Christmas is Coming!

I found this Christmas tree skirt at a thrift store yesterday.  My sister has laid claim to it for her daughter.  It was $5.00!  

I told my sister that in a few years, when I'm dead and gone, someone will look at this and say, "Aunt Sharon made that" but it won't be true.  It's just that it's handmade and it has some of the exact fabrics that I've used in Christmas quilts my family owns!

I truly don't understand giving stuff like this to the thrift store.  You're telling me that no one in the family wanted, or deserved, it?  What?

On My Wall

OMW

Thought I'd just show you what's on my wall.  I'll be doing a workshop of this quilt (when it's finished).  It's just 1-1/2" and 2" squares and strips.  Easy, but time-consuming.  But I will love it when it's done.  More later.

Gypsy Wife is Finished!

I wish I had the time to make my blog all pretty.  I just find that I'd rather quilt than spend more time on the computer, since I already spend work time on the computer.  So it's not pretty, but it will have to do.  Hmmm... maybe when I retire?...  and maybe then I'll have more time to blog, as well?  We'll see.

I finally finished my Gypsy Wife quilt.  It's a pattern by Jen Kingwell and although I absolutely adore the quilt, I have to say that I struggled with the instructions.    

I took a class from Jen Kingwell a few months ago just because I wanted to see her quilts in person.  She uses some amazingly different fabrics, what with her Arab Emerites and Australian influence.  She picks stuff that I would find ugly just by itself.  But it all looks great in her quilts.  I love using "ugly fabric" in my quilts.  Just more interest.

But as I said, I still love the quilt.  And I'm keeping it.  Here come the pictures--it's gone off to the quilter this week.

This is the full quilt on the design wall.  Took me several weeks to get all the pieces in the right place.  I did change out a couple.  The yellow heart is a block I had on-hand from several years ago when I was teaching applique, so I used it.

Here's a closeup.  You know I love text fabric!

I love the birds on the wire.

Lots of interesting fabrics.

This is probably my favorite block in the whole quilt.  And you know I'm not always going to use the same fabric in the same spot, right?

More text fabric...

Love the birds.  This is a spoonflower print that I ordered online.  Someone designed it and I ordered a fat quarter of her design.  She then got part of the profits.  Good for her!  I love it.

My crooked heart.

I've had this fabric for quite awhile.  I love the fat dancing lady.  The grey/pink fabric on the left is a very nice feed sack fabric that came from a great find at a garage sale that I've mentioned before on this blog.

Chandeliers.  Of course!

A piece(d) of my heart.

I had to add the pickle fabric, just for Jack!

I've used this pink flamingo fabric several times before.  I bought it for Romy girl.  

The pink/navy fabric in the center is another gorgeous feed sack fabric.  It's so modern!  It's one of my very favorite from the whole pile of feed sacks.

You can't have fabrics these days without without having at least one with owls in it, right?

The red floral is more feed sack fabric.

The center is Denise Schymt fabric.  Could be Flea Market Fancy.  

Not sure--just know it's hers. 

The center here is one fabric my daughter sent me from Amsterdam at least 15 years ago.  

I am very careful with them and use them sparingly.  

Paperclips!

These little guys are funny.  Not sure what they are supposed to be. 

I know I'm going to enjoy having this quilt.  Can't wait to get it back from the quilters!

Recent Projects

Here are just a few items that I showed last week at a local group meeting:

This is made from scraps that were in my scrap basket.  Literally strings and pieces that I pulled out and just straightened the edge.  None of them ended up being the same width, but it worked.  However, I don't feel like I used nearly enough of them--the box is still full!

I whipped up this spool quilt in a week.  I got motivated and went to town.  It's just been quilted and it's not a good picture, but I'll try to take another when I've got the binding on it.

"The bag" again.  I just loved making this bag.  It's designed to hold your sewing, knitting, or crocheting project.  And it does seem that way when you look at it, or hold it.  It's not the "normal" tote bag.  Made mostly with upholstery fabrics and a little wool.  It was fun.

Sue Spargo Victoria Knitting Bag

Almost finished with this bag.  It's a Sue Spargo pattern from 2004 that's been revitalized since she's become more well-known. 

Although I love her creative work, her patterns do sometimes leave a little to be desired.  She says in the pattern that she used mostly wools on this bag, however the only wool used is in the floral applique block.  The rest is upholstery fabrics, which I had on-hand, by the way!  I didn't even buy them together.

I did what I sometimes do, which was to pull out a bunch of fabrics that I think would work well together and then I try to talk myself out of them.  This time I decided to just "do it".  And it worked, as it usually does.

I need to get a bottom board cut for it.  This is another thing about the pattern.  She tells you that you need a 1/4" thick baseboard but the lining/sleeve that is cut for it does not allow for the 1/4" thickness--I needed another 1/2" to allow for the thickness on both sides--and also needed another 1/4" or so just to allow room to slip it in.

Here's a closeup of the wool applique block:

I used little pieces of wool from my left-over box.

I've since added some buttons across the top panel for decoration and interest.  I'll try and take some finished pictures when I've gotten it completely done.  Until then, I love it!

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