Christmas Treetopia

tree·to·pi·a

trē/ˈtōpēə/

noun

1. a state of things in which every tree is perfect. 

It finished at 62" x 62" of Christmas tree happiness. 

Available here and here. 

Modern Patchwork Christmas Tree Quilt Pattern

Sometimes I get so lucky.

Like today when the babies slept synchronously all day and I actually had time to do something. 

Like this.

Now available here. and here. 

Merry Christmas!! 

200!

Just realized this is my 200th post.

That actually implies a lot of stitches.

:o)

I also realized sometime three days ago that it is easier and faster to finish projects you've already started then to start and finish completely new ones.

Wow.

Seems like a statement of the obvious, but I really think I put things away thinking, "eh, I'll do that one later when I get more time."

Yeah, like I'm ever going to get more time.

In fact, I'm 20.5 weeks pregnant with twins... there won't be any more time for a long time.

Back to the stitches.

On deck today:

A granny square table runner in Joy by Kate Spain for Moda. These blocks were the leftovers from the "production" of this quilt.

Some very happy coasters in Meadow Friends by Deb Strain for Moda.

A small table runner in Birds and Berries by Lauren and Jessi Jung for Moda.

I only used the purple and coral for this one.

I couldn't find any way to make the purple work with the blue for me...

They weren't even combined in a print so I figured I was allowed to exclude them from each other.

I actually have a quilt in the rest of the jelly roll... I should post pictures of it tomorrow.

I'm keeping it for my little who.

As I was quilting it (no, not cutting, piecing, basting), I realized it matched her future room colors and that she would NEED it to throw on her bed. :o)

Yeah, it took me that long.

And some coasters in Summersville by Lucie Summers for Moda.

Loved this line.

I have a twin sized quilt in these fabrics that needs to be quilted.

That project lost momentum when we moved...

Lame me.

These have all been listed in the shop. :)

Blitzen Coasters

Have teeny tiny scraps? 

Make coasters. :)

These are all in Blitzen by BasicGrey for Moda.

My kids LOVE playing with these micro-quilts. 

I have to hide them for their own protection!

In the shop.

Christmas Spirit and a little Whimsy

Also finished this little runner in Christmas Spirit by Holly Taylor for Moda.

It's a very beautiful and traditional Christmas fabric line.

I tried out the technique for half square triangles here.

Up close.

Binding is the dark brown Moda Marbles.

I also finished these little beauties. 

Both in the shop.

Oh boy! I've got Joy!

"I do. I do.

It starts in my heart and spreads to my head in a minute or two... "

I don't know how many of you will get the reference.

I was in "Joy School" as a little kid.

It was a home school type preschool program and that was the theme song.

I can still sing the entire thing.

Good brainwashing.

Still, I've been singing it to myself the whole time I've been working on this quilt. o_O

The fabric line is "Joy" by Kate Spain for Moda.

Zigzag binding.

Oh, love.

Christmas trees on white for backing.

Anyone else like the back of the quilt to hide the quilting? 

Am I odd?

In regards to this. 

Obviously I'm "odd" in other ways. 

Have you seen all the granny squares in blogland these days?

And the great granny quilt-a-long? 

I'm thinking of joining. 

These blocks are sooooooo fun to make.

In the shop.

Something for a Saturday

Had to sew something today while I wait IMpatiently for my "Joy" fabric to arrive. 

I guess I could have taken a photo of it in progress, but that just ruins the surprise for you.

I'm not much of a secret keeper.

More of a bean spiller.

So I'll tell you it's a granny square pattern. 

Oh I so love those.

I had no idea they would be so fun to make.

Sew... back to the sewing of the day.

Decided to do this little project I've been leaving undone now for, well, 2.5 years? 3.5 years? 

Oh, I can't remember. 

It's the second half of a charm pack of Peace on Earth by 3 Sisters for Moda. 

This fabric line was an early love of mine for its Christmas but not-too-Christmas-to-be-left-out-all-year prints.

  

The backing and binding are the same red tone-on-tone floral.

Simple echo quilting straight down the runner.

This one is long and skinny. 

In the shop.

Frosted Quilt Pattern

Have you seen these?

