Peaceful Safari

I'm going on a quilt retreat this weekend so I thought I would share what I did last year on my retreat. I designed and assembled the entire top of the quilt for Ryan's big boy bed. I had done a bear fishing theme for his baby quilt, but now he has a great love of safari and jungle animals, leopards in particular.

Luckily I had some fabulous fabric on hand to make him something with. The main panel and borders are from the Peaceful Safari line by Teresa Kogut for South Seas Imports that I bought several years ago. I decided to use the classic Attic Windows block around the panel scenes so that it feels like you are looking out at the safari scenes.

For the windows I used a wood grain material and a batik that looked kind of mossy/paint peeling so as to feel like a cabin on the Serengeti might. For the sashing I chose a crackle wood colored print, like sun dried wood.

The best part is the leopard print Minkee fabric I was able to find for the backing. It is the bomb! If I say so myself. If you haven't pet Minkee fabric yet, you should search it out and do so.

I'm quite sure that Ryan agreed since his reaction when he saw it was fabulous. He was so excited he just jumped up and down in rapid succession. His dad asked him to tell me if he likes it, and he nodded his head vigorously while still jumping. Then a little later he was climbing up my staircase (a favorite thing of small children when they come to my house, though I'm not sure why) he called down "I love my blan....I mean quilt Aunt Vicki!" That's why Ryan gets quilts! Even though he was only 4 years old at the time, he appreciated that I had made it for him.

It ended up much larger than I thought it would, but luckily his bed is high off of the ground, so it is an ok size. It's so large that it was really difficult to take photos of, so I hope you get the gist. The bed that it's on in the photo is a king size and Ryan has a twin! Oh well, math was never my best subject in school.

Have a fantastic weekend!