It’s Present Making Time

 I am working hard making my Christmas Presents

Quilted Christmas Table Runner

The underside is a pattern which can be used all year round.

The lighting in my dining room is nada so will try again to get a better shot.

Inexpensive student composition book covered with fabric for use as  journal.

 Christmas table runner under construction.

The backing of this one is a batik.

 Four quilted hot plates under construction.

Two mores pieced squares to make into quilted hot plates.

Quilted Christmas tree wall hanging under construction.

A fall wreath with pinked ties knotted around a coil of medium wire covered with formal tape.

My Owls Arrived & Are Having a Hoot-Out

These are the owls I received from the Fall Owl Swap 

in which I participated.

This one was sent from Holly Crowder at cottonpickinfun.blogspot.com. It is precious standing about 6 inches tall. He’s made from felt with a woolen scarf, a fleece cap, and a bell. He is just the cutest guy. THANK YOU HOLLY. I love him. 

Debby, from over at cozy blanket.blogspot.com and the sponsor of our little fall owl swap, sent me this adorable owl. He is sitting on a bed of twigs, and a fabric covered Ball jar lid serves as his stand. I put him on the “dream” texture by Kim Klassen because Debby is always dreaming of owls. THANK YOU, DEBBIE.

This sweet little owl was made by Judy over at 20NorthOra. I am going to hang it on my Christmas tree. It is a piece of burlap cut into the shape of an owl with fabric added for wings, buttons for eyes, and felt for the nose. It’s petite and oh, so cute. THANK YOU, JUDY.

This is a little treasure Debby sent to me...it is a necklace on a remake of a small pocket watch. I always wore necklaces and pins all the years I taught school, and I do not seem to be able to break the habit When I get up in the morning and get dressed, I still put on a necklace. DEBBY, THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I LOVE IT!!!

Christmas before last I participated in a Swap for All Seasons where we made 25 decorated, small match boxes and put inside of each a tiny little gift. When I received this larger matchbox from Pam all the way over the pond in Norway, I immediately knew there was going to be something small and special inside. Sure enough there was...a baby owl, a little pillow and a precious little bed with lace on it...and they all fit into the matchbox. They are absolutely the cutest things ever...all homemade with lots of tiny stitches. THANK YOU, PAM. I love my owl baby and its little box tree house. I appreciate all the time it took you to put this together because I am a hand sewer, too. It is sososo creative. Be sure to check out Pam’s blog at Winkels Crazy Ideas.

Quilts for Special Friends

Faith’s Quilt

This baby quilt was made for the newborn daughter of my dear friend and fellow middle school English teacher, Megan Ziegler. Megan and Timm gave her the most beautiful name... Justice Faith Ziegler

This lap quilt was made for my friend and hematologist, Dr. Padmaja Mellidi.

Fall Table Runner

I had a bunch of little ends of fabric left from fall last year, so I went online to find a pattern for a table runner. I found the easiest tutorial at Amy Smart’s "Diary of a Quilter Blog". Here is the link:

http://www.diaryofaquilter.com/2010/08/table-runner-tutorial.html

She also posted a wonderful tutorial for making and sewing on the binding with nice corners.

http://www.diaryofaquilter.com/2009/05/finishing-quilt-tutorial.html

I made mine shorter than hers because of a smaller table, but it was such fun to make. The best part is I ended up quilting as I went along so once all the strips were sewn and a few extra lines run, I was ready to bind it off.