This is a toddler quilt that I made for my very dear friend Jillian.  I took the  Ab Five pattern, using their unique template, and created the quilt using various Mickey and Minnie themed fabrics, “Mickey Mouse and Friends” by Camelot Fabrics.   I also incorporated Red and Yellows to break it up a bit.

Earlier this summer I took a class at Sewing Arts Center in Santa Monica with Susanne Cole.  It was a variation of the Disappearing Four Patch.  The class was a lot of fun and in the end I used over 90 different fabrics for this quilt, with each square having four different colors and they were not repeated in other blocks.

As you can see, Lucy claimed this quilt earlier on in the process. While I was sewing the binding by hand she was laying on the quilt and each time I moved the quilt she would get right back on it.  For those of you that have four legged kids- you know that they always get their way!

I was very happy with how the quilt turned out.  The white background help to give the eyes a bit of a rest from all of the colors that were used.

Aboriginal fabrics are designed by a group of native Australians known as Aboriginals.  They have been designing these patterns and fabrics for generation after generation and there is so much symbolism with each design.

They have an extremely limited distribution in the US.

“Australian Aboriginal Designs arise from a heritage that goes back thousands of years.  Aboriginal “Dreaming Stories” are passed on from generation to generation and explain life and are central to their culture and relationship to the natural world.  Aboriginal art illustrates their “Dreaming Stories” with a series of symbolic motifs.  Each design has a story and historical significance. The abstract dot and circle designs, based on these stories, have become a trademark of the contemporary Aboriginal art movement,” HeartSong Quilts.

Here is some of the symbolism that has been used over the centuries:

Other Aboriginal fabrics:

This is the quilt that I made for James for Christmas 2016- shhh, don’t tell him!

The Dear Stella!, “On My Way” fabrics were perfect for this quilt, featuring different modes of transportation:  planes, cars, taxis, boats and his favorite- trains!  The backing of the quilt was this very comforting cloud print.

I find that binding the quilt by hand is very soothing and gives me great satisfaction that the recipient will hopefully understand the difference- maybe not at 3 years old, but some day.

This was my first time tackling a wave quilt and making it flat in the end- as opposed to a curved mess!

Today I started working on a new quilt that I designed myself.  I titled the quilt “Checkmate” because I used all of these new fabrics by Kaufman that are various sizes and colors of checks. … it actually reminds me of the gingham prints that I have always love.

Let’s see how it turns out and I hope that you like it.