Remember way back last December.  Christmas was approaching and you had projects yet undone.  The to-do list included grocery shopping, gift shopping, baking, cooking, cleaning, decorating.  There were parties to attend, gifts to wrap, and snow to shovel.  And all you wanted was time to finish a few hand made gifts for a few special friends and family members. So now is the time to start sewing for this Christmas.  A few hours every week or so devoted to those projects and you’ll be finished early!  No stress!  You’ll even have time to create that Christmas table runner or wall hanging that you wanted for your own home!  Let’s get started…

The newest bag pattern from Purse-O-Nalities of Palm Harbor, Maddie’s Bag, would make a great gift.  Their patterns feature lots of easy and time-saving techniques.  They also include real paper pattern pieces… with shapes… not rectangles!  You will have plenty of opportunity to personalize your bag just right for the recipient.

If you need a small gift for a fellow quilt guild member or for any sewing enthusiast, these Wool Pin Cushions will fit the bill.   All you’ll need are your wool scraps and then some embroidery thread to embellish them.

That’s two gifts down… now something for you to decorate your home.

This Yuletide Ribbon Wreath will stay fresh for the entire holiday season.  Beautiful poinsettia flowers circle the wreath and holly leaves, berries and ribbon float around the border.

And here’s a bit of holiday fabric to inspire you.  Through The Woods by Maywood Studio is a beautiful shade of blue with a dusting of snowflakes. Snowmen are scattered all around, each dressed in a fun hat and a brightly colored scarf.  Do you feel the creative juices flowing?

Join us next week for some more Christmas ideas.  See you then!

Several new Purse and Bag Patterns have become available the last several weeks.  In case you missed them, here they are again all in one place….

 The Juliet Bag Pattern is so very cute in the black and white polka dots fabrics… love it!  It would be just as cute with a pink bow and a green bottom, or maybe navy and white.   By Me and My Sisters Designs, it measures 16″ x 25″.

Heidi Lynn’s Honey Tote pattern is designed to use Honey Bun 1.5″ strips.  Of course, you can use your scraps or favorite team colors.  This bag measures 12.5″ x 14″ and includes instructions for 6 pockets.

Joan Hawley designed the Margo Handbag.  Like all the Lazy Girl Design patterns, this one includes lots of pockets… 2 outside and 6 inside.  Learn a new technique for installing a zipper – the Dip-Down Zip-Top!  Joan’s instructions are always clear and easy, but if you don’t want to use a zipper there’s instructions for completing the bag without one.

The Carolina Carry All is a feminie, flirty purse that measures 15″ x 11″ x 7″ and is just the right size for the Porta Pockets or the Encore Purse Insert.  It has two secret hidden pockets inside.

More Bag and Purse Patterns (hundreds more!) can be found at QuiltersWarehouse. 

Well, the calendar may not say summer yet, but we know it’s here.  And that means picnics…

This Wine Country Picnic wallhanging will certainly put you in the mood for a picnic.  The valley is pretty as a picture with horses grazing and a balloon in the sky.  The picnic basket is packed with goodies, including wine.  A border of pinwheels adds to the fun.  Made with fusible applique this quilt finishes at 43″ square.

It’s a quilt.  It’s a backpack.  It’s both!  The quilt measures 43″ x 60″ and folds into an attached backpack with room to carry a few extra items.  This would be perfect for a picnic, or to take to the beach.  The Backpack Quilts book includes six variations.  Make one for you and one for a gift.

With all the items in the Summer Picnic collection, you’ll feel like you are on a picnic without even leaving home.  Items included are: Sailboat Pillow, 3D Ladybug, “Grandmother’s Ice Cream” Stitchery, Watermelon Picture, Watermelon T-shirt, and “Cottage by the Sea” quilt.

Are you in a picnic mood yet?

Jelly Rolls and Charm Packs are so tempting.  It’s wonderful to have a piece of every fabric in a collection.  Then you just have to find a way to show it all off.  Fortunately there are plenty of Jelly Roll quilt patterns and Charm Pack patterns available.

Sittin’ Pretty placemats make good use of any charm pack.  This will sew up fast and look so pretty with all the coordinating fabrics.  Designed by Amy Cotham of Black Cat Creations these are 13″ x 18″ when finished.

Charming Trio – The Baby Collection offers three patterns in one, specially designed for charm packs.  The adorable Hugs and Kisses quilt can be used to cover baby or hang on the wall in the nursery.  Also included are two pillow patterns (one for the hugs and one for the kisses!) and a diaper bag.

This generous sized lap quilt looks like it would take quite a long time with all the little squares but with a jelly roll and strip piecing and a secret or two, it’s easy and you’ll have a Pretty Zig-Zag quilt before you know it!

A Jelly Sandwich never looked so good. This colorful throw size quilt (50.5″ x 58.5″) was designed by Barbara Grove of Me & My Sisters Designs.

Lemon Blush is another pattern  by Barbara Grove.  The long strips of braids look great surrounded by the light lemon colored fabric.  Or you could change the background color and make it Orange Crush, Grape Luscious….

So that will get you started… there are plenty more patterns designed for charm packs, jelly rolls, layer cakes, honey buns… all the sweet fabric packs.  Don’t hold back – Zero calories!

Friendship Designs is the creation of Sue Shipman and Sue Keck.  Friends, with lots of creativity between them, they design quilts that are anything but ordinary.  Many of their patterns feature beautiful, realistic looking flowers.  Some of the patterns are funny and whimsical.  Almost all of them will have you looking twice.

These Swaying Sunflowers just cannot be contained. . . they are blowing in the wind and out of the borders.   The pattern for this 18″ x 44″ tablerunner includes full size applique artwork.  Easy to follow instructions will help you with the pillow-turn technique.

Outside The Box is the perfect pattern for a favorite fabric that you don’t want to cut too small, but would rather show off in larger pieces.  An easy quilt in two sizes: 34″ x 48″ and 60″x 80″.

Even Witches need a Night Out!  These colorful “ladies” seem to have taken up line dancing to relieve the stress of being so witchy.

I wonder if the witches ran into these ladies who are doing the Snowshoe Shuffle?  Brightened with a colorful pieced border, this wall hanging finishes at 19 1/2″ x 23 1/2″.

Have you got That Lovin’ Feline?  The sight of these two kitties snuggling under a bright parasol will make any cat lover smile.  Look at their tails… isn’t that sweet?!

This Tender Tulip is an example of the realistic flowers you’ll find in Friendship Desingns patterns.   Hanging a grouping of these sure would look pretty.

Columbine flowers are the subject of Picture Perfect.  Easy to follow instructions and full size applique artwork will ensure you success with this wall hanging. Instructions include hand and fusible applique methods.

Check out the rest of Sue and Sue’s patterns.  Then if you still have some coffee in your cup and some time on your hands, check out all the other quilt patterns at Quilters Warehouse.