Custom Order: Monsters

Ta-da! Here it is, the monsters.  She asked for dark blue, light blue, red, orange, yellow, a hint of lime green, and some black and white.  I got her crib dimensions, asked a few questions, and here's what she's getting.  I hope it's what she had hoped for.
(I am so anxious about it actually.  It's kinda intimidating making something for someone you don't know.)

I put four monsters on the blanket, on the light blue fabric.  I didn't blanket stitch around the light blue as they are the "windows."  I used two orange fabrics (one pattern, one solid) and three dark blues (two patterns, one solid).  The patterns are all a bit geometric.  (and the orange monster does have pupils, they are light blue; they didn't photograph very well.)

 I did another pieced back, using fabrics from the front.  I like how the grid of quilting shows so well, and the different colors of thread from the contrasting blanket stitch.

I kept the monsters pretty classic, I'm not reinventing the wheel here.  And really, you can never go wrong with a cyclops.

Onto the bumper.  I have a sister-in-law who is especially crafty.  Not to say the others aren't, but she really is as crafty as my sister thinks I am.  Anyway, she made a bumper for her first a couple years ago and it was pretty much a never again experience.  I was a little intimidated, but I told myself that I sew more than she does and I would be okay.  I hoped. 

Well I essentially was, but I'm not eager to repeat this anytime soon.  It's just so long and skinny; it's not that easy to get in a hoop.  I think the real thing that got to me was the blanket stitching.  I'm pretty much resolved not to blanket stitch anything for years.  Also, if anyone hears me say the words "invisible thread," just go take it from my sewing room.

But, I do love how the bumper turned out.  I totally wish I had made my kids a bumper.  So bottom line, it was a tricky quilting process, but not horrendous, I'd make one for my sister.

I had originally planned the colored squares on front and back, but then the black and white started calling me.  I didn't want to inject that much black and white into someone's nursery without checking, so I asked Mom-to-be and she said black and white.  It looks fantastic!  I totally love the mental image of the classic b&w peeking through the bars and the monster colorfest inside the crib. 

I used colored fabric for the corner ties and black and white for the center ties of the long sides.  I didn't want to draw the eye to the center ties. 

The bumper is blanket stitched just like the blanket and has monsters on the light blue.  Each crib side has its own cute little monster.

It was delivered yesterday and is officially finished.  Now I can start restocking my poor little etsy shop. 

linking up to quilt story, crazy mom quilts, and tgiff