Tradition

A few of our Christmas traditions always seem to fall into place...like me sewing on Christmas Eve to finish last minute gifts (here is the link to the redwork for the snowman)...

And then...I always start a fun, new project. This years project was a super fun pattern--Piece of Cake by Camille. I used my Verna Layer cake (which I opened Christmas Eve)! This was the perfect pattern to use for this fabric--I love every print, and they all get their opportunity to "shine" in this pattern!

I love each and every block...and each and every color combination. Since the yardage won't be available 'till February...guess I have a couple of months to decide which pieces to order for borders, backing and binding!

I'll be sure to share this again when the quilt top is completed...but since I had some scraps...I kept sewing...

I made a couple of Rachel's friendship bags and a Tuffet!

Photo courtesy Kate Spain

Another fabric I'm dreaming of is...12 Days of Christmas by Kate Spain. It's not available until May...but the pictures on Kate's blog have me swooning already! In fact...I think I want to make each of my kids a Piece of Cake quilt from this fabric for Christmas next year!

Have a wonderful day...and best wishes for lots of happiness and creativity in 2010!

Still Busy Sewing...

I've been busy sewing...but as soon as I think I'm catching up...I think of more things I need to do. I'm starting to feel like whatever I finish...I finish...and that will have to be good enough. I did applique' my two Dresdens and even added borders to make two pillows. I'm hoping to keep one and use the other for a gift.

I decided I did need a table runner out of these fabrics (actually, I'm trying to get at least two of these finished for gifts before Christmas...just quilting and binding remains).

I used a new (for me) table runner pattern by Heather Mulder Peterson. This is the "Sweet Escape" runner from the cover of Heather's On the Run book. It was fast and fun to make, and requires only minimal yardage and 16 charm squares.

After putting these together I also realized that left-over jelly-roll strips could be used in place of the charms...so I'm sure I'll be making more of these in the future.

Some wonderful mail arrived last week...a wonderful brown paper package tied with...Verna from Moda designer Kate Spain!!! I can hardly wait for Christmas to open this!!!

Also, I won a giveaway from Vickie of Spun Sugar Quilts...and this Jelly Roll of Make Life by Sweetwater for Moda was my prize...I have a project in mind for this right after Christmas.

Some Schnibbly goodness arrived from Carrie...Two Bits, Madeline, Lincoln, Sunday Best, Roundabout, and Sweet Liberty Tuffets are new Schnibbles now available! It's very tempting to start on these now...but I. must. hold. strong. until. after. Christmas!!! A few Sweet Liberty Tuffets might get finished before Christmas...they're perfect stocking stuffers for sewing friends! Oh...and I must finish my January Schnibbles by the end of the year as well!

Well...I'm back to the sewing room...hope all of your holiday preparations are going well...and that you have the merriest of Christmases. Christmas and New Year's are always a time when I count my blessings...and I'm truly grateful for all the blessings I've received this year from all of you! I know I've said this before...but I just never realized what wonderful inspiration I would find when I began my little quilting blog. I intended to create a personal journal of my projects, and yet a whole world of quilt inspiration has been opened up through all of the amazing blog writers and readers. See you after Christmas!

Deeeaaar Santa...

(All Pictures from Fat Quarter Shop)

Did you hear....the wonderful folks over at the Fat Quarter Shop have an "in" with Santa...he's going to be reading the Jolly Jabber Blog! Word has it that Santa will be granting a few wishes that show up over there! I have to say, it's been a while since I've written to Santa, so this is going to be fun! So, Santa...here's a few things on my wishlist right now...

First on my list...a Simple Abundance Honey Bun...because I'm seriously hoarding my Simple Abundance stash...and this would look so cute in my sewing room!

Next, this new Layer Cake of Sent with Love...because I really don't have any Valentine's quilts...and Layer Cakes are my favorite Moda Pre-cuts (other than Fat Quarter Bundles, of course)!

Also...it would be so fun to have this Swell Nicey Jane bundle...so much spring in one little bundle.

And this Sewline kit would make the perfect stocking stuffer, don't you think?! Whew...that's quite a few things for Santa to choose from, don't you think? So...what do you want from Santa...head on over to the Jolly Jabber...you just might want to write a list today!

