Christmas Through the Year for February

I finished putting the last stitch in these Christmas placements just in time for the Christmas Through the Year challenge. 


These are simple little placemats, easy to put together, and look good in any fabric choice. They were  made from my old Christmas stash; some nice fabrics, some not so nice, but when mixed together they work. I had an extra yard of the one fabrics used in the placemats, so I cut four napkins and surged the edges.


This is the same pattern that I posted last week, along with the tutorial, except I used 4" strips of yardage rather than charm squares.  If you want to use yardage you will need eight 4" strips by wof, or you could just cut 80 4" scraps.  You can see my Sew Charming Placemats and tutorial here .

Sew Charming Placemats

Another Christmas present finished; I am going to be so ready this year---------I hope. 

If you would like to get a head start on your Christmas projects just go on over to Quilting Daze or Polka Dots and Rick Rack.  Nothing to join, just make one Christmas project a month and post a picture to Quilting Daze on the last day of the month.  Several times a month Cheryl at Polka Dots and Rick Rack post ideas and tutorials for Christmas sewing.

Did I hear Jingle Bells or was that the Easter Bunny?

Enjoy all the pieces of your life,

Little Logs Mini Quilt

The other day I was at the machine and looked at my design wall with four mini quilts waiting to be hand quilted. I just can't quilt them fast enough, so I decided it was high time I just get busy and machine quilt.

This mini quilt called Little Logs was basted and ready to hand quilt---------in the machine she went and an hour or so later----finished.

This is probably the way I am going to quilt if I want quilts instead of little quilt tops.

I'll be linking to Little Quilt Mondays ,  Manic Mondays and Patchwork Times.

Enjoy all the pieces of your life,

Bear Creek Quilt Show

Last weekend Bear Creek Quilt Guild held it's quilt show in the new Conference Center of Hurst.  A well laid out venue that was just perfect for our quilt show.  There was plenty of  room to show the more than 300 quilts and room for 30 vendors.

The show itself was the culmination of two years of hard work by the many members that pulled it all together.  Saturday it rained cat and dogs but with the parking garage connected to the Center, no one had to open their umbrella to enter the show.  Needless to say it was a hugh success.

Because my son and his wife were out of town and hubby and I had the boys for four days, I was not able to spend too much time at the show.  I was there Thursday to help set up and then on Friday to work at the Silent Auction table and then an hour to tour the show.  I hurriedly took a few pictures.

Best of Show
Kayleen Allen
This was so beautiful, it just took your breath away.

Marvelous applique

This quilt made you long for the fall season.

Our own Carolyn Palone made this beauty and also won the award for hand quilting.   

This was an amazing miniature, maybe you can enlarge the picture and
see all the many little pieces that make up the star points.  Beautiful work by JoAnne Sheppard.

This was a beautiful but I couldn't get a good picture..
It was made by one of the guild members.

Linda of Sew It Up
Bought some fabric and handles for a cute bag that Linda designed
Also the apron pattern that Linda is wearing.
Linda, Kayleen, and Janice are all active in this shop and members of the guild.

Tara and friends of Bernina Sewing Center, all members of the guild..
Where's Tara?
Thank you Tara for the milk glass hen on nest.

 There was no sewing going on while I had the boys, my room was turned into an Army camp among other things.

Enjoy all the pieces of your life,

Sew Charming Placemats and Tutorial

               

I have been making placemats like these for 10 years or more.  I've made them for gifts, bazaars, and for our own use.  They are a simple everyday platcemats that can made in a variety of seasonal or coordinated fabrics.  Of course, when I first started making them they were from scraps, but now with Charm Squares it makes it even easier to get the scrappy look.  So grab a couple of your favorite Charm Square packs and lets get sewing.

    Sew Charming Placemats

Fabric for 4 Placemats

 14 1/2" x 18"

2 Charm Square packs of at least 40 fabrics each

or

80  4" x 4" squares of scrap fabric

1 yard backing fabric

3/4 yard binding

Batting

Low Loft batting of your choice
I used Hobbs Heirloom 80/20

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From the Charm Packs cut 80 4" squares.
You might want to save the 1" strips leftover, you'll find a use for them later.

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Separate your fabrics into 4 piles of assorted squares of 20.

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Arrange your placemats with 5 squares across and 4 rows down.

Try several layouts to find the one you like.

Because you are working with a variety of fabrics your placemats will all be different. 

  

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Join in vertical rows, do not clip thread between the rows.

Press seams.

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Join the horizontal rows and press well.

  

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If you are going to quilt on the diagonal lines, mark them now with the marking tool of your choice.

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Cut backing and batting several inches larger than your placemat.

Layer backing, batting, and placemat.  Pin  or lightly spray baste together.

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Quilt on diagonal lines or as desired.  

Trim placemat to 14 1/2" x 18".

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Bind as usual.

I hope you enjoy the Sew Charming Placemats.  Although this is a Free pattern, please respect the copyright laws. 


Today I am linking to Little Quilt Monday, Sew Happy Geek, and Patchwork Times.

Enjoy all the pieces of your life,

                                              

Just in time for Valentines Day

I finished sewing the binding on my red and white quilt just in time for Valentine's Day.  It is a simple pattern called Dominoes and was machine quilted by Joanne of  Insanely Cheap Quilting.  Joanne chose an open puffed heart pattern for this quilt so it is fitting that I show this today.

Happy Valentine's Day to you all, I hope your day is filled with love.

Enjoy all the pieces of your life,