WIP: finishing (?) the fire fighter quilt

For a few months, I've been working on a fire fighter quilt for one of my favourite nephews. Sometimes, I must set a project aside for a while to formulate some ideas about how to approach what I want to do next.

With this project, I wanted to add some embellishment that the little guy might play with. I had some ideas, made some notes, tried a couple of things, and remained... unsatisfied. And then I thought of some things that might introduce a danger (i.e., a choking hazard). Dissatisfied.

I have a deadline with this quilt. I need to finish it within the next week. Last week, I decided that I must make a decision about what to do, stick with that decision, and finish the quilt.

making water from beads

I decided to create a fire hose, complete with a fire nozzle, and water and stitch the hose along the border. I envision that the little guy might follow the texture of the hose with his finger or play with the water coming out of the nozzle.

After a recent artists' date, I decided to make water using strings of beads. I must be sure that the beads are VERY secure, so the little guy doesn't break the string within the first week that he has the quilt. I started messing around with placement and other embellishments.

(Mom still might not be happy with the beads! Oh well; it can be a wall hanging.)

playing with the placement of embellishments

Late last week, a wonderful quilter friend of mine gave me a quick theoretical tutorial about how to use Steam a Seam2 (what a wonderful product!). I am now working on creating the appliqué and some other embellishments.

A second appliqué, some binding, and it's ready for one final inspection and the gift bag. I had hoped to be able to finish this quilt today, but I have only half a day left and life is getting in the way. Perhaps I'll finish tomorrow!

Posting to TN&TN's WIP Wednesday link-up.