coasters for Christmas gifts

Here are some of the coasters I have sewn for Christmas gifts. They are made from 5x5 squares - 12 squares of each of two prints, plus a single square of flannel. Eight of each of the prints are folded in half and ironed - the squares are placed thusly - one print down, flannel sq., one print up - laid with the closed side inwards the 1/2 squares are placed like lattice work around the four sides. after sewing around with a 1/4" seam, they are turned inside out.

I hung the Christmas Quilt today!

I had a neighbor/friend bring a higher step stool than what I have, so that I could reach up to almost the ceiling to hang the Christmas Quilt.

Seeing it up like that is sure more inspiring than laying it on my bed (which is a full size only so that it hung over the top and bottom. The quilt is about 72" long and about four feet wide.

I have cathedral ceilings. so it can really be seen from top to bottom.

Angel Wall Hanging

Hard to believe it has been over two weeks since I last posted here on my blog. I have been busy making three lap quilts that a friend ordered for Christmas gifts for her grand children.

I have discovered that I really don't enjoy sewing someone that I did not get to choose the theme for. Sure is a lot more fun to look at fabric and decide what I want to make. Plus I have a really hard time asking for money from friends.

This wall hanging is about 24 in. wide by 20 in. long - the center oval with the angel was downloaded from the Internet on silk - surrounded by a silver glitter ribbon. I have hand quilting all the frames, as well as the rays coming from the center oval. The angel appears to be a water color and is very delicate. If my friend doesn't care for it, I will hang it in my bedroom.

A lazy day filled with sewing

Oh, what fun! As soon as the breakfast dishes were done, I headed for my sewing machine and had a great time sewing up my latest wall hanging. When you see it you can guess the name "Four Cats". It was a blast to make - biggest problem was with the background fabric - hard to tell the differnce between the right and wrong side - lots of tearing out - my seam ripper is getting dull from all the use it gets.

Tumblers & cats

Another wall hanging - I really enjoyed working on it. Is it perfect? Heck no! But what fun it was. There is a cat in the upper right hand corner coming out of the frame and another in the lower left hand corner catching some zzzzzz's.

Its fall and not too long until Christmas

Finished Lap Quilt #21 yesterday - I made the backing out of left over pieces of patriotic fabric - remind me never to do that again. It took me hours to finally get it all done - Evidently I am not good at things that look like a jig saw puzzle - I am now working on the hand quilted stars in the blank blocks - fun!

The little purse is one I did up a week or so ago - Lots of piece work - small with a rope handle - it closes with velcro and I'm thinking I will keep it ...

This is Lap Quilt #20 - a patriotic theme

I Iseem to have left out #19 - but anyway, here is #20... I will be hand quilting hearts and stars in the very lightest blocks - hope to start on that tomorrow. The reverse side is composed of three different patriotic prints - very bright ...