~ Namely ~

One of my favorite parts of my Christmas decor are my grandchildren's stockings with their names on them. Making these constitutes one of the rare times I use the embroidery module on my Bernina.

It is all worth it.

My own children's stocking are made of felt and yarn and ... soot.  They were made in the late 70's and early 80's and they have seen a lot of Christmas eves on the fireplace.

I still love them dearly.

Also back in the early 80's, I made many a stuffed, fabric ornament.  Some of them are shaped like ornaments and I hand embroidered the names on.

When the grandchildren came along, I made one for each of them.  You can probably tell by the fabrics, which ones were made when.  

I do not have a grandchild name Falalalala, but ... that's OK, because ...

I do love Christmas and the decking of halls.

~ For the Birds ~

Sometime in September, when stores were just beginning to put out their Christmas merchandise, I found these mercury glass bird ornaments and was instantly smitten.

I found them at Tuesday Mornings.

I bought them and then started thinking about all of the bird ornaments I had collected or made over the years. I decided that my main tree would definitely have a bird theme to it. In fact you could say that for the last couple of months I have definitely been "bird brained."

Four or five years ago I made a variety of stuffed, fabric birds for a class I was teaching, so I was good to go with them.

 

Sometime in 1981, I sewed a ton of different ornaments for our tree from a Vogue pattern.  They included these white doves that have some lovely embroidery detail on them.  I knew they would be perfect also.

 

And then one day I was at JoAnn's and spotted these wooden birds ... for a song.

My intention was to paint them ... probably white ... but I came home and promptly forgot about them until I got them out to decorate the tree.

At that point I was SO glad that I hadn't painted them.  I absolutely love their rough, natural state, which gives a somewhat natural look to my decidedly fake tree. 

Did I mention ...

I just love Christmas!

~ Coastal Christmas Colors ~

So I freely admit that I have jumped on the bandwagon this year and gotten a head start on the decorating.  I actually finished it all before leaving town for Thanksgiving.

Upon arriving home ... I was so thankful that I had.

I love my new Shell Tree, full of my new ornaments ...

... a sparkly starfish on the top ...

... a few snowflakes to remind me that even in southern California, we can always dream ...

... and some sparkly birds.

And just in case you would like such a beachy tree for your own home, here are my resources:

Snowflakes: Crate and Barrel
Starfish Ornaments: TJ Maxx
Birds: Michaels
The pattern to make your own shell ornaments: My Etsy Shop.

Oh how I love Christmas!

PS ... Thanks so much to Maya at Completely Coastal
for featuring me on her delightfully coastal blog!!

~ And the winners are ... everyone! ~

I have a heart full of thanks for all of your kind words about my block in Volume 8 of
Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks.

Let's face it ... you are all ... stars!



I am proud to announce that the winner of a Sea Quilts pattern is ...

Dawn Frisch.
She picked "Speaking with the Stars" (as seen above).

The winner of a free copy of the oh-so-delicious Volume 8 is ...

Sherry Von Femetti

Congratulations to you both!!
But read on, because there is NO need to feel crabby ...



Because everyone was ever-so-nice, I would like to offer you the chance to purchase that pattern that was your favorite (+ any other patterns)  at a whopping

30% off!

Just go to My Shop, pick patterns with abandon and then type in
Volume8
to receive the discount.

But keep on reading because ...

The first two pattern orders will receive a free copy of  Volume 8 when I mail their patterns!! 

I told you that you wouldn't feel crabby!

   

~ Anchors Aweigh: Welcome to my Blog Tour! ~

I am tickled ... and honored ... to once again be a part of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks.
Volume 8 to be exact.

Page 49 ... block #752 ... to be even more exact.
It's probably no surprise that my subject matter is, well, sea worthy.

So here is an overview of my process.  I give you some good, a LOT of fun ... and a little bit of ugly.

I had decided that I would choose a motif and place four of them on my block, radiating out from the center. I chose anchors as my motif, due to their particularly "pointy" quality. I then proceeded to design an anchor that was particulary "pointy".

Next stop: fabric selection.  Always one of my MOST favorite parts of the process. I found that I had some fun fabrics that already had an anchor motif on them ... but I kept looking.

I spent a small amount of time considering these very patriotic star fabrics ... but I still kept looking.

Aha! Pay dirt. Once I came across the red/turquoise dot for the background ... I knew I had my color scheme.  It was just a matter of picking the more solid-reading fabrics to go with it, so the anchors (and the sashing strip) would stand out.

I sewed each of the 4 blocks and proceeded to trim them to size as is my routine with any machine applique project.  Unfortuneately, due to a momentary lack of focus, I trimmed one of the squares twice on the same side.  I had the choice to start completely over (because I didn't have enough of the fun Moda rick-racky fabric) or to make up for my mistake by adjusting the seam allowance as seen below.

Plan B it was! (Now where else are you going to see an admission such as this?!)

Now be sure and leave a comment on this post and you will be entered in a drawing to win one of two (count 'em 2!) great prizes.  First, visit my Etsy Shop and pick out your favorite pattern and let me know which one that is, in your comment here.

You will be entered to win a copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks volume 8 or your favorite Sea Quilts pattern.  I will post both of the winners next Wednesday, November 20th.

Thank you Quiltmaker's

And ... quilt makers.

~ The Holidays are HERE, people! ~

The countdown has begun, no matter how high the temperatures are here in Southern California.

I have a brand new pattern on my Etsy Shop and you are going to want to get started.

I have spent the past month sewing these coastal ornaments ... with abandon.

They were not time consuming ... au contraire ... they were just addicting!

So now I am passing on that addiction to you.

It's only fair.

And in keeping with the holiday crafty spirit, I am putting the above (landlubbing) pattern back on my shop, here.  This has been a favorite of many a quilter since I created it in 2008. If you can't complete it this year (which you could, it's only 36" square) you could have a head start for next year.

And speaking of head starts ... get going over to the Blog Tour this week at Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks!

Make sure to stop by here on Wednesday.  We are all making it worth your while.

So ... go out and finally put away those pesky Halloween decorations and start in on the fun.

Bing said it best: "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!"

(and Bing is always right.)

~ Sneak Peak X Two ~

So this is what I have been working on furiously that has consumed my fall and somewhat obliterated it.

Coastal Tree Ornaments.

Pattern to follow.

And THIS is what has just plain made me giddy while I worked.

My block was selected to be in Volume 8 of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks.

Please stop by all next week to participate in the blog tour.  Prizes are indeed involved.

My day will be next Wednesday, November 13th.

Prizes will include the chance to win the ...

Coastal Tree Ornaments Pattern.
yay

~ Fish Lips ~

TaDa!  I finished both of my colorful tropical fish quilts.

Two ... two quilts in the same space as one! 

Each of these quilts measures 25 1/2" wide X 18 1/2" tall. 

Each one is created out of colorful, shiny details ...

... + layers of texture to bring them to life. 

I didn't originally intend them to sport such ... girly ... colors, but once the fish spoke to me, those things were out of my hands.

So I offer you this PINK.
In the month of October.

Only fitting.