Each quilt we complete becomes our favorite for a short period of time... but this one, called Elephant Parade, will continue to be on my list because it has a special story.
My husband has worked for a Japanese company for 9 years, and it wasn't until a couple months ago, we finally had our first Japanese guests over for dinner. They were expecting their first child and had some questions for us.
Sure! No problem, I thought... we'd been through it twice after all? It wasn't until they arrived and we started really getting to know each other that I realized how difficult it would be to have your first child in a country that wasn't your own. I remember how difficult it was to be a first-time parent - and the over-whelming feeling I had walking into Babies'R'Us for the first time. Now imagine doing this thousands of miles from home and trying to understand everything-baby in a different language. My heart really went out to them.
So, of course, after they left, I decided I HAD to make them a quilt. I sketched out a couple different versions of this before finally settling here. I used 2 fabrics from Robert Kaufman's Urban Circus with Kona Turquois and Kona Orange. Although I am still trying to figure out free motion, I managed to do a little echo around the elephant applique in the center (which I think looks awesome if I do say so myself!).
Their son is the cutest little guy and has two gracious and loving parents to guide him throughout his life. I hope this little quilt will keep him cuddled nice and warm even after our friends return to Japan.
