My Christmas Row Quilt

I offered to design a Christmas Row Quilt block exchange for one of my local quilt groups and they said yes.  So I started looking for Christmas-themed blocks, four of which are shown here.

The row of Christmas trees was supposed to have six trees but somehow I came away with only five and I didn't want to make another one.  So I decided to turn the 12" left into a checkerboard sashing instead.  I think it adds much to the quilt.

There is a row of snowflakes to go at the top.  I somehow don't have the required number of those either so I'm guessing I'll do something on that row to finish out the length of that row, too.

The bottom row is houses.  I've got the number I need there so I just need to sew that row together and add them to the bottom.  I'm thinking I'm going to love it!

Kayleen's Choice

I started this quilt after being inspired by a Tula Pink pattern that was on the cover of a magazine.  I changed the orientation of the blocks and enlarged it.

I was loving it!  I wanted to crochet around the entire quilt so I bought a pretty teal blue aqua cotton crochet thread and a new crochet hook.  I had given all of mine away long ago since all I did anymore was quilt.  But I had been inspired by a quilt I saw at The Christmas Goose quilt shop in Las Vegas in April.  There was gorgeous crocheting around the edge of the entire quilt.  At first I thought it was lace that had been applied but found out it was hand-crocheted.  I loved it so I wanted to do it for myself on a quilt that I would keep.  All that work, ya know?

So my daughter came to visit in August and I was showing her quilts I was working on.  She had told me a few years ago that she had enough quilts.  Really?  Can anyone have ENOUGH quilts?  Well, okay.  But I sent her a new one at Christmas last year anyway because it just reminded me of her "style".

But I really don't think about making quilts for her anymore since she didn't seem interested in owning any more.  But wait...

I made this quilt for myself.  Wait...

She says "I'd take that one".  Huh?  The one I made for myself?  The one I loved?  The one I wanted to spend hours crocheting around?  The one with Freda Khalo all over the back?  The one with the yellow/green fabric that I adore?  reeeaaallly?

What we do for our children...

Guess who's getting the quilt for Christmas this year?

This is a Bonnie Hunter pattern from one of her books.  I made the whole thing in a couple of weeks using the Bloc-Loc ruler by making half-square triangles with the Pat Speth Nickel Quilt method.  It's the only way I make half-square triangles anymore.  

And I use the squares that come from that method in other projects if they don't get used in the project that I'm working on.  I always have a need for scrappy squares.

I plan to post some current pictures now that I've lost 30 pounds but I saw a few older pictures and thought I'd post them.  This was taken in Las Vegas in 2007.  I hadn't yet gained the 30 pounds.

This is me with my Aunt Mary Catherine and my sister Marscha at a family funeral in about 2008 or 2009.

This one was taken sometime around 2010 or so.  I'll post some more current pictures soon.

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!