TOMTE CHRISTMAS

Stitching things off my UFO list!

This little gnome quilt TOMTE is sew adorable.

How could I resist.

I cut it out in fall of 2021 and intended to make

at a quilt retreat. But that didn't happen.

Back home last winter...the stitching began.

It went together sew quickly!

And begin a BUCKEYE FOR LIFE

you know my Gnome had to have a OSU hat!

Kim Hensley of Happily Ever Quilting

did a FABULOUS job on this quilt.

GO BUCKS!

STITCHING FOR THE SISTERS

I love my volunteer work with The Stitching Sisters 

We make lap quilts for patients going thru chemo treatments

at the James OSU Hospitals in Columbus OH.

The director, Joanne Lester, is on the left, me on the right!

I do a lot of my charity work for them at home.

I found 20+ Trip Around The World blocks..

I stated these about 10 years ago…

time to send them on to be used.  

I brought this fabric home from the center and made a kit.

Someone else will piece it and another

will quilt it and someone else will bind it.

 Everyone has the tasks they enjoy!

A donated FQ bundle into a kit.

More Connecting Threads fabric

for more kits.

I pulled together all my orphan blocks

 and used SS fabric for the background

A great sampler top!

More Connecting Threads fabric

into a different pattern.

I brought all this home with me

 to cut and kit at my leisure.

And this grouping. 

And sew this charity...continues

with hundreds of volunteers and millions of stitches,

thousands of recipients who have a moment to smile

and know someone cares about their journey.

Hugs from quilters, stitched with love.

MY SANTA IS JINGLING AND JANGLING

I am always behind the TRENDS in the quilting world.

I never hop straight on the band wagon.

I like things to simmer.

I like to figure out, if indeed, I want to make the make!

This SWELL Vintage Santa was one of those projects!

He took me right back to my childhood!

I saw a friend make this Jingle Jangle Pattern

and fell hard...like off the roof hard...for it!

But I didn't have any of the SWELL fabrics.

Cause I don't jump on the bandwagon!

Well before I know it...She sent me some fabric,

a few others sent me fabric and I found the Santa on Line.

I may have had the mini charms in my stash.

Quickly I had the Jingle Jangle quilt top done.

You can see I opted for a charcoal gray solid background

vs the green/white blender!

Just another bandwagon bump!

Then the top sat for a year!

I was scared to work with the Santa.

HE IS HUGE!

But I decided to get it done.

and I did it!  Sewed him onto the

Jingle Jangle

HO HO HO

quilt top!

I was also scared to cut away the quilt from under Santa.

But I did it!

Now he waits for Kim Hensley @happilyeveryquilting

to work her magic.

I just need him for Christmas!

And lets not forget the backing.

Hustle and Bustle line by Basic Grey!

Check back by Christmas...he will be making a list,

checking it twice,

Gonna find out whose Naughty or Nice!

STARGAZERS IN THE GARDEN

I have decided my favorite part of making a quilt is....

finding the perfect place to take photos....in the wild.

Come with me into The Franklin Park Conservatory.

It's a gem in the heart of Columbus OH.

The gardens are full of beauty and perfect backdrops.

This summer the grounds host a Topiary Takover!

  UNESCO Natural Heritage Sites, inspired the animal topiaries. 

All designs, constructed and grown by the FCP Staff!

My quilt caught the attention of this buffalo...stopped him in his tracks.

And a Bengal Tiger lay in wait...he had heard the news

of a beautiful quilt in the garden.

And the camels were not to be ignored.

Having been to Egypt they may have been a favorite.

A courtyard was full of fun sea creatures.

The jellyfish were delightful!

But lets see what other backdrops I found in the garden.

Now step inside the conservatory for more beauty

as I display my quilts among the Dale Chihuly permanent installations.

If you like this pattern called Stargazer you can buy it here.

I hope you have enjoyed this post

as much as I enjoyed getting all these photos...

and breaking a few rules in the garden 

"Quilts in the Wild"

with a wild child at the camera!