Gift ideas...suggestions please

Hi ladies! So, I'm almost finished with my first quilt. It has taken me awhile due to lack of spare time, but I've been very picky and it's almost done. I'm thinking of doing two quilts for Christmas gifts, one for my Mama and one for my Mother in Law. I'm hoping I can get them both done in time for the holidays. So, the big question is what pattern and material to use??? I think I want to do my Mama's in fabrics with birds and butterflies. She is an avid outdoor woman and she loves birds. I saw some pretty Moda material that I think might work. I'm going to have to find some coordinating materials to go with it and pick a pattern. I'm thinking of doing the D9P since it's considered beginner, but prettier than just palin blocks...any suggestions?

As for my Mother in Law I'm lost as of what to do. If it was you would you rather have a quilt you can use year round or a specialty quilt made with Holiday material to get out to decorate your house during Christmas? She has very classic taste and loves the red and golds of the holiday season. Her only hobby is gardening so I could use that as an idea. I want the gifts to be person specific and mean something special to them individually.

Thanks so much for your help in advance :)

I'm not sure which pattern I would choose for the one for your mom, but if I used the DSP - isn't that the one where you make a 9 patch and then cut it vertically and hortizonally through the middle? I would be careful with your corner squares to make sure you don't cut into the birds and butterflys. And, I would use a coordinating color(s) for the middle part that you'd cut through. I think that would turn out very pretty.

For your mother-in-law - does she do holidays where she decorates a lot, then perhaps she has enough to sit out here and there. Maybe you can find a material that is Christmasy looking, yet not to Christmasy but wintery thrown in there and she could use it for the winterish season.

Hope I helped a little.
Hugs,

I'm like Trish - the D9P quilt is such a beautiful quilt when finished but do be careful of your pattern piece placement so you don't cut into the design and lose the theme. Have you thought about doing a coin quilt for your MIL using varied floral fabrics in the reds and golds? If those colors are in her decorating palette she could use the quilt all year long.

I agree with the suggestions already made. As a beginner you might want to try a Log cabin block... just keep the lights on one side and the darks on the other.. then with some "playing with placement" of your blocks, you will get a secondary pattern going. It was the pattern I used on one of my first quilts.. I enjoyed it and it went fast, too.

you seem to be sorted for your Mum. For your Mother in Law I would consider Freedom Fabric. The are a UK company but I know also sell in the states. Their colours are outstanding, the blends and co ordinating fabrics beautiful. I am a big fan of theirs for something classy and great quality.

http://www.fabricfreedom.co.uk/index.html

I would particularly look at deco dance 2 http://www.fabricfreedom.co.uk/decodance2.html for fabulous rich reds and oranges with designs based on Clarice Cliff.

Or a real favorate of mine Pure Velvet http://www.fabricfreedom.co.uk/purevelvet.html which has divine sweat pea and lilac prints and lovely blenders. Tales of the Riverbank has water lillies and irises. http://www.fabricfreedom.co.uk/talesriverbank.html

I use their perfect pallette for blenders and poppers all the time.

As for a pattern, to show off amazing fabric like those above to its best I would do large simple blocks. I would suggest a square within a square. Easy, fabulous with dramatic fabric and look very classy and luxurious.

Ps
They have excellent free to download patterns to go with each fabric. I love the very simple but out standing one for Tales of the Riverbank

I'm going to add to Daisy's comment about the Freedom Fabric. The pictures online don't do it justice. It is wonderful fabric and the colors are some of the most vibrant I've seen. I purchased some Deco Delight this past year and it is just gorgeous.

Karen I adore it! I always look there first if I want something special!

Alison - THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I never remembered this fabric company until you mentioned it above. WAY before I was interested in quilting I searched for fabric in the Middle East and remember seeing their fabrics . . . Now if I could just quilt well enough to do something like that justice!

Oh Sandy, your quilting is lovely! Fabric like this speaks for itself, the simpler the block the better!

how does one order these fabrics... they are brilliant!!!

http://www.fabricfreedom.co.uk/Inter...tributors.html

For international stockists

I just had a look at international stockists.......... they dont seem to have the latest collections online but maybe the websites arent up to date. If anyone wants me to help them get some freedom fabric and has paypal PM me and I will help. At least with me you will only pay actual postage lol. Sometimes when we order from the states the postage is horrid. MSQC is one of the few places that charges honest international postage

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GrammaBabs

how does one order these fabrics... they are brilliant!!!

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Try this:
http://quilt-kits-online.com/

If you are going to do a D9P you need to make sure you put your favorite fabric in the corners because they will not be cut at all. I do love that pattern, makes something so simple look much more difficult. As far as your MIL, maybe an irish chain, not to hard either, I have one done in my donation quilts. For that one you don't need a lot of different coordinating fabrics either. Just listen to your heart, and you will pick exactly the right thing. Personally I would make them so that they can be used or hung year round.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Divine Daisy

you seem to be sorted for your Mum. For your Mother in Law I would consider Freedom Fabric. The are a UK company but I know also sell in the states. Their colours are outstanding, the blends and co ordinating fabrics beautiful. I am a big fan of theirs for something classy and great quality.

http://www.fabricfreedom.co.uk/index.html

I would particularly look at deco dance 2 http://www.fabricfreedom.co.uk/decodance2.html for fabulous rich reds and oranges with designs based on Clarice Cliff.

Or a real favorate of mine Pure Velvet http://www.fabricfreedom.co.uk/purevelvet.html which has divine sweat pea and lilac prints and lovely blenders. Tales of the Riverbank has water lillies and irises. http://www.fabricfreedom.co.uk/talesriverbank.html

I use their perfect pallette for blenders and poppers all the time.

As for a pattern, to show off amazing fabric like those above to its best I would do large simple blocks. I would suggest a square within a square. Easy, fabulous with dramatic fabric and look very classy and luxurious.

Ps
They have excellent free to download patterns to go with each fabric. I love the very simple but out standing one for Tales of the Riverbank

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These are stunning fabrics! I don't think I've seen such a beautiful collection of coordinates in any U.S. venue!

Oh ladies thank you so much for all the wonderful ideas! I appreciate it so much. Being a beginner I feel overwhelmed sometimes at what to do and how to do it. Having ya'll lay it out for me makes it much easier and guides my way. Now I just need to google what a log cabin pattern, a block within a block and an irish chain so I can see what your suggestions look like. I'm going to check out the freedom fabrics now and see what they offer. I'm so excited now thanks to you all. I think I will stick with the birds and such for my Mama, but for my Mother in Law I'm going to go with the idea of the reds and golds that can be used during the entire winter season. Hugs to you all and thanks again! I'm sure I will have many more beginner questions to follow :)

Daisy,
I love the colors in the Freedom Fabrics! I have a question for you if you don't mind....
Do they precut their fabrics? Just wondering because I haven't taken on that task yet and I'm worried and intimidated by cutting. Also, I love, love, love the Stained glass Robins and Stars, but I didn't see a quilt pattern for that, since you are in the U.K. do you see one? I also love the Marbles Magic quilt, but it looks advanced :( Thanks!