Friday, November 28, 2014

Nordic Mini and X Finish

Here are my first three rows of the Nordic Mini Quilt Along.
 You can find the directions for Row 3 here at The Crafty Quilter.   See the previous 2 blog posts for Rows 1 and 2.  There is just one more row to go.  For the zig zag blocks, I used the method where you make 4 flying geese at a time and my parent squares were 3 1/2" and 2".

I was able to finish up this X Marks the Spot baby quilt.

From the Back.
Thanks for stopping by!
Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts.


Tuesday, November 25, 2014

November Christmas Corner

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Welcome to Christmas Corner
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I'm working steadily. There's still much to complete.
Have you seen the cute Christmas pillows in the Crate and Barrel and Pottery Barn catalogs?  They inspired me to make this Reindeer Pillow.
I used a cross stitch pattern, substituting tiny colored blocks for the stitches.  Each of the 256 little squares finishes at 3/4".  With the borders added, it made a 15" square.  I embroidered some words from the beloved poem, "Twas the Night Before Christmas"
From the back.
I free motion stitched some red snowflakes onto the pillow back and added buttons and button holes.


I hope you might enjoy this interesting little article about the author and a copy of the 
Poem, Twas the Night Before Christmas.
Clement Clarke Moore Miniature Biography

Clement Clarke Moore (1799 - 1863) came from a prominent family and his father Benjamin Moore was the Bishop of New York who was famous for officiating at the inauguration of George Washington. The tradition of reading Twas the night before Christmas poem on Christmas Eve is now a Worldwide institution and tradition.

Clement Clarke Moore (1779 - 1863) wrote the poem Twas the night before Christmas also called “A Visit from St. Nicholas" in 1822. It is now the tradition in many American families to read the poem every Christmas Eve.

The poem 'Twas the night before Christmas' has redefined our image of Christmas and Santa Claus. Prior to the creation of the story of 'Twas the night before Christmas' St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, had never been associated with a sleigh or reindeers!


Clement Moore, the author of the poem Twas the night before Christmas, was a reticent man and it is believed that a family friend, Miss H. Butler, sent a copy of the poem to the New York Sentinel who published the poem. The condition of publication was that the author of Twas the night before Christmas was to remain anonymous. The first publication date was 23rd December 1823 and it was an immediate success. It was not until 1844 that Clement Clarke Moore claimed ownership when the work was included in a book of his poetry.

Twas the Night before Christmas Poem

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

Thanks for stopping by Christmas Corner!

Saturday, November 22, 2014

X marks the Spot and more

Another pumpkin place mat all completed.
The leaves and vines have charmed me and I see them gracing the borders of a future quilt.


The other two turkey place mats are all quilted and ready for binding.

This High Seas Treasure map quilt is made using a pattern by the Summercrafter.
It's already for quilting and binding and giving away to a little baby boy soon to be born.

  I added the X marks the spot pathway, for extra interest.
I first saw this pattern at Susie's Sunroom and loved it so much I went and bought the pattern.
Here's Elaine's (the pattern designer) High Seas quilt.
SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES
Go to here for the post with the link to the pattern.

Thanks for stopping by!  Linking up with Fort Worth Fabric Studio and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.  Also linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Turkey Place Mats and More

Are you doing anything different for your Thanksgiving  table this year?  Usually I use table pads and table cloth.
Lori Holt at Bee in My Bonnet did a tutorial for this cute little Turkey and so I followed her lead and got started on making some place mats.  Here's her link to the Tom Turkey block.


I made 3 turkeys and found some unfinished pumpkins from a few years ago and I was thinking it would be very cute to have a black pilgrim hat with the gold buckle too (design only in my head so far).

You've probably seen these bias tape makers?  They are amazing!  I got a set from Amazon -- not a name brand so not expensive and they work great!  I'm going to put several vines (bias tape) and applique some leaves onto this pumpkin and make it into a place mat.

I made one more Sew Sweet Simplicity block with a little pieced house in the center.
Lastly, I'm going to join in a Mini Nordic Quilt Along with The Crafty Quilter.  Since I haven't begun, I'll show you a picture from Julie's blog with the link, in case you want to join in too.

Nordic Mini QAL by Julie Cefalu @ The Crafty Quilter
Here's Julie's link for this darling block.
Thanks for Stopping by!  I'm linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts
crazy mom quilts

Friday, November 7, 2014

Sew Sweet Simplicity

I've joined in this new quilt along called Sew Sweet Simplicity.
I sewed the block on the left and wasn't that happy with the colors, although when I get all the blocks done, they will probably still look nice together.  I have at least one relative I want to make another purple quilt for, so decided to do another set in purples, lavender, and a bit of aqua.

Jacquelynne created this block to contain an embroidered or appliqued design in the center.  I decided to leave my center blocks plain, although now I'm reconsidering and may do one more set with some embellishments.

Click the picture below for the link, in case you want to join in too.


Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts
crazy mom quilts 

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Quilt Doodle Doodle Quilt Along

I was so glad to finish up the light blocks strip for my Quilt Doodle Quilt along.  But now I think I may sew some more light block strips to border the other 3 sides!

Cindy's last free pattern for this quilt along is the borders and some embellishments (like snow for the roof and chimney, a wreath for the door, a snowman and deer for the yard-- cute stuff).  You can find it all here.
I'm not sure if I want to do more work with the embellishments but I did add some embroidery to the heart on the roof, the door, and even a little Christmas tree in the window.

Cindy hosted such a great quilt along -- I looked forward to the 1st of every month to see what the next block would be.  It's hard to believe it's been nearly a whole year since it began.

Thanks for stopping by!
Linking up with Connie at Freemotion by the River.
Linky Tuesday at Freemotion by the River
Also linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts
crazy mom quilts

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Quilt Doodle Doodle September and October in progress

Working to complete my quilt alongs so I can begin a new quilt along.

Here is a sneak peak that I'll tell you more about in the November Christmas Corner post.
Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts
crazy mom quilts

X O X O

I've already packed up nearly all the Valentine's decor so wanted to finally get all my Valentine posts completed.  I wanted a small...