Chickadee House

Geff made his mom a chickadee birdhouse for Christmas.  He makes all kinds of birdhouses according to the species he is trying to attract. 

Quick Napkin Folded Christmas Tree

I saw a Youtube video of how to fold a napkin into the shape of a Christmas tree.  Extremely quick and easy way to dress up your Christmas place settings so I folded a green and red for you to see.

Summer in the Park Quilt

I finally finished the binding on my Summer in the Park quilt. 



This was one of the easiest quilts I’ve made.  It uses two jelly rolls sewn in strip sets and some yardage for the border.   Jelly Rolls are collections of (40) 2 1/2" x 44" strips of fabric produced by Moda Fabrics.   I used a jelly roll from the Scrumptious fabric line.  I have another jelly roll and enough fabric for another of the same quilt with a red border.  I don’t know why though…    I must have found a really good deal on the fabric.  A mind is a terrible thing to waste.   

Mrs. Fugate’s Quilts

My cousin Catherine’s 90 year old grandmother Fugate made 19 quilts this year.  She made them as Christmas gifts for her family. According to Catherine “They are very well made and beautiful. Granny does a wonderful job.”   

All of this material was given to her.  She cut every square for 19 quilts.  Her son David helped lay out the quilts and she pieced (sewed) them all.  Absolutely amazing.  (Makes me look like a slacker)   
 
Look how beautiful she still is,  proof that doing something for your family with love and enjoyment keeps you young and happy! 
 
  

Gift Tags

Made with buttons of course!  A real quick and easy way to make gift tags with just two buttons, a little string and a blank tag (or cardstock).  Just draw two lines part way down the tag, use a glue dot to attach buttons and then tie on with a string.   

Battery Powered Lights

Thought I would share an idea for lighting that I wish I had known about sooner.  Geff found some indoor battery operated  LED lights that are great for lighting your mantle, 



throwing in a glass vase of ornaments, on a wreath or anywhere that you don’t want a cord showing.  I’ve been real happy with how long the rechargeable batteries keep a charge in them.  The lights auto-magically turn off in 6 hours then come on the same time the next day which is a really nice feature and they were inexpensive too.   We got ours at Home Depot - Martha Stewart 24 in a box for about $8 and here are some similar ones online:  http://www.homedepot.com/p/Martha-Stewart-Living-9-ft-36-Light-Battery-Operated-LED-White-Ultra-Thin-Wire-Bundle-of-2-BA03-W036-A1B/202371873?N=5yc1vZc3tbZ4tgZ1z11ercZ1z11ery

Snow Globe Pincushion

I made this quick little pincushion with a Buttermilk Basin pattern.  The pattern was for a little candle mat but I made it into a pincushion using some wool I received free for another project but decided to make this instead. 

Winter Door Hanging

I finally finished the winter door hanging that is the last in the series from Quilts and More magazine designed by Kim Christopherson of Kimberbell Designs.  Her pattern is on the right.  I wanted a little more traditional colors so varied it slightly. 

 

 

Winter Window Box

Just got my window box finished, couldn’t work on it yesterday because it rained all day.  I cut trimmings on several varieties of trees and bushes in the yard.  I put so many in the window box you can’t even see it.

Here’s the before picture.  We found this iron window box at Ironic on Kingston Pike (http://ironichomedecor.com)  It just happened to be the right size for the window.  If you’re ever looking for ironwork it is a pretty neat store.  Geff hung it for me which wasn’t easy but he did a great job, it is extremely sturdy even though it is very heavy. 

I put some twigs sticking up behind the box, 3 shatterproof ornaments, some ribbon and poinsettias.  It’s hard to get the scale of it from this picture, it's much bigger in person.




Here are a few outdoor pictures of how I decorated the outside. I went pretty minimal this year.




See my puppies patiently waiting

Nana’s Quilt - My most treasured quilt

My most treasured quilt, well really my most treasured possession.  This quilt in all its perfect imperfection is near and dear to my heart.  My grandmother quilted it for me in her 80’s.  Her mother (my great grandmother) pieced the top all by hand.  It was pieced with turkey red and a basic muslin a long time ago, most likely in the early 1900’s.

Mesh Ribbon Wreath

My friend Karen and I went shopping yesterday.  One of our stops was Hobby Lobby where I got this wire wreath form for $3.   I had some leftover wire ribbon from my Christmas trees and some mesh ribbon I had that I don’t remember what it was for.  I figured I could put my ribbon to use with this form (odd looking sort of a gadget).  You use the wire tinsel to hold the ribbon with. 

Stocking Stuffer ideas

I’ve had several requests for Christmas stocking stuffer ideas like  potholders, dish carriers, counter pads etc.

One of my favorite sites with free patterns is Moda Bakeshop.   Click on any of the pictures below to go to the Moda Bakeshop pattern.

   Pot holder	  Wine Bag
Hot Pad	Casserole Carrier

Fantasy of Trees and Potholders

Jennifer and I went to the Fantasy of Trees this weekend.  We saw many beautiful trees and got some decorating ideas.  However my favorite thing was in the children’s area where they were making crafts.   One booth was making hand print potholders.  I have the potholder Jennifer made with Nana’s help from when she was five.  The potholder hung in Nana’s kitchen for years. 
I talked Jennifer into making me another one 25 years later.   Thanks for humoring me Jennifer. 

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

I put up two Christmas trees this year.  A bigger one in the living room and small playful one in my sewing room.  

Here’s the living room tree.  I used a bunch of ribbon this year and just loosely tied in loops then inserted in the tree.   This is an old tree Geff bought years ago at Service Merchandise.  I hate putting the lights on it.  I think I’ll spring for a pre-lit tree soon.  Here's a front views and a close-up of the top.