Am I Really Early or Really Late?

Okay, I admit I am late in making this Christmas wreath...  but I am really early for Christmas 2012!  I am still on a stash busting bonanza, and needed my feather fix!  I haven't stitched feathers in a week or two.  This was really fun to make and I enjoyed quilting it, too.  I sure hope I can get the binding on within the next 11 months... 

I just linked up to Sarah's blog, Confessions of a Fabric Addict.  Check it out!  Can I Get a Whoop Whoop!

Christmas gifts

I was able to finish these stockings just in time, literally.  I had originally planned on appliquéing an initial on each stocking, but ran out of time, so I stitched their name on the stocking. This was an idea I got from Jenny at Jennys Doodling Needle or Sew Kind of Wonderful. thanks for the idea. Jenny! They were hung on Christmas Eve, and filled with pistachios, peanuts, chocolate, and candy canes.  Grandma and Grandpa (Dean and I) happily helped the babies with their pistachios and peanuts.  What a fun Christmas we had!  All four of our grands were with us yesterday, and we watched Corinne ride her brand new bike, and Devin play with his radio controlled monster truck. 

Santa was really good to me, too!  I received a Canon EOS camera!  I am just beginning to learn all it can do.  It may take me months... I thought this was a beautiful subject.  a close up of the Nandina at my daughter's home.   I love the bright red of these berries.

A New Allover Design - Paisley

.

I just discovered this new allover design, paisley, last week on Machine Quilting Resources Forum.  It was posted by Suzanne Earley, the website's founder, a couple years ago.  I love it!  If you stitch it out small, it can be used as a fill, or as I did, larger, as an allover.  It was really fun to do, too. 

It is not really easy to see on this busy fabric, but hopefully if you can zoom in on the closeup, you can see it.  I tried several times to get the right lighting, but the window of opportunity at this time of the year is so short...

This quilt belongs to Joanie, and she is sending it to a family friend as a wedding gift

How do you label your quilts?

I inherited a stack of quilts from my husband's family, and unfortunately none of the quilts have labels.  I had one of these family quilts appraised and it was assumed to be made approximately 1900, but I don't know who made it.  This reeaaaally bothers me - us quilters know how much love and effort goes into making a quilt! 

It would be so nice to keep this information permanently with the quilt, for all generations.  I have told myself that I will always send a quilt out the door with a label, but have not been 100% successful, probably not 50% successful.

I thought I found a solution...  I planned on blogging about it here... until I tried washing the label and the ink faded.  I heat-set the ink, too.  It may be my ink cartridge, and I would be willing to purchase a different type if that would set it permanently.

How do you label your quilts?  Do you label them?  I'd love to hear your method.  Thanks!

More Freehand Fun

Chistina made this for Nonnie and Papa as a Christmas gift.  She let me decide how to quilt it.  I chose a fun little freehand design that Patsy Thompson shares on her website.  Thank you,, Patsy!! 

The back is the soft minkie-type fabric that is so cuddly. 

Swirls and Ex's and Stash

This quilt just makes me smile.  It was made from some of my favorite stash fabric, with some Kona White.  I kept it simple with the quilting.  All freehand, of course.  A little bit of whimsy, with a little bit of ruler work.  I used a neon orange thread for the straight stitching - what fun!   I didn't use a pattern, just really kept it simple.  It will have a new home in January when my daughter delivers it to someone special. 

I Would Be So Grateful if You Voted for My Quilt

I entered my quilt, Stars Aligned, into the Quilting Gallery Contest for Star Quilts.  Here is the link if you care to vote for my quilt:  http://quiltinggallery.com/2011/12/02/vote-now-star-quilts-2/  If I win, the prize is fabric!  The competition is stiff, 54 quilts, so I would appreciate your support. 

Here is another picture of my quilt.