Dresden Dilemma

I thought it would be fun to make some Dresdens with some of my Christmas stash fabrics. At first I was going to make the Dresden Plate Table Runner by Kim over at the Moda Bake Shop. So, I used 3 3/4" dresdens with a three-inch center just as her pattern calls for. But then I saw this really cute Christmas pillow by Allison over at Cluck. Cluck. Sew. I can't decide which to make now...probably both...but if I use these dresdens for pillows I may not have time to get the runner finished before Christmas. Oh well...there's always next Christmas, right?

Another quilt is bound and washed...this one I was really nervous to wash.

I've never washed a quilt with applique' before...most of the applique'd quilts I make are wallhangings, and I've just never washed one. But I knew I wanted to use this quilt and was just a bit nervous as to what the applique'd blocks would do in the wash...I was pleasantly surprised!

I love the look of the applique'd blocks after they've been washed!

And, I finished a goal this weekend for Kelly's Charming Girls' Quilt Club!

My Cobblestones quilt top is finished. I really enjoyed making this little quilt...a lot of pieces, but so fun! And I loved using four different background fabrics for a scrappy look!

That's all for now...just ten quilting/sewing/stitching days before Christmas! Have a great day!

Been Binding!

I have so many projects to finish before Christmas...but it's just been so cozy to sit and bind quilts in the evenings now that cooler weather has arrived. I've finished the binding (all red bindings) on these three quilts since Friday.

I know I've shared my Cameos quilts before...but they weren't quilted then, and quilts just come to life after they're quilted.

Truly a classic design that looks well in so many fabrics. Darlene just finished hers in the Holly Jolly fabrics...you can see it here!

And here is the full view...I think the red binding just makes this quilt "pop."

Red was also the perfect frame for my Mill House Inn version.

I also had to share this wonderful package I received in the mail from Stephanie. Two wonderful Christmas fat quarters, a delightful pincushion (my first Christamas pincushion!) and a wonderful red spool! I love how Stephanie combined the linen with the Michael Miller Christmas fabric in the pincushion...and the pink button and rick rack add the perfect touch! Thank you Stephanie!

Have a wonderful day...I'm off to the sewing room!

December To-Do's!

Thanks so much for all of the wonderful comments on my Sew, Mama Sew giveaway post--465 comments in all! I really enjoyed reading about so many wonderful handmade gifts; however, it just wasn't possible for me to get out many responses. I used the random number generator for this one...as I usually do...and the winner of the pincushion and friendship bag is Lexiloo...e-mail me with your mailing info., and I'll send it out right away! Now on to my December goals for The Charming Girls' Quilt Club. I haven't finished my goals for two months now...(although I did have lots of other starts and finishes). So...first up is to start a quilt with the Sandi Henderson Meadowsweet fabrics in the first picture--I love these fabrics. I think I know what I'm going to make...if I can get this one cut out that will be good!

Next up, (and I have to finish this one by Wednesday) is to finish the binding on my Cameos quilt. It's not staying here at home, though...it's going to Quilted Works to hang as a store sample for the class I'll be teaching in March...I'm really looking forward to teaching this pattern!

Last month one of my goals was to piece the top of this Cobblestones quilt from the Fig Tree Club...

This is as far as I got...everything cut except the borders. Once again, finishing this quilt top is on my list of "to-do's!"

Oh, and I want to finish (including binding) this quilt from earlier in the year...it might be a gift, so this one needs to be finished before Christmas!

Finally, I had to share my Saturday project...and boy was this a project! I've had this quilt finished for quite a while and have been wanting to hang it up (sorry for the poor photo...it's really cloudy here today)! I decided if Carrie could put up a quilt on a Pottery Barn rod by herself, then I could. My experience was very much like hers...blogged about here (up and down the ladder with a trusty screwdriver...at least 15 times)! Now I know why the directions recommend two people install this rod. I decided to do this while the rest of the family was out...and so two hours and one very sore wrist and arm later...I was finally successful. Hoping to get a lot of sewing done this week...and hopefully lots of things checked off the list! Have a wonderful day!

Winners!!!--Edited to add more!

