Wednesday, July 31, 2013

HO HO HO

~~~HO HO HO ~~~

Christmas In The Summer Bog Hop

 Christmas greetings in July seems a little strange. But what an  opportunity offered by Madame Samm  and Carol to get a headstart on Xmas. They are Santa's elves in disguise.

 And if you ever wondered what Santa does the other eleven months you know now.

My rule when I committed to HoHoHo was to use stash fabric. That lasted until my first visit to a fabric store when I spotted these pretty pieces and they had to come home with me. Same fabric, different patterns and a totally individual look. Must be the heat - I forgot to bind the table-topper  - a project for August. The table runner pattern may be found in Sew-it...today while the table topper is from Quilter's World.

Eventually I will have enough Sunbonnet Sues for a quilt. My Xmas in the Summer Sue was paper-pieced using Jennifer Ofenstein's free pattern from SewHooked. Sue looks a tad warm in her winter attire on the beach. But Santa is living easy.

  A new table quilt would be a perfect addition to my Xmas. The Holly Jolly Basket from Quilt A Colorful Christmas by House of White Birches was elegant.  Stitched it up and was happy.  But when I was ready to cut the backing I looked again and thought "QUILT".
Rather than just simple, easy fabric sashing my imaginaton began spinning pinwheels.


 It is easy to stitch pinwheels with perfect points by stitching two squares together, cutting on the diagonal and re-arranging the squares. After squaring them up they are stitched together in rows and sashing added. Most of the pinwheel fabric came from stash so there was a lot of variety and color.

A border of red cardinals finished my unexpected quilt. A Christmas gift for me.

I love the quilt glowing under the setting sun.

An ideal Ho Ho Ho project.

Thank you for visiting. I am sure that even if he is in summer mode Santa has Xmas on his mind. 

Have a Merry Day, 

Frances

 With Xmas only 146 days away there are lots of creative ideas shared by other Ho Ho Ho hoppers. So visit them at:

August 1
Ravelly1



76 comments:

  1. Your projects are wonderful! You are way ahead of me on Christmas sewing. Thank you for sharing.

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  2. wow! You have made some really lovely things. We really love the quilt - it is awesome! and the colours are perfect.

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  3. Your table topper is very pretty and i LOVE your quilt!
    xo jan

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  4. Wow! You are definitely ready for Christmas! Thanks for sharing these lovelies with us. It's hard to chose a favorite!

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  5. I agree! Wow is right! I love the quilt. It is so lovely with the pinwheels(my favorite block) and the center. Your pictures are amazing too. Over the top! Great job. K-

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  6. Oh my! That all looks amazing. That quilt is just to beautiful. I love the table runner too. LOVE your fabric choices.... and almost all from your stash, amazing. I love it. Great job.

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  7. You have been a busy girl sewing up a storm of Christmas projects. I love your Christmas quilt with the pinwheels. Thanks for sharing your creativity and being part of this blog hop.
    Christmas greetings from Sweden

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  8. So many lovely projects - and all from stash - you go girl!! And Santa on the beach with Sue, now that is too cute!!

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  9. Frances,
    you did a wonderful job and a big one!!!! The pics with the birdhouse is great! I like it!!!
    Thanks for sharing and I always like to read the whole story behind.

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  10. You've been very busy making some pretties!!

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  11. Fun Christmas projects! I love the table topper!

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  12. Your project are very pretty. Thanks for sharing

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  13. Great projects. You did a nice job.

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  14. Thanks for sharing your lovely Christmas projects.

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  15. These are all wonderful! I make the same promise not to buy fabric, but just can't resist all of the lovely choices out there.... too many temptations! I imagine Santa has Christmas on his mind 24/7. Don't think I'd want his job :) Thanks for sharing!

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  16. Lovely creations! It is nearly impossible to avoid buying fabric if I go into a shop--too much new, wonderful fabric. Thanks for sharing.

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  17. Love your summer-time Santa projects. Very charming.

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  18. That quilt is gorgeous!! Lots of yummy projects!

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  19. Good morning Frances..how nice to see sooooo many delightful pieces...your photos are pretty good too....soooo kudos to you there....inspiring you are and to others..wait and see..over there ..

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  20. Those Santas sure gave me a smile this morning. :) And I love the quilt although I must say I NEVER get such perfect points doing them so I need to come take a lesson from you! blessings, marlene

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  21. Lots of great projects, especially the quilt! I love that Santa at the beach fabric!

