Ever made a quilt you hated??

I just finished this quilt last week, and I hated it.  When I found the pattern in Quilt Lovely by Jen Kingwell, I thought it was beautiful.  (I still like the pattern).  I decided to step out of my box and do it in brights.  The shop I bought the book from had one made up in brights and I thought it was nice.  They had a neutral jelly roll and a bright jelly roll put together for the pattern.  I bought one of each and got started on it.  I think using the jelly rolls was my problem.  The pieces had to be exactly 2 1/2 inches wide, some of the strips in the jelly roll were not that width, actually a lot of them weren't wide enough, but I tried to use them.  It was very frustrating.  I decided I had enough and left out three rows just to be done with it.  I didn't know what I was going to do with it, then I realized it was a friends birthday at school and I decided it was the perfect gift for her.  She loved it.  I would definitely make the pattern again, but would not use jelly rolls and would cut my own strips.  The book Quilt Lovely, has some great patterns in it.  Love Jen Kingwell.

Odds and Ends

I have been busy the last few days finishing up various odd projects and Christmas presents.  It is always my goal each year to be completely finished with my Christmas presents by Thanksgiving.  I was a little behind this year.  I still have one project to finish which won't take long.  I could have been finished put I had some orders for some of my wool pillow covers.  I started these several years ago, and have been lucky enough to sell several of them.  Today, I finished Jingle. It is made to fit a pillow form 12 x 22 that can be found at Hobby Lobby.  The pillow has an envelop back so it is easy to switch out.  This one was fun to make I put bells on each of the corners.  Now all that is left is to get it in the mail tomorrow. 

Two new table toppers

 I picked this table topper up from my friend Leisa last week, she did a great job quilting it.  I usually make big quilts, but my last few finishes have been much smaller.  I bought the kit for this table topper about 15 years ago at a quilter's garage sale.  I thought it had the pattern with it, however, it was just a photo and the fabric.  Luckily it was easy to figure out without the pattern.  I did make  a change, The holly leaves and berries should have been needle turned applique, but I decided to use wool.  I also added the rick rack on all four sides.  Love the way it turned out. 

This table topper was made from a pattern in a Country Threads charm square book from several years ago.  This is the second one I have made by this pattern.  I like it because it isn't overly Christmas, just wintery, and I can leave it out after Christmas.  I am slowly getting out all of my Christmas decorations.  Hope to have everything out by the end of the week.

It's beginning to look like Christmas

 I made my third wooly pine tree today.  This time I used an idea from  Wool Workers Magazine and used glue and glitter to add a snowy effect to the tips of the branches.  I used an old paint brush to brush glue along one edge of the wool strip.  I then added glitter, I love the glitter that I used, it is fromMichael's.  It is Reflections from the scrapbooking section.

After letting it dry, I then cut the strips to form the individual branches.  Most of the instructions I have found, say cut the strips at 1/4 inch intervals, I cut my much smaller than that. 

 Here are some of the branches before they are attached to the tree.

A close up of the snow.

Finished snow tipped tree.

Happy Thanksgiving

A little late in the day, but hope everyone had a safe and happy Thanksgiving.  Looking forward to Bonnie Hunters first clue tomorrow.

Wool Tree

I finished my white wooly pine tree yesterday, after having the kit for months.  The kit came with a wooden base, I found this cast iron one on etsy.  It is really for a feather tree, but it worked for the felted wool tree.  I have some vintage red ornaments to put on it, can't wait to see how it will look.  I had intended to make a wool tree skirt for it, but maybe next year.

 Today I finished this green wool y pine tree.  I could easily get addicted to making these.  I have some rusty bells to go on this one. 

Cookies for Thanksgiving, (yes, I was asked to bring cookies)

What Happened??

For some reason today, I decided that I would start blogging again.  I didn't realize that it was going to take me an hour to figure out how to get into my blog.  I had no idea so much had changed.  I finally think I am good to go, at least I am writing a post.  I have missed blogging, not sure why I stopped, just  didn't take the time to do it, but that is going to change.  I need to do something for me and I enjoy doing this.  I also miss keeping up with what everyone is doing.  Can't wait to see what is going on in blog land.  I am showing my  newest finish.  Lola and Olive from Fiberworks.  I love this method, the only sewing was the background panel, the rest is fused collage.  Love it, can't wait to start another one.

What happened to winter?

I know that I live in Atlanta, and don't expect a huge snowstorm  every year, but a little bit of winter would be nice.  All of my daffodils have already bloomed and our azealais are blooming now.  We had 70 degree weather in February.  The pollen is awful with doesn't help my allergies.  It is going to be a long spring.  On a better note I finally have both hands.  I got my splint off last week.  YEAH!!! I can sew again.

