MERRY CHRISTMAS

REMEMBERING THOSE AWAY FROM LOVED ONES

Found this video of British Military Wives, led by Garreth Malone of "The Choir" on the BBC.

SUNDAY THINGS

We are going to the movies this weekend. The Mission Impossible sequel looks okay, but we are going to Sherlock Holmes. We used to go to the movies all of the time, but there just haven't been many this year that are worth giving up a couple hours and the money to see.
I have been watching old Christmas movies. I found a box with an old video tape that has a movie called "The Gift of Love - A Christmas Story" it is from 1983. I will be sad when the tape is too old to play. I've always liked this movie. The audio is bad, and the picture is blurry. I made a pattern from one of the quilts that I found in the movie. it was a simple traditional quilt, but I liked it.

I watched the movie today, and I actually saw two more quilts that I had never noticed before.  One was a simple blue checkerboard.  And the other was this one.

 

This is a simple four patch variation set on point.  Would be easy to draft.  

One of my other favorite Christmas movies is a movie from 1957 called "All Mine to Give".  A movie about a Scottish immigrant family in Wisconsin.  It ends with the death of both parents, and the 12 year old brother taking his six brothers and sisters around on Christmas Day giving each of his six brothers and sisters away to families around the town.  Sad movie.  Anyway, the quilt in that movie is just a simple tied wool patch quilt.  Not unlike some of the quilts that my great grandmother made. I also see another in the background, but there is never a good shot of it.  Might be a woven blanket though.

 The last Christmas movie quilt I can think of is from Christmas With the Kranks

The only time you saw the quilt was when the characters were running down the hall.  

I drafted a pattern for it. Some day I will get around to making it.  I know of two ladies who did make variations of the design though

KRANK IT UP 

Now for real quilts.. I have bought a few quilt kits this year.  Not that I necessarily like making quilts that look like a bunch of others, but it is nice to get a lot of fabrics from the same line in one pack.  Hancocks of Paducah had a quilt kit recently that I really liked.  It was a little too pricey though.  Luckily I waited long enough and got it on sale and with free shipping.  The description said that the fabrics were a line of grey

But I was so happy when it came and they turned out to be taupe.   AUTUMN GATHERINGS

This will be one of my projects for next year. 

CHRISTMAS IS COMING... QUICKLY

I can't believe how fast this year has flown by. Christmas is almost here...again. And I find myself in the same spot I'm in every year.. not ready.
I bought myself my annual bottle of Bailey's. The Gift pack contained the bottle and 3 little flavored bottles to try. Since it turned out to be the same price, I bought the gift package. And the little bottles are so cute, I put a little eye screw in the top and put them on my tree.

 I haven't even attempted to get all of my ornaments out.  I might just leave my tree at the point it is at.  I'm having surgery right after Christmas.. and I don't want to over complicate the Christmas clean up.  Unlike a good friend, I don't want to be looking at my Christmas tree in February. 
I was watching Bells of St. Mary's on netflix this afternoon, and came across another movie quilt.  I paused it and snapped a couple of pics.

Maybe I will run it again and try taking the photo with my camera instead of my phone.. anyway, I love scouting out quilts in movies.  I have no idea what this pattern may be.  It's kind of put together on one side like I would imagine a log cabin.  Anyone ever run across this pattern?

I hope that you all are well, I almost have my teal and brown star quilt top put together.  I had to cut cornerstones for the sashing to connect the rows, or it would already be done.  That's what happens when you read the directions as you go along.  I sewed at my friends house, and didn't know to cut cornerstones because I hadn't read ahead.  But they are done now, so that is my next thing.  I cut up a pair of old jeans today, and made ricebags out of the legs.  Just a spur of the moment idea, which turned out well.  I am making nametag holders out of the pockets.  A friend did that and they were cute.  I can't remember what they looked like, so I'm waiting to hear from her. 

A busy week coming up.  I'm expecting my daughter in from Alaska on Wednesday.  It will be good to see her.  She is back to stay, and it will be nice to have our family all here for Christmas.  My son's girlfriend actually got him to take her to the Nutcracker Ballet today.  It must be love.... 

CHRISTMAS VIDEO SMILES

I've gotta give it to the Brits, they are cute as buttons and not afraid to wear women's clothes! I just love this video

THIS PART IS DONE

I finally managed to fit together all of the pieces and parts.  There is only one obvious mistake ( to me anyway) but this pattern from Fons and Porter goes down in my history as the most mistake ridden pattern of all time.  Even more than Chaos Harmony.
I had to cut 1/2" from the bottom of the cottage block because it was too big to fit against the drill panel.  I see that I will have to rip again and add a strip to the right of the drill panel so that it comes up to the edge of the rest of the quilt.  The tool box block was way too big to fit together with what was next to it, so some of it had to go.  Once I got the top hammer and house section finished, I had to adjust every aspect so that they would fit.
This is supposed to have 3 borders.  A narrow border that fits against the quilt, a Square in square border that's maybe about 3-4" wide, and then a wider outer border with a pieced block in each corner.  I will have to put this off.  His birthday is in July. 

I am having surgery on my Left shoulder soon, and I won't be able to tackle the piecing.  Not exactly sure of what I will or won't be able to do with any part of my arm.  But the aspect of having several weeks off of work and not being able to do anything with my hands is not a pleasant thought for me.

Today, I'm going to sew with my friend, I am going to try to finish up lining my train case, maybe cut the sashing for my teal and brown star quilt.  Really should just stay home because I need to get some things done before the holidays, but I want to do this while I can. 

I hope that all of you are well.  You will probably be hearing more from me since my "mouse" hand will still work. ;)