Breakfast on the Beach

Here is the finished quilt:
I couldn't decide whether the no-flash (above) or flash (below) photo was a truer representation, and since it's my blog, and I have no editor to answer to but myself, I've put in both!

Click on any of the images for more detail.

I'd started with the idea of sunset, but as I was searching for a name , I realised sunrise was a better description. Our family used to have breakfast on the beach a few times each summer, concidentally right near where DH's family sailed! It always included watching the horses being exercised (they're allowed before a certain time) and burying people in sand, but swimming depended on the water temperature. More than once it would end up being on a cold, windy day, and we'd rug-up!

Here are a few underwater details:

If you look really closely, you'll see a boat sailing in the background of the batik, but the colours worked well for the morning sky!

And some of the quilting from the back:

I hadn't planned a pieced back, but the night when I was ready to sandwich realised I didn't have anything big enough, so went through my box of leftover backing.

The sun's rays are done in a variegated King Tut sunset cotton.

And my favourite bit of quilted seaweed:

I delivered the quilt to Samantha today. At less that 4 days old, she didn't care, but her mother loves it, and big sister Zoe wanted to claim it as hers (it's very similar to her quilt Seaside ).

I really struggled over the design on this. Seaside took a while mulling ideas, but this time I just couldn't think of a more creative layout. I even tried something totally different, still with a vague beach link, but it wasn't right, and eventually I settled on the straight scene, or she'd be one before she got a quilt! I have to confess relief that BIL and SIL are planning to stick at two children in this regard!