Christmas stars table runner

This fun table runner was the direct result of me browsing Pinterest (a great resource for all things creative.) I saw something similar and loved the pattern and the cheerful colors, but there was only a link to a photo, no pattern or resources. So what is a girl to do? Just wing it and make your own, of course!

I didn't do any math or even make a formal plan. I just started cutting up fabric and sewing it together, and this was the result. I love how it came together.

I used Glide super white on the top and So Fine white in the bobbin. Batting was Hobbs bleached 80/20. I put a snowflake in each of the white squares, continuous curves with a swirl in the star points, pumpkin seeds in the center squares, and continuous curves throughout the squares in the border.

If you have already found Pinterest, you know what a fun resource it can be. If not, BEWARE, it is very addicting. It is a virtual pin board where you can archive absolutely anything you may come across while surfing the web. There is a red Pinterest button in the right column where you can check out all of my boards and set up your own account if you choose. I have many boards, most of which are quilting related. I use it regularly to find inspiration and ideas, as well a tuck away projects and recipes I hope to get to someday. Hope to see you there!

Red, green & gold Christmas tree wallhanging

Yes, I know Christmas is long gone, but all those posts I never quite got to in a timely fashion are still out there in blog land waiting for me to hit send.

 
This festive wall hanging was done as a shop sample at Quilted Memories. It is a pre-printed panel to which I applied a simple border and quilted. It would make a quick and easy decoration or gift.

I used Glide Vegas Gold on the top and a red Sew Fine in the bobbin and gave it a custom treatment.

Isn't it fun?

For availability of this pre-printed Red, Green & Gold Christmas Tree  panel, contact Quilted Memories here.

Merry Christmas to all!

The cookies are baked, the beaters are licked. The stockings are hung, soon to be Saint Nicked!

 

The Bussard house is full of anticipation as we impatiently await Santa's visit. I've only heard, "Can we open presents yet????" about 72 times today, and it is only the 23rd. Since we are going to Grandma and Grandpa's house, we did put in a request to Santa to deliver a day early. Hopefully he will come through for us!

I've packed my quilt projects and all the project photos I've been taking with hopes to get caught up on posting a few things. I hope to start the new year all caught up!

Wishing you all a Joyous Christmas!

David, Tina, Alexander and Nicholas

Register for $25 gift cards -- 12 times!

Be sure to visit Quilted Memories on facebook here. They are giving away a $25 gift card for each of the Twelve Days of Christmas. Be sure to "LIKE" each day. They also have some fabulous promotions each day, so check back often!

Happy Quilting!

The quilt shown above, Twelve Months of Santa, was pieced by Diana Schoenhals. It was originally a Block-of-the-Month from Rustic Yearnings in Independence, Missouri.

Adding a flange

A few weeks ago when the temperatures in Kansas City reached 109 degrees, there really was nothing more to do than lock yourself inside, crank up the air conditioner, and dig out the Christmas fabric. After all, snowflake fabric somehow gives you hope that the summer inferno will soon come to an end.

A while back I picked up a "Christmas Spirit" jelly roll and the coordinating panels by Moda, and I finally had time to start making the table runners I had planned. I'll share them with you when I have them complete (hopefully before the snow flies). I really fell in love with this fabric line!

When I attended MQS (Machine Quilters Showcase) back in May, I had the opportunity to spend an afternoon helping in the juding room. I got to hear the judges' comments and critiques about every aspect of the quilt entries. One thing they liked over and over was special edge finishes like piping and flanges.

I had never added a flange to a project before, so I thought these table runners would be a nice, easy, and small place to start. It turned out to be quite simple. Here is what I did:

I wanted the exposed flange to be 1/8 inch so I cut a strip of fabric 3/4 inch wide by the length desired. The flange is made from a folded strip, so I doubled 1/8 + 1/4 (the width of exposed flange + seam allowance). Then iron this in half, right side facing out.

