Christmas Pillows From Free Designs!

One of my favorite places to visit is Dearie Dolls. She has been posting her designs for free and this past month has put up a lot of wonderful Christmas designs. They are fun to make and a lot of them are in series so you could make a whole quilt with a set of them. You can also do a search for a particular type, try typing in snowmen, enough to keep you busy all year.

This one was from her series, twelve days of Christmas, he is two turtle doves. There were some extra critters in the design, but I kept it simple. The snowflakes are done with a gold glitter thread, I wanted to try a little sparkle.

I added a hanger since this is for residents, I wanted something they can hang on a door or their bed.

This one was a fun one to stitch, it just says happy and makes you happy as you stitch it. She has silver glitter thread for her snowflakes.

VOTE NOW! The voting has started at This-n-That Fabrics for your favorite Christmas quilt. Be sure to visit and cast your vote for your favorite quilt, lots of wonderful pieces.

Snowed in ... Finished!

I worked on my new piece and finished it tonight. I added a border of various Christmas prints and then added a green border that has stars on it. I think it gave it just enough prim, but still fun. I am not sure if I should use walnut stain on it? What do you think?

The pattern is from Chickadee Hollow Designs and it was gifted to me by This-n-That Fabrics. There is still time to vote for your favorite quilt, if you haven't yet.

I still need to fix the bird, missed a spot with the marker and forgot the green for the leaves on the birdhouse. We won't mention the sloppy job I did on the border binding, my brain cannot think straight so that seems to be effecting my newest pieces, wait till you see my next one, talk about wonky, lol. I wonder if anyone would want this;) For the quilting, I used Lana wool thread.

Snowed In!

I bet  you expected a photo of a snow storm, lol. We did get an earthquake yesterday, that was my first experience with one. It started in Maine, but travelled all the way to RI and it shook the house.

Last month I won some free patterns from This-n-That Fabrics. Today I finally finished the stitching on one, it is called, Snowed In, Lovin' It, by Chickadee Hollow Designs. I thought it would make a nice gift for someone who likes to quilt. I used fabric markers for the colors, as it was done in the pattern.I think the extra color adds a fun touch and gives it some pop. I didn't add hair to her head, and I didn't read how to do the scarf and hat, I just hand knotted pieces to the spots and it didn't come out too bad.

If you haven't signed up to follow This-N-That Fabric's Blog, you should, they have lots of fun contests and right now they are still taking votes for the Awesome Autumn Challenge.

Now I have to figure out how I want to finish this piece. The original is in a frame and I like that idea, or I might make it into a mini quilt. I added a piece of batting before I stitched it to give it a more sculpted look, and it is a great way to hide the stitches.

Giveaway Winner and UFO's

I thought I would be nice and announce the winner first, lol.
The lucky winner is #25, Congratulations Gayle! It is the 25th, so thought that was funny how that was the lucky number. Gayle, email me with your choice of any epattern from my ecrater site. I truly appreciate all of my visitors and the comments and I hope I can get some new freebies done for the holiday.

But, I do have two freebies that I found on the web and have been working on and maybe  you would like to make some of your own pieces. The snowlady pattern if a freebie from Primitive Blessings. I plan on adding a wool nose and button eyes. The piece on the right is a pattern called Home for Christmas and it is a freebie from Hatched and Patched. The oval design will be going on a small quilt with tongues which you can see in the freebie pattern. If you scroll down on her blog, you will find the pattern, it was for the Henry Glass blog hop.

New Wall Hanging

I seemed to get hit with another cold, this time a light head cold.
I decided to make something for myself, since I was sneezing a lot and it is ok if I sneeze on my stuff;)

I found this design on Primitive Blessings. It is a freebie design and just loved the look, so I made a little piece to hang on my rack. I added a hat from another of her designs, and then added my own things around it. I used old brown yarn for the trees and green floss for the couching. Not sure if I should add ornies, or leave it plain. If you are looking for great primitive designs to make some items as gifts, check out the site. There are freebies and great epatterns.



Since I did not put up a big tree, I went with an alpine and placed it on my cheese box. I put some of the wonderful prim ornies that my friends gave me. You can get alpine trees at the craft store and they are always on sale. I put my Miss Pooties kitty under the tree, but the snowman ornie makes it look like a snowman doll, lol. The horse is something I made years ago. I decided to sand and antique it a bit and it looks great under the tree. If you have older items form when we all made country, a little walnut spray, will do wonders.



I had another wreath and added a fun ornie that my friend sent me and some of my kitty ornies. A great way to redecorate a wreath and use some of my ornaments, that are out of reach or the real kitties;)

Snow lady finished

Today I finished my Snow Lady. I got the original pattern from Twigs and Sprigs and it grew from there. She has wonderful patterns for all types of mediums and you can get instant patterns as well as freebies. I want to do her angel and lambs for the spring. I think it will be fun to do seasonal hangings that I can change out.

I made tabs by hand sewing on strips of the border color, to the backing. Since the quilt is washed and stiffer, I just used 3 tabs. I like the primitive looks of tabs and they are quick and easy. Plus, I can always take them off if I want to redo it another way. I plan on hanging it from stick I have been saving, now if I can just remember where I put it:) So, for now I just threw it up on a dowel without tying properly, to get a shot. I really need to get a tripod, I shake too much.

I also used a new product for me, June tailor's fusible batting. It really was so much easier than pinning and it is nice and stiff and took well to a washing. For some reason the other package is different, even though it is the same product, need to check into that. I like the stiff one, great for machine sewing, but tough for the hand quilting.



I still need to clean my wools in the cellar, a lot is in boxes, and the ones on shelves are all over the floor. We know what the furry creatures are doing at night;) Dora has one spot she sleeps on, so I keep old wool there. But, I am finding hair all over now and I found the culprit today. Izzy seems to want to leave her mark and fur on every spot in my house. I was thinking if I got her to gain some weight, maybe she would be too lazy to go in the high spots;)

Snow Lady Applique

I have been resting the past few days. This old body cannot handle shoveling snow, like it used to;)
I worked more on my rug and finished a new punch, but I can't show it, since it is a future present.
Tonight I finished the applique on a wall hanging I am making. I wanted to make something fun and simple that I could do in my lap and decided to use a design from Primitive Blessings.

I just love her designs and this snow lady was perfect for a winter wall hanging. I added a different sign and the bucket of snowballs, plus the hat. I might put a flower on it tomorrow. I will add a border and then do some stitchery which may include snowflakes. If you want some fun designs, check out her site, she has free ones and epatterns that are inexpensive. I have my eye on a few that will make great presents for my friends.