Thursday, December 22, 2016

End of Year!

It's hard to believe the year is almost over, isn't it? It's been a busy month for me with LOTS of gift making and party/luncheon attending - but SO much fun!  One of the funnest things I made was this cute little Dresden Plate that measures only 2" across!


I call it a fashion accessory for a vintage sewing machine and I sent it to my mom to use on her old Singer 301. Blue is her favorite color. I forgot to put a note in the box explaining to her what it's for, so it'll be interesting to see if she can figure it out before I call her! LOL  I really, really want to make a little quilt with these blocks now, but I need to find a 30* ruler to make cutting the blades easier - anyone know who makes one? You can find the tutorial for making your own HERE and you can see more color combinations and step by step instructions.

I made a few other gifts for my rug groups - a set of quilted zipper bags - - - -

- - - - and some quilted key fobs. (tutorial HERE)

I made myself a different version by paper piecing a long string of flying geese.

One of my groups had a wooly ornament exchange and these were all the wonderful items that were made for that.

Janet's son works for a company that makes high end messenger bags and journals using very dense 1/4" felt that costs $144/yd. He saves all the tiny scraps for her and she made this four-sided ornament using some of them.

My local quilt store has been doing a weekly giveaway on their Facebook page and I was lucky enough to be one of their winners. I received a yard of this lovely Jo Morton fabric - they even mailed it right to my house!

Some of the rugs projects I've seen this month include a couple of finished rugs by Sandy and Coralee.


Sandy started a new Santa rug.

Myra is replicating a photograph to make this wonderful landscape rug as a gift for her aunt. The moose were added from her imagination!

Nancy finished up this cute pillow using mostly leftover worms from her stash.

And she has begun a new floral.


I do a lot of string piecing when I quilt, and I usually just use thread snips to cut apart the sections as they come out of the machine. But when I saw this new gizmo I could see how helpful it would be, so I ordered one for myself.

It works great!

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas! That's what I plan on doing!

16 comments:

Ann at Prairie Primrose said...

That is the cutest dresden! I think my featherweight would really like one. Thanks for sharing and Merry Christmas!

Sue SA said...

Love your tiny dresden, I have made a small one before but yours take the prize for being truly tiny! Lovely presents and rugs. Thanks for the link to the key fobs, I will be following that up! Merry Christmas.

Rugs and Pugs said...

That little Dresden design is just too sweet.
Merry, merry Christmas!
Hugs :)
Lauren

Three Sheep Studio said...

Felt that costs 144.00 a yard - glory be ! I cannot even imagine. I'ld save the scraps, too. ;)
Love all those wonderful wooly ornaments!
Rose

Karen said...

The Dresden Plate is so tiny and so cute! Delightful idea.

Prims By The Water said...

That is the most darling Dresden piece I have ever seen! What a nice gift.Merry Christmas. Janice

annie said...

Great projects!
Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

Julia said...

That's the cutest little dresden plate I ever saw. Just too cute. I hope that you have a very Merry Christmas.
Hugs,
Julia

Janet O. said...

You know I love that little Dresden! What a sweet thing! : )
My, you have been a busy little elf, Gayle. I feel positively slack in the gift making department when I see all of your wonderful creations.
Love the string pieced zipper bags in a rainbow array. Did the matching fobs go with the color coordinated bags? And I must say that the flying geese key fob is too cute for words!!
You have certainly made Christmas merry for your friends!
Did you make all of those ornaments, or are they the ones everyone brought to the exchange?
I'll have to check my rulers and see if I have one of what you are seeking.
Merry Christmas to you, Gayle!

Kyle said...

Your tiny gifts are no way tiny in the wow factor. The little Dresden is spectacular and I hope you tell us what your mom thought. All the gifts you and your friends exchanged are lovely and truly gifts from the heart. Merry Christmas!

Lori said...

What a fun post full of lovely gifts! I wish I was part of a fun group here in my town. Love that tiny Dresden!! Merry Christmas.

Saimi said...

Oh Gayle what lovely thoughtful gifts you made your friends, I'm sure they will be cherished. Precision and patience certainly went into your little gifts, I'm once again impressed with your skills.
Have a Merry Christmas Gayle and a healthy New Year!!

Yvonne said...

Wow! so much fun things! the rugs are stunning as always! I love them all but I fell for the mooses, one of my favorite animals! The thread cutter is great, saves a lot of time! And I love all your little gifts! They are all so cute and I am sure it was fun giving them away. Thanks for sharing the great ideas! Have a happy new year!

whitey said...

you accomplish so much and i accomplish so little!

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

You certainly were busy! I can't believe that mini quilt. Wow, I don't think I would have the patience! One of my quilt friends gave me a flying geese key fob last year. I love it!
hugs,
Jann

Nancy said...

Your tiny Dresden Plate, the key fobs, and the string bags/pouches are all so wonderful. I think you are ambitious to make all those! Fun felt ornaments and several of those hooked pieces could come to my home. ;-)