Christmas Past

I made a couple of these a few years ago.  This wasn't the prettiest. 

I used to have Christmas for the family at my house, but my daughter has had it the last few years.

I loved this quilt and gave it away this summer.  It's on my to-do list to make another.

This Christmas quilt was given to one of my grandsons and his wife.

This one is on my bed until the first of the year.  I really like it.

These little mini stockings were a fun project that I made several years ago.  I made lots of them.

I have made lots of table-toppers.  Pillow covers, too.

Wall hangings too, and almost always reversible.  I figured why not a tree for fall and Thanksgiving.

A dresser cover from some blocks I got at a shop hop.

Table-toppers and wall hangings, it's a sickness.

And, one more wall hanging that almost got left out.  The scare crow is from Hobby Lobby.

I have also made countless Christmas bags.  I made this Christmas post to link up to Bonnie at Quiltville's Very Merry Happy Holiday linkup here.

Great-Granddaughter Rocker Ensemble

A couple of years ago, my daughter and I got this chair, made the cushion and a little matching blanket, for Dominic.  He has a little sister now, and since he has outgrown his chair, and she seems to like it a lot, my grandson asked if I could make a more girlie rocking chair ensemble.

I, of course, said yes and here is the front of the little rush job quilt.  I am not thrilled at all with the looks of it, but it is mostly purple, like her room.

He also asked that it have a fleece back, as she loves soft, and so it has a fleece back. 

And here are the replacement chair pads.  Again, I wish I'd taken more care to straighten things up, but in my defense, I was hurrying.  I wanted to get them done in time for a free ride to their new home a couple hundred miles from us.  I have a feeling these are my last finish for the year.  I just hope that they fit, I got dimensions from my grandson, but I was on my own with the curved top. 

Grand Illusion Step 5 Finished

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Grand Illusion Mystery Steps 1 - 4

Step 4 complete.

Steps 1 - 4, getting closer to the reveal. 

Iron Tote and Pad

Oh my goodness!  I thought this was going to be a piece of cake, but in it's way, I think it was more difficult than my Bionic Gear Bag.  I tried to do some investigating before I started, and one lady suggested using old towels instead of batting.  I wonder if she ever tried it herself.  I didn't have any 100% cotton batting, and I thought to myself, I have old towels, and that will save a little money, and a trip to the fabric store.  First since it called for 2 layers of batting, I used 2 layers of towel, and I couldn't hardly even get it under the presser foot.  Before I had even gone 4 inches, I broke a needle.  I took it apart, and used 1 layer of towel.  Alas, even that was a major stretch for my Bernina presser foot, and every stitch was a fight.  Breaking of thread was routine.  Never again, if I make another one, I'll make sure that I have the batting. 

Here it is with my little travel iron inside, still in the box.  I feel sure that a full sized iron would fit in here just fine, and I'm thinking, I'll make myself a little hemmed piece of flannel to use on top of it when I iron to keep it looking nice.  That will fit in here just fine, also.  I used 4 inches of elastic, as the pattern called for, but I think that was too much.  I need to investigate what would be good to make sure that the buttons don't pop out and dump my goodies.

Not perfect, but I wasn't kidding when I said every stitch was a challenge. 

All in all, I'm happy with it, and I think that if I hadn't used the towel it would have been as easy as I expected it to be.  It might be that the firmness of the towel is more to my liking than the batting would have been.  I know, pink buttons?  They were all I had, and my Bionic Gear Bag is pink and brown, so they'll fit right in.   Oh, it is a free pattern and I got it here: http://thepaintedquilt.blogspot.com/2013/07/easy-peasy-travel-iron-caddy.html       or                        
http://tricountyquilters.weebly.com/uploads/3/0/2/4/3024945/iron_caddytote.pdf

Grand Illusion Clue 3 and Sea World Skating Show

Oops, good thing I decided to double check after I did one.  It was a lot easier to rip only one.

120 plus done.  Now, I have a couple of small projects to work on while I wait for clue 4 on Friday. 

Sea World's annual ice-skating show, it's like a fairyland this time of year.

Pre-show entertainment, a very good Christmas music show.

A very nimble gymnist. 

And the show begins.

Bionic Bag II

Here it is loaded, and I'm sure I could fit a bit more in, too.

Here is what was in it:  Counter-clockwise   Full sized 45mm rotary cutter, small wallpaper tool for flattening seams, a magnifying glass, pencils, embroidery scissors, pre wound bobbins, more pens and pencil, point turning stick, thread with bobbins, walking foot, seam ripper, 8 inch shears, back scratcher ( I don't know anyone there well enough to ask them to scratch my back), needles, 2 1/2 by 6 1/2 inch ruler (one of my favorite sizes), and a screwdriver (you can see the blue handle).  And, of course, in the tray, a full sized magnetic pin holder, and a box of 50 wonder clips.

Bionic Gear Bag

I worked a few hours on this one yesterday and today.  There are a myriad of things that could be better, but it is good enough to serve the purpose.  Tomorrow, I hope to load it and take another picture.   Even better, I have two days left to clean, maybe do a little Christmas decorating, and straighten up and be ready for clue 3 of Grand Illusion. 

Grand Illusion Step 2 - Finished

Step2, was a challenge, but it is finished.  Anxious to work on my Bionic Bag and hopefully have it done before Friday, when Step 3 will be out.  So far, so good keeping up, but not doing scrappy is a mental challenge.

Grand Illusion Step 1 - Done

Cut out and ready for sewing.

First 6 finished and measured - pretty close.

Step 1 finished.  Step 2 I will work on on Saturday at a local quilt shop, with several other mystery quilt quilters.  It should make it more fun.  This Saturday I went, but didn't bring my machine, so just watched.  Not next time.