Saturday, December 21, 2013

Hip Holiday Christmas Pillow

Sometimes a good deal on fabric comes along and I just can't help myself! I bought 1/2 yd cuts of the Hip Holiday line (Blend Fabrics) at Sprightly Fabrics for $5.25 a yard! Not a clue what I would use it for but I really liked the retro car with a tree on top. Reminds me of my youth, making the trek in the woods to find and cut down a Christmas tree and tying it to the top of a station wagon.  I made some oven mitts and hot pads with the fabric for some of my friends (pic below), but needed a gift for my bestie who does not cook much at all.  So, after some web searching I came across this pillow on Thermoweb and made it this afternoon, with a few changes (mainly to the back). A retro Merry Christmas!
Front - appliqued car
Back - strips & pinwheels
hot pad & oven mitt gifts


Friday, December 13, 2013

Table Topper

After years of not being "in charge" of gift giving to my in-laws, (hubby's responsibility) I thought I would make my MIL this table topper for her round kitchen table. Janice (MIL) is a great seamstress and has made my girls several dresses in their younger years. I especially liked the dresses when I picked out the material:) Well, this isn't about dresses...

I used Blitzen Moda fabric by Basic Grey, a Sidekick ruler and a 2 1/2 inch diamond stripper (Marti Michell). I liked the diamond stripper for the trimmed points, made it really easy to line up the seams. I really liked the Sidekick because it gave me a good visual for lining up the fabric just right.  Here are a few pics, partly pieced and finished. The red arrow in the first pic points to the diamond stripper template.

There is a pattern available - Rock Candy by Jaybird Quilts, but given the experience I have had of using the diamonds with triangles, I made it without the pattern.


Straight line machine quilting in a diamond pattern


Thursday, December 5, 2013

A Christmas Quilt Finish

I have put most of my Christmas shopping on hold so I could finish this quilt. My first decoration of the season (I know I'm slow!), getting a fresh tree on Friday! Living in the Northwest (Seattle area), how can you not have a fresh tree. I had several artificial trees - ok, three - while living in Utah. I must say, you can't be that fresh pine forest smell, it just puts you in the Christmas mood :)


back

machine quilting horizontal alternating blocks w/ vertical


Pillows to match! 21" x 21"



Pattern is from Fat Quarterly Issue 11
Yuletide Twist
Fabric is Joy - Moda