Mom's Christmas Ornaments and BOM Thoughts.

I have so much I want to post about--I should post more often instead of trying to put it all in one post, but here goes anyway.  The following pictures are Christmas ornaments made by my mother.  As most of you know, she is now 83 years old and has Alzheimers.  She has always made Christmas special for my sister and I.  My dad grew up very poor and never had much Christmas, so she had to basically teach him the joys of Christmas too.  These are homemade ornaments that she made in the 1980s.  She made enough for everyone in the family to have a set. 

This is an angel ornament that belonged to a set that decorated our tree as long as I can remember.  The head is china and the body and wings are wire stretched with a sheer see through fabric like batist.  The arms are pipe cleaner like with a bead on the end.

              This is a Victorian style crazy quilt stocking with hand embroidery.

This Old World Santa quilt measures approximately 16 x 16 inches and is machine applique.  It also was made in the 1980s.

This is a book that my mom got for Christmas as a child.  It is a shaped book about 6 x 6 inches.  Inside is a poem intitled Annie and Willie's Prayer.

You can go here to hear the poem.  Mom read this poem to us each Christmas until she got sick.

I am still in dilema about a block of the month for 2010.  I have tried three and am not happy with any of them.

Of course you have seen the Texas Boot BOM for January.  I still have not done enough embroidery on it.

This is the pattern for February in the drafting stage.  Just a sneak peek of possibly nothing! LOL

This is a BOM that I worked on at the end of last year.  The trouble with it is the pattern is drafted where you make two blocks at a time and if you did n't make all the blocks alike, you would only be able to use 1/2 your blocks in one quilt but have enough for one to give a way as a gift!  I am thinking that each month you would use holiday or season appropriate fabrics.

Two of my test blocks-----I wanted to use wool for the contents of the baskets as it is so easy to work with and looks so dimensional.

An angel pattern that could easily be adapted to themes for a BOM with the clothes being different each month and the item she is holding being different.

Then there is my Christmas Tree idea.  I embroidered this tree.  I thought if I embroidered a different tree each month (color, shape, size, decorations different), it would make a fun BOM and then the following December you would have blocks for a new Christmas Quilt.

This is a drafted pattern for another month's tree.

I guess you can see why I am so confused about a BOM.  If you see anything you think is BOM worthy, please say so.  I may just post patterns as I think someone would like to have them for free and then ask if you take them to please leave a comment and post on your blog so that I can see them.  That would be fun.  Thanks for listening to me ramble. 

A TISKET, A TASKET, A NOVEMBER BUNNY HILL BASKET!

I don't know why I can't get started and then when I get started, I can't stop!  I stitched the whole block last night after procrastinating about starting it for about 2 weeks.  I had the whole thing ready for stitching that long before I got to it!?
Why is that?  After I start, it is like one stitch leads to another and if I stop I will forget where to go from here!  It was all working last night-------so---------------------------------------------I stayed up until 2 am.  Sid was working nights and Clark was gone to the hunting lease and it was just me and my needle and thread.  I had a blast and I know some of you just don't get it, but it is just my thang!! LOL
Here is the finished November block.  I am so sorry that next month is the finale.  I will not have a special basket block to look forward to each month.  I will have to search out another one but I doubt that it will be as enjoyable to me as this one has been.  Don't forget to visit Flickr group to see all the many versions of the same block-- each as different as children are different.
I wish each of you a project next year that you love as much as I have loved this one.-------m

Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!!!

A few posts ago, I reported that I had been prompted to be a pattern tester for Marsha McCloskey and her new book on Feathered Stars.  That I did and worked on it during retreat at Alford Inn.  This was my report to Marsha in the form of an email:
Marsha, Marsha, Marsha--this is what I have been muttering under my breath for the last two days. LOL Also I have begun to drool uncontrolably, I have a twitch in my left eye and all I can seem to say is 1 9/16th---1 9/16th---1 9/16th.

I am just kidding. I have been working on my Feathered Star Block for the last two days at a quilting retreat in Van Alstyne, Texas. It is in an 1880 home with an inhouse Quilt Shop and have really enjoyed myself. I have attached a picture of my block.
I did not find any measurement mistakes anywhere. There is a typo error on the page starting Star Points: Paralleograms---7th line from the top--in () included should by including.
I had trouble rotary cutting the Paralleograms, but have to admit that I didn't read your instructions before hand, thinking that I already knew how to do it. I didn't. It is so important to read instructions. I suggest you put this plainly at the beginning of your book in bold letters! LOL
I did not have a ruler with 1/16 measurements. This was a real problem. I rotary cut the pieces then used the templates to measure them. This worked great. I seemed to be right on, and the block sewed together just fine. I think it would be a great idea to put a sticker on the front of the book suggesting that the quilter purchasing the book buy your new ruler and the point trimmer. They are not a MUST, but a really big HELP! I started to order them and wait until I got them to make the block, but my retreat was really a perfect time to get all of the testing done, so I didn't.
On the diagram/chart page beginning with Feather Star with 25 Patch Center. There are two pieces in the block labeled with S4. A square listed in the chart is S4 and in the Bias-strip Piecing box the 1 9/16 inch x 1 9/16th inch half square is also S4. I suggest you change the letter/number of the half square in the box and on the star diagram.
One more little thing I will mention is that I marked the placement (P1 and RP1) of the paralleograms all the way around the star diagram just to keep me from gettin confused and making a mistake. Also where the pieces looked like they were the same, but are not. You may not want to change this, thinking ones who need this done can do it themselves.
I did not trim the pieces as I did not have a point turner.
Thanks for this opportunity. If I can help you in any other way, please let me know.
Molly

I received Mrs. McCloskey's newsletter and she now has pics up of most of the blocks that were tested.  Mine is included!  Go visit take a look at all the beautiful blocks.  The name of the book is "RIGHT ON"  Feathered Star Quilt Blocks II, The Best of the Grid Based Stars. More Really Hard Blocks that Take a Long Time to Make.

