A SEASON OF HANDMADE GIFTING

2020 was not a year of happiness.

We all struggled to find ways to stay sane.

I looked for ways to make others happy.

I decided to go thru my handmade items and give some away.

There is no magic number to decide who gets one of my treasures.

..they have somehow touched my life in a good way.

Most of these items were left on the doorstep of the

recipients with a note, Made by Mrs. Claus.

She is one happy lady when she gets to sneak around

and pay it forward!

I made quilts for 2 little guys, children of a social worker

who helped my sister find a new happy life in 2020.

Meet Caleb 3, and Joey 6

My best friend Shirley, has battled Breast Cancer all year.

She is a quilter, loves Christmas Trees and commented on social media

how much she LOVED this Modern Tree Blocks quilt.

Of course, I sent it to her just before her mastectomy.

It has kept her warm during her chemo infusions.

I am thrilled to say, after this treatment...

her tests show she is free of all cancer cells.

My Grandson, Deavaughn, graduated high school in 2020

Sew I made him a quilt.

He loved it !

My niece, Brenda Mahr, received this fun quilt I made many years ago.

She has 6 grandkids and I thought this was the perfect "picnic quilt"

Brenda is happy she now has one of my quilts.

Another niece, Lisa Smith, received a nice size lap quilt.

Another older quilt full of batiks in autumn colors.

Linda Mash, a friend from skiing to Buckeye Football to 

a love of beautiful gardens, with years of fun and a laughter.

I thought this table topper of cardinals was perfect for her.

She has a red bird Christmas tree and these

birds have flown around my house for years.

Look where they landed... on Linda's table.

Connie Emerson, another gardening friend has supported

my art over the years by commissioned quilts and cards from me.

This One Block Wonder quilt reflects colors she loves.

A Holiday print called A Partridge in a Pear Tree

a kaleidoscope of wonder.

Again, tables are a perfect place to display a lovely quilt.

Connie knows just the right way to make all things beautiful.

Another gardening and Outlander friend, Cherie Kaye

was very happy to receive this table runner, Gift Wrapped.

Fits her kitchen island and covered by lots of food!

Another gardening friend from Inniswood, Nancy Freeland

received a project bag.  Her work with penny rug wools is amazing.

I have lots of knitted scarves that I don't wear.

Some of those were gifted in 2020 as well.

This pretty blue and gray cowl went to my niece, Melissa Gordon.

One of my good card making friends, Vikki Almos,  received

"Letters From Russia"

Mary Jo Perry, an Inniswood Volunteer with me, 

and a BUCKEYE fan will enjoy this gray HITCHIKER scarf

This scarf called Pretty Basic was gifted to my

Step-Daughter, Tamie Gordon

This autumn color Brickless scarf was gifted to 

my RED HAIRED hairdresser, Trish Henderson

This scarf now graces the neck of my Granddaughter, Ashleigh

And of course lots of cookie tins went out my front door to family and friends.

I also sent cookie recipe books so they can begin their own cookie baking traditions.

I hope your holiday season was filled with gratitude and gifting.

Mine sure was!

Here's to 2021 with lots of decisions of what to give away next!

BIRD BRAIN or CORONA BRAIN?

 I am stuck with a CORONA BRAIN stalling

my work with all these fabulous Charley Harper BIRD BRAINS!

The Corona Virus has taken its toll on my Sew-Jo.

Well, all of my creativity, as of late.

I started this queen size quilt last year.

And its in "Limb-o" (pun intended)

I pulled together some of my Charley Harper fabrics

for the Churn Dash block centers.

The gray polka dot for background/

Grunge and Solids for the block framing.

And I found this Churn Dash pattern at a quilt show.

The pinwheels put a "spin" on it!

But as I was making the pinwheels, it lost the appeal

and I ditched it...making regular churn dash blocks.

I cut all these blocks and thought I would take them

last winter to the beach...then left them home.

When I returned home in April...the sewing began.

I didn't like the pinwheel designs

but because I had already cut fabric, I now have lots of  HST left over.

They will become something else.

I am quite organized, sew all blocks are pinned together with clover clips.

And I made the blocks, one at a time.

I have to show you the blocks up close.

CH fabric is amazing.

Then a friend sent me some new CH fabrics she had

and I had to include them in this quilt.

These blocks pulled in some brown

which is perfect for birds...you know, trees are brown!

I lined them up on my design wall

to get a feel for how I wanted the blocks to look

and determine how many blocks I will need.

Should I sash them?

Not sure yet!

 

I love it...I have made 2 of each (24 total)

but I need 12 more to make it fit the queen bed, without sashing.

My Corona Brain condition seems to be getting better.

Maybe with fall temps and gray skies in Ohio, my 

sewing room will welcome me with beautiful birds...

just waiting to fly!

THE PERRY COUNTY FLAMINGO

September 2019 I was asked to do a trunk show for

The Perry County Sewcial Club.

A new quilt guild located in Perry County, OH

I knew the founding gals and said I would love to.

Being new and no budget, I offered to exchange my show

for fabrics.   If each person could bring me a scrap of

a pink or coral flower...I would make 

Laura Heine's Pinkerton Flamingo with those fabrics.

I received over 40 pieces of fabric!

The process begins by fusing and cutting all the fabric pieces

to be designed into the collage. 

I drew the design on the interfacing.

Then piece by Piece you lay out and fuse the

pieces onto the interfacing.

I loved this part of the design but it took me

4 hours to lay it out and another hour to fuse down everything.

Then you cut out the flamingo.

The backing is made with all the other fabrics the 

girls gave me and a bit from my stash.

I lay the top over the backing to make sure it fit!

You can see the horizontal layers of the background.

From white down to pinks.

I used Quilters Dream batting for this bird.

Pin basting for me!

The quilting was done by me on my Bernina 740

The bird body is a small stipple.

The rest of the top is Echo Quilting all around the Flamingo.

It took 8 hours to quilt!

I am lucky to have a large quilting table.

Here's a nice view of the finished quilting.

The Perry County Flamingo

has found a perfect summery place to reside!

She was a challenge and I stepped out of my

normal piecing and quilting to give her a life.

I am very happy she came into my life.

Just like those Perry Sewcial Club Quilters.

However, I would have selected a smaller

collage design if I had to do a "first collage" again!

I trimmed her down a bit and she was in a solo quilt and sold. show where someone offered a price I couldn't refuse.

She now has a new home.