Category Archives: Finshed Projects

The Tooth Fairy Makes a Visit

Oh. My. Goodness. This Girl.

For the past year, my little love has been asking when her “teeth will start to get
wiggly, mamma?”

At the start of the school year, her first bottom tooth became very, very wiggly. Soon after, a second bottom tooth became very, very wiggly.

During the second week of school, one tooth was so loose it came out right before she went to bed. Ms. Tooth Fairy came and left my little gal some shiny half dollars and a nice note.

The next day, when I picked her up from school, the first thing she said was, “Mamma! Look!” She gave me one huge smile. Well, would ya look at that. The other tooth came out at school.

I posted this photo to my Facebook page.

I received a comment on that post that made me chuckle. My friend Jen suggested that my little Miss needed a Tooth Fairy Pillow, and fast. Oh, yes. She was right!

My gal picked her fabric. She chose Heather Ross’ Far Far Away (the reprint). I made the unicorn the center of attention as the pocket, quilted the front and the back of the pillow, over-stuffed and stitched.

My gal woke up to another note from the Tooth Fairy and more shiny half dollars. She keeps them in her pillow at all times. 😉

My gal’s growing up!

– Daniela

Lucky, the Improv Quilt

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Recently, The Modern Quilt Guild had a fabric challenge using Michael Miller fabrics. “Lucky” is the quilt that I entered in the challenge.

I let the fabric sit for a long time…until the week of the deadline. I finally decided to take the plunge and enjoy the process. I used the tradition of quilting and abstract expressionism as inspiration to create an improvisational piece with a contemporary aesthetic while exploring how it affects my identity and my journey.

Why, yes, that is my design wall on the floor. When working improv, for me, it is sometimes easier that way.

I used various Petal Pinwheels prints and a mixture of cotton couture solids including white and soft white. I love the subtle quality these two whites add to a quilt when paired together. A bit of hot pink was added (one of my favorite colors) along with shades of orange, aqua and gray to compliment the challenge fabrics.

For the quilting, there was no predetermined plan. I went with what felt “right” while quilting.

I used larger scale pieces for the back of the quilt.

I should add that I basically did not eat much and ~~ignored~~ put many things on the back-burner while making the quilt so it could be completed on time. Ever get like that? So focused on something there is nothing else you could possibly do until it was completed? Yep, guilty. But, I enjoyed every minute of creating this quilt!

I plan on entering “Lucky” into the quilt show at QuiltCon. Should I enter it for exhibition only or to be judged? What do you think?

“Lucky” measures 47” x 58”. I named it “Lucky” because I was lucky enough to finish it in the nick of time to enter it into the challenge. No, actually, I named it “Lucky” because I feel that I am lucky to have discovered quilting as a means of my artistic expression and also to be part of this awesome quilting community. xo

– Daniela

The On-Nee Pillow

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We made a pillow for my honey. The kids and I. You see, my honey does not have a quilt just yet. The kids have quilts. I have a quilt (a very small one!). But my honey, no…he has no quilt. We wanted to make him a gift, but it had to be something we could all manage to make for him. A pillow! Perfect!

I chose colors and fabrics that he prefers that are from my favorite designers (Anna Maria Horner, Carolyn Friedlander, Denyse Schmidt). Oh, and linen…linen, how I love you so. Let us not forget the pops of orange to go with our family room. Have I mentioned yet that I love lots of color?

I went full force with the improvisational piecing. I used scissors. Gasp! Scissors, you ask? Yes! It’s so freeing to work in this way, I love it. When I work improv, it’s like working on a painting for me. I may have an idea of where I am going, but not a solid one. It changes as I create. It gets better, sometimes not, but because I make up the rules, it always works out in the end. ; )

My son did a great job doing some of the piecing.

My daughter and I quilted the organic lines. She’s so proud. Look at that smile!

Why the On-Nee pillow, you ask? My honey and I, refer to each other as “On-Nee” as a term of endearment. We picked that up from my parents. They call each other “Honey” but because they do not pronounce their H’s in English because they are native Italian speakers, they pronounce it “On-Nee.” Cute, right?

-Daniela