Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh Christmas Tree.........

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh Christmas Tree,

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh Christmas Tree................

LA LA LA LAAAAAA, LA LAAAAAA, LAAAAAAAAAAAA

Yep........the first two lines are the only words I know to this song,
yet, I have been humming it a lot here lately.

Why?

Of course you all know.......

My first Christmas at the Quilt Cave!

After being "homeless" last Christmas season,

it was wonderful being able to go

through all of my Christmas decorations again!

My fireplace provides the perfect place to

display all of my nativity scenes.

After all, the Nativity is what Christmas is all about

in my opinion.

I love this welcome sign I found at an antique mall recently.

Ummm, Dad.........shouldn't you be decorating the tree

instead of ME!

Gracie Lu!!!!!

I love being able to have a table to decorate again!

I am just so full of joy right now!

I have a home I love.....

It has a studio I love to create in.....

Sooooooooooooo........

I want to share some of that creativity with you all......

"Oh, Christmas Tree"

Mini Quilt

I am going to share the pattern I came up with

for these great little holiday presents.

I hope you enjoy it, and make some for your

friends this Christmas season.

They are quick, easy, AND.....

they use up the smallest of bits in your scraps!

You can create a mini quilt like I have here 

(always thinking of my blogging friend Janet,

the master of mini quilts when I make a mini now!)

You could insert some insulbright to make them into potholders.

Perhaps you could make a potholder style quilt like

my blogging friend Wendy does?

There are a ton of different ways to embellish

or display them.

I hope you enjoy this mini tutorial

and whip some up for your quilty friends this

Christmas!

You all KNOW I am NOT high tech!

Fortunately, this little project isn't either.

I haven't a clue how to make a pdf

so you can just jot down the measurements.

For each "Oh, Christmas Tree"

mini quilt

you will need the following.....

working from your smallest bits of scraps......

For the Christmas tree.....

1: 1.5" square of yellow (star)

1:  1.5" square of brown (trunk)

14: 1.5" squares of green (branches)

For the background.....

I used neutrals, but, you can use any color...

(I probably wouldn't use green though! LOL)

2: 1.5" x 8.5" strips

4:  1.5" x 4" strips

2:  1.5" x 3.5" strips

2:  1.5" x 3" strips

2:  1.5" x 2.5" strips

2:  1.5" x 2" strips

Each tree block will be roughly 

8.5" wide x 8.25" height
before quilting.
Lay out block before assembling. 

Assembly:

These are your top and bottom rows.

2nd row from top.....the star

3rd row

4th row......isn't this fun?

5th row

6th row using up all those bits of green

7th row.....the trunk

You can strip piece 1.5" strips if you would like.

I just enjoyed working from the very

bottom of the scrap chain using 

little bits.

Do what works best for you, but, 

use variety!

Sew strips together in the proper order.

Here I sewed two strips together at a time.....

And before long.......

TAAAAAAA DAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!

A cute litte Christmas tree block you can have fun with.

To finish mine, I cut a 10" square of backing fabric,

and a 10" square of batting

then I stitched in the ditch on each of them.

Squared them up, and then

I used 1: 2.25" strip width of fabric to 

bind each little quilt.

These will be great little gifts for 

some of my quilting friends.

I hope you make some for your friends too!

ENJOY!!!!!!

Merry Christmas!
Let me know if you make some!

In other news...........

En Provence Clue 2

was posted on Friday.

You may find everything pertaining to Bonnie's mystery quilt

HERE.

We worked with the Tri Recs rulers for this clue.

Neutral triangles cut.......

Corner pieces cut from red constant......

(Bonnie's magenta)

And before I knew it, I had 100 of these babies made!

All ready to be trimmed this week.

YEEEEEEEHAW!

Patriotic mystery quilt version link up with

Alycia Quilts

Linking up with Bonnie's

Link Up Monday Part 2

Ready for clue 3 now!

Thanks again Bonnie for ALL you do for

your friends, and followers.

I hope you ALL enjoy

this blessed time of year!

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Keep on quilting!

From the Quilt Cave,

Kevin the Quilter

Thanksgiving........in photos..........

