Quilt Retreat Synergy

I did some quilting for the second time since I moved in September.  I completed two and half blocks for this spring-hued lap/wall quilt.  Above I'm auditioning fabrics for the alternate blocks.  Will need to find a nice outer border.  Working with spring greens has boosted my winter-weary spirits.

Sue W. is using up stash.  In this Amish-style quilt she's using her solids.  My favorite block is the pink and red pinwheel star in the far right column.  Love the contrast!

Here Sue laid out a Christmas BOM she's assembling.  Such beautiful fabrics and applique.  My photo doesn't do it justice.  The inner red border will frame it up nicely,, and the green outer border will provide a place for the eye to rest.  Sue's a talented lady!

Other quilters departed before I could snap a pictures of their work.  

The synergy of this retreat was my biggest takeaway.  All the energy and ideas in one room helped me get my quilting mojo back.  Within the week I'll be getting rid of some extra furniture, so I can finally set up a proper sewing room again.  Only then will I truly feel this house is a home!  :)

Look Who's Here!

Elmer and Ellie Elephant arrived!

Sure hope it doesn't take me another 28 years to find the two remaining pairs.  :)

APB for Lynn's Kin 1983 Ornaments

In 1984 I bought these 1983 ornaments for half price.  The shopkeeper told me Midwest Imports no longer made them.  Thus began a 28-year quest to find the three missing pairs:

I found this pair on E-Bay, marketed as Babar the Elephant Ornaments.  So rewarding after 28 years of searching!  They should arrive any time now.

I'm still looking or Percy and Pearl Pig, and...

...Mayor Melvin and Millie Mouse.

I've Googled them several times a year for many years, looked at flea markets and garage sales, and searched through thousands of ornaments on both E-bay and Etsy. 

If you've seen any of the missing ornaments, puh-leeeease let me know?  Thanks!  :)

Christmas Tree Au Natural - Finis!

Scrambled to finish this quilt for Christmas, and Sew Cal Gal's Virtual Chrismas Quilt Show (http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/2009/12/virtual-christmas-quilt-show.html).  Mission accomplished - with 68 minutes to spare! 

This project was inspired when I learned my youngest niece is "into" lime green....then Sew Cal Gal posted her VCQS challenge.  Since then, assorted family, friends and bloggers have contributed to the design process.  Thanks so much for your creative input.  When I look at this quilt, I'll think of each of you.

This quilt represents my large pine tree that houses cardinals, juncos, chick-a-dees, rabbits, squirrels, owls and who-knows-what-else!  Feeding and sheltering God's creatures is a Christmas tradition I enjoy.  Perhaps you will too, with the following tips from the National Wildlife Federation.

Winter Gardening Tips for Wildlife

1. Provide food for wildlife with native plants that offer acorns, berries and seeds.
2. Clean and fill your birdbath on a regular basis. Invest in a birdbath heater.
3. Anchor your old holiday tree in a secluded part of your yard. Wildlife will use it as shelter.
4. Provide additonal cover by composting needles, pinecones and wreaths from your holiday decorations.

Visit www.nwf.org/habitat for more information.

   

Playing Santa

I delivered origami bags (pictured in previous posts) to my coworkers yesterday.  I'd chosen the fabric for each person according to their interests and favorite colors.  Couldn't WAIT to see their reactions.  The ladies were delighted, and set the bags out on display.  These little bags are fun to make, and extra fun to give away!  

Christmas Crafts, Quilts, Cookies and Trees

3-Day Weekend Report:

Crafts - Made this for a quilter friend.  Spools on the fabric, spools on the ornament.  Note the common thread.

Quilting - Want to emulate a pine tree in my yard - home to many critters.  Those red things in the air are cardinals (they just look like vultures in this picture).  They're decorating the tree (you just can't see that part yet).  Need some input:  Bunny?  Squirrel?  Neither?  Both?

Should Mr. Squirrel stay sit on the ground or in the tree?  Gosh, that bunny/squirrel fabric sure looks a lot like a brown paper sack...So what color IS a rabbit or a squirrel anyway?   Decisions, decisions....