Next, pin it to the edge of the fabric or block you want the flange to edge. Baste it on with an 1/8 inch seam allowance (so the seam won't show when you attach the next piece of fabric).

Continue around the block adding the flange pieces to each edge. Now you assemble the block as usual, stitching pieces right side together and using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. The flange is now caught in the seam.

This was a quick way to add a little extra zing to the finished block. Now I have to get busy and get the rest of the runners done. I'm afraid the holidays will be here before I'm ready!

Christmas in July

This past weekend, Quilted Memories -- the shop I'm newly affiliated with -- held a Christmas in July event. There were lots of specials and treats, and the shop was decorated with holiday quilts done by customers. Even though the temperatures were well into the 100s outside, all the Christmas eye candy put me in the mood to get going on those holiday projects. There are only five months!

Shoppers got to vote on their favorite quilts, and this lovely by Rita Hale won the Viewer's Choice award.

Rita is also a member of my machine quilters guild. I told her I would be glad to give it a good home, but she wasn't having any of it! I have seen quilts like this done in red and also chocolate brown, but the navy was really pretty. Nice job Rita!

I guess if Rita won't share, I'll just have to make my own! Pardon me while I go find the end of my future projects list...

True quilt love or insanity?

Last fall I went into one of my local quilt stores to browse. At least that's what I told my dear husband who chose to wait in the car. After all, I was only going to be a minute. (Surely he knows by now that quilt store time is different than standard time, right?) I was only a few steps in the door when the lights dimmed all around me except for this beam of light that shone down from what must have been the quilting heavens onto a quilt hanging across the room. I was immediately drawn to it. It was a Christmas quilt (my favorite holiday), depicting "The Night Before Christmas" ( a favorite all-time story), made completely out of the most yummy fabric collection (Moda's French General), and in delightful colors. I was in quilt love!

I was now a woman on a mission. I had to make this lovely quilt. I could already envision it hanging on my wall. I looked perfect! I asked the lovely sales lady about it. She said it was a kit done as a block of the month. Could this be any more perfect? But then she added, "...from last year. We don't have it any more. I don't think we even have the fabric."  My heart sank. How dare they leave such wonderfulness hanging on the wall to toy with my quilty emotions? They should have taken that thing down and locked it away so I never would have seen it. Quilt store cruelty, I tell you! Said sales lady should be banished to a dark corner to fold endless fat quarters of really ugly fabric.

But luckily another sales lady (we'll call her my quilt super hero) must have overheard my growl and swooped in to save the day. She quickly fumbled around under the counter and pulled out THE last pattern. I swear I heard angels sing. Then she floated around the room grabbing bolts of fabric, checking the pattern, grabbing more bolts, checking the pattern, grabbing more bolts, and finally lead me to a stack of fabric bolts at least four feet tall. She quickly pointed out that they had all but four of the original fabrics, but she had chosen alternates for each of them. Then she started cutting. And cutting and cutting. An hour later I had three big bags of fabric, a yummy pattern, and quilt love in my heart. True happiness!

Then life happened, (and other projects, of course.) So a few days ago I decided it was time to pull out the Christmas quilt and get this project under way. Then I really looked at the pattern. Applique. Lots and lots of applique. I don't mind applique so much. But for some reason I don't like to do anything the easy way. I'm not a fuse-it-down, machine-stitch-it kind of gal. I like to applique the old-fashioned way, needle-turn by hand. So I started tracing the pieces on freezer paper. I traced for three days. I used at least 9 square feet of freezer paper. Then it took me several more days to cut out all these little pieces.

Here's what I ended up with. There are at least 5 million little pieces. Except for those three big pieces you see in the upper-left corner. Aaahhhhh! What have I gotten myself into? Have I lost my mind? I vow before you now, I will have it done by Christmas (it just may not be of 2012!) You know it has to be true quilt love if I'm willing to take on all those little pieces! Time will tell if it is an everlasting love.