Well I hope you ALL had a glorious THANKSGIVING!

I certainly did!

Of all the many things I am thankful for, hosting my family at the QUILT CAVE for
Thanksgiving and being able to share it with you all is way up on my list!

Come along with me and view my

Thanksgiving in photos!

All of those dishes that were washed

made for a table that was ready to be used!

(I sent this photo to the lady that sold me 

her mother's dining room set.)

Cooking with family is the best....

Momma's mashed potatoes!

Dad is supervising of course!

Mom and Dad were able to stay with me the whole week!

Sis making the rolls....

the yeast rose!  YEEEHAW!

Special moments caught in a photo......

Lil' Bubs waiting for his plate to be filled......

Family meals are the best!

And, NO, these googly eyed babies weren't left out either!

LOL

Diets are DEFINITELY OFF the menu for Thanksgiving!

Fried Turkey, dressing, chicken and dumplings, mashed potatoes and gravy,

sweet potatoes, broccoli and cheese casserole, green beans, layer salad, homemade rolls, punch,

cranberry dip, pumpkin pie, and my mom's streudle

were all on the menu!

We had a wonderful time together!

My Uncle Royce on my dad's side of the family

was able to join us, as were my sister's

mother-in-law Barb and brother-in-law Jim.

SO! VERY! THANKFUL!

We took the rest of the evening to digest it all! LOLOLOL

The next day, we had to work it all off........

the ladies went shopping, looking for those Black Friday Bargains.........

while the menfolk did manly things like clear trees for my

future pasture!

Here we are looking really tough and macho

.......yeah right! LOLOLOL

I have to say, there is a visible difference after clearing

several dead trees, and some that were way too crowded.

This wood will be put to good use heating my

sis' family this winter!

Scrabble kept us busy at night.

And, as you all probably guessed.....

something else kept me busy at night after Black Friday.......

Bonnie Hunter's Clue 1

came out for

You may find everything related to this mystery quilt:

HERE

 Using it up!

As you can see, there isn't a lot left of these already cut

2 inch strips.  I LOVE being able to add variety by

including the smallest of bits!

 I love spinning seams too!
Remember, I am doing this mystery quilt in a patriotic color scheme.
I am linking up with Alycia of
Alycia Quilts
who is also doing the mystery quilt in patriotic colors.
Let us know if you are too!

These neutral 4 patches were just what I needed to end my

Thanksgiving weekend with!

Thank you so much Bonnie Hunter for being the

generous class act you are!
Linking up with Bonnie's
Link Up Monday Part 1

When I found this almost pristine Spartan sewing machine

at an antique mall last week, I named her "Bonnie"

in honor of my quilting rock star!

Thanks for sharing my Thanksgiving with me!

I appreciate you all!
Now, go SEW!

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter

Winner, Winner.........

Thank you ALL for your wonderful comments about

your favorite side dish for Thanksgiving!

WE LOVE TO EAT, don't we?????

I am so pleased there was such a great response to the 

Ideal Seam Guide giveaway, and
I would like to thank Steve Tippets

again for generously donating

these wonderful seam guides.

As you all know, Kevin the Quilter is nothing

if not high tech around here.......

so all of the names went into this bowl,

hand written I might add!

And the winners are..................

drum roll please....................

BarbaraNovember 14, 2016 at 6:23 PM

I'd love to win the guide to try it out. I guess my favorite side dish is Southern Comfort Glazed Carrots.

and............

Frog QuilterNovember 14, 2016 at 3:15 PM

Fresh cranberries and apples sauted. YUM!

Congratulations to you both!

I hope that you find the seam guides helpful in your

piecing of patchwork.

The Ideal Seam Guide has definitely helped mine!

I have sent you both e-mails so I can

send these to you right away!

In other news..............

Nooooooooooooooooo............

I am NOT moving out!

LOLOLOLOLOL

I love the Quilt Cave too much for that!

So, why is there a moving van in front of my home???

FURNITURE!!!!!

I finally am getting some furniture!

I found these 2 wooden tables, chairs, and hutch

on a buy/sell/trade near my location.

These were remnants from an estate sale.

