Quilt for Ryan

Only one of our kids got a quilt for Christmas. The quilt was one I'd pieced several years ago, but it sat on my pile of WIPS unquilted. I finally had Terry quilt it for me.

It's all homespun fat quarters. The pattern is Turning Twenty- 20 FQs, a few cuts and a bit of rearranging, and there you have it. I used a plaid flannel for the backing, so it's especially cozy.

Ryan was very excited about his quilt...

... And as you can see, a quarter century of living hasn't dulled his enthusiasm for life's simple pleasures!

Make it a Wonderful Day!

Moon Setting

Have a wonderful day!

Marcia's Circles

My friend Marcia wanted to make a quilt for her daughter, and used my tutorial. I love the fabrics she chose. And look at that beautiful quilting done by Terry...

Here's a view of the pretty pieced back.

I know Monica appreciates this quilt made with love by her mom!

The Christmas Spirit

Merry Christmas to everyone! Joy to the World!

The Christmas Spirit

Vintage Christmas Friends

These "twin" angels are from our childhood. I'm pretty sure they were from a baby gift from Vada and Ansel, our godparents. Having a twin sister, I love having a little twin ornament on the tree. These were used as a package tie on, but they now safely get tied onto the Christmas tree instead.

And this sweet pair were a great thrifting find...

And they too are now happily living in our tree..

Make it a Wonderful Christmas of love, peace, joy, and every good thing!

Quilt Group December...

We held our Christmas Show and Tell & Gift exchange. It's always exciting to see what everyone brings- and this year was no exception. After the show and tell, we draw numbers for the gift exchange game. Number one goes first, opens the gift of their choosing, and then the game can get messy! Number 2 can open a new gift or steal- so all sorts of pleading and hiding and plotting occur.

But even with all that, this is what I got! A quilt top by Helen. She said she knew she'd never finish it, and with the pile-o-tops I have, I might not either! But I'm excited to think about it. I may make a border change, and then I can call it a little bit mine too.

I didn't get pics of everything- my memory card was full too soon!

This is a close-up of the red work wall hanging by Terry- it was a very sought-after gift in the exchange. I'm sure you can see why!

This adorable felted bag was brought by Lori. She found it at a cute little shop, so I may have to see if they have more!!

Janet made this special quilt for a horse loving family member. Look at all those tiny 1-inch pieces!

Ardith brought her finished red white and blue beauty...

...and this whole cloth quilt too.

Terry amazed us with this beautiful and symbolic quilt, a gift for one of her daughters...

The kimonos contain symbols as family crests. Terry's work is perfection!

Denise brought her finished sock quilt from our Sew Day... so cozy!

And no meeting of our group would be complete without some circles! I LOVE these that Helen used to make an adorable bag!!! I'm going to have to borrow it and get some more photos for you- it's so cute inside and out! LOVE all that color and pattern!

And here is Nan's WIP using cottages and circles together. The houses are from a swap over at Freda's Hive, and the circle tree idea was floating around flickr, but Nan can't find the owner to thank for the cute idea... It makes me think of a town square with the tree in the middle for everyone to enjoy!

Edit: Thanks to Sue for the tree pattern info: "Christmas Baubles" by Audrey and Maude from Australia. Sue, also an Aussie, said she made three for Christmas gifts this year.

Christmas Circles

Our quilt group had a Christmas Circle Swap. For several months, we'd bring a dozen circle blocks to our meetings, and go home with one from each person. I made two quilts (okay, tops) from them.
The first one is similar to the way I've laid out the quilts for my tutorial- though these blocks are slightly bigger, leaving a bit more space between the circles.

This second one has the circles that had "pictures"- Santas, snowmen, etc. For these, I decided to make four patch blocks with red and green prints and a scrappy border.

Maybe I'll have them quilted by next Christmas??

Circling the Ice

Here is this year's wool collage that I made for our Quilt Group gift exchange.


I know every year that I'm going to make a wool picture for my gift. So why do I wait until the night before, staying up till 4am? (And even with that, I wasn't quite finished because I decided to mount it on a larger piece of wool and add the "Christmas Light" beads...)

It's now been delivered to it's new owner. I'm planning on getting next year's piece done over the summer this time!! (I think I've said that before...)

Sugar Coated

Have a wonderful day!

Big Hat Snow Man

This is another one of my wool pictures. I LOVE that old red metal button down in the corner.

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY Kate! I'm so glad I get to be your mom! :D

A Favorite

Years back, I made ornaments and things to sell at Craft Fairs.

I DIDN'T make this one...


...but he HAD to come home with me from one of the shows! A woman across the aisle made this little clay elf, along with a whole collection of cute animals and other friends. I saw him hanging on her painted branch display, and as the day went by, I worried someone else would buy him. But I was in luck, and he made it home with me! His happy look of holiday surprise just brings a smile to my face every time I look at him.

Smile today and make someone's day wonderful!

Helen's Quilt

Love this quilt by Helen, one of my quilt group friends. I love how the borders make this (to me anyway), a "crossover quilt"- a modern sensibility with lots of scrappy tradition too. (The white outside bit is the batting that will be trimmed when she sews on the binding.)


The fabric is a bit brighter than my bad photos portray. But check out the interesting quilting by Barbara, Helen's go-to long arm quilter.

I'd love to see this bound and then crinkled from the dryer, but it's going to be mailed off before our group meets this Friday.
(Helen didn't use a pattern, but if you need one, you'll find a similar design for the inside blocks in the book, The Modern Quilt Workshop, by Ringle and Kerr. You're on you own for the borders! )

The Stockings Were Hung

Our Christmas Stockings have special meaning to me. A LONG time ago, when my twin sister and I were in the second grade, her teacher drew her name for the Christmas gift exchange. (Yes, back then we had Christmas trees, Santa, and all that in school.) Her teacher KNIT her a stocking, and personalized it with my sister's name at the top. My mom, a talented knitter, counted the stitches, made a pattern, and then knit me one so we'd both have the same big stockings with a tree on one side, and Santa on the other.

My mom passed away before I married and had my family, but I have her pattern on graph paper. My mom taught our whole Camp Fire group to knit when I was 9, but unfortunately, I'm not skilled enough at knitting to tackle this detailed work. I've found a couple of people over the years who were willing to make these for our kids, and now for our grandkids. I really should try to learn to make them myself, but for now, I just love pulling these out each year, thinking of, (and missing) my mom. She'd love to have seen all the stockings hung by the chimney with care!

Crisp and Clear

Have a Wonderful Day!