A Birthday Quilt for Rosemary

It seems like not that long ago that I was frantically finishing a twin size quilt so that it would be ready for when my niece Rosemary came home from Uganda. And really, it wasn't that long ago - less than a year! Recently, I had the great privilege of being able to go to North Carolina for a visit to be there to celebrate Rosemary's 7th birthday - and her first one since coming home!

A while back, I was talking with Rosemary on the phone about my upcoming trip to see her, and she said "Aunt Carrie, I know what you get me for my birthday!" I laughed and said, "no, it's a surprise! How do you know?" She answered "you make me a blanket!"

Well, if it was another blanket she wanted, this aunt was going to make that happen!

I headed over to Sew Modern soon after and picked up some great fabrics, including Ann Kelle's Fairy Girlfriends. Rosemary has a minky blanket made by someone else with the Mermaid Girlfriends print, so I knew she would like that. 

After talking with my sister, I decided to make a simple, small quilt that would be good for a "go anywhere" blanket.  The idea was that she could bring it along to dance class where she waits while Brady, who my sister nannies, is in her class, and use it to sit on while she is playing or whatever. Or for picnics, or naps in the car, or whatever on the go blanket needs she may have! With that in mind I also made a matching drawstring bag for the blanket to go into for travel. 

Rosemary absolutely loved it! That smile! Oh I love that smile!

Since then, Rosemary's bedroom got a makeover - one that included bunk beds! It turns out that the original quilt I had made for her twin size bed actually fits on the bottom double bed, and the little birthday quilt fits nicely onto the smaller upper bunk!  And she's very happy with having both quilts in her new big girl room.