six billion sizes in such a short time, I always feel very insecure and almost embarrassed about myself. (before babies I was a little 125lb girl, now I'm 170lb and it doesn't look like the weight wants to move!) I have since learnt to have a new outfit after delivery. After my first baby, my MIL sewed me two postpartum dresses and they ment so much to me! Something as simple as a new pretty top can is so appreciated! Just a few ideas!

Glad that Boppy is coming in so handy, NZ! I think they are amazing and something every new mama needs to have.

Janice, of all the things I made for my granddaughters, what they have used the most, and are still using, are the gauzy little blankets and burp cloths. I call it 'gauze', my daughter calls it 'muslin', tho it's not like quilters muslin at all. It's available just about everywhere. I got of bunch of prints and solids at Walmart. They are cotton and so absorbant, just like old cloth diapers. The blankets are so lightweight and breathable that you can even cover baby's face to keep out light, and they can still breathe through them. We used them for swaddling, and now that the girls are bigger, they are just comfort blankets. When you lay them down and tuck one around them, they know it's sleepy time.

The 'blankets' are all single layer with rolled hems, and I made the burp cloths just rectangles, double thickness. I "birthed" them and then topstitched. Actually, I made the burpies out of the leftovers from the blankies... don't tell anybody!
https://www.bing.com/th?id=OIP.t3cxn...r=1.67&pid=1.7
This is the stuff I'm talking about. Sometimes it's called "double gauze". I love it for all things baby.

Two longer borders are on. Finally got a decent system and setup to be able to sew them with good results. About time. 50th time is the charm! Off to work on the other two. :)

[ATTACH=CONFIG]618395[/ATTACH]And now one more border is on but that’s it for the day. Tomorrow I’ll try to get the last one on and start the binding. (Neck and shoulders are acting up. Bummer.).

That looks lovely, Janice. Where will it be donated?

Oh it's pretty, Janice! I know Joan would love it.

Very nice Janice. It is beautiful and will be appreciated, where ever it may land.

There’s a women’s shelter in the county, several houses that help people with addictions get straight and help them start over, various churches. Do you have any suggestions?

I knew I wouldn’t be able to quit today so I’m back at border 4. My neck is quite displeased. Lol.

No additional suggestions... those all seem like good options. Someone will be so blessed! I love that celery green in the sashings. It’s a very calming quilt.

I sweated the sashing but ultimately I really love it now. And, all borders are on! Woo hoo!
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This weekend is for a label and sashing. I think I’ll go for a walk in the dark. It’s cool and my trusty flashlight is handy so I won’t get run over before this quilt is done.

Beautiful job, Janice! Joan is smiling. The binding is my favorite part of the process too. It is so calming to me.

That green is perfect. It really makes the blocks stand out. I think we all love “our” quilt! Thanks for putting it together.

Update: just got the binding machine stitched on the front. Tomorrow I’ll start hand stitching it to the back. Woo hoo, almost done! Hand stitching is so relaxing. :)

Janice the quilt is so beautiful and calming. Joan would be so proud, think any of the above options would be a great place to donate the quilt

Half stitched to back. I hope to finish tomorrow. We’ll see.

Way to go Janice

Just 12 inches to go! DS surprised us with a visit yesterday so I didn’t quite make yesterday’s goal. This morning for sure.

Here we go...
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Ready to donate. I hope Joan would be pleased. Thank you to everyone who contributed to help. You all know who you are. Thank you.

Beautiful Janice, thank you so much for making this quilt in memory of Joan. It brought tears to my eyes. Rest In Peace Joan we love you

You are welcome, Terriamn. I’m suddenly sad to be done. :( Guess part of me hadn't let her go yet but the quilt’s done so it’s time to move on. I forgot to mention that the label I made. It’s in the back lower corner and handwritten:

Made in Memory of our friend, Joan, by a dozen women who miss her. - 2019 -

There were many different wordings but I opted for the simplest and most to the point. Also, there are three blocks on the back as well so it isn’t just a plain back. It has a little eye candy. :)

It's lovely, Janice, and your wording you chose for the label is very touching.

Beautiful, Janice! I'm sure Joan would have loved what you have done, and loved that it is going to bless someone in her name.

Janice, it's beautiful. Simply beautiful in form, color, meaning--everything. I got choked up reading what you wrote.

She would be honored to know that her legacy of generosity lives on.

Thank you, ladies. :)

The quilt turned out beautiful! Thank you for finishing it up Janice,the new owner will love it.
I received my blocks yesterday, haven’t had time yet to go through them but I will. I’m sure they are more beautiful than what the album shows. I have to get all my drawers and closet cleaned out and stuff taken to good will, nothing fits, EX large to size 8 or about 190 lbs. to 129....you get the idea. It’s taking a little time have to get over the jet lag. Thought the plane would be a better choice though, just have a terrible time with sitting that long:)
thank you again ladies for making such beautiful blocks!

I spend the weekend putting my Boom blocks together. I love the finished look! Thank you, Boomers! The huge yellow rose fabric wasn't in my original plan, but since I've had it for a long time, I thought now is the time to use it. I hope it use my new Westalee quilting rulers set on this quilt, but for now I'm happy that it's a complete top.

Cathy, it turned out beautifully! I was just thinking about this quilt (these blocks) yesterday, believe it or not, and wondering if you ever made it into a quilt for your little girls yet. And now here it is! Love what you did with the alternate blocks, too. I'll have to remember that for making a boom quilt bigger.

NZQuiilter, your quilt is gorgeous and love the additional blue and yellow floral fabric.

NZQ, your quilt top is beautiful! I really love the addition of the large floral. Can't wait to see it when you've quilted it. Congratulations on such lovely work.

NZquilter, I am not in this Boom but was just browsing through getting ideas. I love your quilt. Placing the solid blocks in between just brings it all together.... just beautiful!