Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

I love Christmas baking, but this year I didn't get too much done in the kitchen.  At a friend's house we made a double batch of pecan and shortbread cookies that were rolled in powdered sugar.  They were quite delicous and disappeared mysteriously.  There are other favorites I'd like to bake, but I'll probably get around to it the week before New Year's. 

Here is how the tree turned out this time.  I like it a lot, but haven't used this one for 3 years in a row. It was a little more work setting this one up, but the full shape is so beautiful. 

This is the tree skirt that I made many years ago, but it still serves its purpose well.  It can open out a little wider to show all 6 points .  I have one section overlapping another in this photo.

Hope you enjoyed the holiday look around.  Enjoy your Holiday Season!

Time to go and wrap a few gifts that we will take to my sister's tomorrow.

Rotary Lights Exhibit 2011

The beauty of the lights display has been a tradition in town for many year now.  Each year the display has grown.  This year we took in the opening parade and the party that was held on the Century Tel deck.  It was overlooking the park, so we had a wonderful view.

Rotary Lights Party

Next Rainbow Scrap Challenge

The Rainbow Scrap Challenge will continue for the new year.   Angela of So Scrappy has designed a new button for our blogs.    I want to participate as  much as possible, and I look forward to following along to see what other sewers are doing each month.  I loved the color suggestions that Angela chose for last year.   I think this challenge will keep me motivated once again.

Inside Out Raggy Jacket Finish

With the Friday night sew in and some extra work all weekend, I have finished up the flannel jacket!

Love It so much and it is very cozy!

Jacket - after clipping, but before washing

 The day was just beautiful and I couldn't help but hang it on a tree by our back door for a photo.

By the time the jacket was washed and dried and I collected the lint 3 times, it was dark.  I had to take the next photos by the laundry cabinets.


Completed jacket with raggy seams washed



Back view of jacket

Reverse side of jacket (inside out)

Love the floral back (inside out)



My own jacket  (Laurel Burch design fabric)

I'm sure I'll want to wear this tomorrow.  It is one of the most comfortable things in my wardrobe.

Next up, one of those jelly roll race quilts.  I may try to get that one done for a gift too, but we'll see.

Results of Friday Night Sew In

The quilting on the sleeve takes the most involvement.  Here was one of the sleeves under the machine and I was doing a simple meander with some copper metalic thread made by Sulky.  It went along very well.  This metalic thread is a dream to work with as it doesn't shred in my machine.

Meander quilting on the sleeve

Seams go on the outside

Seams are clipped so that they fray softly

One  of the yoke seams was giving me lots of grief.  I always took the seam to the incorrect side.  I know I had to sew it more than once to make it turn out on the right side of the garment.  I just couldn't seem to get it in the right place.

I think it's fun to get to the part where you clip the seams with the Fiskars spring loaded clipper.  I'm pretty close to the washing and drying part and then the jacket will be done.

Preparations for the Friday Night Sew In

I am nearly ready to begin my Friday Night Sew In for this evening!  I have been cutting out some jacket parts and plan to get more accomplished on one or both flannel jackets.  They are to be Christmas gifts, so I need to stay focused!

Quilt Display

In preparation for putting up the Christmas tree this year, some furniture had to be moved around.  I had an idea to push the 2 end tables together as one and place them in front of the couch where a coffee table might go.  It seemed OK, so I added a runner on top. 

Normally, I have a pair of large baskets with handles and I used one for old newspapers and the other for magazines. 

The new look will be for folded quilt display!

                                                                            The left side has an embroidered crazy quilt, a sunbonnet sew quilt top, and a spiderweb string quilt is on the bottom.  The top crazy quilt could use a little repair on some of the yellow fabric.  It seems to be the only fabric that is denigrating.  The sunbonnet Sew could be bordered around the final edge and then finished someday.  That string quilt on the bottom has a modern quilt design that was done on the long arm.  That one is in very excellent shape and I would not be afraid to use that on a bed once in a while. 

