It’s the last day of the CCCBH today . . . It’s been a lot of fun to reminisce about past Christmases and get to know the blog hoppers.  I want to thank all those participating in the blog hop – especially those that have stopped here and have taken the time to leave me such nice comments.  My hope is that you will stop in and see me every week or so, as that is how often I usually blog.  I’m not used to blogging every day, so I may take a little break and catch up on a few other things around here!  I have to say that all this blogging has gotten me in the mood to get ready for Christmas.  I’ve started unpacking the Christmas decorations and have been loading some Christmas songs on my ipod.  I may even get the tree up before Thanksgiving!  How about you?  Did the blog hop put you in the mood for all thing Christmas?

Before you head off to the storage closet to start unpacking, be sure to stop by Linda Lum DeBono’s blog to see the fun project that she has in store for you.  Linda is a fellow designer with Henry Glass fabrics, so I’ve had the pleasure of meeting her at market.  She’s great fun and has so many talents.

 

 Our last topic of the blog hop is a Christmas craft you make every year or did as a child. 

I had two favorite crafts that I made as a kid, just probably not every Christmas.

#1 – Paper Chains.  I don’t know why I loved them – I just did!  They always seemed kind of addicting.  I just kept wanting to add more and more and see how long I could make my chain.

 

I found a more adult version of paper chains that I am tempted to make.  Look how cute these are:

 

Can you even stand it?  I just love them.

 

#2 – My other favorite Christmas craft was making paper snow flakes. 

I still love making snowflakes, I just don’t usually do it by myself.  I prefer to do it with my nieces, as it’s always more fun with them!  It’s nice to have an “excuse” to still act like a kid.  I still remember my Great Grandma Anka doing the same thing with me . . .she would fold up paper, make an assortment of cuts, and then open up this amazing row of little paper dolls.  Back then she used old newspaper.  Now when I do this with my nieces, we used colored paper.  I wish I had a picture of us doing this together, but I guess I must not have had my camera with last year when we did this!

 

Just to wrap up a few other things related to the blog hop -

You will have until Sunday night to comment on each designer’s featured post and have a chance at the grand prizes.  The winners will be announced on Tuesday, so you will want to stop back them.  I will also be announcing the winner of the contest on my blog (from my featured post) 

Dont’ forget to visit the other designers on the hop by clicking on the following links:  Gudrun from GE Designs,  Sandy from Pieces from my Heart,  Terry from Atkinson Designs,  Pat from Pat Sloan and Co,  Pam from Pam Kitty Morning,  Kari from New Leaf Stitches,  Terri from Whimsicals,  Sherri from This and That Pattern Co,   Carrie from Miss Rosie’s Quilt Co,  Roseann from Rosebud’s Cottage and  Linda Lum DeBono

It’s day 11 of the Cross Country Christmas Blog Hop – only one day left!

That means you only have one more day to make sure you comment on each designer’s blog, on the post that they were featured.  If you do, you will be eligible for some GREAT prizes!

Today our theme is a favorite Christmas quilt or how we use our quilts to decorate for Christmas.  I have lots of favorite Christmas quilts, but have narrowed it down to 4!

This is my most recently finished Christmas project:

Christmas Topper from the book “On the Run”

I love toppers, because you can tuck them in anywhere.  You don’t need to have wall space to display them, and I have a shortage of wall space at my house!

Here is another of my favorite toppers:

Christmas Glow from the book “Favorite Quilts from Anka’s Treasures”

This one is a little larger and can be used as a table-cloth.  You could also cut a hole in the center and use it as a tree skirt!  I love the touch of applique ~

(Please don’t be scared about binding around the inside points – I’ve got a tutorial for you on that)

I made a wool garland that I use as the center piece on my dinning room table.

Christmas Centerpiece from the book “Gifts for all Reasons”

It’s flexible and can be made into an oval or circle, depending on the size table you have.  I like the slightly dimensional look of the wool -

This quilt hangs in my front entry every year ~

Snails in the Sand from the book "Favorite Quilts from Anka's Treasures

This picture shows the quilting a little better.  I love the swirls and holly in the border.

I have one last picture to show you, and it’s not a Christmas quilt.  For those of you who are followers of this blog, you know I LOVE to show a quilt done up in several different color options.  I think it helps open people’s eyes to the possibilities that fabric and color can add to a quilt pattern.  The original pattern that the quilt above is based on,  looks so different that you won’t believe they are the same pattern.

Here it is:

See what I mean?  That is why I love color options!

Now, back to the blop hop – Our featured designer today is Roseann, the owner of Rosebud’s Cottage in White Bear Lake, MN.  She is also a contributor for American Patchwork and Quilting and you may have seen some of her lovely designs in their magazine.  Many of them are done with wool, so if you have a soft spot for wool, you might want to check them out!  Here’s the link for her blog ~

Dont’ forget to visit the other designers on the hop by clicking on the following links:  Gudrun from GE Designs,  Sandy from Pieces from my Heart,  Terry from Atkinson Designs,  Pat from Pat Sloan and Co,  Pam from Pam Kitty Morning,  Kari from New Leaf Stitches,  Terri from Whimsicals,  Sherri from This and That Pattern Co,   Carrie from Miss Rosie’s Quilt Co,  Roseann from Rosebud’s Cottage and  Linda Lum DeBono

Welcome to Day 10 of the Cross Country Christmas Blog Hop!

Our featured designer of the day is the talented and fun Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie’s Quilt Co.   I’m sure many of you are familiar with her pattern company and her popular Schnibbles series of pattern.  She has been busy working on a fun project for you, so hop on over to her blog to check it out!

I have to say that I am a little relived that I wasn’t the only designer yesterday who couldn’t think of a kid story to share!  Who would have thought that would be a challenge?   Today our topic is a favorite gift received from a child.  As I mentioned yesterday, the Moms in the group will probably have more to share on this topic.  I can’t think of any gifts that I have received from a kid, but I can think of two little girls that have brought me something better than a present.  I have two nieces that were born within days of Christmas.

They turned out to be the best gifts I could possibly be given for Christmas!  -  They are the best -  from the funny things they say, to their cute expressions, and their fun personalities.

This is my older niece Isabella

She likes to help me sew.  You can’t see this in the picture, but she is running the foot pedal and I’m just trying to keep my fingers out of the way!  (and this machine sews 1500 stitches per minute)  She likes arranging the blocks on my design wall too.

She also wants to learn to knit -

Helping Grandma Debbie garden and bake is another of her interest.  She is always such a good helper!

Speaking of helping, she helps out with the younger kids too.

This is my younger niece Addi

She loves to run and play.  Her favorite is when we leap, or in her words “Yeap”

She loves to be outside

To blow “smackers”

and eat sweets (tanny)

So, you see, these two are way better than a gift!

So, Carrie, don’t even get me started on my Thanksgiving, May Day, Easter, and (what happens in) August presents!

(Carrie, there’s a reason I didn’t post these pictures yesterday, I knew today was coming!)

Dont’ forget to visit the other designers on the hop by clicking on the following links:  Gudrun from GE Designs,  Sandy from Pieces from my Heart,  Terry from Atkinson Designs,  Pat from Pat Sloan and Co,  Pam from Pam Kitty Morning,  Kari from New Leaf Stitches,  Terri from Whimsicals,  Sherri from This and That Pattern Co,   Carrie from Miss Rosie’s Quilt Co,  Roseann from Rosebud’s Cottage and  Linda Lum DeBono