My Christmas Tree--YEE HAW!

Just a short post to show you my Texas Christmas Tree! 

HO-HO-HO!

ANOTHER CHRISTMAS POSTING!

COMING SOON--THE LAST SUNBONNET SUE POST THAT INCLUDES THE CHRISTMAS BLOCK AND THE PIC OF THE ENTIRE QUILT.  I AM SO SORRY THAT I FORGOT!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!
Another post before Christmas!!  And I even changed to a Christmasy background!  A little late, but to tell you the truth I have been having a little trouble getting into the spirit this year.  Maybe I have it now or maybe I just found a little extra time when I had a little extra energy.  Those two together are when I get things done and this seems to happen less ad less the older I get.
I am still working on the BOMS, and I hope you will come back by in January as that is when I plan to begin the pattern giveaway.  I am hoping this will be a fun year for Molly's Place.  I have to warn you that I may not be able to keep up with the once a month deadline, but I will truly try.  If I can't, I will eventually "getrdone".  I know that most of you are procratanaters like me, so you can save it to your computer whenever I crank it out.  I am hoping that an elf will contact me and teach me how to do a button so that it can be placed on blogs to promote my BOM.  We will see just how REAL Santa is. hehehehe
I am posting for your enjoyment, a few Christmas quilts that I have made through the years. 

The pattern for this one was in a magazine one year and is paper pieced.  I believe it was McCalls, but I may be mistaken.  I made this for my mother one Christmas and she loved it so much that she kept it hung all year round.

This tiny quilt was a kit from a can and is Thimbleberries by Lynette Jennings.  I loved making it and enjoy using it every Christmas.  It makes me smile.  It is about 12" x 12".

This quilt I did not make, but bought at a guild sale.  I do not know the maker, but the blocks are about 2"  and it is hand quilted.  A very special quilt in my home at Christmastime.

This is a block from my Christmas quilt.  If you don't know the quilt I am referring to, you can go HERE to see it.  I thought I would show close ups of a few of the blocks.  It is made with orphan blocks.  You ask me how come they all see to go together so nicely?  Well--I guess everything I do is the same color and style!   That is my only explanation----~~~  This was a fun block and very simple.

I honestly don't remember where the pattern for this block came from.  I do know that I love it!  It's as though someone has caught Santa as he is filling the stockings or placing toys beneath the tree.  He looks surprised, doesn't he?

This is a folded fabric flower technique that I tried one time.  Lots of fun and would make a beautiful quilt with all the blocks being the flowers with the stems and leaves different ways.  I also love the button center.  I am a button gal!

I don't know if I wIll get another post done before Christmas, so have the happiest one ever.  My son is about to move into his new home so we are very very busy.  My youngest grandson's grandma has been sick so I have been baby sitting him some and that has taken alot of my time also, so Christmas has been put on the side burner, so to speak.  It will get here whether I am ready or not, just like in Whoville!  God bless you EVERYONE!!!

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. 

FRYER RANCH OPEN HOUSE

WELCOME--PLEASE COME IN!! I AM SO GLAD THAT YOU COULD STOP BY! Please put your coat and hat on the hall tree.



Oh, you like the side board? It belonged to DH's Great Grandmother and Grandfather.

Sorry, no fire tonight. You know this Texas weather--always warm--even in the winter. Why do we HAVE a fireplace? Well, I guess we are just wishing. No, really, we do have cold weather at times in the winter. Some winters are colder than others. We are lucky to see snow in a lifetime.
(Notice my embroidery basket in front of the hearth)

I finally have a Texas tree this year. Previous trees have been full of ornaments that have been gathered year to year. Ornaments given to us by parents, ones the children made at school, or some I made and others given by friends. You know the drill. This year we have a theme tree--all TEXAS. The topper is a Cowboy Hat. One of the bears underneath is perched on an antique chair that belonged to my dad's little sister. Probably from the 1940s or before. Not really sure. The santa is made from an old quilt by my mother. It is one of my prized possessions.


Finally, I must show off Floyd. Floyd is my husbands trophy Elk. He came to live with us a few months ago. This is the only place in our house that he would fit. I am sure that there are many of you out there that have a simlar prize (Problem).

I want to give you a link to Martha Stewarts Christmas Cookie Video.

There are two parts and you must watch both. It is too late for me to gather the supplies to do this this year, but I intend to plan this for next year and I thought you might also. The darling cookie cutter comes from Macy's. On sale right now! The video discribes gadgets and tips to make these cookies a breeze. You know what--I think that there is as much improvement in cookie making as there is in quilting. They are not nearly as hard as they look! The secret is in the type of icing and the way it is put on--plus letting each color dry before starting on another. Leave it to Martha!

Oh, you have to go so soon? I was just about to offer you a hot Cranberry Wassil! Well, I hope you will come back really soon. Don't wait until NEXT Christmas. You drop by and visit anytime. Bye-Bye! AND A VERY MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS!

Oh, by the way--I usually have a "little something" for each guest that stops by during the season. All the guests that leave a comment will have a chance to win a wool pincusion made by me. The drawing will be after New years Day.

Cullen's Christmas Stocking

My second grandson will be born on December 16th. The doctor has decided to induce labor as soon as the baby is term because of an ovarian cyst. I spent the day making him a Christmas stocking. The rest of the family have boot stockings already in place for Santa to fill on Christmas morning. This Christmas boot will adorn the hospital room door announcing the birth of our newest little cowboy.

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

I am still in "cleaning mode". I have been need to clean and weed out for such a long time. It is ridiculous how much "stuff" I have accumulated over the 24 years we have lived in our house. Yesterday was the linen closet and another hall closet and a closet in our bedroom. Today is my cedar chest. All "keepsakes are going to be in one spot. I took 4 trash bags off yesterday.

I was not going to post today, but in my cleaning, I came across this poem written in 1988 by my mom, my sister, and me one week before Christmas. All the friends who know me know that I write poems frequently. Now you know why. My family has been doing this for years. I thought it was so appropriate for a quilting blog. I hope you enjoy it.

IT'S THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS

1988

It's the week before Christmas

Crafting time is no more;

And quilt scraps are scattered

All over the floor.

Troy's lap quilt is ready

To put on the lining

Now why won't it fit?

And Miss Kitty's still whining.

I've got to get busy

And plan every minute,

but first I need aspirin

Before I begin it!!

My nose is all stuffy;

My head is still aching.

The timer is ringing---

(My cookies are baking.)

This quilt won't be easy, But I've got it to do

There'll be no excuses, Not even the flu.

I'd like to have ready Some spiced tea and fruitcake

For friends who drop in,

A short visit to make.

Am I doing so much to meet MY

expectations--

(Could Christmas be Christmas

Without Decorations?)

My collection of angels on the mantel are kissing;

Slow down and admire them--

There's so much I'm missing!

Will all of my efforts,

My planning, my stitches,

Bring our celebration

Without any hitches?

I should pause from my rushing,

Relax and forget

That there's so much to finish

And deadlines to be met.

To seasonal sounds I'll take time to listen,

To watch the lights twinkle,

And the ornaments glisten.

If the chores aren't completed,

Now who'll take the rap?

I'll decide when I wake

From my long winter's nap!!