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Baby Amelia and quilts

Hey everyone! I’ve just returned from Austin where I got to visit my granddaughter, Amelia, for the very first time.  It was just as wonderful (if not more so) as everyone said it would be.  I think I’m allowed to say that she’s the cutest baby girl ever!

Sleeping Baby Amelia, photography by Julie Cefalu

 

I brought my good camera and became the official photographer while I was there. I hope you don’t mind if I share a few bunch of pictures of baby Amelia.

close family b&w 640

my basinettbaby legs

Proud Grandparents!
Proud Grandparents!

 

It’s amazing how entertaining it was to hold her and just stare at her. Changing diapers was even fun (and frequent). It brought back all of the memories of holding a newborn again. The facial expressions that change in the blink of an eye and the baby yawns and little noises that are so sweet to hear (yes even the crying).

baby face 640pxyawning for grandma

 

It was heartwarming to see Mr. Crafty Quilter become spellbound with her, too. He started the trip thinking that he would be bored and useless at this stage of her little life. Well, that changed in a hurry! He was in awe of her tiny perfection and wanted to hold her at least as much as I did. She’s got him wrapped around her finger already!

Grandpa's Finger in the palm of my hand, photography by Julie Cefalu

 

Leaving her and coming back home was the hard part. I have tears in my eyes even as I write this blog post, though I know I’ll be seeing her again in one month. Who knew being a grandmother would be so emotional amazing!

Let’s talk about quilting now, shall we? I brought two quilts with me to Austin that both needed binding stitched down. One of them was Amelia’s baby quilt. It’s now complete and ready for the washing machine. Since I didn’t prewash the fabric and since Cooper is a frequent helper in the sewing room, that was a must.

cooper and quilt copy

 

I think quilts are meant to be used and Kelly does, too.  This is Kelly’s baby quilt that my sister made for her 29 years ago:

Amelia on ABC quilt

 

And this is the quilt that Kelly finished recently (yes, she’s a new quilter, too):

kellys quilt with amelia

 

The other quilt I finished was a project for Jaftex, the parent company of Blank Textiles, Henry Glass & Co., and Studioe. They are celebrating their 85th anniversary next month and I’m one of many bloggers that are helping them celebrate. I can’t wait to show you the finished quilt in September. Mine turned out really cute, but it was late getting finished. I hate being late, but sometimes life just happens that way. I shipped the quilt to New York on Friday after stitching down the binding, adding the quilt label and taking lots of pictures. Here’s a peak at the fabric:

blank quilting package

 

And a peak at the quilt:

balloon sneak peak

It feels so good to have this behind me and no more quilting deadlines looming. Now I can focus on my other daughter’s upcoming wedding (one month to go!) and keeping my blog up to date.

Before I say goodbye, I want to thank you all again for your messages of congratulations on our new grandparent status. I thought I would be able to reply to all of you individually but I was busy cooking and helping with Amelia. I know that was the best use of my time, but I don’t like leaving you out of the “thank you” loop. So let me just say that EVERY comment that you left meant so much to me. Consider yourself wrapped in a big quilt of gratitude and love!

Have a wonderful day!

Julie

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55 Comments

  1. Amelia is adorable! I love the quilting community! We really don’t know each other , but I enjoy your blog so much and feel like we do know on another! Happy Grandmahood!

  2. Julie,
    She is absolutely adorable. I will pass this email blog onto my daughter Katie, that was close with Kelly during the caravan days of Svale pres. Tell her congratulations from us, and enjoy her time with the little one, since we all know how quickly they grow up. Anne

  3. I know how you feel seeing your grandchild for the first time. It’s very emotional but in a very good way!

    Baby Amelia is beautiful and so precious! Enjoyed the pictures and will look forward to more in the future. You are so blessed. You have a beautiful family!

  4. She is just gorgeous!!! Congrats on being a new grandma!! I can’t wait myself: it just seems like it will be the best thing ever! Thanks for sharing the pictures! Hugs, H in Healdsburg

  5. what a bundle of delight brings back memories of when Sal was born that is now over 17 years ago, my how time has flown. You must be wanting the weeks to fly past to when you van see and hold her again.
    Love the baby quilts, good to see the skills are being handed down to the next generation, wish one of my daughters or Sal would show interest but no luck there.

  6. Such sweet pictures. You are so blessed! She is just beautiful and I don’t blame you at all for going a little crazy over her. (No reply necesary)

  7. Love to see it when Amelia calls you grandma for the first time. They often tack on other words to help them to identify multiple grandparents. Its a very special for grandma and grandpa. She is sweet.

