I finished this little mini earlier this week for The Mini QT Swap. For this swap you are supposed to make a very small little quilt that fits into the rounds theme. The theme this round was "Take Flight". I got the amazing Nanotchka as my partner. I soon felt very intimidated. She is such a talented lady, and it is hard to make something for someone you know could make something ten times better. This swap definitely stretched my comfort levels a bit. This mini started out with inspiration from this pillow from Stitch Magazine. I put it on some cool notebook paper fabric by Basic Grey for Moda. I appliqued the balloons and clouds at first, and it just looked so... plain. I really wanted it to look like it was drawn on a piece of paper. So I added some writing and some little "punched" holes on the side. I still felt something was missing. So then I added the pencil. I think the balloon got away! It was funny to me how this little quilt so quickly changed. I find that I can almost never just leave something alone. I always want to fiddle with an idea. This is the mini that I received in return! She does such fabulous birds, and I have admired them so long. I love the soft, spring like colors that she chose as well as the little quilt hanging from the wash line. Thank you Nanette!