everyday december #6

 Remember chintz?

It's out of the closet and onto the bed.

I call this type of quilting rescue quilting.  

The client had basted this top for hand quilting and left it sitting for 30 years.

I took it apart and quilted it using a cozy poly batt.  The puffy batt gives it loft and a contemporary look.  

The back is an inexpensive muslin but, gives it a pretty whole cloth look.

As simple as this quilt is, it's one of my favorites of the year.

everyday december #5

enjoying the spirit

everyday december #4

Shari's quilt.

  I met Shari at the Cape a long time ago.  

Then I joined Guild and Shari was a member!

Now we are friends. 

Small world.

Shari is an amazing seamstress.

 She makes huge quilts.

 And this is no exception.

everyday december #3

Perfect Everytime Pumpkin Bread

3 1/3 Cups flour

4 teaspoons Cinnamon

2 teaspoons Baking Soda

1 teaspoon Baking Powder

1 1/2 teaspoons Salt

2 2/3 Cups Sugar

2/3 Cup Vegetable Oil

4 Eggs

15 oz Pumpkin fresh or canned (unsweetened) 

2/3 Cup Water

1/2 Cup nuts (optional)

1 Cup dried Cranberries (optional)

Sift dry ingredients together. Beat sugar, oil, add eggs 1 at a time until blended.  Add pumpkin then mix.  Add dry ingredients to the wet, a little at a time alternating with the water.  Stir in nuts or cranberries.  Cover the bottom of 2 loaf pans with a rectangle of parchment paper, then pour the batter into the pans.  You can mix a little cinnamon/sugar and sprinkle over the top before baking.  

Bake in 325 oven for 55-60 minutes, check for doneness.  

Cool at least 15 minutes before removing from pans.

Perfect everytime.

 But, be careful - - -  this is not diet food.  

=)

everyday december day #2

Inspired by a sketch from my sketchbook.  

Handmade silk fibers and silk threads make up the bird, tree and flowers.

My favorite type of work, art quilts with traditional quilting.

This little quilt will be pictured in 

Sue Bleiweiss' Sketchbook Challenge book.  

 Due out this spring, you can pre order from Amazon now! 

everyday december

when the gents of the house participated in no shave november,  i needed something fun for myself in december

 everyday december was my choice

only thing is, i didn't get going and here it is the 14th

i'm starting today

keep checking back

for everyday the rest of december there will be a post

. . . let's see if i can do it . . .

I've been using Brusho Crystal Colours in my sketchbook, they are bright and vibrant.   But, uncapping and capping the little vials is sort of hard....  Filling weekly pill containers with a small amount of the colored crystal paint is a great solution.  Drops of water can be added right to the little pod.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Sketchbook pages copied and stitched to blank cards.

a pocket full of memories

- Memory Marks -

This was a Holiday job worked on this past fall.

Initially the client wanted a memory quilt using her dad's suits and ties, but then we decided -

 maybe several mini quilts would be a better choice.

Several memory marks were made and she plans to share them with her family members this coming holiday season.

They can be used as book marks.

Each is different from the other all using her dad's suits and ties, labels included.

 The little travel pouch was made with suit fabric and lined with it's silk lining.  Inside one of the pants pocket's lining was the order tag with the suit's number, date and her dad's name;  finding this was a little treasure.  

I stitched that, and the custom made for XXX label inside of the travel pouch.

 This was a great project to work on.   

through the seasons sketchbook

a page from my sketchbook

was photo copied and gift tags were made

 and then Holiday cards

The copied pages weren't as bright as the original but worked fine for  cards.

- - - - - - - - - 

. . . then I got to thinking about taking some other images from the sketchbook and making a whole pack of seasons cards

. . . . some of the images I'll try to copy. . . . 

this will make a nice little gift

=)

when it gets cold outside

you might consider a pair of quilted mittens-

-a simple quilted design on pretty pink fabric with warm wool batting-

-a swatch of leather across the fingers; perfect for gripping-

-soft cuffs 

and

 lining

 from an up-cycled sweater-

-easy peasy lemon squeezey-

sew fun to make and toasty warm to wear

= )