  8. Julie, Amelia is beautiful. And your talent for photography is awesome. Hope she is the first of many. Grandchildren are God’s gift for surviving parenthood. Enjoy!

  9. Thanks for sharing the pictures of your sweet baby girl. Grandchildren are the frosting on the cake. Enjoy!! I have a 19, 17, 13 & 10 year old and a two week old. They are a joy at every age! Blessings

  10. Oh Julie! She is beautiful!! Your right! It only gets better with your grandchildren!! I like that Amelia already has her Grandpa wrapped around her little finger! Thank you for sharing your pictures with us! Your quilts are beautiful too!! Enjoy your little bundle of joy!

  11. Please don’t worry about the “follow-up” thank you’s. Being a grandmother and great grandmother, I know how precious those babies are and HOW precious your time with them is. Make the most of it!!! They grow up too quickly. Yes, she is beautiful and sweet. So happy for your family!!!!

  12. Congratulations!!! Amelia is beautiful and yes, as a grandparent myself, we can brag all we want to on how gorgeous our granddaughters are! Love the quilts you made her, I’m sure she will treasure them when she is older, which reminds me that I need to get busy since my 3rd grandchild will be here around Dec 10th. I can’t wait. Grandchildren are such a delight!!!

  13. Well, now that Amelia has Mr. Crafty Quilter wrapped around her little fingers, I guess I won’t have the chance to take him off of your hands….sigh.

    Was I right about grandmotherhood, or was I right about it! It’s SOOOOOO much better than being a mother (not that I don’t love being a mother). 1.)What they do never gets on your nerves. 2)ANYthing they do is adorable. 3.)When you get tired, they go home. 4.) You never want them to go home. 5.)Holding a baby grandchild is the best feeling in the world. 6.)Your life has changed forever — for the better!

    xo Linda

  14. I will say she is just beautiful. Can’t get any cuter than she is. Have a wonderful day full of memories that you made while visiting.
    Congratulations on the wonderful trip to grandparents…….
    Love, Mary

  15. Congratulations on the new addition…she’s beautiful Ahd the photographs are touching. Then I you for sharing g your happiness!

  16. Oh so adorable! I just love babies, so precious. They grow so quickly. Our oldest is 16 now and youngest is 6. Love all the warm photos of your family, doesn’t get any better than that. Welcome home and love the the quilts. And oh my, that new fabric is gorgeous and I want it, hee hee. Thanks for all the pictures and taking us in with your family, loved it….Claudia

  17. Congratulations on your new little one, Julie! She is beautifully perfect! And good luck on the preparations for the fast-approaching wedding — yikes! Lots of big life events in a short amount of time. By the way, I love the fabric choices — such happy colors (my favorite kind!). Can’t wait to see the full quilt. Whew! You’ve been a busy person!

  18. I love seeing the pictures of your first grandbaby. They are wonderful and turn us into marshmallows.

    PS. We have 13 grandchildren and 7 gr-grandbabies with another due in October.

  19. “Baby years” pass soooo quickly, enjoy every minute. Never mind the thank yous!
    Enjoy that baby girl.

  20. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful snapshot in your life. Amelia and your whole family are so precious. I think this may be your Blog Entry Extraordinaire!

  21. Precious, precious baby. I have one great granddtr, one year old. They are more precious each day. Lucky you!!!

  22. Thank you so much for sharing your lovely photos of beautiful little Amelia and proud parents and grandparents. She is gorgeous and very cuddlesome!! God Bless x

  23. Such a beautiful & precious baby girl! I have to agree with you, that being a Grandma is the best thing I have ever experienced……(I have 4 beautiful grandkids now)…..
    Congrats!
    Nettie from Spanish Fork, UT

  24. Beautiful photos of baby and everyone…As a grandmother to 22 and great-grandmother of 5, I know what a blessing it is to hold such a new little person..Congratulations, again…..

  25. So happy for you, Julie! Amelia is adorable and it’s totally understandable how you all have fallen in love with her! Grandpas are funny guys – my hubby is so great with all 3 grandkids (although he doesn’t change diapers!) He has fun teaching the kids all sorts of things and I’m in charge of the quilting. Just got my 7-year-old grandson started sewing. I bought him a real sewing machine – a small Janome, and a friend gave him a tote full of fabric squares that her daughters had tired of. He is having so much fun sewing them together and making his first quilt! I’m also happy that your daughter has discovered quilting – the tradition continues!

  26. What a great way to start my day..smiling at your Amelia. She’s a keeper for sure..and what a cute Mom and Dad she has. Congrats again Grandma (and Grandpa).

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