Quilt Archive

Sunday, December 23, 2018

A Homemade Christmas Memory Lane

Hello Blog Friends,

This year I'm celebrating Christmas in a different house.  I thought I might share how I decorated our home for the holidays and also take a little walk down my own homemade Christmas memory lane.  My living room:




Here are the stockings hung with care at my fireplace.  I hand stitched each one with willing hands and a loving heart.  I have Denis' and mine, and between us (where she always wanted to lay) is the one I made for my (late) Betty Kat.  Santa (aka Joe Cool) and Reindeer with sunglasses is just plain cute!  And I am in love with the sock monkey and sock reindeer on the sled.  These are all made of felt and purchased as kits.  I have made these stockings for family and friends since my own girls were small.  Soon I will start my stockpile of stockings for any future great-grandchildren that may come along someday.



I love this dress!  I made it last year as a decoration, and again it adorns my home.  It is made entirely of flannel, and I have to admit that I fondle it each time I walk by.  


This quilt on the rack is called "Retro Christmas" for good reason.  The endearing pictures of children are evocative of the 1950's (my own decade!)  And it is made from flannel, my favorite fabric to work with.  




Here's a pillow that I made several years ago.  I made one almost identical for my mother, and had enough fabric left over to make one for myself.  Her pillow is now with one of her granddaughters, and this one reminds me of her each time I see it.


Here is a grouping new to my collection last year.  What a fun group. Quilt and pillows.  Morty the Sock Monkey is not new, he has been with me for a number of years.



And, here the Prairie Point Pinwheel Wreath that hangs near my front door.




Here's a grouping on the side table in the living room.  The hex table mat, plastic needlepoint tissue box cover and my Vintage Christmas Card scrapbook.



This triple mini quilt on stand was perfect for this spot on the mantle this year.  See the original post here.



This is a felt advent calendar that I made in 1974, so it predates even my oldest daughter.  It was the first felt and sequin project that I ever did.  I remember the store where I bought it in LaCrosse, Doerflinger's Department Store (no longer in business).  It has been a cherished decoration in our home since then.  I still love it.


And, underneath all those chocolate goodies is a table runner made from tumbler blocks.  

Please have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  I will not post again for a couple of weeks.  Today begins a week and a half of non-stop holiday activity and travels.  

Until next time...







Monday, December 17, 2018

Last minute gifts...

Hello Blog Friends,

Well, here I am, 8 days from Christmas and I'm still working on finishing up some last minute gifts.  These will be quick ones, so I should have no problem getting them finished up with time to spare.

I have a pillowcase and two pillows to make yet, but I have finished up a new tote bag for...???   It is so pretty and functional that I may keep it myself or give it away.  Only time will tell.   The pattern is "The Essential Tote" from Around the Bobbin.  It measures  13" x 9" x 4" and features two interior pockets and a zipper closure.  I added hardware and a cross-body strap to it also.  I really like the cross-body feature.  Especially if you are traveling or commuting to work, or using it as your carry-on for a plane trip.


Isn't this one gorgeous?  (That is the cross-body detachable strap in the center.)  I used the lotus print for front and back, a deep violet for bottom, handles and carrying strap.  A green striped print was used for the lining.

Until next time...

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Time for a NAP!

Greetings Blog Friends,

As I mentioned last week, I've made a fun little (well, not so little!) gift for Denis for all the hard work he has put in on renovations this summer and fall.  Before I get to it, however, a bit of history...

Denis and I attended a local craft show a couple of weeks ago.  We saw some fun pillows and one in particular appealed to me as a great gift idea.  Of course, I was not about to buy it, since I have the ability to make it myself.  So, I did what every crafter does...snapped a picture of it and then came home and developed my own pattern.  Next, I raided the fabric stash and Voilá, here is the finished product:



Yes, friends, Denis now has a nice 20" pillow to rest his weary head on at naptime.  I made this one totally of flannel fabrics in my stash.  I used my cricut machine to cut out the patterns for the letters and heart.  The top was pieced, then backed by a piece of fusible fleece.  I quilted the top with an all-over meander, then machine appliqued the letters.  The front and back are joined by french seams to deter ravelling (something flannel is notorious for) and the entire pillow cover can be removed easily for laundering.

Sweet dreams, Denis!

Til next time...

Sunday, December 2, 2018

OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER UFO REPORT

Hello Blogger friends,

It is with a heavy heart that I report no more changes for 2018 to the UFO list for this year.  It was an ambitious plan when formulated last January, but I did not forsee selling a house, buying a house and renovating a house!  I did, however, finish 8 of 12 projects, a 75% completion rate.  I think that is pretty good, considering.  But, unfortunately, those unfinished items will have to languish for a while longer on the new UFO list for 2019.  That will come out early next month.

2018 UFO PROJECT LIST
       
  Name Current Status Date Finished
1 2015 Christmas Pages Finished! 2/10/2018
2 2015 Christmas Pages Finished! 4/19/2018
3 2015 Christmas Pages Finished! 4/20/2018
4 Seeing Red Quilt Top, back done.  Ready for quilting  TBD 2019
5 T-Shirt Quilt Fabrics gathered  TBD 2019
6 Patterns II Quilt Finished! 1/31/2018
7 Prairie Cupboard Quilt Finished! 7/25/2018
8 Colonial Williamsburg Ornament Book Materials gathered  TBD 2019
9 Mary's Quilt Top done.  TBD 2019
10 Baby Quilt Finished! 2/21/2018
11 Fran Memorial Book Finished! 2/9/2018
12 Towne Square Quilt Finished! 2/3/2018

Meanwhile, I have been sewing and working diligently on various and sundry Christmas gifts.  Unfortunately, I can't show them to you just yet, as some of the recipients faithfully read this blog.


I am working on something really fun for Denis, and I will share the finished product next week.  It is a gift, but not a Christmas gift...he has worked hard on his part of the renovations here and deserves a "thank you".  While I can't show you a shot of the work in progress, I can share that it will be made of "flannels".  Flannel...a word that brings to mind warm and cozy.  No wonder it is my favorite fabric to work with. 

To all my friends...stay warm and dry as winter is now upon us!

Til next time...