It's time to announce the Schnibbles parade winners--there were so many wonderful Picnic quilts in both parades!

Oh, before I forget...the pictures above are from Carrie's blog...there are actually two Tuffets patterns to choose from this month...the first Tuffets pattern and Carrie's new Schnibbles Tuffets pattern--Sweet Liberty Tuffets which will be available soon...you are welcome to use either pattern for your December projects!

And now, for our winners...Carrie has picked one winner from each parade...Simone from my parade and Jo from Sinta's--please e-mail Carrie with your addresses! Carrie's prize is a Tuffets pattern, a Sweet Liberty pattern, and a layer cake!

Trisha from my parade has won the $50 gift certificate from Fat Quarter Shop and Sandy M. has won a gift certificate from Cottage Quilts.

From Sinta's parade...Kelly has won a pattern and charm pack from Quilt Taffy, Cindy has won a gift certificate from Quilter's Paradise, and Heather has won a pattern and charm pack from The Quilt Shoppe!

Just added: We have three more winners to announce. Missouri Star Quilt Company has 3 charm packs of Snow Flower by Westminster Fabrics to give away...and they will go to Lisa from my parade, Rita (no blog) from my parade, and An Encourager from Sinta's parade! Head on over to Sinta's to see this great fabric!

Congratulations to all the winners...and a big thank you to Carrie and our featured shops!!! Have a wonderful day...and have fun with the Tuffets!

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day!

Today is Giveaway day over at Sew, Mama Sew...and I've decided to join in!

I will be giving away one pincushion along with a matching friendship bag...made from the wonderful Mill House Inn by Moda! Just leave a comment here answering this question...What is your favorite homemade Christmas gift you've ever received or given? Entries will stay open until December 6th...good luck! Head on over to Sew, Mama Sew to find out about all the other giveaways!

Have a great day--I'll be back with Schnibbles Parade winners!

Picnic Parade

What a parade we have today...so many fun versions of "Picnic" by Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie's Quilt Company to share! First...what I've been working on. A few pincushions...one in Swanky...

and several in Mill House Inn. But these aren't just any ordinary pincushions--have you guessed--we know this is a busy month...and so...the December Schnibble is Tuffets!!! We'll have a regular Schnibbles pattern for January...but figured everyone would have fun with this pattern for December. Make one or a few...in one line or out of several different lines...we can't wait to see what you do with this pattern. Oh, and Rachel's Friendship bags just happen to be the perfect size for a gift bag for a Tuffet...I've been making bags for each pincushion. (You don't have to make a matching Friendship bag for the January parade...it's just an idea if you're giving your Tuffet as a gift)! And now, on with the parade! Be sure to head over to Sinta's blog to see the rest of the quilts as well!

This gorgeous picnic comes from KJ Quilts!

And this Picnic is from Trish!

This picnic was made by Edith of the Little Red Hen blog.

This is a terrific Picnic done in fun bright fabrics by Lisa.

This Picnic was made with wonderful vintage fabrics by Marianne.

I love this Picnic done in reproduction fabrics by Sandy M.

Love, love this fall version by Mary.

And I love this Picnic by Sandy F. that was done with Portabello Market along with some Collections for a Cause Tradition mixed in!

Paulette (no blog) made this great version in Moda's Beach House!

This wonderful picnic was stitched by Robin...love the beautiful, bright colors!

This quilt comes to us from Lisa who used the Recess line by American Jane for Moda.

I love prairie points...Trisha had a terrific idea to add these!

And here is a photo of the whole quilt by Trisha.

This quilt is by Simone. She used the line "Have a Sheri Berry Holiday" by Sheri Berry designs.

Simone did some fussy cutting to use the bells for the corners, and the words to "Jingle Bells" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" can be found on the inner borders.

This quilt is Regena's. She used the line "Wash Tub Bears" by Karen Snyder.

This great version of Picnic is by Pam (no blog).

This wonderful red and white version of Picnic comes from Sandie.

This quilt is Rita's (no blog). She used The Morris Workshop line by Moda. Aren't they all wonderful?! This is so much fun each month. Well, thanks for coming to the parade...as usual, we'll be back tomorrow with the winners. Have fun making some "Tuffets!"