HO HO HO-LD ON!

Yes, its' been a SWELL time making my

Vintage Santa Quilt top. 

I am always late to the sewing party, as

this design came out a couple years ago.

I don't care....it's timeless.

As always, I began with cutting and labeling.

I decided to use a dark charcoal gray fabric

for the background.

Sewing the HO HO HO letters was fun and quick.

Labels help!

My H Letters all in a Row!

Here you can see the dark charcoal gray background.

I love all these vintage inspired prints.

The O letters were soon finished.

Then the HO blocks came together nicely!

It didn't take long for the top to be pieced.

I love an easy and quick quilt top!

I put my least favorite fabrics (hard choice) in the

bottom left corner.. The huge Santa will be appliqued over them

and they get cut away.

 The HO-LD ON comes into play now. 

The Santa needs to be appliqued onto the top.

I think the glue used for Lauren Heiney collages would work well! 

The fabric behind the Santa will need to but trimmed out.

The Santa Panel is HUGE! 60 x 52 but Santa gets trimmed down.

You can place him on the top however you like.

Kim Hensley and I will get together and do that part next year,

Our plates are pretty full right now. 

She wants to investigate long arm quilting ideas for this quilt. 

I am OK with that!  

CATCHING THE COLD

From Thanksgiving to Christmas

I was sick with "the crud" for 7 weeks.  

Two rounds of antibiotics, prescription couch syrup

and a trip to the chiropractor because I coughed

so hard I threw my back OUT!

When I could must up some energy I gathered up

lots of Christmas themed Moda charm packs

My new Bernina, Ms. Nina has the Dual Feed patchwork foot

and a wonderful guide bar and I was aching to try it out!

 TIP: To find a perfect 1/4" seam - Sew 3, 1 1/2" strips together

the center piece will finish at 1"

Keep adjusting the seam allowance til you get it right!

I began sewing 2 patches - 2 light / 2 darker volume prints

built those into 4-patches

check out these seam intersections

this dual feed and patchwork guide works!

My last finish for 2015...is this Christmas top

The strip on the left will be part of the backing.

I will quilt it in 2016.

Because I was so sick while making this top

I am naming it...

"Catching the Cold"

What was your last finish in 2015?

WINTER BED RUNNER

I found this fabric in my stash

and decided it would make a great winter

change-up!

Sew the design process began...just cutting and sewing

...no particular pattern.

and more sewing pieces together

When the piece was sized to fit my bed...

I added straight line quilting for a modern look and feel.

The binding fabric is same as the backing.  

I made a slip on pillow cover
and just slipped it over the yellow and gray one.
Slipped stitched the end shut.

Aren't they pretty!  

I made a couple mats for the side tables.

and here it is all together!

Sewed more pieces to cover a canvas which

hangs nicely by the Jacuzzi tub. 

Tucked in some fun holiday greenery,

red ribbon, owls and candles.

A favorite and fun upside down tree hangs over the tub

with coordinating red, gray and white towels.

Back in the master bedroom the holiday touches included

greenery, lights, ribbon, owls and trees on the dresser

I found a small $10 thrift store tree 

and decked it out to match everything else.  

The clear ornament hold tiny scraps from the fabrics I used.

The Christmas trees, lights and ribbons are stored away but

the rest of the red, white and gray remain!

I'll bring back the yellow, white and gray

just in time for spring!

Happy January!

2016 UFO CHALLENGES...COUNT ME IN

OK...I like do like challenges and I always have UFOs!

Here are my 2015 UFOs for my guild challenges.

Churn Dash Baby Einstein Kwilt

Ghastlies Portraits Kwilt

Ghastlies Orange Nested Churn Dash Kwilt

Ghastlies Christmas Stocking

Ghastlies Christmas Apron

The thing I like about the All People Quilt UFO challenge

is that your UFO can be ANY crafty creative project.

I have some card making and knitting I can include!   

You can find all the rules over at All People Quilt..

just click here!  

  

  Come on and join the fun...I know you have UFOs...

Columbus Modern Quilters UFO challenge
Nationwide Plaza Quilters UFO challenge
and All People Quilt #apqresolution challenge

 I'm off to my sewing room...see you in 2016!

CATCHING UP CAN BE GHASTLIE

My swap partners do such a great job of stalking me.

This was my swap mini from @chelseaphene for the

#trickortreatminiquiltswap

Chelsea said she was a beginner quilter

but I think she knows more than she

thinks she knows!

I love this wonky design!

And the backing is awesome all on its own!

This Ghastliness on the wall in my sewing room now!

JUST CRIMINAL!

Criminal Minds IS my favorite TV Drama.

The unsub package I received for the Criminal Minds Swap

came from Anett Edwards, Capetown, S Africa.  

Check out the threadwork for Aaron Hotchner mini quilt. 

Other items included a pouch, 

the beautifyl blue fabric - made in Capetown.

Postcard provides a view of a place I will never see.

Always enjoy some yummy candies.

Happy Mail...quite CRIMINAL this time!

Holiday Sewing

A few projects I just finished up for the Holidays

Ghastlies Christmas Apron

  

Master Bedroom Side Table Mats

Bed Runner and Pillow Cover

Pillow Cases

Apron

Cookie Party Gifts-sneak peek, of course