I can't believe no one wanted them?

Well, I DO!

The lady selling the items was so nice, and shared with me

about her mother's furniture.  Her teenage son helped

post the items for her and was quite the entrepreneur.

She asked if I would send a photo of the furniture in

place at my home and on Thanksgiving.

I am more than happy to, and I know it will

help her knowing that her mother's furniture is in a good

place, and will be well cared for.

I will now be able to host

Thanksgiving Dinner for my family!

I am so excited to be able to entertain

and display some of my grandmother's glass!

Thanksgiving Day is coming!
Glasses are washed, as are the dishes!

Bring on the food!

Which means the following day will be the first clue to

Bonnie Hunter's.....

ONE WEEK FROM TODAY!

I just can't believe it!

I am gonna be pumped all week

thinking about this!

I came home the other day to find 

a package on my doorstep.

Randy of Barrister's Block

sent me this lovely package of patriotic fabrics

and a nice little mini quilt pattern.

She shared with me that some of this was

from a dearly departed quilting friend's stash.

How special, and thanks Randy!

I will put these to good use!

I also received these fabrics from my friend

Carolyn this past week.

I have a feeling some of these may find their 

way into the upcoming mystery quilt!

I hope you all are ready to 

BRING ON THE BIRD!

I know I am!

Enjoy your time with family and friends!

My parents arrive on Sunday, and my 

Sister and her family arrive mid week!

Safe travels to all!

Thanks for all of the Encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter

Thanksgiving Giveaway.........

Greetings All!

As promised.............here it is............

Just what is it I am giving away?

No, unfortunately, it isn't millions of dollars.....

Nor is it an exotic trip......(c'mon, I work for a low cost air carrier! LOL)

What I am giving away is a piece of quilting knowledge

that helps me every time I start piecing a project!

EVERY quilter strives for accurately pieced units and

that perfect 1/4" seam............am I right?

I tried various methods, many of them unsuccessfully.

Not all 1/4" feet are the same, nor do they always help with accuracy.

I am NOT ashamed to say I use a seam guide

when I piece patchwork.

In fact, I have a seam guide for every sewing machine I use

so I can remain consistent with that 1/4" seam.

What has given me the best results is.........

 The Ideal Seam Guide

www.sewverysmooth.com

And boy, oh boy, am I ever thankful for it!!!!

Please visit the link above for more information

and videos about their products.

I will be offering 1(one)

Student Edition Ideal Seam Guide

to 2(two) different

WINNERS!

These Ideal Seam Guides were generously offered by

Steve Tippets of Sew Very Smooth.

I met him at the Sew Very Smooth booth

in Paducah last April and shared with him

my love of their product.

He wanted to share with my blog readers

a chance to use their guide.

I am personally convinced it is

IDEAL

for me, and  I hope that it will be for you too!

In order to be eligible for this giveaway,

please share with me your very favorite

Thanksgiving side dish by replying to this post!

You know me, I LOVE me some good cooking!

No recipes needed. (Unless I beg for it! LOL)

Also, please follow my blog if you enjoy

reading about my quilting shenanigans

and life in general.

This giveaway will be open all week,

and I will be drawing the 2 lucky winners

on Friday, November 18th.

(My most sincere apologies to my quilting friends

in other countries, however, I am limited to offering

this giveaway to those in the United States only.)

If you win, perhaps you can try your new seam guide out

on Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville Mystery

En Provence ????

I am so very thankful for all of you!

In other news.........

Here is the loot I got while at Festival in Houston!

I couldn't let this light pass me up!

Bonnie Hunter got one and loved it.........

and I love mine now!

How PERFECT is this light?

Since the light was my big purchase, I settled with

these 3 tools I use on a regular basis.

A brush, an oil dispenser, and a slender brass stiletto.

No fabric this time, just these goodies for me and

my machines.

I hope you are enjoying your season of Thanksgiving!

Keep on Quilting!

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter

Veteran's Day..........

Happy Veteran's Day

to all who have served,

and are serving today!

Some very exciting things in the works here

at the Quilt Cave........be sure to keep you eye

out for the next post!

Thanks for all of your encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter