Wow, lots to think about! Man, I would LOVE a cutting system...sigh. I don't think it's in the budget to send the fabric out to be cut by someone else, nor do I think there is time. Her baby is due in 6 weeks!

I live in area that does NOT have a local quilt shop! I've seriously thought about saving every penny I make from quilting and eventually opening one myself, because we really need one here. The closest is an hour away! We have a sewing machine repair shop and a long arm quilter, so I think I'm going to give them a call and see if either of them have one. I know the repair shop gives quilting lessons, so maybe they have one in stock.

As to the colors and design, she wants the same color scheme, so I'm putting together kona solids for the circles and backgrounds. She'd really like a brownish grayish barkish looking fabric for the trunk, so I'm hunting those...and she wants to incorporate coordinating prints into the backing and bumper! I really can't complain though...I LOVE fabric hunting!

I going to meet with her Monday, and I'm going to applique a few circles with different methods (hand stitch, raw edged, blanket and silk stitches, and yoyo) and see what she likes best. I'm not crazy about the thought of hand stitching all of them, but if she'll pay for it...I'll do it!

I'll keep you all updated!