One Last Christmas Finish

Sometimes when folks stop by my blog they wonder where I get my time to do so much sewing, especially this time of year.  While I am retired, any retired person will tell you they just don't know where they found the time to work, they're so busy now.   Spending time in my sewing room is time I earn, it's where I go to relax, it's time I need to unwind and escape.  Additionally, if I'm in my sewing room I'm focused and making the most of my time, no distractions, and I put my social media addiction on hold. I also usually listen to a book or music while I sew, which makes my sewing time even more enjoyable.  Why am I monologuing about my sewing time?  Because while I was busy decorating, shopping, wrapping, and cooking, I squeezed in some time to work on this tree quilt.  Projects like this are the perfect projects to work on when all the other parts of your life are hectic.  I like a good challenging quilt pattern as much as the next quilter, but when my life is challenging I prefer that my sewing project is not.  This has been the fun jingle jingle in my last few busy holiday  days.

This is Lifetime Quilt Number 192 - Candy-land Christmas Trees

The pattern is Trees by Amanda Jean Nyberg for Crazy Mom Quilts. (Available here)

It finished at 52 1/2" x 60 1/2"

It has approximately 468 pieces.

For the fabric I just picked some pieces from my stash, most of it isn't even holiday themed fabric.  I was needing a little pink in my Christmas this year this did the trick.  I'm keeping this quilt, it will look perfect hanging in my sewing room next Christmas.

I love the trees so much I'm sharing a closeup of each one, enjoy.

Keep this project on your radar when you're looking for a fast quilt that is also fun and relaxing.

Best wishes to you all for a blissful holiday season, thank you for being such an important part of my quilting life, quilters are the best.

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Juniper Berry Finish

For the last week I've been playing with the fabric Juniper Berry by Basic Grey for Moda.  I've had this Christmas line of fabric for months but couldn't come up with a pattern that suited me, and I guess I basically never did find a pattern that suited me, instead I just started cutting diamonds using my Creative Grids Rhombus Template and throwing them up on my design wall until I came up with a pleasing arrangement.

This is Lifetime Quilt Number 191
I've named it "Yes Die Hard is a Christmas Movie".  It may seem like an odd name, unless you're a big Die Hard fan like our family, and yes, that is one of the Christmas movies that we watch every year, along with Elf, Christmas Vacation, Holiday Inn and The Family Man.  Anyway, Argyle is the name of the limo driver in the movie Die Hard.  And this is definitely a Christmas argyle pattern.
It finished at 76" x 91"
The fabric is Juniper Berry by Basic Grey for Moda
There are 288 diamonds.

This was my first experience working with diamond blocks.  I'm not sure why I was avoiding diamond blocks, they were very easy to cut and piece together.

To make piecing the rows easier I pieced together the like colored 4 patches first, then sewed those blocks together to make the rows, then sewed the rows together to finish the quilt top, easy peasy.

I could start putting together my Village house project but am thinking I may need to squeeze in one more Christmas project, it is the Christmas season for days yet!

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First Snow Finish

This is a horrible picture of my First Snow finish, it is so much prettier in person, you'll just have to take my word for it.  The background fabric is by Kate Spain for Moda, In From the Cold.  I loved that print and bought yards of it when it was first released.  I've been patiently waiting for the perfect opportunity to use it, I think it looks great in this pattern.

The original pattern has 12 blocks, I went with 9 because I'm still in my square quilt phase, which has gone on so long now it's probably more of my norm instead of a phase.

The bright red fabric in the corners and center is a tone on tone snowflake print, also from In From the Cold.  The other red print is Kate Spain but a different family.

The pattern is regular piecing and very easy to a make  The pattern directions are straightforward and a breeze to follow.  I think this is one of those patterns that looks hard but isn't.

This is Lifetime Quilt Number 190

The pattern is First Snow by Woodberry Way

It finished at 67" x 67"

The fabric is all Kate Spain for Moda

It has approximately 976 pieces.

Using only 4 fabrics in First Snow resulted in one Village house.

I think I have 20 more to go.

I have some Juniper Berry by Basic Grey for Moda calling my name,  I think I may try to squeeze in one more Christmas quilt while it is still Christmas Season.

Twelve more days until Christmas, but who's counting?

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