Go HERE to see my block on her site.  It is called a

Feather Star

or click the title of this post for the page where all the blocks are listed.  Enjoy and don't be afraid to tackle a Feathered Star.  They have a bad rap.  They are doable.  If you can stitch with 1/4 in seam consistantly, you can make any block.  Later Gators.

Until Next Time---Molly

What's Up, Anyway!!

An update on progress. --Last weekend was a quilting weekend where I gathered with friends and sewed until my shoulders ached more than usual!!  My sides also ached from laughing so hard.  You've been there--you know what I mean!!
My antique reproduction quilt blocks got put together and a Flying Geese border put on.  I got into the mode of making Flying Geese and just went with it.  I was chugging along really good and decided to put some together and see how many more I needed.  Guess what?  I had enough for all 4 sides with some left over--how may more, you ask?   76 MORE!!  This cannot be! (Yes, this is one reason for the laughing). Yes, I will be adding more flying Geese to this quilt simply because they are made!!  Have you ever done this before? 
Here is the quilt as it is on my design wall awaiting a little more designing.  The corners must be made and attached.  I am thinking of adding some more stars to the corners or plain ones to show off some fantastic quilting, but definately more Flying Geese.  DEFINATELY!

Another accomplishment is a pincushion caddy.  Darling, huh?  My friend, Kathy and I each made one of these, hers completely different from mine using brighter fabrics.  Go over to Humble Quilter and hopefully talk her into showing it to you!

I am baby sitting today, but at naptime, I started my November Bunny Hill, A Tiskit, A Tasket block.  I love getting along this far with block because then "The Stitching Begins".  Love, Love, Love that part!  Better Go,  the baby is awake and needs his lunch.  More from the retreat later into the weekend.  This is just a preview.

AND THE WINNER IS!!!!

OK KIDS--the time has come to reveal the winner of my McCall's Magazine Subscription Give Away.  I know I am late in the day getting to it, but hey, sometimes life just gets in the way.  You know how it is.  Forgive me for making you wait and wonder.

This is the October issue of McCalls.  As you can see it is just packed full of wonderful quilty info and pics of great quilts.
I really do hate that there can only be one winner.  I have never received so many wonderful comments from so many wonderful visitors.  Of course most of you were sent here from somewhere else, but hopefully now that you have found me, you will return.  If you like me for me, please Follow Me, if you haven't already.

I wish all of you could win.  I have been trying to think about something I could give each of you.  I have plenty of beautiful Bell and Jalapeno Peppers.  But I couldn't mail those out now could I?
I did decide on a small gift that some of you might like.  With the Halloween season just on hand, how about some designs that you could use for a quick and easy Halloween project?  I spent a little time this evening sketching out these fun pumpkins and wording to go with them.  Maybe  they could be used for applique or embroidery.

Now on to the annoucement.  The winner for this years McCall's Quilting Magazine Subscription is----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cathy M  -the Never Finish Quilter .  Go to her blog and visit.  I am sure she will be blogging about her win.  Cathy--we are all going to be visiting you and encouraging you to finish you quilts.  You are not going to want to disappoint your readers, so you might have to change the name of your blog!!!!  Anyway, girl, you now have a years subscription of McCalls to give you inspiration!!

CONGRATULATIONS CATHY!!! 

McCall's Magazine Subscription Give-away!

winner will be announced on Sunday, October 25, 2009.  Comments will be taken until Saturday night at midnight.  THANKS

Bunny Hill Block of the Month #10--OCTOBER

See bottom of
post or click sidebar button for Magazine Give away info.

Nothing like a little applique block to do during the appropriate month to put you in the mood. My favorite little darling too, Sunbonnet Sue! This is Anne Sutton's Free Block of the Month (for those few who do not know)! See the button on my sidebar. It will take you straight there!! Also see all my blocks in a sidebar slide-show! I have so enjoyed these blocks. I have changed a few of them a little to make me a little happier, but I give Anne all the credit. She is very very creative. Go Here to see my block on Flickr along with the rest of my set. Also see over 300 participant's blocks and the diversity of them. It's fantastic. Anne introduced me to Cosmo's Embroidery Thread this month. A sale on her site encouraged me to try it. It is fantastic. It goes through the fabric like butter. It works up quickly and smoothly. I'm just saying...........
You might want to stop by and C h e c k i t o u t!

I am encouraging you to go HERE and comment for a chance to win a year's subscription to McCall's Quilting Magazine. Yes, it's true!! All you have to do is comment for a chance to win or a little more for 2 or 3 chances to win. I want my visitors back. I have not been posting as regular lately, but than is about to change. I want everyone to get back to visiting my blog. You are all very special!!!