Mysterious Christmas

I was lucky last year to join a yahoo group that
had a wonderful mystery about 2 weeks before Christmas. I have done mysteries before and it was perfect timing...I needed to do something that was for me downtime away from it all. What better way than with a mystery quilt.

I didn't know what design I was going to be making but I must say that everyone's enthusiams snared me in. I picked my fabric and waited patiently for the first clue.. it was almost like lying in bed at Christmas eve for the footsteps to fall on the roof and Santa would be there with your gifts.. all those packages with mysterious things... the element of surprise!!
It was a perfect gift...for me...something I didn't know was going to happen until the last clue was unwrapped!!

I started with piecing the big spiral pieces and then the little pinwheels and then the unveiling of those wonderful bows the designer really had us in mind when she made this design... at the end this was the final gift all together. I added the last part of the boarder to finish these peperment swirls... then viola.. this was my first Christmas quilt!! The first one and I had been quilting for almost 17 years...

This lady now has the pattern on sale on her site and it is so worth it.. or if you click on the title above you can join in the mystery she will be starting in the new year.

This is Christmas to me a mystery of events that lead up to the day of Birth...

I hope all of you have a Wonderful Happy Holiday with Great friends and Family. I am so looking forward to 2009 when can share all our quilty finds/remedies/gifts and stitch till our hearts content.

catch up time!

Well I have been busy gettting things ready for the fall. I will be teaching the Christmas tree skirt which I finally have it how I wanted it with the scallop edging.
The class will be at Cockadoodle quilts you will see the link at the side.



Secondly I am trying to get my sample ready for January for the Piece of Cake Aunt Millie' Garden. They didn't put in the instructions how they do the center part with the circle so I pieced it together by hand and then hand appliqued it to the middle then I visited their blog and sure enough they had the process they had used.
http://pieceocakeblog.blogspot.com. You can click on the title and the link will come up... their method was to applique every other wedge onto a 6" piece then applique to the block. I will have to try that way so that I can give the students that option.

I still have to put a few leaves on and also the very center little circle but I had to show you.. of course. I have started the second block and have all the stems done and will be appliquing tulips soon.

My advise is try a little applique if you haven't already you would be amazed on how relaxing it is.. take a class so that you can learn the basic's and just practice a little. It will open a whole new world... I love to piece as well but an applique boarder really dresses up a pieced quilt!!

Deb

Christmas in July the Rage

I hope you all enjoyed Canada/Independence Day and that your first week back to routine was productive. I myself was able to finish the Signature quilt and also the tree skirt is pieced.. now to convince myself I can machine quilt this!!
I don't know why but I can't convince myself that I can machine quilt.. but each project brings me closer to the realization.. I just don't have time to hand quilt as I used to.. ladies with children I have no idea how you do it. You can see it is another stack and whack but it is so great for all occasions.
I taught a class on Saturday and got a wonderful call from one of the students on how they all had a wonderful time there were 6 ladies and 5 of them were a group of friends... they were great and made the other person that signed up just as welcome. The lady that called at the beginning of the class said "I can't work with bias triangles" and was intimitated... well when she called me she was one of the first to have her blocks completed and is thinking of another one to make when she goes to the cottage.
I felt very proud that someone that was so intimitated can go home and continue independantly the tips and techniques she learned help her conquer her fears. I have another session with them on Sept 15th I will post the pics of what they have accomplished. All of the ladies picked the perfect fabric.

Well running to work.. it is going to be very, very hot here today. Swimming is on my mind when I get home tonight.

Deb