I started this project months ago, since I wanted to keep it a secret I haven’t shared anything until now. Now that I have gifted the quilt to the new baby. Most of these fabrics were in my stash but I admit to ‘needing’ to buy a few more pink prints, like the one with the princess.
Its nice to have a color theme, like pink. When working with prints, that can mean almost anything. When starting this kind of project I start with the center panel, in this case, using a four way layout for the clamshells. I basted the center medallion on a solid background and appliqued it with the buttonhole stitch on the machine.
I love adding grey to pink, so the first border was added.
Then I started auditioning a complementary snap as the next border. I like the shape but the size is too big. 
This size works, but not the layout, I just didn’t have enough space, I also didn’t want to cut leaves in half.
One solution is to add another border in a darker shade of pink.
I was able to play with the layout on the top and bottom, I was hoping for the same affect on the sides, the math didn’t work. I also tried the leaves going in opposite directions, it didn’t look right. This is what looked the most pleasing to me. I love these aspects of designing, working out the problems as I go. I have no interest in selling patterns, this is my creativity for me and for the person getting the quilt.
Small quilts are wonderful for practicing. I did both free motion quilting on the solid pink background as well as some ruler work. I don’t have the correct quilting foot for this so I’m improvising. I did buy a ruler foot that is supposed to work with my Juki, but it makes too much noise, so I’m looking for other options.
I am so pleased with the quilting, practice really does make better.
Always fun to see the quilting on the back, I used two colors of thread which may not be noticeable from the front, but pops on the back.
Finished and beautiful.
With a scrappy back, using leftover blocks and fabrics.
This quilt sat around for over two months. I had to wait for the baby to be born to be able to label it and gift it.
Leah