For our 1st (by order of appearance!!) Niece...

We are getting two nieces this year... one from each side of our families. So, as you can imagine, we're pretty excited about that because we've been parents for going on 6 years now, but haven't gotten the privilege as of yet of spoiling and handing back a child... Anyway, my bro The Cowboy and his wife are getting near their delivery date, and I finally sent off the package of stuff I'd been working on for this highly anticipated little love. This is most of what the package included. :-)

When Auntie A asked me to help put together a nursery quilt I immediately commenced upon a search of Internet land for the best cowgirl themed fabric in hopefully pink and turquoise. However, that was not to be found... the best I could find was Moda's Rawhide line, which had all the requirements of the colors EXCEPT for the turquoise. So, when Auntie A said Turquoise the fabric that immediately popped into my head was Jennifer Paganelli's Max's Tux from the Flower Power line in the most PERFECT!! of shades--called Sky. So, after much searching and deliberating we decide to combine the two lines of fabrics, as well as a cute cow print in there for the unexpected to just lighten it up a bit, and it ended up pulling together beautifully. The turquoise/sky color totally brightened up the more mature soft blues in the lovely Rawhide fabric.
This was the first cotton batting style quilt I'd ever done, and I'm all in all pretty pleased with how it turned out. I had a lot of help from Mrs. Coconut Farmer's momma, who is a master quilter. Thanks so much J!!!

Since Auntie A is an artist, I had her draw horses and horseshoes so we could feature her work on the quilt as well... I wasn't able to hand quilt the whole thing due to time constraints, but I was at least able to feature her art and have the heirloom quality of hand quilting by her aunt (that's me!) and my mom helped me too, so also by her Grammy.

View of one of the handquilted horses from the back.

Then, since having a nursery takes more than just a quilt, I got extra fabric to do just a few additional things as well... I used this WONDERFUL book for a few other items. If you sew or are learning to sew, I HIGHLY recommend this book. It's so inspirational to look through, and the ideas are so fun, and most of them are pretty quick, easy projects. It's a great stash-buster. My mother-in-law got this book for me as a surprise present, and I just love it!! (They're coming out with another one too, I cannot wait!)

So, I used the fabrics to make a changing table organizer...

Which will fit stuff like wipes, burp cloths, baby lotion and diaper ointment perfectly.

I hung it on my shower rack to take pictures, so it's a little crooked, it should hang much better with actual hooks. :-) Of course, we had to fill it with fun Burt's Bees baby stuff, and rag quilt burp cloths that my girls happily sewed together for their new cousin.

And then, since this baby's momma is an artist, it only seems right that she come into the world with an art smock, don'tcha think?! I had just enough extra fabric after cutting everything else out to make one. :-) This also sort of gives away one of the gifts for our other niece on the way, because her mommy is an artist too... sheesh, we're all stocked up on nieces and artists in this family!!! :-)

Behind it in this picture is the rag quilt, because I cannot possibly have a niece, and not make her a rag quilt. :-) I'm pretty sure I'm going on 20 rag quilts all total, I've actually lost count, but they're so sweet and soft and warm and snuggly, they really are the perfect snuggle blankie for adults and children alike.

And, my heart, the sweetest little birdie mobile ever.

Debris and Kiki FELL IN LOVE with this, and want one so bad now. :-)

Also, they felt it very important that we take a picture indicating for Uncle Cowboy and Auntie A how a mobile is to be used just in case that was unclear to the new parents... so here ya go...

Goo Goo Gaa Gaa!!!

Now I hold my breath until the package gets there... :-)