MERRY CHR

What the heck is that, you say?  Well, that's all the letters I now have finished for my Merry Christmas to All quilt.  I finished the final embroidery and beading about 15 minutes ago.  Take a look (I like the funny clock on this one...check out the holly leave "hands"). 

Getting there

My little Postcard Cuties for Winter blocks are all assembled.  There is still a bit of embroidery to do in two of the blocks, which I will do before attaching any borders.  There is a very pretty scalloped border to be appliqued.

I finished my Lettet H for Merry Christmas to All, too!  A little "Santa" letter complete with belt buckle, Santa hat and bag!

* Picture Day *

Just a few pictures today....first, Brutus:

Isn't he cute?

Next....the fabrics I ordered from Bunny Hill Designs arrived yesterday  - yummy!

and last, but not least, Block #10 of Postcard Cuties for Winter:

I love the little snowmen heads! 

Postcard Cuties

I had put this one aside, temporarily.  I totally forgot how fun these are to do.  Block #9 was all pieced and ready to go, waiting for the embroidery.  After seeing Anne Marieke's progress on hers, I dug it back out.  Block #9:

Only three more blocks...which I cut out all the pieces for this morning.  (I feel so productive today!)

Time for a little machine piecing!

Brutus

Isn't that a fun name for a cat?  Well, Brutus is part of a free (I know, another one!) Block of the Month from Red Brolly Designs called Catalicious (don't you love that name?).  There are nine blocks, total.  Very cute stitchery blocks that can be used in any number of ways. There are a few pictures of quilts with Brutus and his antics through the Red Brolly site. Although this is not the first block issued in the series, it is the one I decided to stitch first. 

I am using Transfer-Eze paper to transfer the design to my fabric.  I decided to use a cream dotted fabric rather than a muslin.  Brutus is stitched with one strand of perle cotton.  All the black portions in the outer circle still need to be stiched, but I thought Brutus was too cute to have to wait any longer for his debut. :))

Block of the Month's

After all the holiday rush, I was finally able to complete two more of my BOM's...Tiny Town's Block #6 and one of the star blocks for Merry Christmas to All:

I have already received Block #7 for Tiny Town, so better get a move on.   Block #7 has the firehouse and a cute little owl.   The next two blocks for Merry Christmas to All are on their way, too!

Shhhh.....

"Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring; not even a mouse."

Well...evidently, this little guy did not read the story! ;)  Look at him in his little jammies. Too cute, huh?  And here is the entire block with some of the pretty fabrics from Le Petite Ecole  (OK, I didn't take French and looked it up...it means Little School).

A few changes from the pattern...I stitched his tail, instead of just an outline.  The letters were straight backstitch in the photos.  The pattern sheet showed the letters with a "font" style.   I used one strand of embroidery floss and a split stitch for those. 

Rusty & "Etta"

Do you think Rusty thinks she is a real squirrel?  He was definitely getting involved in the picture taking process this time!  Meet Little Etta....my second version of Henrietta Whiskers.  I am putting this one together for Bears Paw Fabrics using their fabrics, wool felt and Valdani threads.  Judy gave me a free hand to choose the colors I had in mind for this second little squirrel.  Notice that she is a grey squirrel this time, which is an entirely different color variation from the original block.  The little "fussy cut" squares of the sewing basket and sheep, as well as the striped portion behind "Little Etta"are from the new Tangled Threads fabric line by Whimsicals.

The New Henrietta!

Without further ado, once again meet Henrietta Whiskers from Bunny Hill Designs.  I am much happier with these colors and think I can work with them throughout the entire quilt.

New Colors

Sort of....for Henrietta Whiskers, that is. Since I was not totally enthralled with my first efforts for little Henrietta (and on the advice of a good friend, I tried again.  Most of the same reds are still there, but a few fabrics were eliminated and some new ones added.  Here are a few pictures of the fabric choices I decided upon.  First the regular fabric choices:

Second, the wool colors (which are almost all the same):

Tomorrow, a look at my little squirrel...The block is together, but still needs all the applique to be finished.  Let's just say...this time, I am very happy. :))

Meet little Henrietta Whiskers

Little Henrietta Whiskers by Bunny Hill Designs.  She is part of the latest free Block of the Month by Anne Sutton. At this point, she is sort of a "draft" ...the colors actually work together much better in person.  I think I will wait until the second block comes out next month and see how they work together with some of these colors.  I have also decided to do something a little different this time.  All the applique is done with wool felt.  That part, I like....the rest...I am still thinking about. ;)

Ooops...

A personal note for Anne Marieke, Ineke and Gabi.  I was trying to convert our Snowbound blog over to Henrietta Whiskers and totally messed it up.  Sorry...I still have all the posts saved with just me having access.  I'll have to rework all the permissions for you to have access again.  Please, if Ineke and Gabi would send me their e-mails, privately, I will fix your access once again. Thanks ...and I will fix it as soon as I get your e-mails.

First Finish

My first finish for 2011!  Nora Corbett's Twelve Days of Christmas, Ten Lords A-Leaping. One of the more simple of the twelve designs. 

And...a few more gifts I received from Carol and Kathleen:

One of the newest kits from Shepherds Bush, along with the beautiful box, to finish it, is from Kathleen.  A very generous gift certificate from Bunny Hill Designs is from Carol.  Thank both of you so much for the great gifts.:))

The Year of the Rabbit

Wishing everyone a very Happy 2011! 

 May your year be filled with only good times, good health and good friends....of course, there has to be some "good" stitching in there, too!