Christmas Corner -- April 2015

Welcome to Christmas Corner!  A place to share Christmas and gift projects on the 25th of each month!  

Today's projects include some big stitch quilting, using up some scraps for a needle book, progress on my disappearing hour glass blocks, and a special treat so be sure to scroll all the way down!

One day as I was looking for ideas, I found a wonderful big stitch quilted pillow tutorial by Corey Yoder of Little Miss Shabby featured on Sew Mama Sew.  

Instead of  friendship stars, I went with a simple 25 patch block (made with 2 1/2" squares), added a 2 1/4" border and set about quilting it with this big stitch method, using some regular quilting thread.

 A friend saw my project in process and asked why I was basting, which caused a little discouragement.  When I reviewed the instructions, I realized that I need to get some pearl 8 cotton for quilting -- okay next time!

I made it so it could be a pillow with an envelope closure, but also added the triangle hangers so with a dowel inserted, it could hang up on a push pin.  

 Because I didn't use buttons, it can also be a table topper.  I think I should have added red binding for a finishing touch, but it's still pretty cute.  I don't have a pillow to show it as a pillow right now.

Having some scraps left over and recently having seen the cutest needle book made by Amy at Amy Made that, I decided to use those little scraps and make a tiny needle book.  

Wanting to do something a little unique and loving to stamp fabric, I stamped the mittens and ice skate for the center of the nine patches.  I use fabric markers and it doesn't work out so well but I just take a matching very fine Sharpie pen and fill in the details. Then you just iron it to set the ink.

As Amy did, I also used the tutorial found at Nana Company, but made my squares 1 3/4" and made a nine patch for the front and the back.  I think I'm going to add some hand quilting too.

Here's the front inside cover.  I used some of my favorite fabric with mini sled riders but when I added the pockets it sort of covered that preciousness up, so I probably should have used the sled rider fabric for the pockets also.

And here's the back inside cover

Here is the back.  At the last minute I added the "made by" and later realized I should add the year.  I think I'll make each of my daughters one of these and then I'll write, made by Mom!

Here are my disappearing hour glass blocks coming along.  

I love the tutorials at the Missouri Star Quilt Company and this is one of theirs you can find it here.

For a special treat, I asked my friend, Nancy if I could photograph and display some magical blocks she is currently making.

When I saw these blocks Nancy made, I just loved them!  It's the pink, cocoa, and berry red colors combined with darling fabric designs!  I may have to break my fabric buying fast! 

Nancy is going to add some more red rows to the bigger side.  She said the pattern is the uneven log cabin block, also from the Missouri Star Quilt Co. (couldn't find a link for it.) 

Nancy is thinking of bordering her lap quilt with roses.

When I met Nancy a few years back, she was excited to teach a quilting class.  I took the class to be supportive --not wanting a new hobby.  Little did I know what a quilting NUT enthusiast I would turn out to be!

Thanks for stopping by Christmas Corner!

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts, WIPs Be Gone, and Link A Finish Friday.

Quiet Play and Modern Traditions Quilt Alongs

The Walrus block is for April.  I made the polka dot muzzle thinking I might embroider some whiskers onto the Pinneped.  What is a pinneped, do you ask?  A flipper footed creature like the walrus, seal, and sea lion.

  I was at Pier 39 in San Francisco last weekend and saw the inhabitant sea lions sleeping and some frisky ones playing and knocking each other on and off the pier.  It was quite an entertaining free show!  If you go, don't forget to go by the Antique Penny Arcade (free entry), and the Eagle's Nest had the most delicious clam chowder bread bowls!

Stop by Kristie's blog, Quiet Play for the free pattern (April only) and to see the parade of other Walruses!

I now have 8 blocks made for Shannon's Quilt Along at Modern Tradition Quilts.

  I would have 9 but my cousin came to visit and I offered her any item of her choice from my craft room and she chose one of the blocks to frame for her office.  Many of the fabrics are from a Layer Cake called Josephine by French General.

Linked up with Crazy Mom Quilts and Quiet Play.

Cupcake Pillow Wall Hanging

A young friend, graduating from culinary school today, has long been an avid baker participating in competitions and baking amazing decorated cakes and other confections.  The graduation announcement showed a picture of her in her baker's hat at the age of 3 along with one in her current chef garb!

I found and made this paper pieced cupcake block.  Find it here on Craftsy.  This wonderful pattern is designed by Cyrille of Bubblestitch Quilts and graciously offered for free.

I added some borders and instead of using my usual method for FMQ, I checked out Quilt Shop Gals FMQ challenge for April and found this month's expert, Christina Cameli's designs to be fresh and wonderful and chose option 4, which is to use a design from Christina's Blog.  She has so many good ones!

For the center, I used Christina's Tickled design, which is basically swirled "s's" with echoing. The cupcake and penants are allowed to simply pop up a bit.  The blue border design is simply scallops, which Christina also shows a variety of here.  I was pleased to try something new.

Finished Pillow

I added the little triangles to the upper corners before sewing on the binding so the pillow cover could also be a wall hanging if desired.

And here it is hanging on the wall.  I'd taken a picture last night, but this one with the filtered morning light is much better!

 Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts and Quilt Shop Gal.

Patriotic Flair

One of my coworkers asked me to teach a class for several months ending in July, and she suggested making something Patriotic.

I thought this simple design would be good for beginners.

As I looked for ideas, I found many similar of this fabulous flag design and decided to make it.  I forgot about marking with erasable pen and used red pen instead.  As I machine quilted the words on the first line, I could not stitch exactly over the pen marks and consequently it looked terrible, so I picked it all out.  Now I must do it by hand.

Here are some blocks I made in my first year of quilting.  I machine quilted some words on some muslin and sewed to the bottom of the blocks.  I remembered this time to use the erasable pen and it worked out well.  I think they will become a wallhanging/table runner.

I made this table runner/ wall hanging in my first year of quilting back in 2011.

Here is another of the little table runners that I made last summer.  The pattern/tutorial that I used is by Sherri at A Quilting Life and can be found here.

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts, and Sew Fresh Quilts