![Lexy-Ward-from-The-Proper-Pinwheel](https://www.yellowbugquilts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Lexy-Ward-from-The-Proper-Pinwheel-199x300.jpg)
I met Lexy of The Proper Pinwheel a little over a year ago when we worked together for Alt Design Summit. Lexy is smart and creative and has such a great sense of humor.
I described her to someone this way, “She has impeccable taste in style and design with a little whimsy and silliness thrown in to surprise you and make you smile.” I think the picture up there is a perfect example of what I mean.
I was so excited for Lexy when she announced that she and her husband were expecting their first baby. Is there anything more fun than a new baby?! My answer would be, “No, there is nothing more fun.”
I was planning to make a quilt for Baby Girl Ward already and at the same time I was getting ready to launch Yellow Bug Quilts. I reached out and asked if she would be willing to be my Guinea Pig and walk through the custom process with me. She might as well have a say in what she wants right?
Starting from Scratch
Initially Lexy told me a little about what she had in mind for her nursery, and she sent me pictures of the fabrics she wanted to use as well as a picture of a quilt that she liked. Most of the fabrics were from Sarah Watson’s Indian Summer line. It captures an outdoorsy feeling with a childlike look that make it perfect for a nursery.
![start-to-finish-vert](https://www.yellowbugquilts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/start-to-finish-vert.jpg)
I went to work on some designs. We emailed back and forth with different design ideas and played with several elements of the fabric patterns. I have to say I got a little stuck here. I couldn’t see how the fabrics were going to work together because I couldn’t be sure about the scale and exact colors. I finally just went and bought a little bit of each of the fabrics. All of it made so much more sense to me once I had the fabrics in front of me.
We continued to pass ideas back and forth until we agreed on this design.
![lexy's-design-blog](https://www.yellowbugquilts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/lexys-design-blog.jpg)
It is always interesting so me to see the collaborative process work and to watch a project evolve from a few fabrics to design ideas and, in this case, on to a finished quilt.
Construction
Once we settled on a design, I started sewing.
The main design was fairly simple and it came together quickly. The flying geese added the texture and movement to the design and that part was a little more time consuming than the large design but it was absolutely worth the effort.
In fact, once I learned the piecing process, it became relaxing and I spent a lovely day moving from sewing machine to ironing board to cutting table and back to the sewing machine. Time *ahem* flew by. I enjoyed myself so much I couldn’t believe it when my daughters got home from school. I totally wasn’t expecting them for two or three more hours. Ha!
I look forward to making another quilt with lots of flying geese.
My normal MO is to see a quilt I like and reproduce it or at least elements of it. This is the very first quilt I have made/designed from start to finish and I am happy to report that it was a very satisfying endeavor.
I’m so thrilled with how it turned out and how it compliments Lexy’s nursery. And how cute are those bumper pads??
![Lexy's-quilt](https://www.yellowbugquilts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Lexys-quilt.jpg)
What about you? Have you ever designed your own quilt? How did it turn out?