FABRIC SHACK MINI QUILT SWAP

I had to join the Fabric Shack mini quilt swap!

My partner was @njcrabtree (Natalie Crabtree)

I selected this Layer Cake "Jingle" by Kate Spain

I also luv the book "Modern Holiday" by Amanda Murphy

It didn't take long to find the perfect pattern...

"Holiday Forest"

Of course I like to change the pattern up a little bit.

so instead of solid trees

I made scrappy trees!

The white background is looking great...kind of a swirly look

I also decided not to put trunks on the trees.

Just a small border and the top is done!

I had some left over charm squares for the backing.

Here's the back...


 And the front with a few little extras...
cause you know folks like extras!



I really wanted to keep this one...
but Santa said....NO....so off it went!

And what did I receive?

Amanda Everest @itsthethereelmandy lives in Las Vegas 

was my partner and she made me this cute mini using 

Tasha Noel's

"Pixie Noel" Fabrics.

Merry Christmas my friends and thanks
for hanging around and reading my blog this year!
It's sew appreciated. 

I will see you on the other side of the New Year!

LISTEN - YOUR FABRIC IS TALKING TO YOU!

10 years ago today, I lost my Mom, Cora Clayton.

She was 92 years young and loved by so many.

Mom was a hand piecer and loved her scrappy utilitarian quilts.

 I found a bunch of dresser scarves in her belongings.

which sat in my sewing room waiting for me

to create something amazing!

I kept looking a them, waiting for an

answer of what I should make. 

Then I heard it..maybe it was Mom, whispering in my ear.

The girls in the family need something to remind them of 

"Mom of Me"

I am making bags using pieces of 

MOM's embroidered scarves and MY fabric scraps.

After cutting batting pieces, I placed the embroidery piece 

in the middle and sewed down my scraps 

using the quilt-as you-go technique.

 You can see my tutorial on the QAYG technique here.

BUT there is no backing on these pieces because

I am lining the bag. 

Raided my zipper bin...

and this is what happened!

Larger tote bag turned out wonderful!

I will make smaller projects with the embroidered scraps
like pincushions and needle minders.

10 years may seem like a long time to hang on to something
but I truly believe that...

"Your fabric will tell you what it wants to be"
Sometimes you must wait  and "listen" for the answer.

I miss and love you Mom!

CATCHING A COLD...for CHRISTMAS

Last year I had the most horrible cold and cough.

They said...bronchitis....felt like...pneumonia.

Not much energy but I wanted to sew

I grabbed a bunch of charm packs by

my favorite Christmas fabric designers..

I was coughing..it was snowing..

chain piecing happened.

Decided the back would be layer cakes...

also Christmas fabrics.

I sent it off this last fall to my longarmer

cause sometimes it just needs to be DONE!

and she quilted an all over snowflake design.

Made some binding...

"Catching a Cold"

was DONE!

I love that it's reversible and I can enjoy all my favorite fabrics.

Let's hope I don't  

Catch another Cold

but if I do....THIS will comfort me!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

OHCRAFT RETREAT!

Last October I attended a fun retreat with #OHCraft  

a group of fun sewists, mostly from Ohio, in Kentucky

making merry, creating, eating, 

and why yes, there was some drinking,  

Necessities packed!

This is how the sunrise greeted us each day at

General Butler State Park in Kentucky!

The weather was incredible...reached almost 80 degrees!

There was a  Secret Sister Swap

My partner was Clarie @crimesagainstfabric

Small gifts delivered all weekend and

On the final day we swapped the big gifts.

  I made her this Noodlehead 257 bag

out of one her fav fabric collections,

Doe, by Carolyn Freidlander.

Absolutely love this color combo!

and inside was this tiny "flying geese" pincushion 

@meigheyburn spoiled me with these fun gifts.  

and this was my gift on Sunday

A Ghastlies Knitting Project Bag w/Yarn

   She designed this bag with a clear vinly pocket for the pattern
and two snaps loops inside to separate two different yarns,

for one project...keeping them tangle free!

GENIUS!

The pillow swap participants 

received some amazing pillow covers!

photo by @karasews

The Columbus Modern Quilters

could not decide if their "jazz hands" should quilt 
or do a Broadway Show!

While the Cincinnati Modern Quilt Guild
decided they wanted to build a human pyramid...
sorta!

Then what to our wondering eyes should appear
but two of Santas favorite 
Cbus elves, Leigh and Katy
....pouring wine of course
Walmart Fashionistas!

All in all it was a fabulous weekend with kwilty peeps
enjoying well...just everything!

APRONS, COOKIES, FRIENDS

There are many "Cookie Divas" this time of year

baking tons of cookies for the holidays. 
BUT due past history of the number of cookies that I have baked
and have passed thru my house via cookie swaps...
I have become know to family and friends as the...

On the subject of Aprons...
I joined an IG "HOLIDAY APRON" swap 
 My partner was @mrspickles and she luvs half-aprons 
with a vintage feel.  We were asked to o include a recipe.
I found  a Holiday recipe book from 1950!

Ya can't beat that with a rolling pin!

Threw in a few little extras, cause its fun!

The apron I received was made by @theruffledchick

Her IG feed shows lots of half aprons all ruffled up.

I am happy she read my request for a full apron

At 65 and a cookie dough waist..ruffles would NOT be cool.

She did a great job using my fav Scarlet and Gray colors.

This apron can be worn all year long!

She also sent a couple great cookie recipes

and some fun extras including hand made cards..

which I love!

One of my favorite holiday aprons is quite Ghastlie!

You know I had to make this one!

On the subject of cookies and friends...

For 10 years I hosted a Cookie Exchange with my girlfriends.

This was my "gift" to them...sharing time, cooked them a meal

and each Cooke Diva brought 6 dozen of one kind of cookie

for the cookie swap!

In 2009, the last year, I gifted each baker her own

"Cookie Diva" apron!

(embroidered design by Joan Keltner)

Some besties not pictured who have moved away

also received an apron!

Connie, Patty, Cindy
Mary Jo, Dora, Kim
Daisy, Val, Betty

Kathy, Debby, Ginny
Joey, Dianne, Char, Chris
Susie, Joan, Pam

To wrap up 10 years of cookie fun with my besties, 

I asked them to bring me a vintage cotton apron
 as a hostess gift, then sign their name and the year
they met me on a square muslin.
Using a "Friendship Star" block I made a memory quilt.

"Apron Strings and Cookies"

 Melissa (Ingmire) Durrett is my niece "Misty"
and we met when she was born.

Shirley (Bolton) Haller my neighbor and best friend

since 3rd grade / 1960

56 years later we are still besties, no longer neighbors

but we visit often as we can!

I also luv that she quilted this for me.

If you want some great cookie recipes

Be sure to check out the tab above

"Sweet Celebrations"

All that being said...its time to

grab your favorite apron, rolling pin and

GET BAKING!