(If you'd like to check other Sew Friday projects, or join the fun, click on the picture in my right column.) 

I have no nieces, but one nephew who is 18 months old.  Before he was born, my brother and his wife had chosen Winnie the Pooh and yellow and green for the theme and colors, since they did not know who they were having until he arrived!  So before he was born, I found some soft yellow Pooh fabric which was tone on tone.  I got a yard for the front.  Then I got 1 yard of white minkee for the back.  Of course minkee will make anyone say, "Wow!"  It was the hit of the baby shower and my nephew has used it well since he was born.  I figured by 18 months, he'd be ready for a new blankie!

When I was at a quilt show a few months ago, I saw these kits. 

It looked easy and very boyish...all vehicles!  Also, there was some of that wonderful minkee to put on the back!  Here's everything laid out that was in the bag...

Then I got to work rotary cutting.  I laid all my fat quarter piles at the top.  I had to cut each fat quarter into various sized squares and rectangles.

It was easy to lose place of which shape I was cutting in the directions, so I got a lime green sticky to help me keep track of all the sizes I had to cut.

Then I had trouble keeping track of my various sized shapes.  So I cut up an index card and labeled each with the dimensions, to keep track of my piles of cut pieces.

Once I got them all cut out, the fun began! I got to mix and match patterns while I assembled the blocks.  Then I sewed the blocks together into rows.  Then I sewed the rows together.  After that I laid the right side of the quilt on top of the right side of the minkee and sewed around leaving an opening to flip it out.  After turning it inside out, I hand sewed the opening closed. Then I got the blue DMC floss to tie off the quilt.  And here are the results...

My nephew is not too sure of anyone but his parents and my mom...who takes care of him.  sniff, sniff  So I thought this would be a great way to worm my way into his heart! =)  This was his Christmas gift, but when I gave it to him, he was distracted by everything else.  Not surprised!  I've had kids that age!  lol  The other day mom called to tell me that he loves his quilt!  I said I suspected once he got bored he might notice it!  lol  (He gets into *everything* and that's how he spent Christmas Day, getting into *everything* at my mom's house!)  She said he always insists on taking that blankie to bed every night!  =)

I have a linkable picture for Sew Crafty Friday in my right hand column if you'd like to see more or even join the fun!  =)

Here is the third quilt I ever made, well fifth if I count 2 small hand stitched and quilted pieces from high school summer phase homemaking.  =)  DS has grown up adoring trains.  I looked in vain for the perfect train pattern to quilt.  Finally, I made my own design.  This is machine appliqued and quilted so it can take lots of loving and washing!

Close up...

I got my inspiration from the walls I had painted a few years earlier. It's very simply painted, not professional by any means.  But fun and whimsical for a child. We had been to Colorado and rode lots of trains which were the inspiration point for the room.  That is the snow covered Pikes Peak behind the bulletin board.

I sewed a simple valence over his window...

In each corner on each side of his bed I painted tunnels.  Going in...

Coming out...

I painted trains on his pillow case and sheets.  I found an iron on template and painted that.  You can see the border of the pillow here.  I painted the purple mountain majesties over his bed...

His choo choo knick knack and tropy wall.  The railroad sign is a growth chart...

DH built the shelf in the photo above.  He made an engine coming out and caboose going in.  Here's the engine coming out...

And here's the caboose going in...

Goodbye! Chug-chug-chug-chug, chug-chug-chug...whoo-whoo!