Sewing for Christmas

Daughter has an Advent calendar that is normally filled with candies each day. This year I decided all that sugar is not necessary. Instead, I have been making a few doll dresses and tucking them into the pockets of the calendar.

 

Daughter has an impressive collection of American Girl Dolls, but they don't all have Christmasy clothes. Here are four dolls modelling new outfits!

Jamie's Poinsettia Dress



Juliet's formal Christmas dress



Addy wears a lovely velvet and plaid dress



Rena wears winter white pants with a
fir-trimmed top and a warm fuzzy hat!

I sewed up three Christmas potholders for three friends, each reflecting individual personalities: one is full of fun, one is elegant and one is down to earth.

 My favorite is the candy cane one with the backing that says "bah humbug"!

 And here is a UFO table topper that is finally finished! It sat in the drawer, needing binding, for two years. I bound it, and husband took it to work for a gift exchange.

 It went home with a happy co-worker, while husband came home with some Starbucks Christmas coffee!

Scarf and Potholders

I think this may be an example of false advertising:

 Fun Fur?

FUN FUR?

This was not a fun fur to knit! All those little hairs were confusing and difficult to work with.

 It did not help that the only size 10 needle I have is a circular set...

But the scarf was finished on time for daughter to wear it with the rest of the girls in the choir ensemble!

 

 

I finished off some potholders this week.

 I had to use scraps to piece the backs. I like how they turned out!

 Another set...front

 ...and back.

This last one is an example of quilting that takes all the attention. On the left, the curvy quilting takes away from the piecing. So I pulled it out and did straight line quilting, and once again the piecing shows. Much better!

 

I was not able to accomplish my goals for the end of November. The quilted church banner is put away until next fall. The baby quilt is not yet quilted. And daughter's coat has not even been cut out. But the Holiday Lane pillow was finished on time for the blog hop. And the potholders are now finished, and I am happy about that!

 

All I want to work on now is Christmas projects and gifts, but that baby quilt must get done. That is my goal for this first week of December!

Holiday Lane Pillow Blog Hop!

Welcome! Today I am participating in this wonderful blog hop!

Sponsored by Sew We Quilt (http://www.sewwequilt.com/)

and hosted by Pauline (http://www.quiltnqueen.blogspot.ca/)

this blog hop features a pillow pattern by Jill (http://www.jillilystudio.com/)

 

I knew right away what fabric I would use to make my pillow--fabrics designed by Laurel Burch. I am a fan of her holiday fabric lines.

 

A few years ago I made an Advent Calendar...

 ...and a matching tree skirt using her very colorful fabrics.

 

So of course, my Holiday Lane creation must match the set!

No pillow would be complete without a Laurel Burch signature kitty in a window, watching for excitement along Holiday Lane...

 Ah, a lovely candle burns in a neighbor's house...

 It looks like a flock of tropical birds have landed in the trees outside...

 And here is the completed pillow. I love it!

 

I thoroughly enjoyed this creative diversion from some rather challenging projects.

 

You can check out more Holiday Lane pillows

today at these ingenious bloggers:

Living Life One Day at a Time

Polka Dot Classic
Sophie Junction

I'm Keeping Busy You Are Here

Sunshine Quilting

The Treehouse

Petit Design Co

Nun's Quilt World

Ellison Lane Quilts

From This to That

Mary on Lake Pulaski

Luann's Loose Threads

Till We Quilt Again
13 Woodhouse Road

Thanks for stopping by!