Charming Christmas Tree Wall Hanging

Just a few days before Christmas I decided to try my version of the free quilting pattern, “Charming Christmas Tree” by Pat Sloan.  It seemed everyone was making this fun pattern.  I used scrap fabrics I had on hand in some of my favorite Christmas patterns and colors. 

This pattern is made up of 2.5 inch squares and half square triangles.  When I tried sewing the half square triangles in the method where you draw a diagonal line and sew 1/4 inch on each side of the line, my squares ended up much smaller than 2.5 inches.  I tried cutting the squares larger to 3 inches but that sample was still too small.  I ended up stitching on the diagonal line and cutting off the part not needed.  Those were perfect 2.5 inch squares.  

After attaching the inner border of mixed fabric squares, I discovered I had just enough of a lovely green fabric for the outer border.  I liked it better than using white as the pattern instructed.

To embellish the tree I drew a star pattern, cut out the star from a yellow fabric and appliquéd it to the top of the tree.  I used my Jamone 15000 sewing machine’s triple stitch to add the rays coming out from the star.

I had some fabric scraps printed with cardinals so I fussy cut four cardinals and appliquéd them under the tree.  To finish it off, I used red fabric for the binding.

I free motion quilted falling snowflakes and snow drifts.  I tried out my new Marcia Baraldi Quilting Grip gloves I ordered from Amazon and really liked them.  They have excellent grip on the palms and one’s fingers are free.  

I have taken down my Christmas decorations but this adorable wall hanging is still up.  I just love it.  I have removed my Christmas ornaments from my pencil 7.5 foot new tree and switched from colored lights to white.  I now have my Winter Tree which will be up until the tree bag I ordered from Amazon is delivered.  Last year I started storing some Christmas decorations upstairs rather then in the unfinished basement.  This way I don’t have to lug everything up and down the stairs.  I’m thinking about storing the new tree in my guest room closet (if it fits) along with the ornaments.  But first I have to measure and go through the old clothing I have in there. I’m lucky my niece, MJ, and her fellow, Andrew, currently live with me so Andrew carries the heavy stuff for me. 

I really need the cheer during this COVID isolation and all the political crap going on. It continues to be lonely facing each day without my hubby.  At least my hobbies and house responsibilities keep me occupied.  But now holidays and special occasions will never be as happy and joyful as they were with my sweetheart.  

Friends gifted me this huge beautiful Poinsettia plant!  I can’t believe I haven’t “killed” it yet.  I usually “kill” any house plant.  At least I’ve learned.  I’m not over watering this one.  

And here is a photo of my Christmas Tree decorated with ornaments and colored lights.

  I called this my “smart” Christmas tree because it is prelit and I can program either colored or white lights in various modes.  The star topper is similar.  I am so pleased how nice it fits into it’s space in my Great Room.  Excuse the furniture moved out, I was still working on how and where to plug it in.

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  

Camper Wall Hanging

Before our warm Fall days leave us I wanted to show you this cute little project.

It was a kit I purchased.

I love the fabrics I chose.

As many of my long term readers know,  my hubby and I were campers when we first married and then advanced to RVing.

We owned many different RVs over the years:

Pop up Camper truck, Sunline trailer, Chinook (a Class B van), Hitchhiker Discover America 5th wheel travel trailer and lastly a Pleasure Way (Class B van).

We traveled to Alaska in 2010 in our 5th wheel which is like having an apartment to live in.

We were on the road 105 days for that trip.

I liked all of our RVs but my favorite was the Pleasure Way van.

At just 21 feet it could park just about anywhere and it’s small size helped when looking at campgrounds sites.  It was so easy to keep clean and we learned to take just the essentials.

My hubby designed our new garage to hold the van with huge 10 foot garage doors and an extra long bay so we wouldn’t have to store it off site.

We never had a chance to take the van on a trip after we moved into our new home.

I reluctantly had to sell it.

Oh, how, my hubby loved to travel all over our great country.

And I loved being with him.  

 

Halloween Table Runner

 I had fun sewing up this Halloween theme table runner.

It’s 74 degrees out today with rain this morning.

But you can feel fall in the air.

I free motioned quilted the blocks with a spider net.

When I showed it to my quilting cousin she pointed out I didn’t connect the web correctly.

And she was right.

Currently I’m working on a Halloween hand embroidery.  

I hope to finish it by Halloween.

I’m not sure what is happening with Trick n’ Treat this COVID 19 year in our community.

I had a specialist appointment last week and the doctor told me not to go to any restaurants/bars or grocery stores and to wear a mask outside at all times.  

I haven’t been to a restaurant or any store since early March.

Just three doctor visits and dropping my taxes off is the sum of my adventures outside.

Luckily I have help with my groceries but not everyone does.

Stay safe!

Kimberbell Watermelon Table Topper & Screened In Porch

 

This project sat unfinished for about two years.  I finally decided it is time to finish it.

