When I was a kid, my dad made all my lunches, and he often put something extra inside: a note, a picture, a poem. I made this little lunch bag with this in mind, adding a tiny pocket where you can leave messages!

Originally uploaded by Stockton&Co.

So, inspired by the block-along at Sew Mama Sew I am attempting my first quilt. In an uncharacteristic show of craft-related caution, I decided to go with the 9-patch rather than something more elaborate. Before I started cutting I took a picture of the fabrics I’m going to be using:

Can you tell it’s a baby quilt? The one with the houses will be the back, and the polka dot bottom left will be the binding (I think). And I have a couple of plain fabrics coming by mail that I may use as well, depending on how crazy (pattern-wise) everything looks once it starts coming together.

And here is the result of my first 9-patch attempt:

A little wonky, but not nearly enough to deter me!

And finally, a close-up of the turtles:

Check out the lovely fabric that came in the mail yesterday from Sew Mama Sew! I have been collecting blue and orange fabric in hopes of attempting my first quilt … for a baby nephew whose birth is imminent. And with perfect timing, over at the Sew Mama Sew blog it is quilting month, and they are doing a “block along” every Friday. Today they have links to three different nine-patch tutorials, so all I need to do is choose (I am thinking “Crazy 9-Patch”).