Thursday, November 12, 2015

Christmas is in My Heart--My Turn

 
It's my turn for this wonderful hop--
thank you, Marian of Seams to Be Sew (http://seamstobesew.com) ,
 for putting this all together!
I saw many lovely creations yesterday and read some inspirational thoughts.
 
The first Christmas item I have to show is a panel I did to hang in our church sanctuary during the Advent and Christmas season. I thought about cutting it apart but against it and left it in one piece.
 
 
Maybe you can see that I FMQed the panel. All the brown is quilted to look like stones, and the lighter areas are stippled. I outlined the word "Rejoice" and the angels. I'm sorry that I didn't save the selvage to tell you what the panel is called or the designer, but I purchased the panel at The Quilter Corner in Morton, IL.

 
The next thing is this table runner. It was a kit I bought in Washington, IL, at Peddler's Way, called "Monochromatic" by Sue Michaels.
I love the gray and red--could not pass up this kit!
 I FMQed the entire runner with paisley-like figures.

 
You can see them better here. Boy, does that use a lot of thread!! All the quilting on such a small piece used 1 1/2 bobbins on my Tiara II. I was amazed.

 
Don't you think it looks nice with a few of my nativities sitting on it?

 
Next, I have made a table runner using the "Triangle Frenzy Swirl" pattern by Bunnie Cleland. I have made several of these, and so have the members of my quilt club, Cerro Gordo Quilters. This Christmas one uses a border design that is symmetrical so you have triangles that look the same, regardless of which side they are cut from. I use my walking foot for these and quilt along the lines of the border fabric.
I think this nativity looks nice on this runner.

 
 I am working on a Christmas gift and will show you what I have done. These are placemats from the pattern "Crazy Patchwork Placemats" by Merry's Stitchins (www.merrysstitchins.com)  in Jessup, IA (one of my favorite quilt shops).
A set of 8 placemats is made with 8 fat quarters and the stack and whack method. I had made one set but couldn't find my pattern to make this one. So, I just redrew the parts and thought through the way to cut them apart, restack, and sew together. In the photo are 3 finished placemat tops and on the right is the stack of parts for the other 5 placemats. I was despairing because I had no hearts in any of my projects (except my own) but then I noticed that the green fabric in these placemats has aqua hearts in it! Covered!
 
 
Last, I will show you something that is on my list of gifts to make: this Happy Snowman panel by Debra Jordan Bryan from JoAnn Fabrics. One of my daughters will like having this. 
 
 
So, even though it's not time for decorations, I was listening to Christmas music while typing this, and I have many other  gifts on my list to make. In the meantime, we will be decorating the church after Thanksgiving and beginning to really get into the meaning of the Christmas season. I will pull out more nativities to display (I have a large collection, many of which I leave out all year long), and decorate my own home too. Every time I pull out a nativity or look at one on a shelf, I have a reminder of what this is all about. Just like the picture at the top of my blog page (which I did last year), I think about that family and of Jesus and of what he has done to change so many of our lives. We are truly blessed.
 
There are others displaying their creations today:


Please be sure to visit them, and if you leave me a comment, I will enjoy reading it.
Also, be sure to enter the rafflecopter drawing for a $25 gift certificate from our sponsor The Fat Quarter Shop (www.fatquartershop.com)

 
 
 

 
Thanks for visiting!

79 comments:

  1. I like all your projects, but the Monochromatic is my favorite.

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  2. I adore the panel wish I could do one. Yes Jesus is the reason for the season. You have been very busy making Christmas gifts which makes them special . Thank you for sharing and a chance to win .

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  3. Wow! You have been busy! Love all your projects and your quilting is beautiful! If I had to pick a favorite, I think it would be the Monochromatic table runner because of the gorgeous quilting. Great job!

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  4. That's a lot of work! I particularly love your table runners.

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  5. Carol I love all your projects , the cross especially. Your header quilt is perfect too for the season

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  6. Nice post. I really like that you left the panel in one piece. It's a very impressive banner. Stunning to the eye. Go listen to the music while you sew....that's just a little too early for me, lol.

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  7. Wow, so many projects! I really like the panel.
    jen dot barnard at btinternet dot com

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  8. You are staying busy for sure! Lots of great projects, thanks for sharing.

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  9. Love your projects. Beautiful quilting on that grey tablerunner.

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  10. I agree, you have been a busy lady and I too like the monochromatic table runner. So much work in the quilting. The panel is beautiful and I would not have cut it either. anxious to see thee finished placemats, are you going to crazy quilt them?
    Enjoy the season of giving.

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  11. So many beautiful projects here, I love them all. Your quilting on the grey tablerunner is gorgeous.

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  12. Very pretty, thanks for sharing!
    cork@pa.rr.com

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  13. I Love Your Rejoice Panel! Your Quilting is Wonderful! The Snowman Panel is Sweet!

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  14. I love Christmas too. Very pretty. Thank you
    Swoot@att.net

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  15. Your table toppers are gogeous. Love the monochromatic one especially!

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  16. love your quilting on the table runner.

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  17. What a gorgeous panel for the Church. Your table toppers are beautiful. Love the snowman panel too.

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  18. You've been busy. I really like the table topper done with the border fabric. Looks very intricate.

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  19. Thanks for sharing all your lovely projects. Love the simplicity of the red and grey table runner.

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  20. I like to put out ;nativities too. I collected Santas for years, and I still try to get a Santa ornament every so often but I love nativities. They are so much more meaningful and remind me of why I celebrate Christmas. Plus, each one has a special meaning to me and a small story about why I got that one. Thanks.

