It's natural that emotions run high about 'milestone' birthdays, even if the thrill of turning 16 becomes the dread of turning 30. After all, these birthdays are important because they mark turning points that happen only once in a lifetime.

Giving a colorful and comfortable commemorative quilt is a great way to turn anticipation (or even trepidation) into CELEBRATION! Whether it's a 1st birthday or a 65th, consider the following custom quilt ideas for making a special person's special day even more wonderful.

Happy 1st Birthday

Baby's one, a whole year is done - but what to do with all those 0-3 month, 3-6, 6-9 and 9-12 month outfits that the little tyke has outgrown? Turn the outfits into a quilt sewn using the fabric. Whether the quilt is for baby to carry around on his way to the Terrible Twos or for Mom to cherish for years to come, this is the perfect way to commemorate a 1st birthday.

Happy 13th Birthday

Thirteen is a very lucky age and any new teenager will feel lucky if you give her a quilt for her bedroom made in her favorite color. After all, now that she's a teenager she's going to be spending a lot of time in there! Imagine... hung as a wall quilt, it might even take the place of a few tacky boy band posters!

Happy 16th Birthday

A quilt that features candy-colored pastels fabrics is the perfect sweet to give your Sweet Sixteen. Or consider something more utilitarian now that she's got a Learner's Permit - a quilt to keep in the trunk of the car could come in handy during cold weather emergencies.

Happy 18th Birthday

For the past 18 years, your child has navigated youth's rites of passage: family vacations... summer camp... school sports. And with each event came a t-shirt: Yellowstone... Camp Granada... Go Lions! Since he's officially an adult now, a quilt made from those t-shirts is great way to remind him of all these childhood memories.

Happy 30th Birthday

As the saying goes, your not 30, you're 18 with 12 years experience. Celebrate this milestone with a quilt made of reproduction 1930s prints. Fabrics from this decade, in colors like apple green and taffy pink, pale yellow and orange sherbet, are a nostalgic reminder of vintage style and class. They make the perfect quilt for the 30-year old who now realizes it's as important to look back as it is to look forward.

Happy 40th Birthday

And so the jokes start - "The Big 4-Oh", "Lordy, Lordy, look who's 40", "39 - again?!?". Your friends will be laughing with you, not at you, when you embrace the "Over the Hill" theme and have a black and white quilt made just for you.

Happy 50th Birthday

Turning 50 means its time to focus on you and have some fun! As the theme for the Red Hat Society says, 'All my life, I've done for you. Now it's my turn to do for me.' So do for yourself and have a red and purple colored quilt made. Or if red and purple aren't your colors, how about a Crazy Quilt? With all its embroidery and embellishment a crazy quilt is a terrific way to say "I deserve something special".

Happy 65th Birthday

Welcome to retirement and the joys that come with leaving the world of work behind, 65-year old! Perhaps you'll be spending more time around the house... why not indulge with a quilt designed to complement your living room? Or maybe you are ready to travel... a quilt with an Around the World design will represent your dreams during those brief visits home. Or maybe you are just looking forward to spending more time with family and friends... a quilt with all their signatures or even photos will be a great reminder of why you worked so hard to get to where you are.

When it comes to birthdays, whether it's a milestone or whether you are just happy to be a year older and wiser, the best advice is WISH BIG! After all, each birthday is a new beginning, full of promise and opportunity... and the chance to curl up with warm and wonderful quilt!