Two More Finished Samples

 The Crazy Train of Sewing has so far managed to stay on track. 

 Two more samples finished and in the mail.

 These snowman snowflakes are super cute. 

 And they take a lot of time! 

Trace the pattern six times to make the snowflake, then trace three times on wonder under, then fuse, then cut, then fuse again, and then applique. 

Once again for the sake of time and reality, the applique stitch and the quilting are on in the same.

This one measures 13"x39"

The tree table runner was all pieced.  Triangles and angled rectangles.  It went together surprisingly fast.  I plan on a post about using paper and your ruler instead of cutting plastic templates for something like this.  Soon. Really.

The quilting is done in a silver grey from Aurifil.  I love how it makes the quilting pop more from the white.

This one is 12" x 48"

Four Sample Finishes For Christmas

 I'm keeping busy, hopefully right on schedule, with getting all these projects done and out of here.  I finished up the first four samples today and mailed them off.  Yep, the pictures are a little dark, it was rainy - hey this isn't a fancy pants blog.  But you don't get ads either....

 The minis are pretty self explanatory.  They finish up at 7.5" square.  They are not fast.  Too many pieces, too much applique and too much embroidery to call them fast.

 They are turned, however, so no binding, and minimal quilting.

 This is the fanciest one, and probably my favorite.

 I also finished this wall hanging.  It finishes around 20" square.  I like this one a lot.  Can't wait until I get them all back....in a year or two.

 I used the button hole stitch for applique - and as the quilting.  Partly for time, partly because its a wall hanging, so really no one will be looking at the back (except for all of you!)  And then just some straight lines around the borders.

Two more samples to go. 

Reindeer Games Wallhanging

 Yay!  I finished up my Reindeer wall hanging during the Packer game Sunday (Go Pack!).  I got this Sandy Gervais panel in an after Christmas sale last January.  I was originally thinking the center for a quilt, but when I pulled it our this year, I just decided to quilt it up and hang it.

 All the quilting was done with Superior Clear on the top, and Bottom Line in the bobbin.  That combination is a match made in heaven.  It is all FMQ on my domestic machine.

 The backing fabric has a story all its own:  Many moons ago I worked at a big box fabric store that starts with a J.  When E was born, one of my former co-workers gave me a crib sheet made out of the Coca~Cola Polar Bear fabric.  I never used it as a sheet.  It always seemed too much for a crib sheet.  So the fabric has been hanging out in my Christmas Fabric Box (for 10 years) and seemed the perfect backing for this.

 As I write this, the quilt is in the wash.  I don't generally wash wall hangings, but this one turned out pretty ripply on the edges, so it needs some wash and blocking, I think.  I'll probably share a post washing picture, as well.  The texture always changes in the wash.

Finished size: 22" x 39"
Fabric: Front: Sandy Gervais Panel,  Back: Coca~Cola bears (from Joann's), Binding: Old World Comforts by Thimbleberries
Thread: Superior Clear and Bottom Line
Batting: Pellon Cotton

Merry Christmas

The cookies and candies are done.

Chocolate Dipped, Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies

Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls

 The special angel is on top of the tree.

And piles of presents are wrapped and hidden around the house.

The arrival of Christmas is counted by hours instead of days.

Praying that you have a Merry Christmas.  Remembering it is the celebration of the Incarnation - the Word made flesh.  The birth of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

See you in the New Year!

Felted Wool Mittens - Teacher Gifts

It's never too early to start thinking about Christmas.  Especially teacher gifts.  So with that in mind I put together these felted wool mitten pins.

They are super easy to do.  I felted a wool sweater from Goodwill.  (Hot water wash and high heat dry).  Cut out some mitten shapes, and stitched some snowflake shapes with embroidery floss.  I also added some beads for some sparkle.  The fur is some trim from the fabric store.  I backed them with some white flannel and sewed on a pin.

And now I am ready for Christmas Teacher Gifts