Quilted Christmas Tree Skirt

 

I'm working on a Christmas tree skirt for my two nieces in Washington. They decorate 9" trees every year and they are auctioned off for https://www.provforest.org/fund-a-need/, The Sister Rita and Sister Carolyn Patient Assistance Funds for Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia and Providence Centralia Hospital.

I purchased this pattern mainly to get the proper sized wedges to create the skirt. My nieces decided on fabrics and wanted the wedges to be two colors.

Here are the fabrics, we added two more as I didn't have enough fabric for the skirt and then there is another green for the binding.

I've got the wedges all sewn together, actually removed one and I may remove one more so the skirt drapes correctly. If it is perfectly round they'll have to overlap some of it to give it that flare to cover the tree stand. Seems like when I look at tree skirts they're always a complete circle, not quite sure why.

This is before I removed one wedge and I really think another will have to go. I need to lay it down again and see.

Next step is to get the batting and get it layered and pinned and get quilting. I am planning on doing feathers up each spine starting at the outer edge so they will look like trees and I will be doing it in white thread to they will be snowy trees. 

I'll post again when finished!!!

It's so good to be back to my quilting. I feel like I have been on a circular journey and am at the beginning, right where I started and right where I belong!!!

Back to Sewing 101

 

I recently was teaching my 14 year old neighbor to sew. This is just her second project!!!!

Here she is with her first project. I start with a very simple throw pillow cover. It gives the learner experience with the sewing machine, sewing a straight line, learning all the parts of the machine, how to pivot and make a simple hem.

She was so excited with her first project but the sewing machine she had was a cute little toy. It works but not for serious sewing.

I was telling some of the women who work at the quilt shop about her and how well she did and how she wanted to make a blouse next. I was planning on speaking to her parents about getting her a proper sewing machine when one of the women said she would like to gift her one!!!

WHAT!!!!

Yes indeed. Her mother had recently passed and she had her two sewing machines, so the next day I met her back at the quilt shop and she had a sewing basket full of tools and thread, a container full of new fabric and a Janome MemoryCraft 4900!!! Oh my goodness, I couldn't believe it.

So fast forward, my neighbor finished her blouse and has already worn it to school.

She still has much to learn but that is going to be tricky as she believes she is now an expert!!!

Wish me luck!!

Now her friend wants to learn to sew, so I am coming up with some more lessons. She will do the same pillow cover as above, then I will have the girls make a couple tote bags just to teach them more skills.

I am going to be using a couple patterns from "The Inspired Wren". She has two simple but cute tote patterns. I am working on one right now so I will have examples to show the girls.

After the totes, maybe a pillow case or a pair of simple shorts or even pj bottoms???

I will figure it out.

It is so nice to be back sewing again. I have been learning to navigate a chronic condition and being back to something I know and love is good.

Thanks for the visit. I will be updating this post soon hopefully

Martha 💗

Tie Dye Camp with Friends

 

We went camping with friends and I brought T-shirts and dye with me so we could all have some fun!!!

The tshirts turned out so fun and fabulous!!!

And we all had a great time!!!

Beautiful weather, beautiful place and wonderful friends!!!

Enjoy the video!!!

Martha

No sewing but plenty of crafting-Sister and Priest peg dolls for VBS

 

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I spent a lot of time cutting out these Chasubles for our kids to decorate with coordinating ribbons at vacation bible school this summer in June.

I cut #350 felt chasubles in total including cutting #350 ribbons to fit.

I then package up two peg dolls per baggie along with a set of 5 chasubles. 

The kids got to paint their sisters and priests and then glue the ribbons to the chasubles.

They had so much fun which makes all the work well worth it.

The kids also got their own treasure/travel trunk to decorate. We talked about priests and sisters going out on mission and how in the olden days there were no suitcases. A large trunk carried your belongings. Their little priests and chasubles fit perfectly in these trunks!!!

They also made little churches and we discussed how we bring Jesus to the people.

I printed the bible verse in different colors on card stock. Theirs were much more decorated then mine.

They also got to plant terrariums and learn how to nurture plants, just like we nurture our children.

It was a wonderful week for us and the children!!!

Martha

Half Square Triangle Quilt and Coasters

I really should rename this post Coasters and half square triangles.

I'm working on a lot of coasters which are made from 5" squares.

My husband is going through radiation treatment and he wants to give the staff gifts on his last treatment day which is coming up soon. So I got to work and am making coasters for everyone there. At least 25, but I will make a few extras too.

I make these from #6 5" squares and I usually have one or two left over. I remembered that I have several white blocks cut for Christmas coasters and thought that I would work on a half square triangle quilt wallhanging with the leftover 5" blocks!!!

I have many more blocks to press and trim to 3 1/2" square, this is just the beginning. And I'm still playing with the layout of the quilt top. Sewing the half square triangle blocks as I'm sewing the coasters. is helping me stay focused. I know that sounds odd but it works!! 

18 coasters done, 12 more to go.

I made a loaf of bread today too.  Smelled so good while it was cooking!!!

I'll share the finished coasters and the quilt layout when I get there!!!

Martha

 

Slow stitching and applique'

 

I am slowly working on my applique' blocks for the Henrietta Whiskers quilt. It has a total of 9 blocks and I am almost done with #3

This is my take along project that I can work on where ever we might find ourselves.

Hand applique' seems to quiet my mind!!!

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Teaching our youth to quilt!!!

 

Yesterday I had Mychelle over to make a small quilt block for her FFA convention that is coming up very soon. She had many ideas, so I helped her formulate them and then put those ideas down on paper.

I taught her how to do fusible applique', how to do simple machine quilting with the free motion foot and walking foot on my Juki.

Then how to make a binding and sew it on by machine.

After about 6 hours, she took her almost finished work of art home to finish the eyes and hand sew the binding to the back.

It was a very fun day to be sure. 

She sent me this photo last night!!!

I am so very proud of her and how hard she worked on this piece💛

If you zoom in you can see her finished baby chick, so cute!!!!

It was a very good day indeed.

martha