Fabric is an integral part of our lives and we can become quite attached to patterns, materials, and the memories we associate with them. I like to use fabrics that have already lived one life. Perhaps as childhood sheets or a mother’s blouse. Or maybe as a holiday table cloth or apron. These fabrics have stories to tell and I hate to see those stories thrown away. The stories of these fabrics are given “new life” in these quilts that are made for a new human life. The variety of textures, colors, and patterns provide many opportunities for a growing baby to make observations and connections.My quilts are not perfect – the lines aren’t straight and the quilting is bumpy in places. No one will mistake them for store-bought. This aesthetic is intentional. I believe that they more effectively transfer the love that went into creating them because it is clear that they were made by a living, breathing person. Life is not perfect, people are not perfect, and I think it is important for children to realize this and embrace the messiness and beauty of it all.