I haven't blogged since Christmas (excuses, excuses), so I wanted to share what we've been up to since then. I didn't decorate because of our traveling over the holidays, but Paula did. Back when we first started our business (wow, that's like 10 years ago), Paula's home was in the first holiday home tour that was sponsored by her daughter's high school drill team. My jaws dropped when I walked into the house - everything was red, white, green and gorgeous. Since then, Paula has done degrees of that decorating, but her tree and mantel are always outstanding. With the move to her new home, came a switch in color scheme, so she needed new stockings to go with those new colors. She made new stockings for everyone, using a black toile fabric that we saw at Spring Market, black embroidery monograms, and touches of black and red for trim. I think I wanted to be adopted so I can have one of these stockings too.
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| Just some of the ornaments on Paula's beautiful tree. |
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| Love the stockings and the whole mantel! |
We were waiting for some of Paula's new fabrics to arrive so we could start some new quilts, so I decided to use the "free" time to knock out some baby quilts. There seemed to have been a rash of new babies lately and I needed to get some gifts made. I have my favorite Stacked Coins pattern from Moda Bake Shop that is my go-to baby quilt, but I had some baby flannel that I wanted to use too. Lo and behold Jenny Doan of Missouri Star Quilt Co. fame had a tutorial of Self Binding Receiving Blankets on youtube. Wow- super fast, super easy - and a new quilt to add to my baby quilt gift list. So, 3 Stacked Coins baby quilts and 2 Receiving Blankets later, I was ready for a Red Crinoline quilt.
One of Paula's newest collections with Marcus Fabrics is Paula's Border Companions - 5 great borders, each with 3 colorways. Biggest problem with this - we want a quilt in each of them and we don't have time for that!! First up, a beautiful quilt in blues, greys and blacks and featuring a great border print. And now for a personal bragging moment - check out that border - mitered and matching!!! It just makes me smile a little! Next up is a re-do of Old Abe and I should have a picture of that one a little later.
Just a reminder: Paula and Gloria Parsons will be teaching at the Special Event Opening Retreat at "And Sew It Began-Pieceful Stitches" in LaPorte,TX. Ronda and her husband David have worked really hard to renovate, re-do and refurbish this 1913 Sears kit home. The retreat is February 12-15 and it's sure to be a great one. I shared pictures of the projects on one of my last posts, but here's the link for more information: Special Event Opening. I've enjoyed looking at the pictures that Ronda has posted as the work progressed and I thought I would share some with you.
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| One of the bedrooms with our Carolina on the wall and Long Road Home on the bed. |
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| This is the craft room that was added on the house. Ronda has been working on adding fleece covered design walls. |
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| Front of the house. Landscapers have been by recently. |
Well, the sewing machine is calling my name and it's time to get back to some stitching.
Unitl next time, happy quilting,
Mary Ellen