I stumbled across them while searching for snowflake quilts making sure the name wasn't already taken. 

Amazing, huh?

Now available here.

Sooo sleepy. Must sleep. Now. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Blitzen.

The weather here has been rainy.

Well, that's an understatement. 

Houston has been experiencing some flooding and we've been stuck inside all week.

I'm happy to report that the sun finally made an appearance today and I have photos of my newest quilt! 

In Blitzen by BasicGrey for Moda.

I started thinking balls and ended up thinking wreaths and then needed snowflakes.

The design for this one was very organic.

Snowflake applique.

I chose the red binding and grey paisley large print for borders. 

I'm still wondering if I should have done red borders... these decisions always make me just want both. 

Houston is much too green today. 

Winter almost isn't fathomable. 

Whole quilt. 

See that little mushroom in the corner?

And all of the ones just above the quilt in the background? 

Houston has been attacked. 

There are more mushrooms than people right now!

It's in the shop. 

A gift and another advent calendar

My very wonderful awesome friend had a baby boy about a month ago and it took me (sadly) this long to get her a present... 

and of course I had to make it. :) 

I was thinking of the Thimble blossoms "Swoon" block but my internet was down and I couldn't get it... 

Never to be slowed in the groove, this is what I came up with in the heat of the moment. 

I found it surprisingly similar from memory. 

But this minkee fabric for the backing!! 

I about died when I spotted this at quilt market and HAD to have it just for this purpose. 

Quilting it was dreamy too. 

Love. 

It very much made me want to keep it.

I hope she liked it just as much!

I also had a request for a custom advent calendar with loops and buttons. 

I really liked how it turned out so I thought I'd share. 

I love it when others give me more ideas!! 

And I HAD to post this photo of my darling husband who was ever so willing to help me take a picture of it tonight.

You'd never know from the picture that he really didn't act how his expression implies he should have!

You definitely can't think of having a merry Christmas with that Scrooge face looking at you. 

Much Requested

It's finally available after many, many, many, many requests. :)

You can find it in the shop. 

P.S. I went to Quilt Festival this weekend, drug two (actually well-behaved) children in a double stroller through it, spent more than I should have, and definitely want to quilt my brains out now. Prepare yourselves for coming posts... hehe.

Christmas in July isn't over yet!

Christmas in July is definitely a quilting thing.
My husband just doesn't understand.
I walk around humming and sometimes singing LOUDLY all sorts of Christmas songs.
All the new Christmas fabrics are hitting the stores with projects to do.
And because it's only July I buy TONS of it knowing that I'll have plenty of time to make things. **insert sarcastic laughter here**
This idea was born a few weeks ago and after spending half a day drawing and coloring (with the help of my 3 year old - she really colored a lot of it for me) I had a pseudo-pattern ready to go.
Then I just had to execute the plan.
And I really really liked the results.

This one is a Stylized Christmas Tree Wall Hanging in 12 Days of Christmas by Kate Spain for Moda and it's in the shop.

Countdown to Christmas

So, a little bit of a funny story which may or may not make you think I'm nuts.

I am, by the way.

I've had this quilt done since Friday.

I had the pillow done.

Well, almost.

I just needed a little more binding fabric.

The quilt shop that carries it was (of course) an hour away.

With two kids and people in town over the weekend that was impossible to accomplish.

Plus, my hubs works across the street from it 3 days/week so I couldn't justify the drive.

Well, I was nagging, nagging, whining, and nagging some more at my hubs.

It was driving me up the wall!

Finally (miraculously), he said he'd pick it up on his way home from work yesterday.

He didn't work there yesterday, so he actually drove 45 minutes out of his way to make his commute almost 2 hours just to get me ONE EIGHTH yard of the red dots fabric I needed one day sooner.

MAJOR brownie points.

In the world of quilting husbands - that makes him the BEST!

I really do love him. :)

It's 53" x 53" and the pillow is 18" x 18" - the quilt, pillow, and PATTERN (I know, seriously on top of this one) are in the shop!

I adore these fabrics. I am going to have to get some more and redo my stockings this year.

So, you'll probably see the ones I made last year and hung for a couple days listed in the shop too. :)

The matching pillow.

The whole stack.