Christmas Treasures

As I was decorating for Christmas this year, I got to thinking about how many Christmas quilts I have and decided it was worth a blog.  Many of these have been in previous posts, but I thought it would be nice to have them all together.

I recently completed this Family Traditions Christmas Wreath.  The original pattern by Judy Craddock had different ornaments around the outside which got me to thinking about specific ones that were important parts of our family traditions.  I replaced the ones from the pattern with reproductions of actual ornaments or figures from our family decorations.  I took photos and made paper copies to get them as close as possible.  I knew I couldn't applique the detail on the Santa in the sleigh (snow globe from my dad), so several friends helped me locate the perfect Santa print.  The puzzle pieces came from my novelty stash (we always do puzzles during the holidays), the snowflake (from my daughter's PT) is embroidered, but everything else is prepared edge applique with embroidered details.  I'm glad it's done as I was stressing about it way too much.  I think I made 3 versions of the Santa sleigh and several of the nativity (representing my dad's collection).  I printed a key explaining the significance of each and used it as the label.  I plan to let my daughter have the quilt after this first Christmas as she LOVES traditions.

This Christmas Stars & Chains was just a fun pattern I had seen and wanted to try.  I worried about washing it but fortunately pretreating the fabrics kept it from bleeding.

I had a few extra blocks that I didn't like in the above quilt, so I made a Christmas table topper.  It fits on the ottoman just perfect.

Christmas Frames was done three years ago and won a Judges Choice in a local show and a First Place ribbon in another.  I followed a pattern most in this one, only replacing the Happy Holidays with Merry Christmas and substituting the gift box for a rocking horse that just looked weird.  I really stretched my quilting skills on this one and am pretty happy with the result.  It fits perfectly on the large wall in the living room, pride of place.

Christmas Bargello mantle quilt.  I was playing around with a bargello pattern and really didn't know what to do with it when finished.  It looks strange on the mantle, so I use it as a tablecloth instead.

Fused Christmas Tree.  This was an attempt at machine applique.  It turned out ok but I definitely need more practice.  A fun pattern though.

Christmas Tree wall hanging.  This was one of my very first quilts.  I saw it as a sample at a local quilt shop in Denton in 2000.  It used a fusible grid with 2.5" squares.  For several years it was just a top turned pillowcase style, with no quilting.  I'd hang it each year and think gee I really should quilt that.  And a few years ago I finally did.

Christmas Table topper, now tree skirt.  This was made for my mother in law, but I don't think she ever put it out.  I later cut a hole in the middle for a tree skirt for my daughter's apartment.

Reversable Christmas placemats - these get put out every year and always on the star side.  But they are reversable, I just always seem to like the poinsettias, though I wish there were more contrast in the star.

This isn't technically a quilt, but quilt block that I made into a pillow cover.  Fortunately, I tried making one block before I cut out an entire quilt.  It was way beyond my skill.  I resewed the center so many times the fabric started coming apart.  I have since learned some tricks now that would help.  At some point I really should quilt it, but maybe before next year.

Christmas sampler, hand pieced several years ago.  When I was trying hand piecing, someone suggested using Christmas fabrics, so I gave it a try.  I discovered I really enjoy hand piecing.  When I started, I thought I had plenty of the background fabric, but when I decided to do the lattice sashing, I realized I was short 2 pieces.  Fortunately, once of my VOS friends had some in her stash.  The quilting on this is very basic, long before I had a long arm, but it is still one of m favorite quilts.

Table Topper made from old tree skirt.  When my husband and I first got married, I decided the tree skirts at the store were all ugly.  So, I made one but very quickly.  Not quilted, nothing special at all.  Once I started quilting, I made a very nice one and started using the old one as a table topper under our ceramic Santa's village.  And every year I thought how poorly made it was.  Finally, I told my daughter I was going to toss it and make a new one.  Being the ultimate tradition lover, she was horrified I would throw it away.  So instead, I took it apart and used the fabric to make a nicer one.  The original fabric is the burgundy with small bows.  I was able to pull coordinating fabric from my stash.  My only regret is I didn't measure the table, and it needed to either be slightly larger or slightly smaller as the tips stick out from the table.  Oh well, definitely better than it was.

And here is my "fancy" tree skirt.  When I made it, the stack and whack patterns were popular so I wanted to try it.  It was interesting, but I don't know that it was worth the effort it took, especially since it is hidden by packages most of the season.

Paper Panache Nativity.  Oh my, doing this was like doing a 2000-piece puzzle.  It was quite a challenge.  It was one of those patterns that was very difficult but not many who look at the finished quilt realize how complicated it was.

When my dad, saw the above nativity, he asked for one.  Sorry, not going to do that one twice.  But I found another pattern which he liked better because of the stained-glass effect.  This was machine applique with lots of thread painting.  I learned that old thread doesn't work well on thread painting.  My dad always loved decorating for Christmas and had a large collection of nativity figures.  When he moved to a retirement apartment, he gave them all away.  So I told him this quilt folded up small enough for his apartment.  He hung it for Christmas and never took it down.  It was still on the wall when he died almost two years later.  It hangs in a special place in our home now and makes me smile to remember how much he loved his Nativity quilt.

And here is the main room, with many of the quilts (and the cat).  I worked at Pier 1 Imports for fifteen years, so a lot of the decorations are from there.  I do enjoy having them out and usually decorate in mid-November just so I can enjoy everything a little longer.   Merry Christmas!