Gifts For The Family!

Busy time of the year, right?!  It happens every holiday.  Same time every year.  Sneaky, sneaky holidays ready to bite you in the butt!  I usually don't make many gifts for the holidays, just enough to put me in a slight panic!

Yesterday while sitting around wondering what I should do, I decided I wanted to make a Mini Quilt for my Mom.  Something sweet and pretty.  She lives in Minnesota and can't get around very well.  Damn age (that sneaks up on you too)!  I thought a 'little pretty' with color for those cold winter days was in order.  Plus, she would think of me and how much I love her every time she sees it!!  Win, Win! 

Last year I received a gift from my daughter Britt's best friend since kindergarten, Anne.  I blogged about it here:  A Sweet Surprise.  What better than a heart full of color and love?!

16" x 16"

I used all hand dyed fabrics, including the gray linen border.  I love the variations of color. Love the straight line quilting.  This is a quick project to make.  I think it may have taken me a couple hours.

The formula is simple.  Decide on fabric for the heart, and fabric for the background.  

20 ~ 2 1/2" squares for the heart
10 ~ HST's half background, half heart fabric
6 ~ 2 1/2" squares background fabric        

2 1/2" border strips

I'm pretty sure she will love it.  If nothing else it will make a wonderful LARGE mug rug!

This is the one Anne made for me!

Last minute gift ideas and gift giving runs in our family.  My husband is the same way. Last year a couple of weeks before Christmas he blurts out that he wished he had thought about it earlier to have me make place mats for his Mom & Step Dad.  It just was not going to happen at that time!  This year I surprised him and made a set!  Yep!  I'm thinking ahead this time!

12" x 18"

Paper pieced Hummingbird blocks (AKA Periwinkle Star).  I used this tutorial from Rita at Red Pepper Quilts.  I was so happy to have found this tutorial!  

I enlarged the pattern so the blocks would be large enough to make place mats and not have to add a border.  

I love how these seams meet!  So very cool to me!  I'm pretty easily amused, I suppose! 

It's time to get back to quilting!  I have a twin size HST quilt and my Vice Versa BOM waiting in line.  

I have another project that needs to be quilted, but I can't share it yet!  It's a Secret Santa gift for a Music City Modern Quilt Guild member.  I would hate to ruin the surprise if she should see a blog post before!  But I cannot wait to share it!  And make another something, something like it!

How is your holiday gift making coming along?  Are you ahead of the game, behind the eight ball or right on target?

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A Sweet Surprise!

There isn't anything better than getting packages in the mail.  Usually fabric or supplies for me.  The anticipation of getting something in your hot little hands!  Love it!

However...you know what's really fun?  Getting a package in the mail that you never expected!  A surprise!  The unexpected!  And boy, was I ever surprised!  

How sweet is this? 

A Little background.  I received this beautiful Mini Heart Quilt from Anne.  Anne lives in Portland and has been sewing/quilting forever...as long as I have known her.  She and my daughter Britt, have been best friends since kindergarten!  Kindergarten!  I can still see those two playing together, usually doing something artsy/craftsy-ish.  

Anne's Mom was the one who got Britt into quilting, which led to Britt getting me into quilting, which eventually led me having a new connection to Anne!  

These are all hand dyed fabrics.  Who would have thought a gift of hand dyed fabric to Anne would result in a gift for me?!  

Pretty, huh?  The purples are gorgeous together and surrounded by a neutral linen they really stand out.

What a great touch sewing hearts on the enclose card!  Way too cute.  There was even a little heart on the envelope!

I absolutely love this and will hang it proudly on my wall (somewhere) and will cherish it forever!  

Getting an unexpected surprise is the best feeling.  It makes me think we should all surpise someone more...make someones day...give a little gift!

Anne, I love this!  Thank you!