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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Persimmon Candy Box Finish

I finished my Persimmon Candy Box quilt right before Thanksgiving but this is the first chance I've had to blog about it.

This is Lifetime Quilt Number 189

It finished at 72" x 84"

The pattern is Candy Box by Lella Boutique

The print centers are Persimmon by Basic Grey for Moda

The white background fabric is Bella Solid 98

The beige background fabric is Essex Linen - Natural

It has approximately 1,050 pieces.

The blocks do have a partial seam when putting all the pieces together, but it's not a big deal and didn't cause me any issues, don't let that stop you from making this pattern. I enjoyed piecing every block.

Additionally, I got a few questions on my last blog post regarding the Essex Linen.  I cut the yardage into one yard pieces.  I washed those cuts in warm water and dried them in the dryer.  I then sprayed the pieces with starch until they were completely wet and let them air dry.  The fabric was easy to work with, did not fray, but does require some heaving pressing to avoid losing your points.  I would use it again.

I also pieced a few Village scrap houses, I'm getting close to the end of the year, and close to the total number of houses required.  I love it when a plan comes together.

I'm so happy it's December, I have two Christmas projects that I hope to finish this month, and even though I've already made 4 Christmas tops this year, I love Christmas quilts, and particularly love making them the month of December, generally while listening to Christmas music.

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Next Up - Candy Box

I'm squeezing in one more fall project before I officially declare it Christmas season and start working on a Christmas quilt.  It was an easy call since I can't decide what Christmas project to start, piecing 4 Christmas tops already this year has used up my Christmas fabric, patterns and mojo.

So for now I'm working on Candy Box by Lella Boutique.  I blogged about this pattern earlier,  I love the simple design and its pop of color.   And those centers are charm pack friendly, or a great use of some scraps, or some random fabric you just don't know what to do with.

I'm using Persimmon by Basic Grey for Moda for my centers.  The white it Bella Solid 0098 and the beige is Essex Linen, Natural.

The quarter square triangles are easy to piece and I'm finding this palette calming.

On another topic entirely, do you pay attention to the Blog List on the side of my blog?  There have been some great posts lately that you should check out if you've not done so already.   First off, Cindy Lammon of Hyacinth Quilt Designs just finished a beautiful Quick Curve Ruler pattern using Little Ruby that's a stunner.  If you've seen it already, I think it's worth another peek.

Lisa Bongean from Primitive Gatherings is hosting a free Magic of Christmas sew-along. I think 13 six inch block patterns have been released so far.  I've not made a one, but have printed off each pattern with the hopes that I will.  Nicole at Sister's Choice Quilts is sewing along and adding her own blocks, be sure to follow her progress.

And finally, earlier this week Sherri at A Quilting Life had a wonderful post on time management that I think is worth your time to read.  LOL

I already do a few of her suggestions but there were some new ones that I plan to start incorporating into my routine.  I'm not as good as planning as I could be.  I'm usually figuring out my next project while working on my current one.  Next year I hope to improve on that.

One tip that Sherri didn't mention that I do every sewing day is to have a set amount of time before I start working on my project to do some cleaning, organizing, filing or fabric sorting.

Before I quit for each day I leave that cute little ice-cream cone timer on  my sewing machine.  It's my reminder to spend some time organizing the next time I'm back.  I usually set it for 15  minutes, and you would be shocked how much you can accomplish in 15 minute increments.  If I ever post pictures of my sewing room I usually get some comments on how neat the room looks, that's because  I spend just a little bit of time organizing each day.

Do you have a time management tip?  Feel free to pass it along, if you have the time, LOL

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