Projects for Christmas

If you have been a reader for any part of the past four years, you may have seen some of these projects I have made as Christmas gifts.  I am compiling them all together to share because my friend Maria Shell – will be linking up. Maria is a fantastic fiber artist, living in Alaska.  Her blog – Tales of a Stitcher – is full of color and energy and ideas.  I find it interesting how our paths connected in the blog world, and have had the opportunity to meet her twice in person. The first year I had a blog, I went to Houston to the International Quilt Festival, and Maria made sure I knew where and how to find her. This past year, Maria was available to speak and teach at my guild (Ocean Waves Quilt Guild – Lewes DE). It was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect in person again.  So, when she asked me if I would share my holiday projects, I decided I would!

I went back through my previous posts, digging thru the photo’s stored looking for things I had made as Christmas gifts.

Back in 2012, I decided to make a “floor checkerboard” for the grandkids.

Marked a silver stitching line on the black border.

Top stitched around the outside of the checker so you could SEE it!! Helps it to stand out.

More details on that post   Floor Checkerboard    (Now it is time to make some chess pieces for that board –  I have some in mind from an embroidery website).

The following year, I updated the Christmas stockings using my embroidery machine.  These stockings were over the course of several years, as the family grew.  My sewing skill have improved somewhat since the first efforts.

Updated the big kids stockings and made a new one for the youngest!

More details on the   Stockings  post.     I have a stocking to make this Christmas for the newest family member.

Then, of course, are the wonderful Artful Oven Mitts that I made using the pattern that Maria had sent me.  They were SO fun.  (I really enjoyed looking at the scraps as I “made” fabric, remembering where each piece originated.)

Artful Oven Mitts

Naturally, I wrote a blog post (or 2) about them – this link is to my Production Line post.

In 2014 I was a busy Grandma.  My grandchildren were living out of the area, and I wanted to make them something that I could “easily ship”.  I tracked down a panel by Moda, designed by Angela Yolston  for FLAT DOLLS.  I had SO much fun with this project.  Flats Dolls  post.  (Note – this panel was HARD to find!)

Moda Flats Doll design by Angela Yolston

And of course – the dolls needed a house! Flats Doll House post.  Link to the pattern is in that post.  I imagine you could use it for any “flat doll” or paper doll. It is a great little storage container for those items too.

 

The living room panel

My favorite type of gift wrap for the grandkids –

pirate pillowcase

Paris and rainbows

pillowcase packaging

I love to follow the pattern information that you can find on Missouri Star Quilt Company You Tube Video – Tube Pillow Case – Missouri Star video .

I also made quillows for the grandkids one year – I used fleece, and added a little “hood” and hand pockets on the end, so they could “wrap up” and stay warm ! Details on this post – Fleece Quillows

Last year for Christmas, I made “slip covers” for the sofa pillows as a gift – Star pillows post.

Star pillows

This year, I have been busy making bibs for the youngest-though not for Christmas.

I’ve been posting off and on about them and other fall projects here – Bibs and more post.  Table runners have been a highlight for me this fall, and I have made 3, plus some placemats. One of the 3 will be a gift, so no pictures of it yet.  I am working on this year’s secret project for the youngest grandchild also. I told her mommy that there will be NO plastic toys from this Grandma this year.  It involves the embroidery machine and I won’t post pictures until AFTER Christmas. I gave her mommy a sneak peak but don’t want to spoil the surprise – especially if the embroidery machine jams up or breaks!  So far,  I have stitched out 5 of the elements, over 100,000 stitches and at least  100 thread changes!  (I am having fun with that great thread my kids gifted me last year!)

What are you working on that you can “whisper” about? What was your favorite “gift project” in the past ? I would LOVE to know.   Be sure to check out Maria’s blog Tales of a Stitcher- and follow.  She is going to link up lots of other gift projects from people who follow her.

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