Moose Trax Table Topper No. 2

And now, mine is finished, too.  The pinky purple may seem like an odd choice, but there are leaves in it, and I have a rain tree in my yard, which turns gold and pink in the fall.   Now to hang it up.   The first one reversed to a pumpkin, this one to a tree.  It is the Tiny Tannenbaum pattern, but I feel like it is appropriate for fall, too.  After all, one of the main things people look forward to is the leaves changing. 

Regifting a Gift

My newly refound friend gifted me with a kit to make a table runner from the pattern and fabrics on the left (which I love), and so since there was enough fabric for two table toppers, with fabric to spare, I decided to make the toppers so that I could share.   I was proud of myself that I had pretty much depleted down to a few scraps my autumn fabrics, so I had to make a visit to the store to do a little replenishing so that I could make them reversible.  This one is hers, last time I got the pumpkin and she got the autumn tree, I haven't finished mine yet, but this time I will get the autumn tree back.  Since DH has a doctors appointment in Gainesville today we will be passing by the city where she lives and I hope to give her hers so that she can enjoy it for the rest of the season.   There is still fabric left and two pillow motifs that match the winter scenes, I had hoped to finish a pillow for her, but unfortunately ran out of time and energy, but I think that it'll make another little surprise gift that I can give her before the end of November, and it'll be pretty with the Christmas (winter) side. 

Tiny Tannenbaum

I saw this pattern for Tiny Tannenbaum, a web bonus at McCallsQuilting.com here, and thought I'd give it a try.  I made 3 all together.  This is one of the two Christmas ones, then I made a fall themed one (after all, the trees leaves turn in the fall), and then I made another pumpkin, as my fall fabrics have gotten very thin, and strips were more plentiful than squares. 

I kept this one for myself.

Here is my pumpkin back, I do like reversible, and I gave the other one with the Christmas tree and the fall tree to a friend that I hadn't seen or heard from in a few years.  Yesterday, we met at a restaurant and I gave her hers, plus Christmas bags for her and her daughter, and she surprised me with a pattern for Moose Trax, with all the fabrics.  It's beautiful and I can't wait to make it.   She lives only about an hour away, so I hope to see her and her daughter often.  She's not a quilter, but she has the greenest thumb that I've ever seen.   I wish we lived even closer.

Back To Bags

I had some Christmas fabric left, so when I got my haircut the other day, I thought, I should make my hairdresser a bag.  Then, I ran across a co-worker that I hadn't seen or heard from in about 6 years or so and I'm meeting her in a few days.  I thought (again, not always a good thing),  it would be nice to take a bag for her and her daughter.   So, here they are. 

It's a Sickness

I couldn't help myself, I had 4 pumpkin sized stripsets left.   My husband said the pumpkins look like footballs.  I'm thinking Florida Gators, New England Patriots.  Just have to watch for fabric. 

Pumpkin Tablerunner

I've outdone myself in taking bad pictures, but yesterday I saw Green Fairy Quilts Pumpkin Table Runner and decided I needed one for my table.  I decided I wanted it long, my table is 6 feet, and I got started.  Anyone who has read my blog knows that I prefer reversible table toppers and runners, so luckily I had enough Christmas fabric.  I worked on it several hours yesterday and then worked on it during the night from about 1am until about 3:15 am.  I got up at 5:30 am and finished it about 9:15 am.  It is now washed and on the table.  When it's time for the Christmas side, it will be on a Parson's table in my kitchen, but for now it's on the dining room table.  I flipped over the quilt that I made for a tablecloth and used the plain back, not my first choice in colors, but it is what it is, and it'll be there until the end of November.

Deck-ade the Halls Flimsy

Our company is out of town until the week-end, so I put together my Deck-ade the Hall quilt.  It's a flimsy now.  I hope to have it completed by the middle of November, and ready for display in my living room by the first of December.  It's really starting to feel like the holiday season. 