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  21. Lovely work. Thanks for participating!!

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  22. What beautiful projects.... I like how they each have meanings. You put a lot of thought into this. And I enjoyed it!

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  23. Love the quilting on the monochromatic table runner. I want to be able to do this one day.

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  24. Beautiful projects, you have been busy.

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  25. Wonderful projects. You've been very busy!

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  26. wow your projects are gorgeous. thanks for shairng

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  27. Rejoice is wonderful!
    patsystitch@gvtc.com

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  28. You have put heart into the Christmas season. The church wall panel is lovely - I agree it's too lovely to cut apart. Love the Triangle Frenzy Swirl; simply a wonderful pattern.

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  29. Beautiful projects to inspire us all. Thanks for sharing.

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  30. Lovely projects! I like the panel all together like that, sometimes panels are just perfect the way they are. I have a mouse Christmas panel that I am going to use as a whole quilt center, too.
    The snowman is adorable.
    Thanks for sharing.
    My email is: bestbelle2010@aol.com

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  31. I love all of your projects - they have really helped to put me in "the mood" Thanks!

    Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

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  32. I like your projects - already listening to Christmas music at our house to get us in the spirit!

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  33. What wonderful projects! You will be all set for Christmas!

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  34. So many lovely projects! I just love that paisley quilting!

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  35. I love that table runner! I NEED to make one now, lol.

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  36. I love your church hanging and how you quilted it.

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  37. love the panels and your fmq - Thank you! crystalbluern at tds dot net

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  38. Wonderful holiday projects. Thanks for sharing!

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  39. Great Christmas projects, loved them all! You have some interesting nativity sets. I have a small one that I keep out all year round as a reminder of the "reason for the season". It was given to me by a wonderful friend who has since passed and it is very special to me. Thanks for sharing!

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  40. Love your stack & whack projects---I've made a few quilts this way & enjoyed it. I cannot get into the Christmas spirit yet---the weather is just too nice still (not that I want it to get cold & snowy, though).

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  41. Great projects! The runner is just my style and the quilting is wonderful!

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  42. I love previewing your site while the weather is blustery and cold. Love your holiday projects.

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  43. So many beautiful Christmas projects! I love that runner!

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  44. Your projects are inspiring
    Carole Corn

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  45. I love the quilting on the grey and red runner.

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  46. Wowzers lady, you have been B-U-S-Y!!!! I love all the projects. Especially like the panel for your church.

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  47. Love the grey and red ty for showing love to see what you have in mind for the snowman panel....happyness04431@yahoo.com

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  48. Thank you for sharing all your Christmas treasures. I am particularly drawn to the border print table topper. I shall be looking for this pattern.

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  49. Lovely projects but I am really partial to your heading photo of it all began with a family. It's perfect and exactly the reason for my holiday season, thanks so much.

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  50. Really liking gray lately...nice use in your table runner.

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  51. You certainly keep yourself busy - with so many different projects. Thanks for sharing your heart with us.

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  52. Love all your runners, thanks for sharing

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  53. Thank you for sharing your love of Christ! Too many people are afraid to share their faith, but we shouldn't feel this way. I love red and gray together too!

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  54. Christmas is in your heart has been found today here at your blog today. I really enjoyed the various projects and as a Nativity collector myself, I enjoyed seeing the various selections you chose for the table cloths. I love the panel with the nativity scene, haven't see that one before and it's just simply beautiful.

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  55. You have worked on many projects. I think they are all wonderful. I really like the Triangle Frenzy Runner. I have border fabrics and will have to try this.

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  56. Wow! You've been busy! Lovely projects! I love that panel quilt and the quilting on it is great. The last table topper is made with rich, sumptuous fabric. I enjoyed looking at and reading about all of your projects. Now I must get busy and finish up my projects, too!

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  57. Wow -- you have been busy with lots of Christmassy things! I love all of your nativity scenes, too! :)

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  58. Thanks for sharing all of your projects. You sure have been busy!

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  59. You were very productive. Love the quilt. I have seen that panel, but I can't remember where.

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  60. I have been procrastinating when it comes to Christmas. I guess I better get on it. You've made me realize I've got lots to do. Love your work.

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  61. Wonderful projects. I love all of your nativity scenes including the stitched one in your header.

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  62. The time for decorating is almost here. We start the day after Thanksgiving. Thanks for sharing your projects. Nancy A: rangerer@sbcglobal.net

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  63. what a special panel I do not think I would have cut it up either
    Great projects ..... thanks for sharing
    in stitches

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  64. Wonderful, wonderful projects!!! Thank you for sharing!

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  65. Beautiful projects you've created. They're all so pretty and festive. I especially love the Triangle Frenzy Swirl Runner. I bought that pattern myself because I fell in love with that after seeing it made with the beautiful Lilac fabrics. I bought a lot of those fabrics as well and still need to find time to actually make it.

    Thank you for sharing with us.

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  66. Your quilt will look beautiful in sanctuary! It's wonderful!

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  67. What a gorgeous church banner. I am glad you left the panel whole. Sew many lovely projects you have to share. \merry Christmas.

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  68. Love love love the banner! It is just...! The triangle frenzy has me intrigued I love all your projects

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  69. Your church banner is gorgeous as is the quilting on it. I LOVE your blog header....is that a pattern that is available somewhere?

    The paisley quilting is beautiful - even if it did use a lot of thread.

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  70. That first panel is beautiful! Well, all your work is awesome! Looks like a lot of work!

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  71. Carol, your projects are all fabulous! I love the way your Rejoice panel turned out and I adore the table runner. Have fun with your place mats and your darling snowman! Lovely work!

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