Sunday, November 04, 2007

Sidetracked

After stitching up the first sixteen blocks for Cotton Candy, I decided to set those aside to finish up two little Christmas wallhangings. The components for 7 more blocks are patiently waiting right next to my sewing machine. I cut an extra five to enlarge the quilt for my queen-sized bed. And I am itching to design some kind of appliqued border to jazz it up a bit. Hmmm...any ideas for the applique?


The first Christmas wallhanging is a Thimbleberries panel called Snow Birds. Just fell in love with it on an impromptu trip to the quilt shop the other day. I am nuts over vintage children's prints. I am doing some very simple quilting on it--just enough to hold the layers together LOL! I want to get it up on the wall this week. Yep, I am one of those people who starts putting up Christmas right after Halloween! Since my sister always hosts the family Thanksgiving dinner and I host the family Christmas, my house doesn't get much of a Thanksgiving twist. The second wallhanging is the twelve days of Christmas folk art piece I worked on this past summer. I am calling it My True Love Gave to Me. It is all pin-basted and waiting in queue. Most of the blocks are from the Cheri Saffiote book, 301 Country Christmas Quilt Blocks. I adore this book and will make some pillows for my rustic bench using some of the other block patterns. So prim, so folk art!!!




















Then, while putting some books away in my quilt library, I noticed this Debbie Mumm book that I bought several years ago at my school's book fair. I don't use Debbie Mumm patterns much at all, but this book seemed to have some darling ideas for my partridge-in-a-pear-tree dining room. What I like about it is that she incorporates other crafts with the quilting--centerpieces, aprons, recipes, etc. Now I think I need to go back through some of my other older books!!!

19 comments:

Darlene said...

The quilt is beautiful.

Fun holiday projects to keep your hands busy! :-)

YankeeQuilter said...

The quilt looks wonderful. I know what you mean about going through old books for new ideas. Sometimes I wonder if I ever really looked at them closely the first time through!

Lisa D. said...

I love your Cotton Candy blocks! I plan to make that same quilt using Sanctuary.

Unknown said...

Both your Christmas projects look lovely and the blocks you've done so far are super

Yummers! said...

Your quilts are beautiful!! Isn't it fun being retired (I'm a retired teacher, too) and having time for all the ideas that fill your head?? I love Sundays so much more because Monday mornings are so relaxed!!

I'm watching the Packers with my DH and finishing up a quilted purse that I'll post tomorrow. I have an idea for a fun Christmas purse so I have to get this done so I can sketch my new idea.

I'll add you to my link list today so I can keep in touch with you and your blog. I was going to do that once before and didn't get to it and lost you in blogland.
Hugs,
Joni (of Green Bay, home of the Packers)

Unknown said...

I love your twelve days of Christmas quilt! I think I have that Debbie Mumm book too...I'd love to see some pictures of your partridge in a pear tree dining room.

Doodlebug Gail said...

Your blocks are coming along nice and quickly - very pretty indeed. Christmas projects are fun - especially when started early enough not to cause any stress - LOL.

Angie said...

Oooh, your Cotton Candy blocks are really looking good! And I adore your Thimbleberries wall hanging!! I may have to see if I can find that panel for moi. LOL And you know, I have that Christmas book that you made the other quilt blocks out of...now see what you've started!! :D

Cher said...

sidetracked with some great Christmas-y stuff! they all look fun.

Elaine Adair said...

That Cotton Candy is looking delicious! Don't make us wait too long - it's going to be delightful!

Unknown said...

I really like your cotton candy blocks. I like the fabrics you used. They should make a nice quilt.

Lizzy

jeanette said...

Your Cotton Candy blocks looks very nice! I can see myself making these in the future:)

Laurie Ann said...

Love how those blocks are coming together!!

Jo Raines said...

These projects are beautiful. I'm not in the Christmas spirit yet--maybe a few weeks down the road. Hard to believe it's almost back around!

Kathy said...

You are really inspiring me! I love your quilts! Isn't it fun to go thru those books? I always find something that I don't remember seeing before.

CONNIE W said...

Great looking projects. Christmas will be here before we know it!

Libby said...

Mmmmm - holiday decorating. I just love pulling everything out - like seeing long lost friends. Your quilts are all great . . . isn't that 301 Christmas Blocks book great? Pillows . . . now that's something to think about *s*

Susan said...

I absolutely love the cotton candy blocks! I'm wondering about some kind of applique in the upper left and lower right corners of the border - maybe a vine with leaves and "fried egg" flowers?

The Christmas projects are very nice, too.

Cheryl said...

Your quilts are wonderful...the 12 Days of Christmas quilt realllly caught my eye! I would love to be decorated for Christams, we are hosting Thanksgiving, so the day after, the boxes come out. Nice to find your blog.