Red December by Gail Smith

'Red December' by Gail Smith

quilted by Angela McCorkle

So many people ask me what Red December looks like? Good question! Luckily it's one Gail Smith can answer - here is her gorgeous version. Isn't it just stunning?!

My blog readers are the best. Here I was sitting down to read my emails when a lovely hello came in from Gail, who duly informed me that she had finished my quilt pattern Red December, and would I like to see it? Well of course I did! 

My own Red December is on a chair waiting to be quilted. It's been there for a few years actually. In the meantime, I went ahead and made a Red December table cloth for Christmas as well as a matching cushion that was printed in a magazine. Oh I do love it and seeing it all made up here makes me love it all over again :) 

I might even take a moment now to imagine that my own is finished and is as gorgeous as Gail's...

It's easy to imagine as she followed my original scheme of (what else?) red and white.

I've always loved this pattern and must admit that I haven't done it justice because I haven't been able to show it off here on my blog. I think that sometimes, even when you design a quilt and share that design, until people can see the finished quilt, it can be hard to imagine just how beautiful it is. I always knew Red December was a beauty, and now I can prove it! Thanks so much Gail. You've really made my day. It's a real pleasure of mine to share my work and I really appreciate it when people take the time to share what they've made back with me. 

Thank you :) 

Red December was released for free in December 2011 as the yearly Christmas Project.

It's no longer available for free. You can purchase the instant download pattern via my online shop.

All patterns are currently 50% off.  

Oma's Blues: Quilted

Thanks so much for all your comments on my last post. I'm glad you were all as happy for me as I was! It's s good feeling to be 'finished' with a quilt. When I started Oma's Blues, I was interested in re-creating the 'Delft" inspired style that I've always loved so much. I wanted it to hang in my kitchen and be the ultimate 'fabric' wall of plates.

Here's my centre plate bird: I decided to quilt him a little plumage crown

Many of you stuck with the blue and white theme which I found really interesting. I thought there would be a lot of mixed colours out there - more than I've seen, so I suppose many of us like Delft so much that blue and white just felt right :) 

 Now that it's done, it's going up on my wall in the New Year, 

right after the Christmas decorations go down

I love these corner plates coming together

and these blocks were designed to look like fragments of plates stacked along the borders

and I can tell you now that the quilt is finished, that I really think they do!

I've enjoyed quilting all the free space

and even detailed the circles and diamonds

like so

For my binding, I opted to strip this delft fabric together rather than use a dark blue and it ties in all the blue fabrics nicely.

Are you making Oma's Blues?

WOW: I finished Oma's Blues!

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

I've finished Oma's Blues! Yes, it's all done and I did it before Christmas which was a high hope of mine. Well, I did it. There were a few obstacles along the way but I've passed them and I'm over the moon about that, if feels like a real achievement to end the year with this quilt completed. Yes, I am in love with it! I can't wait to show you all my quilting details on Friday as there's just too much to fit in on this WOW post and I'm excited to tell you the story behind exactly how I got it quilted with all the sewing machine issues I had. It's a happy ending and icing on the cake for me to know that this quilt is ticked off my list! So happy:)

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up

Yuletide Time

Well I'm behind with the festivities and decorations, but I don't mind. I'm doing Christmas at my own pace. In fact, I'm still working away at a few Christmas projects and I don't mind that either. There used to be a time when I felt that I just had to have the tree up and spice biscuits out on December 1st. But I've mellowed since then and now just unfurling my rolled up 12 Days of Christmas wall hanging, above, feels like Christmas time to me!

I've been undecided regarding my tree options and given that it's already the 7th of the month and I don't feel bothered either way, I think that once again this year we will go with a small table top sized tree. This photo below was taken this morning in my garden. It's held up remarkably well since last year, I really didn't think it would make it, but it has. And it's green (greener than it looks in this photo) and there are no dead bits, so I'm happy with bringing it indoors. I've started hosing it down thoroughly to dislodge any insects and tonight I'll pop it in the shower where it can acclimatize to indoors overnight. And that will give any insects a chance to crawl out as well.

Of course, the most important plant for me each Christmas is a beautiful poinsettia and as I don't have any of these in the house yet, I will probably buy some this week when I get a chance. I love to have them all over the house and all the pots from last year (all 8 of them) died throughout the year which was really disappointing as I had hoped to keep them to bring back inside, but they never last.

Perhaps I should try to keep them indoors all the time? Someone told me they're popular in shopping center interiors as they make good houseplants - which I thought they weren't, so I'll have to investigate this further as I'd really love to have them inside all the year.

My geraniums (another favorite of mine) also didn't fare too well this past year. I will have to take more care in the year ahead, I've really neglected my herbs. flowered pots and hanging baskets and am paying the price as I really miss them. I suppose I've been too distracted with my indoor pursuits. I'll take the few days after Christmas to give my plants some love and nurturing to set them up for the year ahead.

Is your tree up? What plants do you love to have around your home Christmas time?

WOW: Nelke Progress

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

Ooops, I lost my bird!

Here I am with my Nelke progress. I didn't notice my sweet little birdy fell off, but you get the idea. Now that I look at it, I think it needs something in the corners, perhaps a motif? I couldn't decide. I was thinking about simple circles, then love hearts and then bows on an angle in each corner, but couldn't decide so I've left it for now. Actually looking at it now with fresh eyes, I think it's crying out for 4 sweet corner bows. What do YOU think?

Nelke is still available for free to members of my Yahoo Group (why not join?), for everyone else, you can buy this pattern over in my online shop.

What's Your WOW?

An InLinkz Link-up

FQS Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations Mary, you're the winner of the Fat Quarter Shop Giveaway. Now, it's time for you to shop for some exciting new fabric :)

Thanks to the Fat Quarter Shop for generously offering this giveaway and for the random number generator for making the comment selection so easy - honestly, how could I ever choose between the comments? I agree with all of you and only wish I could send you all something. Thankfully the random number generator did the hard work for me.

I love a giveaway and there'll be more giveaways to come, so stay tuned..

Fat Quarter Shop Giveaway! Open to EVERYONE!

Thanks to the generous people at Fat Quarter Shop, I'm hosting a Giveaway! 

WIN $50 to spend at the Fat Quarter Shop!

 I'm making it super easy to enter: simply comment on this post to be in the draw to win

The lucky winner will be announced on Wednesday's WOW Linky Party Post! 

If I won, I know what I'd rush to get into my stash - it's this new Little House on the Prairie range and I have to tell you, it's stolen my heart! My DDs used to watch this series when they were young and I have such lovely warm memories of that period in my life. These scenics and icons fat quarters are just the thing for making something special. And I'm already wondering what to make with them??

What would you pick up?