Sweet Dreams

     "No one has ever made a quilt for me."   We were discussing a quilt I had made for my son in law when my daughter in law said that.  My daughter in law is dear to me.  I have made a quilt for my son ( a Quilt of Valor as he is a combat infantry marine veteran) and my grandbaby (her daughter) and even my daughter in law's mother (a What Cancer Cannot Do panel quilt during her radiation treatments).  I was a little surprised since she is a quilter herself.  I have learned from experience, you don't make Italian food for real Italians.  So I was not sure a quilter would want a quilt made by someone else.  But I was glad to know it.  Of course, it is time for me to make one for her.  With her birthday coming up in February, this is the perfect time.
     Since my daughter in law is a quilter, I knew her quilt had to be extra special.  I have been doing a lot of applique lately.  But for my DIL, I decided on a challenging and complicated pieced project.  First step, always  make a pinterest board - in this case, private of course, so she would have no hints that a quilt was coming.  I have loved Shakespeare in the Park for a long time.  It is on my bucket list.  I also love Storm at Sea.  I remembered some other patterns that look like curved piecing, but it is actually an optical illusion - looked curved (which I am scared of) but is not.  I looked at patterns called Calypso, kaleidoscope and others.  I found 3 patterns that are very similar I was drawn to for this project - one called Emily's wedding quilt,  another called  Aunt Gracie's Garden Quilt, and finally Missouri Star Quilt Company has a tutorial on it.  It is actually 2 blocks put together that look totally different when placed together.  I did not like the edges having incomplete blocks, so I found a pattern just like I wanted called Sweet Dreams in a book of red and white quilt patterns by Martingale Press.  Sweet Dreams, perfect name for my daughter in law's new quilt!

     Emily's Wedding Quilt
     Aunt Gracie's Garden Quilt
     Missouri Star Quilt Company Version
     Sweet Dreams by Lissa Alexander  

     So pattern decided upon!  Then on to fabric choice.
    Several weeks ago, knowing it could come in handy in the future, I had sent a link to Shannon Brinkley's color style quiz to my daughter and DIL.  I wanted to see what color schemes they are most drawn to.  How helpful is that to know!   You can take the quiz here:    Shannon Brinkley's Color Style Quiz
     Both girls came up as "spring" while I fell evenly between spring and winter which are basically the same, just winter is more intense.  White, not cream.  Clear colors, not muted.     Then I saw that Missouri Star Quilt Company's Daily Deal was a layer cake (10 inch squares) that were spring colors and perfect for DIL's quilt!   It was from Riley Blake Designs, called Hand Picked by Tammie Green.  Two layer cakes would be needed for this project.

     I spent the weekend starching and ironing fabric.  Intricate piecing is always easier to manage and more precise with highly starched fabrics.  I use straight liquid starch, not to be confused with spray starch.  I do pour it into a bottle and spray it on.  When dry, the fabric  becomes stiff like card stock.  
     Ready to begin!