Christmas Inspirations

This beautiful quilt was one of the winners at the Houston Quilt Festival 2011.  It is called, "The Loading Dock" made by Mary Buvia. This quilt was magical to look at.  I heard that this quilt may be turned into a pattern sometime in the future.  I certainly hope so because I would buy it to make one of my own.  If I remember correctly there was a lot of sparkle to this quilt, possibly from swarvorski crystals.   Since we're in the holiday season, I wanted to share this beautiful Christmas quilt.  I took about 100 pictures of quilts at the show but this was the only Christmas quilt that won an award.  I'll post pictures of other quilts from the show at a different time.

Here's a close up of toys in Santa's sleigh.

Santa has an organized staff & this elf is checking his list.

This was the look on my face when I entered the show.  Okay........so this shot was staged.  My friend, Diane, took this picture because this was my first time attending the show.  

Here's Diane & I standing close to where the winning quilts were exhibited at the entrance.   This was a fabulous show.  It is huge & you really have to have a map of the George Brown Convention center & plan what to do ahead of time.  This avoids getting overwhelmed when you first walk in.  I'm so glad I planned ahead of time.

I'll post more Christmas quilt pics later......have a great day!





Christmas Inspirations

Below is Piece O' Cake (Linda Jenkins & Becky Goldsmith) Santa's Christmas village pattern that I made a few years ago while living in Mexico City.  While the original pattern was done in a dark navy blue scrappy background,  I made one with a neutral background & another with a navy background.   The one on the right in navy I donated to charity & the neutral quilt is still in my (slow) growing collection of Christmas quilts.  If you take a closer look, the yellow building block on the lower right hand corner is a Guatemalan Doll Shop. While shopping one day I came across some small Guatemalan dolls that were too cute to pass up.  The dolls give the quilt a dimensional & really cute look.  Some of the blocks are also done with preprinted fused fabrics. Remember that when using a basic pattern, you don't have to sew it exactly like your instructions are stated.  Have fun & be creative!  You'll enjoy making a pattern over & over again.  

                            

If you're interested in the pattern, below is the book that you will find the pattern in. 

You can't just make one!  Especially if your family tree continues to grow like mine is.  Have a great day!



Is it snowing near you?

I'm torn between wanting to have snow during this time of the year but, not wanting to deal with shoveling the driveway or driving in the slush.  Thankfully, I don't have to do either but, I am longing for the glistening beauty of snow that sits on tree branches when I look outdoors.  For now I'll just enjoy the type of glistening snow that is fabric sewn into my quilt shown below. 

Some of the houses are drawings of homes that we've previously lived in & the smaller one story cottage house is a pattern from Great American Quilts Book Two, 1994 called, "Cottages in the Snow", 1992 made by the Wenonah Depot Quilters of New Jersey.  These blocks are hand appliqued & also has some embroidered figures to give it a more whimsical look.  The quilting was done by free motion.  Doesn't this quilt remind you a little bit of a Christmas Dickens Village. 

I'll post more Christmas quilts in another day or so......