Sunday, November 22, 2015

Thanksgiving Tango

I feel like the Tasmanian Devil as I whirl through the house getting ready for Thanksgiving.  There is so much to do, and I love every minute of it!

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  I love to cook (and eat), and every year I try something different to make our dinner special.

This year I found the cutest edible table decorations from Giada on Food Network.  Check out these gobblers.  They are so easy to make.  Check out Giada's video on how to make these cuties for your table. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/thanksgiving-turkeys-recipe.html   I'm sure my family is going to love them!







Autumn Table Runner

There are several projects I wanted to complete before Thanksgiving, but it doesn't look like that is going to happen.  One project I did finish was a cute table runner using up some of the scraps from my autumn quilts.  It's just a simple little pattern sewing 2 1/2" squares together, alternating between bright and fall colors .  On either end I added a piece of muslin, approximately 6," and embroidered some simple leaves.  I think the rickrack was a good way to separate the muslin and the patchwork.  The whole runner is approximately 38" x 15."




Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Thanksgiving Gobble Gobble Quilt

Jack is a happy scarecrow!  He knows Thanksgiving is right around the corner and there will be lots of good food to eat and good company with whom to share. 


Isn't this print adorable?  It is Perfectly Seasoned by Sandy Gervais for Moda Fabric. I found the most adorable pattern on the Bear Creek Quilting Company blog and just had to make one of my own.  You can download their free Blessings Quilt pattern at www.bearcreekquiltingcompany.com/blog/2015/08/08/blessing-quilt/ 

Although their pattern is adorable, I did my own thing.  I bought the panel and, because I loved the fabric so much, 5 charm packs.  Their finished quilt is 50" x 72" and I didn't want mine quite that big, so I left off the side with the word "Blessings."  My quilt measures approximately 40" x 64."  I like to snuggle  under a lap quilt when I watch television on cold, winter nights, and this size is just perfect.

 









Monday, November 16, 2015

Christmas Is In My Heart - My Revealing Day!



Christmas Is In My Heart Blog Hop

Welcome to Day 4 of Christmas Is In My Heart Blog Hop!  I am so excited to show you what I made, but first, a big THANK YOU goes out to Marian from Seams To Be Sew for organizing and hosting this hop.  Be sure to visit her site every day for her daily free pattern.
Fat Quarter Shop




And another heart-felt THANK YOU goes to the Fat Quarter Shop for their daily giveaway.  Be sure you enter to win at Marian's blog, Seams To Be Sew.





I love snowmen!  They really do melt my heart.  They are all different, as individual as the snowflakes of which they're made.  So for my contribution I decided to make a quilt showing just how different they are, but cut from the same cloth, so to speak.  I call my quilt  "A Flurry of Snowmen." 


I drew the snowmen first onto a giant sheet of wrapping paper, then traced them with a water-soluble marking pen onto a single piece of white fabric backed with Warm & Natural batting.  I cut away the excess batting and fabric and centered the design onto a single cut of turquoise dotted fabric. With turquoise-colored thread, I machine-stitched around each snowman's outline and their border outline. I then used fusible web to adhere their accessories using a raw-edge applique technique..

It was so much fun seeing each snowman's personality "come to life" as he or she received their hats, mittens and scarves. I was running out of time to get this posted, so they don't have all the embellishments I want to give them, like buttons on their chests.

 




Marian wanted a heart incorporated into our designs for this hop, so front and center Mrs. Snowman wears a heart.  The lone snowflake falling down is made up of heart and teardrop shapes.  (I believe the snowflake was the hardest part of the quilt!)

I think my favorite has to the little guy holding a frothy cup of Starbucks.  I accomplished that with a little computer-aided wizardry.  Which snowman is your favorite?

Be sure to visit these other talented elves:

Tuesday, November 17 

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday!

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Christmas Is In My Heart

Christmas Is In My Heart Blog Hop

There are only 44 days until Christmas!  Yikes!  Time to get your jingle on!  And what better way to catch the Christmas spirit than to participate in a Christmas blog hop?

This year Marian from Seams To Be Sew has organized Christmas Is In My Heart blog hop.  It's sure to be loads of fun and full of ideas to inspire you!  The hop begins November 12th and will feature 32 participants.  And if that's not enough, there will be giveaways from the Fat Quarter Shop and Seams To Be Sew that you won't want to miss!  Mark your calendars and join in the fun!