I finished the big Christmas quilt!

This is a quilt for my sister in law for Christmas. Every year I make a quilt for one of my In-Laws. I hand pick the one I will make one for because I don't want repeats. At least not yet. I have been doing this since 2001 and some of the first ones I have made are almost worn out. It may be time to start over when I'm finished with everyone. HA! I'm glad they use them a lot.

Here is a close up of the quilting. I did my first pantograph on this quilt. I like how it came out. The name of the panto is "Popcorn" and I bought it through Willowleaf designs. I have to admit that I really disliked this quilt after I had the top made. It is a Turning Twenty design and it looked to me like I had thrown up on my design wall. I liked all the fabrics individually but together they just didn't seem to blend. But now that it is quilted I love it.

Now that I washed and dried it, it feels so soft and crinkly. I want to curl up under it. I always wash my quilts before I give them away. I rather be surprised and fix it than give it to someone and they be surprised. I think she will like it. It is her colors and she rides horses in competitions English style. That is why I put horses in it. I can't wait to see her open it for Christmas. I enjoy it as much as they do.

Now I am finished with all my handmade Christmas gifts except for the baked goods. I will do those when it gets closer to the big day!
Hope you enjoyed looking at my quilt!
Terry

Christmas Stockings

I made these two Christmas stockings from some not-so-cute gold angel fabric that I've had for a few years. I used a pattern from a Christmas issue of American Patchwork & Quilting magazine. Of course I altered the pattern, or should I say I didn't follow the pattern. I never really do. I used some Minkee for the top of the stocking instead of piecing one (like the pattern called for) or using a thick quilted fabric. The Minkee is soft and looks a little like fur. It gives it a more updated look to that furry stuff that gets gross after sitting in storage for a few years. I believe that I will put these in the Show & Sell as I don't think my guys would like stockings with girlie buttons and gold angels on them.