Christmas Quilt

Christmas time is officially here.  It's a time to spend with family, friends, go caroling, special times at church reflecting what Christmas is all about.  All the colors that you see in stores, homes, churches,  lights on houses, lights on the Christmas trees in the windows. 

I want to tell you about the Christmas quilt I made several years ago.   You’ve heard me talk about our shop hops we have around here with all the quilt shops in October.  Now let me tell you this kit sat in my sewing closet for a long time, meaning a few years, before I decided it was time to start on it.  I’m not sure what year the shop hop was, think it was 2006.  They always have one specific material that all these 12 quilt shops use in there blocks.  Then each shop creates a quilt using each of the shops blocks.  This particular year I choose the finishing kit from the store, Quilting Bee.  This quilt really appealed to me because it really did say “Christmas” to me and the real reason for Christmas, Manager scene.  Each shop had a kit you could buy for their block plus their pattern.  So as you can see I purchased each of the 12 blocks.  I used the one block for the center that looked like a star.  On the bottom I choose to have machine embroidered “Oh Holy Night” in gold thread.  The Manager scene I choose to do appliqueing with machine embroidering around each piece. The quilter used a special gold metallic thread to create rays from the star above down on the manager scene.  

For several years it hung in the entrance at the church during Advent.  I had quite a few compliments on this quilt and also on the quilting.  I can say I am very proud of this quilt and glad I invested in the finishing kit and pattern and the time to finish it.  Some day one of my children might hang it in there house and enjoy it as much as I do.

Christmas Wishes:  Hoping your Christmas brings all your favorite things and a Great 2013, Happy New Year to all.
Connie

A Different Post - Awesome Woodcarving!

It’s Christmas time and I’d like to tell you about another hobby I find fascinating!  I took a trip over the weekend to Ark City, Ks which is about 1 ½ hours from where I live to my cousins house, Carolea.  You might remember this is the cousin that did the chicken quilt, needle turned that I talked about in an earlier post. 

Carolea is very talented in a lot of areas. Another one of her hobbies is woodcarving.  It’s always interesting to visit her because she always has a new project or projects going on.  Christmas time is here and now there are Santa s, snowmen, different types of puzzles, wooden thread spools with Santa faces , misc all over her house.  Now I want to talk about these puzzles that she carves.  She makes different kinds, Nativity, Native Nativity, snowmen, dragons (latest one) and then she has a manger scene with a turtle.  She has written a child's book on this turtle visiting the manager scene.  It is the cutest story.  The puzzle pieces are stored inside this box which looks like a stable, barn or whatever you want it to be.  Inside the box are wood burning details.  Each are different to go with whatever the puzzle is.   All of them are so cute it's hard to pick just one favorite!

Santa Puzzle

She does have a website www.puzzlesinabox.com.  Check it out!  Maybe you know someone that wood carves and a pattern would be a perfect gift.  Or do you have a son that loves to widdle and maybe this would encourage him to continue with this hobby.  She has written several articles on how to and pictures showing steps in the “Scroll saw Woodworking & Crafts" Magazine,  which Holiday 2012 edition has her latest puzzle in it.  Again checkout her website I think you’ll be amazed at her workmanship.



I know this isn’t about quilting but once in a while I have to take a break and talk about something else I really enjoy.  I hope you enjoyed something different with this post!

not finished - pieces need painted

Well Christmas is getting closer.  If you're making gifts keep sewing!  If you aren't making gifts try something new, a new technique, just learn to sew, take a class, etc.  

Till next time............
Connie