Baked - 30 dozen cookies.  Used obscene amounts of butter.  Made the dough for chocolate dipped creams.  Dough is chillin'.  Hope to share that recipe later in the week.

Wrapping - Minimal progress, but I got out my secret weapon: gift bags! 

Decorating - Drove to another city, put up my mom's tree, ate lunch, drove back.  Thank goodness for caffeinated beverages. 

Relaxing: Watched a movie with my sweetie, watched my bird feeder while baking.  STILL trying to spot the female cardinal with white markings.  She looks like a Cardinal Cruella DeVille.

Next Up: Jury duty Monday AM.  I'm SOOO hoping they won't want/need/like me.

Have a great week,

Chris

O Christmas Tree

So NOW can you tell what it is? 

Should this be an indoor tree, in a red pot, with yo-yo or button ornaments?  Or should it be an outdoor tree with pinecones, birds and snowflakes?  Please tell me what you think.

Christmas Traditions & Crafts II

Hmmm...what could this will be?  Pinned some scraps together to see how they'd look.  Will make a few changes - but not too bad for a first draft.

We DO have one more tradition at my house...my son's poochie nativity scene!

Christmas Past

Here I am, with my niece about 30 years ago!  Baby Brook is modeling a flannel nightgown I made for her.  Did the smocking by hand.  I clearly recall rushing to get it done for Christmas Eve. 

Wasn't she a beautiful baby?  She's grown up to be a lovely person and continues to bring our family joy. 

Christmas Traditions & Crafts

Its fascinating to see how tradtions change and evolve from one generation to the next.  The nutcracker collection belongs to my 18 year old son.  When he was 7 or 8, he took an interest in my aunt's collection, so I began buying him one or two nutcrackers each year.  He's now 18 and has a good collection.  This Easter he even acquired an Easter Bunny nutcracker from my aunt.  Eventually I'd like to make him a nutcracker mini quilt for displaying them.  No urgency though as they are currently stored on top of the bookshelf - safe from the dog's waggily tail.

The second picture is a velvet table runner, made for me by a sister-in-law.  I love that it is so traditional (holly leaves), yet so dressy (velvet).  If you look at my previous post you'll see how nice it looks on the mantle with my birds.

Third picture you've seen before.  The tree skirt made by my sister.  I'll be entering this one in the Virtual Christmas Quilt Show.  I suppose I better let her know she's now a celebrity!  Does this mean if I win a drawing I have to give the prize to her?  (I think it does!)  To visit the VCQS see:

http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/2009/12/virtual-christmas-quilt-show.html

Fourth thought....about traditions.  As a kid we always selected and decorated the tree as a family, and the crowning glory was to put up the Nativity scene under the tree.  We worked so hard, making a stable out of Lincoln Logs - we thought it was beautiful!  Over the years, various figures got broken, so my sister made a new set in her art class.  My mom still puts that up every year.  I started collecting Fontanini figures when my kids were small.  I wanted something classic and unbreakable - so the kids could participate without worries.  Every year I put the nativity scene out before anything else - and remind them that THIS is the most important part of Christmas.  I think it sunk in.  However, despite being legal adults, they still act like kids.  This year they told me they'd try not to steal Baby Jesus TOO much!

Today's Accomplishments

Only one quilt-related task was accomplished today - got some supplies.  Bet'cha can't guess what I'm going to make out of these!  Looked at Christmas quilt patterns.  Thinking 'bout that Virtual Quilt Show....

The threat of jury duty motivated me to kick Christmas preparations into high gear.  Todays' accomplishments:  Ran errands, put up the Nativity (sans Baby Jesus, just yet).  Put birds on the mantle and birds on the tree...The kids say I have birds (and quilts and flowers) on the brain.  LOL

I'm striving for a woodland theme: pinecones, snowflakes, icicles, birds & berries.  Can't decide, does it need more ornaments?

Log Cabin Tree Skirt

This Log Cabin tree skirt was made by my lovely and talented younger sister.  I have other tree skirts - but even after 20 years, this one's STILL my favorite.  Maybe cuz it was made with love.  When I see it under the tree, it's like a red, white and green warm fuzzy!  Here's a close up of the fabric.