Personalized Stocking

I finished this little Christmas stocking yesterday.  It is another "In The Hoop" machine embroidery from Anita Goodesigns.  This stocking is small ( about 8").  I think it would be perfect as a gift card holder or for a small gift.  I made this one for my friend Gayle.  The original design has borders of holly on the top of the stocking.  I decided to personalize it instead.  Not sure yet what will go in the stocking.  We usually make donations to charity instead of giving gifts. 

I will begin my Christmas decorating tomorrow.  We've been busy with DH's health issues for the past week but he is now recovering nicely and I can concentrate on Christmas.  I'm  planning to repeat my Blue Christmas theme again this year.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2011

WISHING EVEYONE A VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR DAY WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

Jelly Roll Bag

I've been working to complete some Christmas presents.  This is one of the items I am making.  It is made on my Janome 11000 embroidery machine.  The design is Anita Goodesign's "Jelly Roll Bags".   This is an "in the hoop" project made with Jelly roll strips (2 1/2" wide strips of fabric).  The entire project is made in the embroidery hoop.  I love this little bag.  After making the first one, I decided it would be nice to personalize each of the bags since they were already in the embroidery hoop.  I just edited to include the names of people on my gift list.  The little bag measures approx. 4" x 6".

  I finished three this afternoon and plan to make more.  It is the perfect project for those left over fabric strips from other projects.

Chestnut and Vine Block of the Month completed

My Chestnut and Vine Block of the Month quilt top is completed.  It is huge (82" x 82").  It is shown here on our king size bed.  It will be going in the mail on Monday to Ohio.  Wanda will be quilting it for me.  She quilted my Southwest quilt and it is one of my favorites. 

The Chestnut and Vine quilt used cheater fabric for some of the blocks and triangles.  It looks much more detailed that it actually is.  BUT there is quite a bit of applique in the quilt and this took many hours to complete.  I'm very pleased with the results.   Can hardly wait to see what it looks like after Wanda's beautiful quilting.

Charm Pack Quilt

I recently finished this small quilt.  It is made from a Charm Pack.  The quilt kit is from Fat Quarters.com.  I just love their kits.  They are so easy to pack and take when we travel to our vacation home in Kentucky.  The quilt will become part of my spring decorating in 2012. 

I recently finished my Chestnuts and Vine Block of the Month quilt and will have photos later this week.  Great to be back in the desert and working in my studio.

November Fabric Postcard

I decided to join a Fabric Postcard Swap for November.  This is my postcard for Corinne.  I cut the calendar and the turkey images from an old linen calendar.  The theme of the calendar was "Calories".  I thought the turkey was the perfect addition to the November postcard.

Norma at Fabric in Altered Arts 2 Yahoo group is the hostess of this swap.   I haven't participated in a trade in some time.  I took a break but plan to gradually get back into the swapping mode.

A Finished Rag Quilt but "NOT CLIPPED"

I finished stitching this rag quilt while here in the country.  There is a story to this "Unclipped Rag Quilt."  A few years ago (I think four) I stitched a rag quilt in a class.  It was to be a Christmas present for my nephew.  Since I finished stitching the quilt early, I thought clipping the quilt would be a great last minute project before Christmas.  (If you've made a rag quilt, you probably can guess the rest of the story.)  --- I was still clipping those seams the day before our family Christmas party.  I even bought those special scissors for clipping but I had no idea it would TAKE SO LONG!   I did manage to finish the clipping, wash, and wrap the quilt just before our party.  When he opened the quilt, I told the family that "this is my first and last rag quilt!" 

But his sister loved the quilt and commented that she wanted one and would clip the seams if I would stitch the blocks together.  Even with her offer, I wasn't interested in making another rag quilt.  Fast forward to this summer and the organizing of my studio.  I discovered another kit for a rag quilt.  Seems I purchased another kit at the class in 2007.  So I called my sister and asked if she thought Michelle was serious about clipping those seams.  Seems Michelle has mentioned to her on a number of occasions over the past few years that she would love a quilt like her brother's.  For Christmas Michelle will receive a unclipped rag quilt and my "special scissors".  Happy Clipping Michelle.

Below is a photo of the entire quilt and one of the back of the quilt.  I really do like the bright colors of the fabrics.  Will I ever do another??????   Probably not.  There are only two children in that family and grandkids aren't old enough to use "pointed scissors".

Mums and Fall Tablerunner

I completed this Fall tablerunner while here in KY.  It is one of the Fat Quarters.com Tablerunners of the Month.  This is the November one.  It will be a housewarming gift for one of my cousins.  We are going to their new home tonight for dinner and I finished this tablerunner yesterday.  Perfect timing.  I am very pleased with the way it turned out.  The patchwork is made using a layer cake.  Love the fall colors.  The back is shown below.  I just used strips of the fabric included in the kit.  I did free motion quilting over the entire runner.

And now a photo of my lovely mums.

Last fall when my sister and I were here in Ky, I bought a small potted mum.  We enjoyed it on the deck while we were here and when we left I planted it on the side of the house.  I explained to my Uncle who cares for our home that if it lived great and if it died, it cost less than $5.00.  IT LIVED and is a lovely large mum this fall.  I'm going to try the same thing with the small yellow mum in the photos above.  Maybe I'll have lovely mums along the side of the house (one mum at a time).  

We are enjoying Fall here in the country.  Lovely day yesterday.  My DH cleaned the gutters and I put mulch around our plants. Today we are having rain.