Ok, so it turns out I hate machine applique a little less than before, I think I just jumped in before testing the waters, lol. Going around all those little toes really was a pain in the butt.
So, anyway, I WAS going to use this as his crib quilt, but it's not long enough. I'm kind of stuck as to how to do the borders, now. I can't really think of a pieced border pattern that wouldn't take attention away from the center of the quilt, and I don't mind doing a solid border, but I don't really know what colour to choose...

My other option, is to add an extra 8 inches or so at the top of a solid colour like maybe the blue, or whatever, and I can buy these iron-on applique letters, I could write his name at the top of the quilt, and THEN put the borders on... would that look tacky?
At least that way I could use it as his crib quilt.

GAH, I would appreciate your opinions, really!


ETA: The colours look a bit dark in the photo, the lizard at the top is a med. forrest green, and the lizard in the center left is a purple.

Maybe you could put the white at the top and applique his name on it in the different colors you have used for the lizards. Very cute quilt! Then you could do your border around the whole thing.

I don't have an embroidery machine, unfortunately, which is why I wanted to buy the pre-made letters (sounds lame, but they look really nice, there are plain ones and scipt ones)
however, the letters only come in white, so that's why I figured I would put a different colour at the top.

I'm not sure if I could dye the letters? They're made of polyester thread, I think, I'm not sure how well I could dye those... I've never tried. It's a good idea, providing I can dye the letters!

Can you just use your colored fabric and us an iron on applique? Then you could do a nice stitch around it. Or you could just do the thinner piece up top and have two lizards facing each other. Or something related.. cactus, boots, bugs..

Just a thought, but maybe someone would embroider the name for you on your desired fabric. I bet someone would do it for less $ than buying each of your letters pre-made at the sewing store. That way, you'd get the letters the exact color you want.

I think I would stick with the orangy fabric between the blocks. That is if you have enough!! I wouldn't add another color at the top. For the border you could use a combination of the colors in the lizards and the orange. It is really cute so far!! Can you make more blocks?

Ditter

Dark orange batik. The lizards look really tropical, and I think that would go along.

Ok, so I *think* I've made a decision. I showed Sasha and asked him what he thought, and he likes the idea of using white letters on the orange background. However, he wants the full name, not just ALEX written at the top.
Then, above that, I'll put another stip of white, maybe 4-5" wide, and cut and applique some more coloured lizards, but shrink them to like, 1/4 of the size they are in the blocks.

Is that clear? Does that sound good?

Then, I'll see about some borders. Unfortunately, I cut these lizards out so long ago, I don't even think I have the fabric that goes in them anymore! Or well, maybe I have some left, but certainly not all of it. I was originally thinking of doing a piano-key border with all the colours, but since I don't have all the colours, it might look funny if I substitute other fabrics in place, right?

You could put white at top and bottom to even it out and make it long enough for the crib, put his first name at the top and his last name at the bottom. and that is so cute. Penny

How about a piano key with all those bright colors of the lizards.