I  got this quilt back from Leisa my machine quilter and have been waiting to sew the binding on it.  I found this pattern on Pintrest several years ago and feel in love with it.  I didn't even realize at the time that I had the pattern.  The cover of the pattern shows it made up in blues and browns, not my favorite colors.  When I saw the red and brown version I started pulling all of those colors out of my stash and got busy.  Some of my points could be better but over all I am happy with it.

200 years of Fashion

Last Friday we were out of school for a snow day, it was also the perfect birthday present.  I had been wanting to visit the SCAD Museum of Fashion in Atlanta, there was a special exhibit covering 200 years of fashion.  It was fascinating.  I have read a lot about fashion through the ages and have always been fascinated by all of the different layers that women have had to wear.  I have also been fascinated by the "undergarments" that women had to wear.  I can't image the whalebone stays that women had to wear to make their waist appear smaller, that had to be just too painful.  My favorite period is the 1920's. Women were finally able to dress to suit themselves, no more painful stays, no layers of undergarments, and they could finally show a little bit of "leg".  If you are in the Atlanta area you should definitely check it out.

"At home" dresses from the 1840's.

1860's

1880's

1920's

1920's

1950's

1960's

So Blessed

Love this new BOM from 1894 Cottonwood House.  I have mine all prepped and ready to go. As soon as I am able I am going to start on this one.   1894 Cottonwood House is only offering the pattern, not a wool kit.  I am offering the pattern and a wool kit for 32.99 a month.  There is also an additional Valdani thread kit.  There are 12 blocks, each block features the cabin as it counts It's Blessings throughout the year.  This is a mystery quilt, so we  don't know exactly what it will look like.  If you are interested check it out Pig in a Blanket Wools.

Another BOM

Can't wait to get started on this new lovely BOM from 1894 Cottonwood House.  Just ordered the pattern, this is another one that I can get prepped and ready to go.

Going Crazy

Still have my hand in a splint, at least 4 more weeks.  I had no idea that it would bother me so much not to be able to sew or do any kind of hand work.  The one positive is that I have been doing a lot of reading.  I just started Glory Over Everything, this is the sequel to The Kitchen House.  I loved The Kitchen House and asked for this book for Christmas, so far it is not a disappointment, very good.

After drawing off and coloring my Crabapple Hill blocks I went on to prepping another project, Merry Christmas from Heart to Hand.  I have all of the wool pieces draw off and the flannel cut for the background blocks,  wish I could get started.  At least I will have several projects prepped and ready to go.

Section 2

Finished the first panel of Snow Parade now on to the second panel.  Can't wait to get this splint off and start stitching on some projects.

Finally

I finally found something that I can do.  I have been wanting to get started on Snow Parade by Crabapple Hill for a while.  This afternoon I decided I could probably trace off one of the sections and start coloring in shapes.  I finished tracing one panel and starting coloring it in.  Hope to finish this section tomorrow and get started on another one.  Hopefully, I can have all three sections done by the time my splint comes off and I can start doing the stitchery.

Death Star

No, I am not talking about Star Wars, but my own Christmas tree star.  The first year DH and I were married we bought the antique tree topper you see on the right.  It is metal, very old, and very heavy, and it has been on the top of our tree for the last 19 years.  This year was no different, I had just put the star on top;decided  to put the skirt under the tree before cleaning up and calling it a night, it was almost 9:00.  While putting the skirt under the tree, the star fell off and landed on my left hand.  The main point went almost all the way through my hand and was stuck in my hand.  I have to say it didn't hurt until I pulled it out.  That is when I screamed, although I don't know if it was so much from the pain or the blood that was squirting everywhere.  The point went into a vein.  The scream brought DH running.  We wrapped the skirt around my hand and ran to the kitchen.  DH then frantically went to look for the first aid kit, meanwhile I had passed out on the  kitchen floor.  He came back got me taped up and in the car heading to the emergency room.  There are some strange people at the emergency room at night!!  They stitched me up and put a splint on it, told me if I had any problems to see my doctor.  After taking the splint off three days later I realized I didn't have any feeling in my thumb and two fingers.  Went to my doctor on a Thursday, he said the star had probably nicked a nerve and I needed to have surgery.  The last day he was doing surgery for the year was the next day.  I went home in panic mode trying to get all of my presents wrapped and some baking done. Had surgery on the 19th, he found three pieces of metal embedded in the nerve.  Went home bandaged from finger tip to elbow and in a sling.  Not fun.  Finally got the huge bandage off and it has been replaced with a huge brace that I have to wear for 8 weeks.  Luckily I am able  to take it off to shower and do my hand exercises.  This has seriously cut into my nightly stitching and knitting.  I don't know what to do with myself.  I am getting in a lot of reading.  And no, the star is never going back on top of the tree!!!!