On the right hand side there is a Grandmothers Fan done in dark colors and it includes red velvet for each of the fan centers.  That quilt is only a topper, but it is very cool to see how the blocks are put together by hand.  The middle quilt is a new one to me and it is in very pale colors.  I believe the pattern is called Broken Dishes.  I may redo the binding on that one.  The bottom is a quilt topper given to me from my mother-in-law.  It is a quilt I take in the car and I quilt it by hand.  It is almost done!  It represents nearly 20 years of car trips!

Flannel Jacket Production

fabric stash from an After Thanksgiving sale

kit cut to made a jacket

piece layout

Tracing a new size

Hancock's had flannel 50% off, so naturally I have to plan another jacket.

Layout for next jacket in a different size

I am preping for a big sewing day to make several jackets.  The pattern I am using is from Four Corners and it is called the "Inside Out Jacket".  I have made two before, and once the pieces are cut, the sewing goes rather quickly. 



It appeals to me, because it is so easy to wear and makes a plain shirt and pants look great.  It is also cozy on cool winter days.  Mine is made from Laurel Burch fabrics and I like wearing it at school because it's very colorful!

Happy Halloween

Weather is to be  sunny, mild, and beautiful today for the trick-or-treating. 

Wanted to share a few Halloweenish photos with you today.

And Scaredy Cat Charlie is hanging by the front door.  I finished him just in time for the last minute decorating yesterday.  I was even able to do a bit of hand stitching on it too.

Have a Spooky Good Halloween!

Blogger's Quilt Festival ~ Autumn 2011





Fall is here and its time to take a wonderful blog tour and see the many quilts of Blogger's Quilt Festival.  Thanks to Amy of Amy's Creative Side, twice a year we are able to be inspired by great photos and stories of a wide array of quilterly goodness.   This festival is one of my favorite blogging activities each time it comes around.  I usually spend those weekends tied to the computer, with a mug of coffee or tea in my hand as I jump to so many quilter's blogs.



This fall, I am sharing my Village Green Quilt.  It was designed by Thimbleberries and I love the combination of warm fabrics in the kit. 

Pine Tree Block

Piecing some floral and fence blocks



This was a block of the month club for 2010.   I was pretty happy with my progress each of the months. By December, I was even sewing the sawtooth border. So this quilt went together faster than last year's Three's Company quilt.  I had it quilted by my neighbor on a long arm and I got the binding stitched down very recently. 



The quilt that I chose to make was described as a "generous queen sized throw".  It works perfectly on a double bed as a coverlet and hangs down the side by a few inches.  I love it on the living room sofa as it's quite a lot bigger than the quilt I usually curl up with for TV.  I love how the colors coordinate with other quilts I already made and use in our home.  

Applying the Binding



Quilting by Carol's Corner (my neighbor)

Thimbleberries quilts often have multiple borders and this is no acception.  Some are a bit too much framing, but with the cute sawtooth border on this one, I think it's the perfect finish for the edge!  This has now won a special place in my heart as a favorite quilted finish. 

Pumpkin and Herbs

Happy Fall Everyone.  Be sure to check out the other quilts in the listing over at Amy's Creative Side.  You'll be glad you did.  And if you are on the fence about writing a post about a quilt, you should just jump off and do it!  The more, the merrier!  Just read her suggestions in her post and you'll be well on your way to participation.

Friday Night Sew-In Results

Primative and Cute, it'll be great for my Halloween decorating.  I think I'll use it near a rickety skeleton.
Just a few more finishing touches to add.

Friday Night Sew In Weekend

I have signed up for Heidi and  Bobbi's  Friday Night Sew-In for the very first time.  It sounded like a perfect way to get some of my projects a little further and have fun reporting on the progress along the way.

I must do a little tidying up in the kitchen and then organize my sewing space in the living room.  After those 2 tasks, I should be all set to do some fun stitching and quilting . 

If you're interested too, then  sign up with Bobbi on her Crafty Vegas blog.  There are quite a few participants this month.  It'll be fun checking the progress of the other sewers.
See you soon...