First Time Entrant Award- 3rd place

Mid January I entered my quilt "My Favorite Things" into the Tucson Quilt Guild show- and to my surprise- 3rd place for First Time Entrant into this show.
I wanted to have this quilt judged so that I could receive feedback on my work and improve on areas that need improved (which are many).
As earlier written in an earlier blog post, this is a Sarah Vedeler design. I took liberty with it, in choosing to not make it square with a large applique border, although that is beautiful, I decided I liked the shape of the 8 point star. It is now proudly displayed on my entry wall.

Christmas Recipe Towel

This Christmas I decided to give of my talent. I love my Bernina 830E sewing machine, and I love embroidery.  Angela Sevens is an embroidery digitizer/designer and we found her designs at Bernina University this summer. Purchased tea towels are embroidered on with the picture of a finished food/drink item and the recipe is written below it.  What a clever way to share not just your talent but your culinary skills as well.  Well, okay, culinary skills from me is pushing it, but the recipes are easy enough so I made this one for a friend today.
I decided I would give a tea towel and the one or two of the main ingredients for the recipe as a gift. Hopefully I can get them finished and presented before the season is over.

Tonight we are going to Tom and Dorothy Rice's home for a dinner, I plan to take this finished one and offer it as a gift.
There are candy, cookie, beverage, and other holiday recipes to chose from- in all about 12 different designs.
The design also gives instruction for a cool way to add trim to the towel.
If you are the recipient of one of these recipe towels, I hope you and your family will make the delicious treat and then comment on this blog.

Happy Christmas Treats to All and to All a Good Holiday Season. I send my Love to you,  my Family and Friends- and wish for each of us to remember the reason for Christmas, Relish in the Joy that Gathering with Family and Friends brings into our life.
 

Mensch Family

Carl and Margie Mensch are very dear friends of Bill and I.  I took a 'Thangle' Class last spring  by my friend Joann Hinchliffe. She designed a block of the Hunter Star and then arranged it into a quilt design.  I chose 2 Batiks fabric for this quilt. The picture shown here isn't really as good as I wanted, but I was unable to take it, and so Bill went to Tucson for the day, visited with Carl and Margie and took this photo. Their new baby wouldn't move out of the picture, and why should she?  Her name is Cora and she goes where Margie goes.  This is a queen size quilt, it is a soft green marbleized batik and a more tone on tone green batik for the second fabric. I will get a close up view of the block when I am able to get to their home later this month. For now, I just wanted to honor this great couple and the wonderful friends they are to us.

Christmas Village- Embroidered

Per Gramma Sheri's request, here are the pieces that I have completed so far.  They take a lot of time to stitch out and then assemble, so I am always behind with doing the other parts of the village. Still to come, Gazebo, Post Office, Victorian House. 

From left to right: church, bakery, tree and icepond, town hall.

 My Christmas Village ( OESD designs) is slowly growing.  This is the latest addition, the Bakery. 

Done using the Bernina 830E sewing and embroidery machine.
This is applique and lace. Each piece is embroidered separately then attached using the small tabs that are sewn in the design. Needs a little pressing to help keep the shape straight and sharp. Putting small candleless lights inside the bakery help it have a glow through the lace.
Pictures make it look a little rough, but since this photo was taken, it has taken a firmer shape.

I found this alphabet panel at Hearts and Hands Quilt Shop, and thought of the two youngest little girls in our family.  Sophia is Bill's Great Granddaughter, lives in Massachusetts, she is 1 year and 8 months. She will receive this at Christmas from me and her Papa.
I made it into a growth chart, thus the hanger that reads "I'm This Big".  Her name was  made using the letters from AccuQuilt Go die fabric cutting system. I appliqued it to the top.  The large yellow rectangle at the bottom says "Now I've said my ABC's tell  me what you think of me'.  I wanted to add a fabric tape measure, but couldn't find one to buy so I had to make one out of Twill tape, used the 9mm sewing stitch width of my Bernina 830 machine to make the numbers.
I am going to make one for Leona as well. She will be two this December 2nd, and is growing like a weed.  I am really thankful for the age of technology we live in so that I can use Skype to have video conference calls with family and friends.

According to Amelia- who is almost 6yrs old, she is now a BIG girl and her Little girl quilt doesn't work for her now....so Gramma Jackie was asked, to make a BIG GIRL quilt. 
Here it is, taken from a Modern Quilt design and the use of bright colors this is a 58"x79" quilt, pieced and quilted by me.  Since her birthday is coming up along with Christmas I guess it is going to be mailed later this month.  I am not able to make everyone a quilt every year, but am attempting to complete the families (I have 6 children and 15 grandchildren) as I get around to it.  Wish me luck and a long life so that I have time to complete one for each of them.