Every Wednesday during the month of July the Fat Quarter Shop has hosted a \”Holiday Wishes\” celebration, with several bloggers sharing their makes from this wonderful new book written by Sherri Falls and published by It\’s Sew Emma. This is the last Wednesday on the tour, but you can check out all of the bloggers\’ wonderful projects by heading over to the Fat Quarter Shop\’s blog, the Jolly Jabber. Maybe this will be just the inspiration you need to get started on your holiday sewing projects!
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| Last year\’s project from the \”Winter Wonderland \”book. |
I was particularly excited to be asked to participate in this \”Holiday Wishes\” celebration. Sherri Falls has been designing beautiful quilt patterns for years under the name of her pattern company, This & That Patterns. In fact, just last year I shared a project I made from Sherri\’s first book with It\’s Sew Emma, titled \”Winter Wonderland.\” That book featured 12 cozy Christmas quilt projects, including a sampler quilt. I used five blocks from Sherri\’s sampler quilt to make a long vertical runner to hang on my quilt ladder during the holiday season. For more pictures from that project, click here.
Sherri\’s new book \”Holiday Wishes\” also has 12 terrific projects, including full sized quilts, wall hangings, table toppers and a tree skirt! When I look at Sherri\’s creations, I see a fun, fresh spin on traditional block design, which is what I love for my own home!
If you\’ve visited my blog before, you know that I like to layer small quilts with other elements, like barn wood, frames and windows. I seem to have a lot of old windows in my house, some with glass, some without. I like moving them around and using them in new ways. So I decided to make two of my favorite blocks from the book\’s sampler quilt (Midnight Clear Block of the Month) and layer them with one of those old windows.
At first I wasn\’t quite sure how to hang my blocks, but then I remembered I had a nice wide band of burlap left over from another project. It was just the right element to wrap around the window, soften it up, and provide a place to attach the blocks. This will definitely be my arrangement for this year\’s holiday decorating.
My fabrics for the blocks included prints in my stash from some of my favorite Moda designers: Fig Tree & Company, Brenda Riddle and Sweetwater. There is a mix of Fig Tree Farmhouse, Honeysweet and Strawberry Fields Revisited, along with a Brenda Riddle green gingham and Sweetwater\’s new Christmas line, Cookie Exchange.
I did simple straight line quilting . . . the only type of quilting I can seem to handle! But I think that style of quilting works well with Sherri\’s striking block patterns. Rather than using my \”go to\” Aurifil 2021 Natural White, I used Aurifil 2000 Light Sand (50 wt) for these projects. I like the warmth that this thread color adds to the design. It also seems to bridge the transition from the white background fabric to the stronger color prints.
And on the back, why not use this delicate print from Strawberry Fields Revisited? It\’s fun using prints that aren\’t typically \”holiday\” prints in a holiday project.
I highly recommend both of Sherri\’s books if you are looking for pretty holiday projects for your home. As a bonus, many of her designs in \”Holiday Wishes\” translate well into quilts for other seasons or color arrangements!
Thanks so much for stopping by and checking out my projects! I hope you get carried away holiday quilting . . . well before the holidays!
~Taunja
Beautiful! How cool that you used a piece of burlap to help hang those lovely minis! It really makes a statement.
Thank you!! I tried a couple of other things, including some cute ribbon, but it just didn't look right. I about drove my husband crazy running around the house looking for something just right. Burlap to the rescue! 😉
I LOVE the way you use frames and architectural pieces to highlight your quilt blocks!!!! So creative and I really am inspired to try the same thing in my house! Your blocks are so amazing and I love that we made the same block and they showcase how terrific it looks in all different fabrics!! xoxo
Can you hear my applause? Not only are the quilt blocks lovely and beautifully quilted, the display is incredibly unique! You have such a great sense of style, Taunja 😊. I love how you mixed your fabrics from various lines. They all work so well together. I'm so glad I have Sher
Sherri's book!
You have a delightful eye for design and display! It looks beautiful as does your quilting. How does one learn how to quilt a piece. I can do the straight quilting but I am so not sure of where to place the quilt design. Did you learn by reading a book that might help me? I am soon to do the Strawberry Revisited Frivol top I finished and had to spend 16 hours ripping out the awful free motion I did (my machine is too small), so straight line it is!
I can't wait to see what you decide to make!! Thanks for your kind words. I do love putzing around my house and rearranging things and trying to make them work together. Now you get busy and get your project made so I can ooh and aaah! I don't have a tree skirt. Some day I am going to make one of those! Thanks again Pam!
I loved that too! It really goes to show what a great block can become when different style choices are made. Thanks so much for your kind words! Much appreciated! I love to putz around and use my \”junk.\”
Honestly, I just kind of go on a wing and a prayer when deciding where to quilt it. I just sort of studied the lines of the block, and then used my big rulers at my cutting table to position them at different angles of the block to try and see what popped out at me. Then I stitched the most basic or prominent vertical, horizontal or diagonal lines. Then I added here and there as it seemed to need it. Not very scientific and a tad scary, but the seam ripper is always nearby. I KNOW you can do it! I've seen your beautiful work!! Regarding free motion, I don't think I'll ever attempt that again! I leave that to the experts! ha! Have a great day! I will be awaiting your IG post on your Frivols top!!!
What a great decor idea. Hmmmmm! Love your blocks. Both books of Sherri's are on my Wish List! Love the blocks in both of her books!!
Thank you!! Both her books are full of nice projects!!
I really need that book! I'm getting very jealous (sinful, I know) looking at all of your projects! 😉
What a beautiful job you've done! I always love looking at your work!
Ah, I don't think you are. I think you are just brewing up something fabulous that you want to make. Go Tuki! Go Tuki!
Thank you so much! I appreciate your generous comments and the fact that people, like you, will let me blab on about what I love to do! Have a great rest of your week Barbara!
Your blocks are really beautiful!! I love the colors that you went with. Such a gorgeous display!! Love that table also!
Thanks so much!! It was a fun little project! That table was a clearance find at a furniture store! Total impulse buy, but I love it as much as the day I stumbled upon it like 8 years ago! woo hoo!! Thank you for stopping by the blog!!
Love your ideas for your small quilts!
Thanks so much Lorri!