More Early Christmas, For The Boys

The boys are 1 year old (later this month), and 4 years old.  A pillowcase each.  The one on the left is for the 1 year old, and it matches his quilt, from Ikea, with hedgehogs. 

Also these Hot Wheel carriers, not perfect, but hopefully they'll like them.  I know they're too old for the one year old, but I figure his mom can put them aside for him.  I used the instructions on Homemade by Jill, and Just another Hang Up.

Early Christmas

Because part of the family is visiting from Germany and they won't be back for Thanksgiving or Christmas, my daughter decided to have a multi-holiday celebration this month.  Since I already gave my great-granddaughter her Halloween bag, doll and baby doll quilt, it left me a little empty handed.  So, today I made small bags complete with pockets and zipper tops for Mackenzie and my 10 year old granddaughter Kaylea.  I hope that they aren't too big for 4 year olds and 10 year olds, but will be still big enough for a few more years.  Sorry about the lop-sided photography,  Now, to figure out some small gifts for the other little ones. 

What's Going On

Small things amuse small minds.  First I had to get over my wonder that "What's Going On"  could be a question or a statement, the first clue being that there isn't a question mark.  Oh well, it's one of those days.  My grandson, his wife and their two children got in Tuesday evening and so we've been able to spend time with them Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and now they are in Memphis, Tn. visiting her side of the family and taking care of some business.  They'll be back in a week and then will spend a couple of weeks here.  The kids are adorable, we are getting reacquainted with our great-granddaughter, who will be 4 in December and meeting her brother for the first time, who will be 1 this month.

   We also had a beautiful new granddaughter Friday the 4th.  We've only gotten to see her once so far, but I'm sure we will see a lot more of her. 

Not much sewing going on between visiting, home health people for my husband, and doctor appointments, but yesterday I did go to Hobby Lobby and picked up some fabric to make new pillowcases for the small pillows on our bed.  Do you think maybe it's time.  As you can see by the first photo up at the top, mending isn't my best talent. 

This morning I got up and made these 8 pillowcases.  They aren't fancy, just simple little rectangles with French seams and a hemmed top, but I'm so glad to have them.  We use quilts on the bed, and they are all scrappy, so anything goes pretty much.   Yesterday, I must have been in a purple mood.

Christmas Bags

I stumbled across some videos on You Tube by Jean JellyRoll Queen about adding a zipper to the charm pack totes video by Missouri Quilt Company.  Here
and here .  I have been using velcro on my totes, and thought that zippers would be an improvement, so I made three more to test it out. 

I'm sure that you believe that all went perfectly, and that this one tote has pockets on the outside instead of on the inside on purpose.   All in all though, it was pretty simple to add the zipper, and if you are like me and like things contained, you should check out You Tube.

One More

And I think it turned out pretty cute.  I used what I had, (except for the Nutcrackers, I bought those) and if I were shopping I might have gotten different fabrics, but all in all, I'm happy with it. 

Even the inside is Christmasy.  I do the lining in my pockets upside down, because when I reach in, they are kind of right side up.   I'm already getting the urge to make some for my SIL's, I can't seem to help doing that to myself.   I didn't make that side of the family Halloween bags though.

And Yet Another

Another Afghan and another tote bag.  The Afghan is for my daughter. 

I gave away all my Halloween bags, and didn't have one for me.  Not enough fabric left for another bag, and so I decided to do a fall bag instead.  I didn't want to buy more fabric, so this may not be the best combination, but it is done, it was all from stash and scraps, and it is mine.  I can use it for 2 months too, instead of one.   I will have at least one more bag, when I cut this one out I also cut out a Christmas bag and it is about half finished now.  I've run out of steam though, my husband and I spent about 6 1/2 or 7 hours at the hospital today, he was having fluid removed from around his lung and the prep and waiting after it was over to make sure that everything was ok took awhile.  It's a puzzle why sitting around can make you so weary.