Merry Christmas

Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas! 

I finished my Christmas sewing - I had one more stocking left to sew.  I've been working on these making one per year for a long time.  DH's was the last one - it is blue with the reindeer on it (he wanted a deer) 

 Here are all 6.  My red and white one stands out a bit - oh well  :0)  Tonight they all get filled!!

 I opened this little gift from a quilting friend yesterday. I think it's just beautiful!  She knows I love red. It has wool applique in the center.  I will have to find a good spot to hang it up.

I'm expecting a lot of company in the days ahead but, I will find a moment or 2 to pick up some stitching.  I hope you do too  :0)

Happy Quilting!!

a finish and a mistake

 The binding is on and I can start using my new tablerunner  :0)   I like how long and skinny it is and how it dresses up the table. 

 I have one more Christmas project to sew - I better get at it!!

 The basket block reminded me of a quilt my Grandmother made - probably mid 1970's.  (my sister would have been a toddler at the time)  It has the date embroidered on the binding along with my sister's name but I don't have a picture of that.  It was intended as her wedding quilt.  My sister was married in 2002.  I'm glad Grandma made these quilts for us long in advance as she didn't live to attend any of our weddings. 

  I love how scrappy it is  :0)  

 I celebrated my birthday on 12/12/12.  A date like that won't come around again for awhile.  My DH spoiled me with this absolutely lovely book. SO MANY beautiful old quilts with lots of ideas for how to display them.

Now for the mistake...  This quilt has sat around in the ufo pile for a long time.  I didn't want to hand quilt the center but I also didn't want to machine quilt the appliqued border.  I decided finally to handquilt it.  There are WAY too many seams to make handquilting very pleasant.  I knew this but I went ahead anyway.  I'm quilting these big circles - I'll be at this for awhile...

Happy Quilting!!

Christmas sewing

 I finally got into the mood for some Christmas sewing.  I wanted a table runner for my dining room.  Last Sunday I started flipping through magazines and by this Sunday I had top made.  Here it is all pinned and ready for machine quilting.  I hope to be binding it by the weekend!

 I didn't have a pattern but the idea came from a picture in the Dec 2009 issue of American Patchwork & Quilting.  It's in an article about Renee Plains's Christmas decorating.  I love my stash of magazines. So many ideas - so little time...

 My DH brought home from work this enormous Christmas basket. I don't exactly know where it came from but we've been enjoying the treats.  Usually these gourmet items come in an actual basket which I save thinking I will fill it with something and decorate some little corner of the house. (somehow I never get around to it)  This year I was astounded at the size and sturdiness of this sleigh!  It was begging to be used.  I piled in my favorite Christmas quilt and the kids supplied the Teddy.

The quilt is a pattern of Marcie's of Patchalot Patterns.  It's her free Christmas pattern from 2008 and is still free on her website.  I may have to make another because now I have nothing for the coffee table.
I have no idea where I will store this huge sleigh after Christmas but I really like it!  :0)

Happy Quilting!!