Daisies and more

I'm trying to figure out this whole free-motion quilting thing. I feel like I'm totally off somehow, maybe I just need to keep practicing? I have this quilt for a friend's baby (a girl after 2 boys). I already showed it to her, so it's okay to talk about it. =) The entire thing is basted together, just waiting for the quilting and binding. I made the top and back in an afternoon. It was inspired by this quilt by AmandaJean. (By the way, if you haven't been by her site, go there now, seriously. I love her choices of fabrics and patterns.)

My friend, Laura, loves daisies! I had found some daisy fabric and made her a receiving blanket with it. Then I got an invitation to a shower for her. The shower was a couple days before my baby sister's wedding. The budget was tight, due to tux rental, gifts, etc., and while I knew she would understand the lack of a gift, I really wanted to bless her. Laura is one of those people who is quick to encourage you, but is totally ready to give you a kick in the butt if you need it. In other words, she is a very honest person and doesn't hide who she is inside. Laura has been such a godly example to me as a woman, a wife, and a mother! (She is also a quilter.)

So anyways, back to the quilt. I called Chris (my very handsome husband) and told him he got to choose a gift. Option #1: I spend the day cleaning the house and I leave as soon as he got home from work to buy a present on the way to the shower. Option #2: I spend the day sewing and make a quilt out of scraps and fabric I had in my stash. He thought about it (the house needed cleaning...mostly the kitchen) and went with option #2. (He knows how relaxing sewing is for me and I was pretty stressed out that week...I love my husband!) So I pulled out the fabric and went to work. I would love to quilt daisies on each large square, but first I have to learn how to free-motion quilt. Oh, and that baby was born almost 3 weeks ago, so I'd better get this done before she's too big for it! Did I mention that in addition to daisies, Laura is a sucker for polka dots?Here's what half of the squares on the front look like. The back was pieced in 3 sections with the pink/white and white/multi-colour fabric. The purple makes me think of Van Gogh.