My Grandmother and Banana Stickers

A few weeks ago, I was walking downtown and noticed a Madonna picture in the window of the art studio.  It had cut outs and lots of gold.  Around the perimeter, there were a few rows of banana and other fruit stickers.  My grandmother was a refunder… you know, cut out a UPC code or something on a box and get a Green Giant jump rope, Kellogg’s car, etc. etc.  She also collected banana stickers and I also did because of her.  Finally, a few years back, I discarded mine.  After seeing this art, the collection began again and I did the following project with them.  This is the idea of another artist, but used completely different by me.  I used my longarm quiting machine to make inchies, a popular new item among fiber artists.  First, I put the backing on the frame, then interfacing, the top fabric, stickers and a bunch of fibers.  Over all of this, I put a sheer and quilted it up.  Once they were cut into 1.5″ squares, I finished them and put a rivet into each corner.

   

While I was working on this part of the project, my husband was doing computer generated stuff using her handwriting and pictures.  This is the final project.  I will take it back east with me for my family’s get together this weekend, but I don’t know if I’ll give it up or not.  I’d like to enter it into the county fair this summer.

Vintage Ornaments and Monkey Bread

My sister’s recipe for Monkey Bread.  Easy and everyone loved it here!

4 tubes of biscuits (10 per tube) – cut each biscuit into quarters and roll in 1/2 cup sugar with 1 tsp cinnamon.

Drop biscuit pieces into sprayed bunt pan.

Melt and bring to boil 2 sticks butter, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 cup brown sugar.  Drizzle over top and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.  I baked longer until it was brown on top.  Invert on plate.

Mix together 4 oz cream cheese, 1 tsp vanilla, 2 cups 10x sugar and a little milk.  Use as dip.

 

VINTAGE ORNAMENTS

Usually on Christmas morning, there is a Hallmark ornament in each stocking.  I must have missed them after Christmas last year, so decided to go downtown to the antique shops and find some.  There were a lot and I chose some beautiful ones.  They ended up being about a dollar each.  I will add a label on each one so we don’t mix them up with my grandmother’s ornaments.

 

 

Another Raggedy Ann and Andy quilt

This is the second Raggedy Ann and Andy quilt I have made for a Christmas gift.  This is for my friend (niece to recipient of other one).  This quilt is in the 60″ x 70″ range and it was completed in less than 24 hours and used up almost all my red tone on tone type fabrics.  I just love it and know my friend will also.  Her birthday is near Valentine’s Day, so she has many red items.  It will also be a very nice reminder of her aunt who passed away last year.

In addition, this weekend was very productive.  I finished five quilted handbags and many other projects.

MQR Black ‘n White and One Color Postcard Exchange

Here are all the creative cards I have received from the postcard exchange through MQ Resources ( http://www.mqresource.com/ ).  Thanks to everyone for another great exchange!

Raggedy Ann and Andy Quilt

What good friends I have.  My dear friend and godmother to my son passed away a year ago and I was given her fabric.  She never missed a birthday, anniversary, special occasion or much else.  This woman was the most incredible seamstress.  Many of her close friends have Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls that are amazing.  Their hair is lush and thick; real denim jeans with a hankie in the pocket; bows in the hair; hand embroidered faces, buttons for eyes and beautiful embroidered inscriptions on their chests.  Her husband has a set of 4th of July Ann and Andy.  His birthday is around that date and he worked for the FBI.  Included in the fabric I was given were eight different yards of patriotic flannel.  So, I made a “friendship star” quilt (81″ x 81″) with his fabric.  Another friend of mine came up with the idea to machine embroidered the faces and “I LOVE YOU” hearts and did them for me.  It is machine quilted with Heart and Soul’s Star Swirl pantograph and variegated red/white/blue thread.  This will be my Christmas gift to him. 

 

    

Raisin Bran and Tree Skirt

What a lovely morning here.  Returning home from my early morning run, my son was showered and ready for breakfast.  I love having him around the house, especially in his uniform.  Seeing him sitting so straight with his Raisin Bran reminded me of a picture taken when he was a toddler.  Check out the heaping amount of cereal he poured then.

   

Yesterday, I finished a tree skirt for my daughter and her husband.  They requested it for their new home.  It is a Simplicity pattern by Darlene Zimmerman #3977.  Believe it or not, it was incredibly simple to construct:  one large block, 8 smaller blocks and triangles.  The smaller blocks are 12″ so you could use any favorite block.

Secret Quilter Gift

In today’s mail was a package from my “Secret Quilter” from Machine Quilters’ Resource (http://www.mqresource.com/).  It included a Log Cabin notepad, a Nativity Story beaded bracelet and P&B Textiles “Pop Parade” charm pack.  Thank you!

Funny, but I just used up the fabric from her last package today.  It was used in a quilt and table runner.  Any extra pieces were used in my ongoing scrap quilts.  One is on ETSY right now (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8163912)

     

December Table Runner

My daughter married into a family that has embraced Messianic Jewish beliefs.  Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah, yet tomorrow is the feast of St. Nicholas, a day of celebration in my family since I was a young child.  We have always done something special for our children on St. Nicholas Day, so this year, I combined the two feasts for her gift.  It is a table runner with one side with Hanukkah fabric and the other side with Christian fabric.  I made a second runner for her sister-in-law.

Wedding Box

Today, I will feature a lovely gift from my sister.  She is brilliant with paper and pictures!  This arrived at my home the end of October and was a complete suprise.  Aren’t sisters like her just the best!  This box contains pictures from the days surrounding my daughter’s wedding last April on Mt. Hood.  She used a fabulous collection of papers that match the colors of the wedding.  Once I have journaled on the pages, I can seal the cellophane envelopes.  I have included a sampling of a few pages.  Her family is on the top right of the page.  Sister, you are the best!  (Shhh… don’t tell the other three of our sisters that I said that.)

   

Black & White and One Color Postcards

Here are the remains of the postcard that left in the mail yesterday.  Originally, I was going to twist the theme and use primarily blue and a little black and white.  After receiving the first two from the swap, my idea was not so original, so I went with the expected.  I love scrappy quilts, so gathered orange scraps and sewed a log cabin top.  After quilting it, I cut it into 4″ x 6″ and finished them.  Watch for the entire collection from this swap…