Gina's Surprise ~~ finished

Maybe I should name this quilt Mary and Gina's Surprise. I finished the entire quilt in only a few days, so I am surprised.

Gina, however, is the one with the really big surprise. She is expecting a boy mid-January. Gina is my niece and is about 32 years old. She has always said no children, ever. Plus, she has two nephews of her own that she's especially close to. I suppose you could say she helps in raising them and that was enough for her.

But, you know, things can change. A girl in her thirties can find the love of her life. They can find themselves enjoying a "no children, ever" surprise with a side of crow and a nice glass of blush. Still, Gina is having a grand time being "preggy," I think the word is now. 

Some of the quilting--I just switched
from one motif to another as I pleased.

Aother surprise is that some of the fabrics in this quilt are from my late mom's stash. Gina was really close to mom and often mentions how much she misses her. So when I decided to make a quilt for Gina, I thought it would be really special to include at least a few of mom's fabrics, even if they are really, really old. So I got busy looking. 

Several boxes later (I used the opportunity to  clean up and get more fabric put away) I discovered the one box that I knew had to be around somewhere. In it were three dusty but usable blue fabrics. She'd better have a boy! One is this pretty blue flannel. It reminds me of daddy since he always wore flannel shirts in the winter, which only adds to the sentimental value. 

Since there was only a little over a yard, I think mom bought lots and used up the amount necessary to make him a shirt. This is just what happens to be left over. And it just happens to be the right amount. The stars do align when grandparents in heaven are giving an assist.

Six and a half inch blocks, a Trip Around the World pattern and progressive free-motion quilting all made for a two-day quilt that is 44" square and very boyish. Since there was enough of the flannel, I decided to cut it on the diagonal and use it for binding. And for the label I stitched on small pieces of the two fabrics on the front so she could easily remember which ones were Grandma's. I think Gina will enjoy it.

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		Quilt Stats
	Name:	Gina's Surprise
	Size:	44 x 44
	Fabrics:	fabrics from mom's stash (and mine)
	Backing:	blue plaid flannel from mom's stash
	Binding:	same blue flannel
	Pattern:	Trip Around the World design
	Quilting:	Progressive FMQ
	Completed:	November 2, 2018

Link Ups

Busy Hands Quilts (Finished or Not Friday)

Confessions of a Fabric Addict (Can I get a Whoop! Whoop!)
Busy Mom Quilts (Finish It up Friday)