One Last Christmas Post!!

Yes, I know Christmas is over, but I've been behind since Thanksgiving and I'm still trying to catch up!!  I did manage to make a new table topper for the Christmas season that I had forgotten to share.

The snowballs and the two outer bands are Figgy Pudding by Basic Grey for Moda.

I just love the packages and the holly!

Since I am still learning to machine quilt and to use my machine, I used three different kinds of stitches.

In the middle I meandered, on the red border I used a preset scallop, and on the green border I used a preset loop.

The quilting actually shows better on the back.

Also, I got a great Christmas gift from my mom--a 16 place setting of Christmas dishes!

I used them for Christmas dinner.

They would really pop if I had a darker table cloth which I have already purchased for next year, along with red chargers.  I already had the glasses and they match really well.

I also used them when I hosted a brunch for a few friends.

I love the dishes!  Thanks Mom!

We enjoyed New Year's Eve at Trina and Tanner's.  They hosted an open house for friends, family, and neighbors, then family stayed on to celebrate the new year.  We walked in the door just before midnight. I really haven't seen midnight on New Year's Eve for a few years!  New Year's Day we enjoyed a relaxing late lunch with friends.  I hope you enjoyed your New Year's weekend.

A Fall Table Topper

  I LOVE "Gobble, Gobble" by Sandy Gervais fabric.   I had made a table runner last year and had some left over, so I came up with this table topper.

I decided to use a variety of quilting on it.  I straight line quilted the squares, used a fancy stitch on the cream border, and meandered around the outer border.  You can see all three styles in this close up.

Not a great photo, but photography is NOT my strong suit!!  Remember I'm a beginning quilter, so don't be too critical.

I love my house all decorated for fall with the rich brown, gold, green, and orange colors.  And the mums outside are gorgeous.  I'll have to get some photos before they freeze!

Catch Up

We had snow day #6 this past Wednesday.  Technically it was an ice day.  This is a picture of the ice on my front porch.

And this photo is the inside of the railing which has a roof over it.

All that ice also led to a 2 hour late start the next day.  Late starts are something we rarely have.  Our superintendent doesn't really believe in them. He thinks two hours doesn't make much of a difference.  That leads us to driving on some slick roads at times.  I was thankful for this late start as the snowplow didn't come by until right before I was to leave home.

What did I do all day?  Well, I sewed of course!  I had worked on Trina and Tanner's baby quilt the night before and had almost gotten the top together.  I wasn't happy with it and thought about it through the night.  So, I tore it apart and started over.  Got it all completed and sent it off to be quilted.  I can't show pictures until the baby is born.  They've seen the fabric(The Very Hungry Caterpillar), but I want them to be surprised with how it turned out.

Yesterday I spent a large chunk of time  with these:

They're 41 science journals to evaluate.  It's report card time, and the science grade was the last thing I had to do.  After several hours I had them completed and grades posted.  Wohoo!  Report cards done for another quarter.  Now to get the parent teacher conferences done.
After that I hit the craft room.  I still had those L'Amour charm packs to do something with.  I used one pack and made this table topper. Using the free pattern from The Fat Quarter Shop.

I just machine quilted straight lines  throughout the middle.  Then I  sewed hearts in the border.  I think you can see them in this photo.  It still needs to be washed and dried and then it will be put on my table.

Sore shoulders and an aching back is what I got with all of that sitting, grading, and sewing!  But it's a good feeling of accomplishment.