Lisa, Some ideas from an "older" woman! Please take them in the vein they are offered, and do what you please. I'm not really that old, but I can get considerably grumpy at times, LOL. BTW, I just turned 50. The only baby showers I expect to be invited to anymore are for my son's wife if he ever has one, or one child of my very best friend. I know the idea of having the guests address their own thank-you envelopes is an idea that has taken off among the younger set - but seriously, as an "older person", I was shocked the first time it happened to me, and a bit offended, too! Reasoning - I've been invited, I've taken time to either make or shop for a gift, and the bride (in my case) or mother-to-be can't take enough time to write her own thank-you notes? Either thank me, or don't, but don't make me work for a thank-you note. I'd rather not have it. If you're going to be having a large number of older people, you may consider having (assigning) someone to fill out those envelopes, or have it done in advance, or just skip it. The older folks will be offended. And you or your daughter will all ready have the addresses if you've invited the people. Use a computer and print out the address labels in advance. Also, JMHO, favors are not necessary! I came for the party to "shower" the mother-to-be with a gift, and I really don't want a "thing" to take away. A thing means I have to store it, or use it, or pitch it - in other words, it puts an additional obligation on me. And a favor that is a food item will be left by more than 1/2 the guests - been there, seen it happen too many times. Save the money and start a savings account, LOL. If you absolutely must do favors, please, an unscented candle (I have asthma), wrapped in the tulle with a ribbon, but I don't want to have to throw out a plastic safety pin, diminutive bottle or other "baby" thing. And I will throw them out, and so will your guests! But I could possibly reuse the ribbon. I find it wasteful of both money and resources to stick little plastic things on gifts. I much prefer to be provided with a beautiful chocolate truffle to eat AT the shower - and one is enough. I LOVE, LOVE the idea of a clothesline on the wall to pin the outfits on!! I think that's brilliant! I also think the decorated onesies are a wonderful idea! Also great is the idea of having guests sign or draw on a quilt block. Have them all over-sized, with the freezer paper already ironed on. Draw the border, so they don't go into the seam allowance. Have fabric crayons or pigma markers ready, as well as some ideas for simple drawings from coloring books, or a list of "baby sayings" for them to write. As to the games - I'm not hard of hearing, but I also have little tolerance of shower games. I would not participate in a measuring of the mother's belly. I was 29 when I had my baby, and I was horrified when people at work wanted to touch my belly - and work people threw me a shower. Fortunately my DH worked at the same place, and he stopped them from playing that game. LOL. They still made me a fricking hat from all the ribbons, and insisted I wear it for a photo. I didn't like that either, but tolerated it with good grace. Bingo might be tolerable. Understand, all of these shower games started when it was giddy 18 and 19 year old girls having babies, and the people who attended baby showers were all the same age, and the only older people were the mums and grandmums. Friends of the parents didn't usually attend. They showed up AFTER the birth with a lovely blanket or outfit, several days after Mother and baby were home. So I don't know how old your DD is, and you have to consider both her and the audience. I was a good 10 years older when I had my first than my mother was. My sensibilites and preferences were too. Shower food - crudite and dip, fruit and dip, finger sandwiches if you wish, cake, punch, tea and coffee. Maybe a truffle. Please take this in the way I intend it - tongue in cheek for the most part, but also trying to save you some money. I would concentrate on nice food and drink, no favors, only one game at the most. Sit around! Eat! Open presents! Nothing more is required of a good shower. Hoping I didn't sound too grumpy, LOL. Mary

Michelle, Why would you iron that lovely quilt? OK, yes, you get to do what you want, and all that, but my view is the puffier the quilt, the better! I have seen ironed-flat quilts, and I think they're missing the "quiltiness" of being quilts. Just my humble opinion - and the quilt is beautiful.

Well she's going to be OK & is recovering, but Mom ended up at the Hospital 2 days before Mother's Day, when I was planning to present her w/ this Quilt (compression fractures of the vertebrae, very painful). So anyway, I'm keep keeping the quilt warm on MY bed (tho' it's king size & the quilt only twin), 'til Mom's back in her regular home when I'll give it to her. I've had a lot of trouble trying to take pix where the quilting shows up well, tough to do. I've discovered accidentally that outside in the sun works much better (than indoors) & as I had nowhere to hold it up, I laid it flat on the grass; worked surprisingly well, a lesson for the future (for us all). Pls. have a look at the detail: Extreme Detail The Long View I've got slowish speed computer at home. Have just been working in my Photobucket albums on the Office's high speed computer; man what a pleasure, you can get sooo much more done!

Cathy, My family can't get enough of rag quilts!!!!! I just made a denim for my nephew (9) and I used old jeans and just another layer of cotton material. It was heavy but we do get a little frost in S costal Georgia and he loves it. It will probably last him his entire life!!!! For my sister I made a full size using muslin as the batting and it is still warm but not as heavy and is easier on the hands to clip. It really is a personal preference but if you use flannel or muslin I would recommend prewashing because of shrinkage. If you use 3 layers of material and 1 shrinks more than the others it could distort the block. I have even used applique on some rag quilts, just use your imagination. Rosa