United Scraps of America - Grand Finale

The United Scraps of America quilt is FINALLY finished.

 If you are keeping track, I started the process of creating this quilt back in February, when I picked through my scraps of fabric {thank goodness, I am a fabric hoarder} and deliberated over which piece would go with which state.

Then, over the next month, I hand whip stitched EACH state into place.  And, in the process, I may or may not have developed carpal tunnel syndrome :)

For months after, I held onto my quilt.  I had put so much work into it, it was hard to hand it over for quilting.

Last month, I did just that. I finally put it in the capable hands of The Queen of Quilts, my mom.

And, in her very capable hands and her professional long arm quilting machine, she stipple quilted...

a tight and detailed free motion design...

around the entire United States...

into each detailed groove of each detailed state.

Then there was a matter of quilting the states themselves.

So, she outlined each state, changing the color of her thread to match the color of fabric for each state, just as I had done when I whip stitched them.

The precision of which she outlined each state is barely visible from the front of the quilt

but, when you turn the quilt over, you can appreciate the detail she was able to achieve.

Even though, I am fully aware of what the Queen of Quilts is capable of, there are still projects, like this one, when I look at it in complete awe of her talent. 

Since I have already started on a second United Scraps of America quilt, I have this one listed in my Etsy shop for sale along with some other homemade gifts like these.

I am very fortunate to have many special and meaningful quilts from the Queen of Quilts.  So parting with the United Scraps of America will be easier curled under this beautiful quilt.

This is Paris.

We were invited to a birthday party for our niece this past weekend. Trying to figure out a thoughtful gift to give, I took into account her parents had their honeymoon in Paris. In a way, it almost seemed like Paris was the start of her own story. With that being said...

We bought the birthday girl, This is Paris, by Miroslav Sasek, a children's travel book.

Each page has a vintage appeal making it seem timeless and classic. You can't help but adore every illustration.

Paris is brought to life right before your eyes with each turn of the page. The quiet and beautiful details depicted in this book are memorizing.

Each page will delight you with something not only charming but interesting.

It's the type of book, that will promote a love of travel in your child and enchant their dreams with the beauty of Paris.

When I stumbled upon this free printable for a paper city of Paris, complete with street lights, Parisians, a patisserie, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and Arc D'Triomphe, from Made By Joel, I had to include it along with the book.

Hopefully after the birthday girl reads all about Paris, she can act out a story of her own using Made by Joel's paper version of Paris.

We also exchanged some money for euros and included it in her birthday card with a note that reads: Hoping one day you will see Paris with your own eyes. When you make it there, use these euros to buy yourself something that will remind you of what Paris means to you.