It's Starting to Feel Like Christmas Here

Hi Everyone, I have missed everyone so much.  Is Christmas coming together at your house?  I got out my treasured Santa I made many years ago. We put up the Christmas tree yesterday and our daughter came over with wrapped presents to put under it.   Her Golden Retriever, Hudson, was so cute, and I didn't take any pictures of him.  He loves all the fluffy Christmas stockings and handmade stuffed items.  He helped himself to a handmade reindeer ornament and claimed it as his.  Even growled if you got to close to his treasure.  He flipped a few hats around and bunted the the snowman door decoration to make the bells jingle.  He just seems to know when the tree and lights go up it means good times and lots of treats.

Here he is in his favorite spot in my sewing room catching a little nap or maybe his tummy just feels too full.  Do you like my quilt display rack?  I saw this on the Internet somewhere.  Rods were placed under the table top on 1 or 2 sides and you hang quilts or tops.  It also hides all the storage totes under the table.

Backtracking a bit, the Craft Show I went to in November was really great.  I sold quite a bit and one of my bigger quilts, actually, a sofa or bed topper done in blacks and taupes.  The day went by quickly but boy was I wiped by the time I got home.  It took a few days rest to get moving again.  Here is a snap of my booth at the end of the day.

I am feeling very much in the Christmas mood.  I started this little bed topper to keep toes warm.  I saw this in Connecting Threads and they used their rose manor prints but I didn't have time to order the kit.  Anyway, why do I need to buy new material for every project...just go check out those 6 or 700 2 1/2" squares we cut out of scraps.  The main part is together and I am working on the two borders consisting of holly and a nice bow.  I am happy with how it came together so well and a great practice session of sewing accurate 2 1/2" squares together!

The binding will be done in the blue striped print.  It's been quite some time since I have done any applique.

Well I am off to work some more on these holly leaves.   I am going to link this to Leah Days FMQuilting.  Have a great week.
 

Big Giveaway at Contemporary Cloth

Contemporary Cloth is having a big Sale for all day Monday and three giveaways.  Here's a link if you are interested. http://blog.contemporarycloth.com/giveaway-free-shipping-20-off-orders/

Moving Slowly Along

My new hip is just amazing and there is no longer any pain.  This hip feels like it has belonged to me forever, not just one month.

I am registered for a Home Base Business and Craft Fair November 24 here in Swift Current.  At last count there are 83 booths so it should be a wonderful show.  It is quite some time since there was a local Christmas Show of this size and I think the public will be pleasantly pleased with the different booths.  Please join us if you are in our area.  Location is the Stockade, in the Exhibition Grounds from 10-5.  A one day show only.

I am up to my eyeballs in sewing.  I will give you a sneak peek in a few more days.  My stamina is still a little low but things are starting to come together.  Sorry I am so slow getting pictures up but will have some new surprises soon.

Thank you to those of you who have been checking in on me and I hope you are enjoying some more sewing time.  My thoughts have also been with each and every one of you affected by Storm Sandy.  I hope each day brings better times.

Back In Gear

It has been a bit more than a week of recovery and I thank all of you that check in for new updates.  You are such an important part of my quilting ventures.  It is quite an amazing process of getting an artificial hip...3 weeks today....I have absolutely no pain of any kind and just have weakness in that leg.  I am already getting around in the house nicely with a cane.  I am faithful to my exercises as they say they help reduce the pain and strengthen the leg.

I haven't done very much sewing as I couldn't sit for very long and it takes time to get all those drugs out of your system.  I had the hardest time last week to make a pinwheel...just couldn't get the thought process right.  That is all cleared away now.  I do not do much  in seasonal themes but I did do a couple "Hint of Christmas" pot holders.  They still need a bit of quilting to finish them off.  I love the little sign "work for freezer space"! 

I am booked in for a Home Base Business Trade and Craft Show on November 24th.  I paid my fees but wasn't totally convinced I could be ready for this but I am doing really well so I am getting excited.  We have moved to a larger venue and it is only a 1 day event so I am anticipating a larger turnout.
I am putting together a child's quilt from a panel I had.  I am calling it tossed alphabet.  Here I am laying it out for a preview and I am pleased how well everything is fitting together.  I thought I would add squares of the pinwheel fabric set on point across the top and bottom of the banner.  I think I should expand that green outside border to maybe 3".  That striped will be the binding done on the bias.  Any thoughts you might have as to this layout are certainly welcomed.

The original panel was finished with a blue border...do any of you think I should go that route?
Please feel free to leave suggestions and comments that will help me improve on my project...I love to hear from you.

I am linking this post to Freemotion Quilting by the River.
 

Catching Up

Thanks all you readers and followers who have dropped  by over the past couple of weeks.  I just need to catch everyone up on what's happening on my sight.

This past Monday, October 1, I had a complete hip replacement and got home today.  I am feeling very well and I am getting around good, with the aid of a walker and not much pain.  I had a phone call for my surgery two weeks ago, so to make it brief I was in a whirlwind getting ready.  I need to rest for a week and then maybe I can get back to doing some sewing.  I want to wish everyone here a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.

UFO Update

I haven't had a post this week because I have been very busy with garden produce and quilting, but it has been a fun week.  My new UFO sofa topper has had a lot of work done.  I did some rippping of FMQ, don't you just hate doing that but it had to be.  My color of thread that looks stunning on the black, didn't show at all on the greys so I ripped out the quilting and used a navy and all is well now.

I did some pine boughs in one square and when I was done, I realized I had just done thread painting and it was fun and looks great.  I have never tried thread painting and didn't practice this but I am not going to be over confident as the next time I try to do it, it will be a big flop.  Just a lucky day!  Here is a close up of the stitching.

 

My bare tree on the right is upside down and this was one of the blocks I had to redo.  I must thank those of you that left comments and suggestions.  I used each one and I am so pleased with how it is coming together.  Leah's UFO posts are just so great and I have never before had such responsive support.  Now, I am going to see what everyone else is up to this week.

UFO Drawings

I certainly appreciate all the feedback I received today and tonight I have done some drawing.  I made an exact size block and have drawn some leaves, etc. on it.  Those 2 blocks "square in a square" are the ones giving me problems.

Sorry it turned sideways.  The leaf vine is my border up each side.  I seem to loose the maple  and oak leaf every time I put something around them. The center squares aren't very big.  So I tried this:

I ignored the center square and filled the bigger square with a leaf.  I was also wondering about replacing the fern with either a dead tree or a pine tree.  What do you think?  I could maybe find a stitch to fill the maple and oak leaf similar to what I did with the plain leaf.  I appreciate any feedback you wish to offer.