FABRIC SHACK MINI QUILT SWAP

I had to join the Fabric Shack mini quilt swap!

My partner was @njcrabtree (Natalie Crabtree)

I selected this Layer Cake "Jingle" by Kate Spain

I also luv the book "Modern Holiday" by Amanda Murphy

It didn't take long to find the perfect pattern...

"Holiday Forest"

Of course I like to change the pattern up a little bit.

so instead of solid trees

I made scrappy trees!

The white background is looking great...kind of a swirly look

I also decided not to put trunks on the trees.

Just a small border and the top is done!

I had some left over charm squares for the backing.

Here's the back...


 And the front with a few little extras...
cause you know folks like extras!



I really wanted to keep this one...
but Santa said....NO....so off it went!

And what did I receive?

Amanda Everest @itsthethereelmandy lives in Las Vegas 

was my partner and she made me this cute mini using 

Tasha Noel's

"Pixie Noel" Fabrics.

Merry Christmas my friends and thanks
for hanging around and reading my blog this year!
It's sew appreciated. 

I will see you on the other side of the New Year!

LISTEN - YOUR FABRIC IS TALKING TO YOU!

10 years ago today, I lost my Mom, Cora Clayton.

She was 92 years young and loved by so many.

Mom was a hand piecer and loved her scrappy utilitarian quilts.

 I found a bunch of dresser scarves in her belongings.

which sat in my sewing room waiting for me

to create something amazing!

I kept looking a them, waiting for an

answer of what I should make. 

Then I heard it..maybe it was Mom, whispering in my ear.

The girls in the family need something to remind them of 

"Mom of Me"

I am making bags using pieces of 

MOM's embroidered scarves and MY fabric scraps.

After cutting batting pieces, I placed the embroidery piece 

in the middle and sewed down my scraps 

using the quilt-as you-go technique.

 You can see my tutorial on the QAYG technique here.

BUT there is no backing on these pieces because

I am lining the bag. 

Raided my zipper bin...

and this is what happened!

Larger tote bag turned out wonderful!

I will make smaller projects with the embroidered scraps
like pincushions and needle minders.

10 years may seem like a long time to hang on to something
but I truly believe that...

"Your fabric will tell you what it wants to be"
Sometimes you must wait  and "listen" for the answer.

I miss and love you Mom!

CATCHING A COLD...for CHRISTMAS

Last year I had the most horrible cold and cough.

They said...bronchitis....felt like...pneumonia.

Not much energy but I wanted to sew

I grabbed a bunch of charm packs by

my favorite Christmas fabric designers..

I was coughing..it was snowing..

chain piecing happened.

Decided the back would be layer cakes...

also Christmas fabrics.

I sent it off this last fall to my longarmer

cause sometimes it just needs to be DONE!

and she quilted an all over snowflake design.

Made some binding...

"Catching a Cold"

was DONE!

I love that it's reversible and I can enjoy all my favorite fabrics.

Let's hope I don't  

Catch another Cold

but if I do....THIS will comfort me!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!