The theme of 2014 so far has been to finish what I've started. I'm now all settled into our new apartment and gone are the busy travel schedules of the last few years. It's just me and all the projects I started or dreamed up during those last few years in Tokyo. First up is a baby quilt that I had meant to sent out at the start of last fall.

I actually brought this quilt top in my checked luggage from Japan, thinking that I would just baste up the quilt and do some hand quilting in all the free time I would have when we first arrived. The first week in Dallas had me busier than expected as we navigated all the details of a new city from our hotel room, getting set up for adult life in the U.S. for the first time, while working full-time to prepare for a 4-week business road trip the following week.

Needless to say, the quilt went on the back burner! But I finished up work in December and gave this my full attention in January, my first time hand-quilting in a hoop.

As much as I love the fabrics and pattern I chose for the front, I this animal print backing takes the cake!

This welcome to our new little friend was a little late in its arrival, but just as warm as could be. And it made it there with time to spare before Valentine's Day! Perfect timing.