Handmade Baby Quilts for ALL THE BABIES
overflowing with the Ebb and Flow baby quilts
Like a lot of people, I spent the latter half of 2021 feeling incredibly anxious and stir-crazy. Luckily I have this effective outlet for anxiety, which also happens to be my artistic pursuit (and also my business). I really poured myself into making quilts, churning out in particular several versions of a pattern called Ebb & Flow by Penelope Handmade. Sometimes, I followed the pattern, other times I changed up the sizes of the pieces a bit to use more fabric. It was so satisfying and absorbing, I lost track of just how many quilts I was even making.
‘Quilts at Home’ Photo Shoot
Anyway, this weekend I took my semi-regular Quiltcation, where I find a local short-term rental, tidy and light-filled, to stage a photo shoot for all my beautiful quilts for sale. This is not a hardship. It is a lot of hard work, spending all the daylight hours of my stay taking photographs and transporting quilts around to stage them, and spending night hours editing photos and taking measurements. But it is not a hardship. When you live in San Diego, a city that a lot of people consider a dream vacation spot, a staycation is quite a luxury. And because it’s such a travel destination, there are heaps of lovely, well-appointed rental homes to choose from.
So on my quiltcation, I started pulling out quilts, and man, did it feel like a lot. I am a fairly prolific quilter, but I impressed even me. I had 25 quilts all told, and at least 10 of those were baby quilts. So get them while they are hot. My Handmade Shop is currently CHOCKABLOCK with baby quilts for all of the impending arrivals in your life.
Modern and Cool-Hued Fabric Choices give this baby quilt tranquil vibes
Do you know some twins? I’ve got the Coastal Views quilts, which are identical and a very generous size for a baby quilt (they would make lovely lap quilts for a grownup, frankly).
Very modern fabric choices give this cool modern baby quilt its eclectic and chill vibes. Several long-held prints from the Tokyo Trainride collection by designer Sarah Watts were the primary inspiration for all of the fabrics. A blend of large geometrics, saturated blenders, and smaller, more intricate illustrations work together to give a viewer endless details to admire, but in a way that feels very deliberate and curated.
The Coastal Views quilt in a reading nook
The monochromatic quilts for neutral nurseries
The South Torrey Pines and North Torrey Pines are also twins, but not quite identical. They have a couple of different fabric prints that give away their unique handmade identities. But they are both monochromatic: black and white and the many shades of neutral tones in between.
These neutral fabrics also contain a mix of bold, mod geometric prints and more intricately drawn illustrations that really give it that eclectic appeal. I’ve arranged these in a gradient, like a dreamy neutral rainbow.
Although they’re aren’t identical, I still had to use a little trick to tell them apart. I took a photo of one facing south down Torrey Pines beach, and the other facing north. Don’t tell them! They’re each unique and one-of-a-kind, even if it takes me a second to recognize their differences.
My favorite detail is their word search backing fabric. Designer Melody Miller made sure to highlight some real words in there for true searchers to find.
A rainbow of Floral baby Quilts for Boho Style Nurseries
And the Green Brook and Pink Brook baby quilt are not identical, but they’re definitely related; fraternal quilts, if you will. Along with their moodier pastel sibling, the Lavender Brook baby quilt, they bring gently freewheeling Bohemian style to any room they’re in.
Beachy Batiks Make a fun Retro Mod Baby Quilt
I don’t usually use batik fabrics, but I could not resist these modern Indah Batiks from Me + You fabrics. The giant monstera leaves, the tiny printed palm trees and pineapples, and the narrow typed letters. I’m only human! I can’t resist these adorable coastal surfer chic motifs. The colors are so vibrant and saturated, and the gradient is coastal cool.
These pint-sized pretties were really so fun and rewarding to make so I will definitely be putting a greater focus on smaller quilts in 2022. It makes me wish I knew more babies! They make such lovely and treasured baby shower gifts. Nothing says “Welcome to the world!” better than a handmade quilt. Soft, squishy, cuddly and colorful.
Check the Handmade Shop to see which baby quilts are available currently.
Ebb and Flow Quilts for Grown Up Spaces
I was on such a roll, I couldn’t resist creating a few larger quilts using the Ebb & Flow pattern, too. This is a great modern bargello, with larger pieces and a lot more airy negative space than a traditional bargello. This fits in with more modern or minimalist aethetics, and also shows off more of the fabrics chosen for the quilt.
I can really let the fabrics do the talking on a particular theme or style, or arrange them in a gorgeous gradient to make a statement in any space.
Some of these basically FLEW out of the shop, but it’s always worth a look to see what’s still there. Also, please consider making a custom request if you love the undulating look of these Ebb & Flow quilts.
