Cute quilts for kids.... it's playtime !

"Playrooms are filled with dreams and imagination runs wild. Toys scattered all over the floor means little minds at play are doing their 'work' for the day." At American Jane, designer Sandy Klop has created charming patterns to celebrate the joys of childhood. These fun quilts are festooned with antique toys (planes, trains and automobiles) and games (parcheesi, anyone?)  

Playtime, 70 x 83", by Sandy Klop, at American Jane

An elephant pull-toy, wind-up dancing bear, vintage airplane and three-wheeled scooter are just a few of the toys that decorate the "Playtime" quilt.  The quilt description reads: "Toys scattered all over the floor means little minds at play are doing their "work" for the day. May we all find play in our work."

Learn to Play, 60 x 63”, by Sandy Klop, at American Jane

This might be our favorite American Jane pattern, and another sign of Sandy Klop's ingenuity... quilt blocks that depict board games ! The names of the games are appliqued around the border, but you could also make this as a purely graphic quilt and see if people recognize the games (how about Brax, which was invented in 1889 ?)

Whales and Pails, 44 x 61”, by Sandy Klop, at American Jane

Sun, sand, and surf means a day at the beach. Or cozy and cool at home in the baby’s room. The snail's trail blocks in this cute beach-y quilt remind us of ocean waves. The pails are made with Sandy Klop's illustrated designs for Moda Fabrics... she designs a new collection for Moda every six months. The new Fairy Tale Friends collection, which will be out in October 2011, has argyle, pin dots, and tickets (you can see the fabric in her Sailing the Seven Seas quilt pattern).

Sandy's inspiration comes from many sources: conversations with friends, vintage toys, books, old quilts, tile patterns, architecture, travel, childhood memories, movies, drapes, clothing, nature, and dreams, and sometimes inspiration just strikes out of the blue. For more insight, see the interview at Quilter's Newsletter.

Image credits: Images are shown with the generous permission of American Jane. Sandy Klop also has a book of her classic quilt patterns, published by Martingale & Company: American Jane's Quilts for All Seasons: and Some for No Reason.  You can also download free vintage quilts wallpaper for your desktop at the Martingale site.