A Christmas Table Topper

This diminuitive table-topper ~ yes, it is just slightly larger than 8" square ~ is a gift for a friend in Germany.  I shipped it her way yesterday and hope it arrives safely and in time.  If all goes well, it she should have it in a week.  One Christmas her gift didn't arrive until February.  I guess the post office sent it by wagon train that year.

With each project, I expand and attempt to perfect my free motion quilting skills.  I quilted these Christmas trees on the points.  As Sarah from Confessions of a Fabric Addict would say, they are "organic".  Yep, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Actually, it's an interesting phenomena.  When I look at each individual Christmas tree I quilted, I see all of the flaws.  However, when I look at the topper as a whole, those Christmas trees really look kind of cool.


I quilted the outline of the gingerbread man.  It made him puff quite nicely.


As I tend to immerse myself in rather large quilting projects, I am finding these small projects exceptionally rewarding.

Monday Miscellaneous

Gag Quilting:

When I posted on the Maple Leaf Table Topper, my wise-ass cousin-in-law, and best friend, Eric, commented thusly:

I'm thinking even that's too big. Can you quilt me a single coaster? Thanks!

You can imagine how snickered, as I created this:

(Thanks for the picture, Eric!)

It was a quick process.  Eric had so enjoyed the Asian themed fabrics in my mom's latest quilt, that choosing fabrics was a no-brainer.  Since the project was quite small, I merely raided her scrap bag.  Then, I snickered some more.  The whole thing probably took an hour, and most of that was hand-sewing the binding down on the back.  And I snickered as I stitched.  (Are you sensing a theme here?)

I  snickered when I surreptitiously laid the coaster on Eric's keyboard while he was away from his desk.  And I laughed out loud when he came out of his office carrying the coaster, giggling, and saying, "I can't believe you did this."  The coaster now sits on his desk amongst other interesting treasures, which he blogged about here.

Joann's:

Made the trek to Joann's at the Town West Mall yesterday morning.  Normally, I would avoid the mall on the weekend after Thanksgiving.  I have no urge to deal with the crowds.  However, I needed some supplies to finish some Christmas gifts, so what was a quilter to do? 

Fortunately, the crowds were not too bad (maybe they'd all shopped themselves to death the day before?) and the sales were great.  No, not just great, fan-freakin-tastic is more like it.  I came out of the store with 7 1/2 yards of quality fabric for $19.  $2 off per yard Keepsake Quilting fabric; 75% off end of the bolt fabric (I picked up nearly an extra yard with this deal), and 25% off the total price coupon.  Do I feel like the cat that swallowed the canary?  You bet!

I was so blown away with my savings, I blew off the gym too.  My cousin, Shirley, said I could justify it by having "weight-lifted" bolts of fabric.  I love her!  (And really it's okay, because I hit the gym on Sunday and redeemed myself.)

When You Have Nothing to Show for Yourself

When you have nothing to show for yourself, well then show someone else's!

My mom finished this king-sized beauty right before Thanksgiving.  Its inspiration was an Asian themed fabric pack. 

If you click on the picture to make it larger, you might be able to see the feather quilting on the green sashing, and the leaves on the black frames.  She did an impressive job.  No one can tell that this was her first attempt at free-motion feathers and leaves.

Gorgeous, isn't it?

Favorite Things Friday

It's been awhile since I've been able to participate in Favorite Things Friday with Shay over at Quilting in My Pyjamas.  I have missed it!

My latest new favorite is an album called The Goat Rodeo Sessions, featuring the classic cellist, Yo-yo Ma.   

When my mom said she'd bought the new Yo-yo Ma CD, I expected the beautiful classic pieces to which I'd been briefly introduced when watching President Obama's inauguration.  My curiosity was piqued when I was told the name of the new CD:  The Goat Rodeo Sessions.  Really?  Yo-yo Ma and goats?  I couldn't imagine.

 

Billboard.com exclaims, "Yo-yo Ma Trades in Bach for Bluegrass". 

The band is composed of Yo-yo Ma, pre-eminent classical cellist; Edgar Meyer, award-winning bassist; Chris Thile, mandolin player and member of alt-bluegrass bands Nickel Creek and the Punch Brothers; and fiddler Stuart Duncan, top notch session musician having recorded with likes of Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire.  The songs are all original.

The name for the album is based on the definition of a "goat rodeo", meaning that about 100 things must go right at once if anyone is going to walk away from it.  Yo-yo Ma doesn't improvise.  Stuart Duncan does not read music.  What an interesting dynamic, no?

Here's a little taste:

Monday Miscellaneous

Apologies:

I have been so erratic about reading your blogs.  I apologize.  Despite my regret and hopes of doing better, life just keeps happening.

QI's

Meet the new, up and coming quilt inspector, Chuzzlewit:

It looks like she was a little confused, having to inspect the stack of napkins in the bowl atop the table-topper.  Oh well, she was trying.
 
Quilt Shop

Saturday, my mom and I checked out the quilting shop, Material Girls, in downtown Wichita.  While we are always on the look out for a new place spend a little a lot of money on fabric, it was the clever name that caught our attention.  We were not disappointed. I have never seen a larger selection of batiks, amongst the many other fabrics.  The staff was very friendly.  Quite a happy place.  The picture below does not do the shop justice.

Quilting:

I have been doing a little quilting, but all of it is for Christmas so no pictures.  I don't want to give anything away to the recipients.