I sandwiched it with top, batting and back fabrics, squared it up and started sewing on the binding.

Only to realize I forgot to quilt it. 

LOL!

What really makes this topper POP is the theme appropriate fabrics.

Whole watermelons, red and white checks with cute little ants and red backed fabric with the black watermelon seeds add so much personality to the topper.

All the fabrics came from my quilting cousin’s fabric closet.

    

I used my Janome 15000 embroidery/sewing machine to quilt it.  A little straight line quilting and free motion quilting.

I have about seven different table toppers done so far.  

My next one I’m working on is a November (pumpkin) table topper.

We’re still having summer weather here in Ohio.

Even today it is currently 81 degrees out.

A couple more weeks and I will have to think about breaking down my screened in porch.

I purchased a storage box to use to store the porch furniture cushions over the winter rather than storing them in my spare bedrooms.

I move all the porch furniture together in a corner and cover it all with huge painter’s cloths for protection from dirt and pollen over winter.  

I also roll up the outdoor rug and cover it too.  

So far that system has worked out well.  

As much as I like Fall, I dislike all the leaves in my gutters.

You can see the huge tall trees and they produce “millions“ of leaves in the fall and early winter.

We are lucky to have woods behind us although someday soon there are plans to build 28 homes there.

I hope they leave some trees as a barrier.

Some parts are considered “wet lands” and they have building restrictions.

So, I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

So, are you ready for Fall?

My Christmas Gift Wrap Quilt

What do you think of my Christmas Gift Wrap quilt?

I saw it hanging in a quilt shop and bought the kit.

Cutting all the strips.

All the little bow pieces.

Bows sewn together.

Blanket stitched bows.

Everything else is pieced.

I mailed it to a quilter friend who used her long arm to quilt it with a gift box design.

And then I sandwiched it and finished the binding.

I’m so pleased with it.

 

Summer Wall Hanging

As Summer comes to an end I thought I would share this machine embroidery wall hanging I embroidered way back in 2013 when I first brought my Janome 12000.

It sat in my sewing room unfinished until this summer when I decided to make it into a wall hanging.

I used two 1930s fabrics I had for the borders and a striped binding.

The cute clothesline is a built in design on both the Janome 12000 and 15000 embroidery / sewing machines.

I added the title and text.

I can’t believe that that tomorrow is September 1, 2020.

Fall will be here soon. 

Doggie Blanket for Jewels

Doggy blanket for our Jewels.

 I machined embroidered a paw print in milky fabric and embroidered Jewels’ name.

I love this paw print and bone 100% cotton fabric.

The back is purple minky fabric.

I free motioned quilted the bones on the finished blanket.

I think Jewels loves her blanket.

What a sweetie!

Hand Embroidery Time

I know it’s been quite awhile since I posted.  

My life has changed dramatically and it’s too hard for me to talk about it now. 

 So, instead I will share with you some hand embroidery pieces.  

I never thought I would enjoy hand embroidery (mainly because I have a sewing/embroidery machine) but it is soothing to do in the evening while watching TV. 

 

This is a Bird Brain design before it is free motion quilted and with the binding.  

My cousin is my teacher and thanks to her my checked border was perfect.  

More will come later.  

Thanks for visiting.

Pumpkin Patch Table Topper

Yesterday in between doing the laundry I decided to try my hand at free motion quilting on my "Party with Patrick" November embroidery project...PUMPKIN PATCH.

   

Of course I didn't follow all my sewing machine manual's instructions for free motion quilting.  

I didn't change the switch plate nor the bobbin case.  

However, I did use the same embroidery thread in the bobbin as the top thread.

  

I was pleased to see that the tension appeared ok on the bottom with my test piece.  

So, I was good to go.  

I quilted a looping vine with a leaf pattern.  

I drew the pattern first in chalk on the fabric and followed it as best as I could for my first time free motion quilting (FMQ). 

I was surprised how quickly the free motion quilting went.  

I was done before I realized it.  

Then was time to finish her up and put on the bias binding.  

This time I wanted to sew the bias binding on the "Patrick Lose way" so I watched his video again which was very helpful.  

And it worked beautiful.  

Pumpkin Patch was done!

This morning I attended my sewing/vac store's monthly Embroidery Club where we learned how to embroider with fleece.

   

It's difficult to tell but there are two layers of stabilizer here (one under and one over this piece of minky fabric).  

December's Embroidery Club's project will be sewing up a Christmas ornament.   

I love anything with Christmas!

I changed out the picture frame of Ms. Skeleton for Mr. Turkey.   

Most of our Halloween decorations are put away. 

I just kept out ones that could also be used for Thanksgiving.  

 It's so cold here today.  

I'm looking forward to warmer weather at Walt Disney World Florida!

Source:  Pinterest

Isn't this adorable.

Now, if I have a kitty....