Monday, December 26, 2005


I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas! I know we did. It's been years since we put up a tree. We've just never had a place to put one before but David decided this year he wanted one. Last year I bought this little desk and it was perfect for the islittle 3' tree. The Father Christmas is my new decoration for this year. I like to buy 1 new item each year. The fabric bowls I made on Christmas Eve. I'd made 21 as gifts and wanted some for myself so I made these 3. A 12" for fruit and 8" and 9" ones for candy. I had a lot of fun making the bowls but yes, Samantha, I am BOWLED OUT!

I think my next thing to try is the fabric boxes. I'm thinking it might be a good idea to start them while I still remember the tricks to getting my machine to sew thru all the fusible without gumming up the needle and shredding the thread. My plan is to give fabric boxes with homemade cookies/candy to friends and co-workers next year since the fabric bowls with fruit and candy were such a big hit this year.

Right now I'm working on my Christmas Pineapple Blossom. I have 48 blocks done up to the point of adding the 9-1/2" strips. And a pile of bonus triangles that will be turned into pinwheels to use in the border I think. I should be finished with the blocks and have the top assembled sometime this week. Then I want to finish the Crazy 9patch top and then do the Christmas Chunky Churndash I cut strips for when I was cutting for the PB. Then I can put my Christmas stash away for another year. Oh, speaking of Christmas stash. I was oh so bad! I stripped up almost all my old Christmas stash and it really didnt' have enough variety for the scrappy quilts I wanted to make. Soooooooo I took a bunch of $10 Hancocks' FabricCash coupons I had saved and bought 20 1 yd cuts of assorted Christmas prints. I cut a strip off each to blend with the older stuff in the PA Blosson and the Chunky Churndash. And I also bought 2 to 3 yard cuts of 3 or 4 different Christmas background prints to use with them. So I haven't really done a very good job of busting my Christmas stash but it is a lot fresher looking than it was before and almost all of the really old stuff was used up. And I did say no new fabric in 2006 so these were technically all legal purchases. LOL!

Next weekend when I have another long weekend I want to go thru my scraps and cut pieces for a Scrappy Spools to use as my leaders/enders project. I got the idea from Leah. Mine will probably be totally scrappy instead of controlled scrappy like hers is.

And that's what I'm working on/plan to work on for the next few weeks.

6 comments:

Leah Spencer said...

Wow, sounds like you really added to your Christmas collection! I'm really looking forward to your Pineapple Blossom - it's just so much fun seeing all the variations. Funny though, I don't think I've seen anybody make one like Bonnie's yet. :)

quiltpixie said...

I've never tried faric bowls, but have made a couple of boxes. They were a fun project, and so variable in size and shape and style depening on the fabric etc... Have fun with them!

Hunter said...

Nancy it's great that you at least ended up with three bowls. When I do stuff like that I'm always so done doing them that I run out of steam before I make one for myself. Good for you!

And your tree is so cute.

Aloha and almost happy new year.

Darilyn

The Calico Cat said...

Buying to go with what you have already sounds so much like me.... If it helps you use what you have I say "GO FOR IT!"

Laurie said...

Nancy,
I could use some of your ambition! (sigh) It's those post Christmas doldrums! But GO GET IT girl! I'm excited to see your PB. And new fabric...well, you have a week to go for enhancing your stash! LOL
Hugs
Laurie

Finn said...

Oh Nancy, the tree and the Father Christmas look wonderful!! Good for you for making those bowls at the last minute. I was very impressed at the ones you got done for Christmas gifts. Is there a pattern for those, or directions somewhere online? Think I'd like to try my hand at them.

And in my opinion, what you did by buying the 20 1 yard cuts of newer fabric was extremely wise. It makes it possible to use up more of the old stuff..high five for a really good idea!! I can hardly wait to see your blossoms!!