Cross-stitch projects completed 2009

Here are two projects that I completed this last year, 2009. The undersea item, Porthole to Paradise, was actually something that my DH started a long time ago, before children. He did about the first top half, and then over the years I would pick it up now and again and work on the rest of it. This last November, I got it back from someone I had asked to finish it--she herself has a busy family, so was not able to get to it, which I understand completely! Anyway, having been home with sick children, it seems they are taking turns, I had some time to work on it, and finally completed the backstitch outlining. Voila! Now I have to get it blocked, matted, and framed.

The other is the "Every Herb" project, which I lost the original stamped cross-stitch fabric, but have the pattern and floss (go figure). Again, something from before children. Can you tell I am in a cleaning out, purging mode?? If it isn't going to be finished and enjoyed, it must go.

Quilted Advent Calendar

Here is our family's Advent Calendar. I made another last year for the family of one of our Goddaughters, Anika. The pattern, which I changed a bit, is from Quiltmaker #58, November/December 1997. The inverted triangles under the buttons are little fabric pockets, where the buttons hide until it's time each night to pull one out--the kids have been faithful and attentive to that part!

The hardest part about making this is collecting the buttons! I am a little picky about having to have a star at the top, so not just any buttons will do. Plastic buttons are easier to come by, and less expensive, but you have to pick out the nice ones, like some from Mary Englebreit. Ceramic buttons are nicer, but are harder to come by; good ones are expensive! In the photo you can see the very first ceramic gingerbread boy who started my collection in '97; I found him at The Country Peddler, a fine quilt store that sadly, is no longer around. I just checked my button collection recently, and have enough to make another, but I would have to choose for whom I would make it.

Quilt for my Grandma

Here is a quilt that I made for my Grandma Gwenny, who just turned 87. She has been living in a nursing home/assisted care facility since June. She's not too happy about it, so I had the big idea to make her a quilt, something that might help her know that I think about her every day. It was meant to be more scrappy, but it turned out all right. It had to be an appropriate size, about a lap/throw size, for a few reasons: first, Grandma's not very big in stature; second, it needed to be a quilt that wasn't too big for the bed; third, it needs to be machine-wash size, so that her caregivers can easily clean it, just in case of spills and other senior moments.

The label is from "Make Your Own Quilt Labels!", by Kim Churbuck.  I love her art!