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  22. What a lovely quilt. Congratulations for being in the top today. Love you Sunbonnet Sue too.

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  23. Beautiful projects. I love your quilt and the table tops.

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  24. You are having lots of fun and so are we with this blog hop.

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  25. Beautiful! You have quite a stash of Christmas fabrics!

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  26. Awesome projects... love that first table runner with all the fabrics the same but in different colours!!!

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  27. Lovely projects so inspirational!!!

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  28. Gorgeous projects.Great job done!!

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  29. Congrats on being in the top 3 today, you certainly did alot of work for your day and it is lovely !

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  30. Lovely work! I love the table topper even without the binding! :) Thanks for sharing.

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  31. Great projects! I love your quilt!
    Thank you for sharing!

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  32. What a fun post. Your pp project is so cute. Thanks for sharing everything

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  33. all your projects are lovely... you were sew up a storm.

    the pp one is most creative.

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  34. I love your projects! Great job!

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  35. Your projects are lovely! Very well done, thank you for sharing today :)

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  36. You really made some beautiful projects and totally wow'd me with your quilt...it's gorgeous! Sunbonnet Sue does look pretty warm out there on the beach. I have the same intentions about using my stash, but I just have to remember to stay away from quilt stores when I plan to to that. :O)

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  37. Great projects...wonderful tip for the pinwheels, too!

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  38. Ohhhh stash bustin, your my kind of girl! Love your projects. Thanks for the link to the paper pieced Sue. What a hoot adding the extra "beach" fabrics to it! LOVE IT!

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  39. Oh, I love your table runner. The fabrics are perfect for the pattern. Your quilt is outstanding--I love all of the pinwheels bordering it. Beautiful work! Santa may be on vacation, but you have been busy!

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  40. What a lot of wonderful projects you shared today.

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  41. Great projects!
    Love the Sunbonnet sue with the beach scenes around her:)
    Sometimes we get inspired to make more of a pattern:) Yours is just stunning!

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  42. Your projects are so pretty, I love the fabric that you choose. Beautiful!

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  43. Frances I love your pinwheels. Santa and Sunbonnet Sue are also wonderful. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  44. You have wonderful details in your work and they look amazing! Your santa and lawnmower are great together! Happy Stitching!

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  45. Love the humor of your Santa. Really neat work.

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  46. Great projects...and thanks for the reminder that we only have 146 days until Christmas! :)

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  47. Lots of cute projects and thanks for sharing your talent and blog

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  48. Wonderful job...your quilt is just gorgeous....and I love the reference to summer with the pic of Santa on top of the lawn mower...nice presentation.

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  49. Great projects. I love that fabric! So pretty.
    Thanks for sharing.
    cheers
    maggie

    maggiemine42@gmail.com

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  50. You have more than a head start. You are almost ready.

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  51. Those pinwheels are wonderful. I love all your projects. I wish I had your energy :) Thanks for sharing!

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  52. All your projects are wonderful, but I absolutely love your quilt. The fabrics are really beautiful and the pinwheels are a great addition. You really did a great job.

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  53. I was impressed with the runner and table topper and then look, you made a quilt too! The paper pieced project is really cute too. Well done, Frances!

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  54. Hiya!!! Such wonderful projects, and so many!!! You've been a very busy gal. I especially love the first two table toppers. Thanks so much for sharing. Merry Christmas, blessed be, hugs!!! Pam

    pamspretties57 at gmail dot com

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  55. Fabulous projects! Your "surprise"quilt is beautiful!!

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  56. Fantastic work. This is such a great hop!!

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  57. Love all of your projects, thanks for sharing.

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  58. Love your projects. Thanks for sharing

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  59. Your quilt turned out just gorgeous. I love the little pinwheels around the outside.

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  60. Beautiful quilt! Thank you for sharing.

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  61. lovely projects! Thanks for sharing.

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  62. Great projects! The quilt is so special. I had a giggle when you mentioned you forgot the binding on your table topper. I just did the same thing.

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  63. Beautiful projects and my goodness have you been busy!! That is always a fun way to make pinwheels!

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  64. Nice job :) Thanks for sharing!

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  65. Awesome! I love the funny santa on vacation projects.

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  66. I'm thinking Santa's having it way too easy and should be concentrating on toys and gifts!! lol Love the quilt; cardinals always bring Christmas to mind.

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  67. The little quilt that grew. Love that you used so many fabrics. Nice table runner and placematts too

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