Merry Christmas + 200 Posts!!! Oh my!!

Merry Christmas!!!

It's been a busy start to winter for me and there hasn't been nearly enough time spent sewing.  I hope to remedy that in January and do a lot of creating.  Who knows... maybe even finishing some things!!

For the first time in many years, I've gone all out and decorated my home for Christmas and I'm hosting a family dinner today.  I can't wait!

Did you see what was in the title of my post?  TWO HUNDRED BLOG POSTS??!!? What?!? How did that happen?  I'm not always the most consistent blogger, but I absolutely love having a journal of my work and adventures.  And being able to connect with friends, family and other quilters around the world is a wonderful bonus! I started blogging in December of 2007 and quilting in September of 1998.  It's my 20th year of quilting!!! There aren't enough exclamation points to go around!

To celebrate this big event, I'm going to have my first ever giveaway!  Of course I have nothing prepared....that's so me!  After a bit of thought, I've decided that due to my love of scraps and how much I enjoy making zippy pouches, that I will make a zippy pouch and fill it with 2" squares and send it off to the lucky winner.  Please leave a comment.  I would love to hear how you found me and if you have been a reader for a while.  I'll draw a winner on New Year's Day.

Now let's get to the quilty part of my post--  I've been working hard to finish up my Scrap Happy Sampler top.  The wedge border has been a doozy.  Lots of trimming and digging through my scraps to get a wide variety fabrics. It's getting there!! We aren't going to talk about that spinny square block on the left.  Nope.  Not talking about it!! =O  I would be absolutely delighted if I could have this all together by the New Year.  Not a bad goal!

Have a Very Merry Christmas!!

From Fannie--

 And Finny--

And me!

xoxo,

Kristin

Linking up with 2 of my favorite linky parties: Oh Scrap! and Let's Bee Sewcial

Norge

In August, I started a super secret sewing project-- a birthday present for my mother! I kept it under wraps on social media so I could keep this quilt a surprise.  It's a snuggly Norwegian Flag quilt that is very scrappy and has minkee on the back.  I got it **mostly** done for her birthday in early October.  The binding was machine sewn on, but still needed about half of the hand stitching to do.  I presented it to her and then promptly took it back!  

The pattern is very simple- lots of squares.  The cutting was tedious (why must I do everything scrappy??!!?), but it sewed up very quickly.

Normally, I quilt at my mom's house, but keeping this a surprise posed a bit of a problem.  Heather graciously let me use her longarm and I did a fun, swooshy panto.

I absolutely LOVE how this turned out.  And the minkee--swoooon.  It has lovely drape and begs to be pet.  And the way the colors sparkle is EXACTLY why I do everything scrappy!  I love it so much, that I'm making 2 more!! =O  One for me and one for my amazing friend, Bethney.  

I really need to have this finished up by Christmas, so I can officially gift it.  As they say, "this binding isn't going to stitch itself", so I need to get going!

xoxo,

Kristin

Linking up with Oh Scrap!, Let's Bee Sewcial, and to motivate me to hand stitch that binding-- Kathy at Slow Stitching Sunday (it doesn't get any slower that this!!)