February's NewFOs

Somehow, it doesn't seem like there's a lot to show for February.   For my first NewFO, I took the remainder of the two charm packs of polka dots and stripes, and put together a little baby quilt for the local hospital's layette project. 

I

I bordered it with some Kona red fabric left over from my grandson's superhero quilt from last fall.  The back is made up of pieces left from other grandchildren's baby quilts, and the batting was also pieced from foot-wide strips left from another project, so this quilt came entirely from stash. 

This one was simply ditch quilted around each of the squares, and some loops, hearts, and the word Baby were free motion quilted around all the borders. 

Another shot showing a bit of the back.  This should be a great little teaching quilt, for colors and shape identification, not to mention counting!  It's also very soft and lightweight, perfect for dragging about the house!   The quilt finished at 38 inches square.

My other February NewFO is this little wall quilt titled Betsy's Closet - In Stitches, by Acorn Quilt & Gift Company.  This sweet little quilt with its nine embroidered blocks will be the test of whether I can relearn a skill my mother began teaching me at a very early age, but which I have not practiced much in at least 35-40 years!  My mom and I embroidered countless pre-stamped dresser scarves, doilies and pillowcases when I was growing up in the 1950s, mostly with simple stem, chain and back stitch, and the occasional french knot.  We didn't do any of the fancy work seen on some embroidery blogs, something I would dearly love to learn ... someday!   But I digress - here is the start of my little embroidering adventure:

And here is the completed first block.

I'm thinking of tackling this in a block a month fashion and hope to have it completed by the end of the year.

One of my January NewFOs was completed this morning.  The little angel has had her unruly plaid skirt tufted or tied, free motion quilting completed, and the binding is now all stitched down.   Here is Sophie's Quilt, ready to be sent on to its new home. 

And more embroidery practice.  You can read more about the creation of this little piece for a special mom of an angel here and here.  This tiny quilt finished at 10 by 16- 1/2 inches. 

I'll be linking up with Barbara at Cat Patches for the February NewFO Linky Party and Giveaway, and hope you'll stop over and see all the new creations this month.  You can even join the party and enter your own NewFO's - with no pressure to finish any of them!  Now that's a deal not many of us quilters can resist!