Thursday, July 26, 2018

Christmas in July Blog Hop and Giveaway!

So glad you could stop by my house for a little Christmas in July celebration! My thanks goes to Carol, from Just Let Me Quilt, for hosting this blog hop to help get you inspired to create Christmas magic! It's so fun to see what other quilters are making. What great motivation to come up with some ideas for yourself.

To help get you in the mood for Christmas sewing and quilting, I've come up with three fun projects. And a giveaway to boot!

A funny thing happened on the way to creating a Christmas table runner: it turned out to be TOO BIG! No worries. I simply christened it to become a bed runner instead. And, since I had enough fabric, I made two of them. Sometimes you just have to go with Plan B, lol.



For these bed runners, I used a jelly roll of Moda's Vintage Holiday by Bonnie and Camille. When I started, I really didn't have a plan in mind (hence, they became TOO BIG).  I sewed strips of five together and then decided to cut them into triangles with my 60-degree ruler.  At this juncture, I could see the runner was 20" wide, and wouldn't look proportionate if I made it just 40" long. Since I had enough triangles, I just kept laying them out. Suddenly the runner was 102" long. Perfect for a bed runner for our king-sized beds!


Placing the triangles on the design wall was an interesting process with these blocks. As you can see by the photos, I chose two different designs. Which one do you like best? I still can't decide.



These were fun to quilt freehand, and they will add a festive touch to the bedrooms at Christmas.




My second project was making this cute Christmas table runner with Moda's new Christmas fabric line, Swell. It features the cutest Santa, straight out of the 50's and 60's. Or prior? If you are a child of that era, this fabric will definitely take you back!




I had a fat quarter bundle of Swell that I pre-ordered and received just in time (it should be in the stores now). I began by making a simple table runner design - one-piece mid section as the focal point, bordered by patchwork to highlight the variety of fabrics in the collection, and tucked all nicely together with a dark, outer border. Oh, and pointed ends to add a wee bit of character to it. Topped it off with a solid red binding. Cheerful, eh?


This would be a great pattern for all your Christmas fabric scraps! I used a very light meadow green thread to do simple loop-d-loop quilting across it.  This table runner measures 17" x 52".

Finally, I was on a roll and WAY into the Christmas spirit, so I dug out this from the depths of my Christmas stash. It's a quick little Christmas quilt, perfect as a festive wallhanging. You can piece this together in no time, quilt it up, attach a hanging sleeve, bind it, and you have a great little decoration. It measures 40" x 51".  It would even make a great baby quilt!


I bought this as a kit but the pattern called for more fabric than was in the kit (how irritating is that!). So I simply used what I had in the kit to piece the panels together into a fun, colorful display. Again, when Plan A fails, find your Plan B!



That's it folks. That's all I've got.  Oh, wait! There's still a Giveaway to talk about.  I have too much Christmas fabric in my stash.  I haven't had time to pick out specific cuts, but the winner of my giveaway will receive a fun supply so you, too, can create a Christmas memory. You have three chances to enter. Please leave a comment for each.

1) Tell me if you make Christmas projects for your own home or as gifts. Or, who the heck has time for Christmas projects!
2) Follow me on Instagram @mountainquiltworks, and
3) Follow my blog adventures (links in right side bar).
The winner must be a US resident due to high shipping costs. I will randomly pick a winner on August 1. Be sure to leave your email address for me, in case you're a No Reply Blogger!

It's been a pleasure to be part of Carol's Christmas in July Blog Hop. Stop by and visit the remaining quilters' posts this week, or catch up on the previous posts you may have missed. Hopefully you'll come up with inspiration for a new Christmas project for this year!

July 23


July 24


July 25


July 26


July 27





Quilting with a smile,
Barb

Linking up with:
DrEAMi!

68 comments:

  1. Oh, I absolutely DO make Christmas projects! I'm finishing three right now! Thanks for the chance in your giveaway. Other people's fabrics are always more interesting. =) I really like all of your projects, but the first runner is probably my favorite, and I think it's because I can see your beautiful quilting so well.

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  2. Great projects! The bed runners were so pretty and the wall hanging was adorable. Your quilting is so beautiful! Love the fabrics you used, too. In answer to your question, yes, I do sew and craft for Christmas. It's one of the best thing about the season.

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  3. I decorate the house with things I make like wall,hangings quilts, wall quilts, runners, placemats ,napkins,etc... I also make them as gifts for family and friends.your runner is beautiful and I have to admit I have not made a bed runner yet

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  4. Oh wow!!! Each piece is beautiful, but I am in love with the last one. Is their a pattern available for this?
    It is just adorable, and your qu Lting made it!

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  5. I usually make quilts as gifts, I haven't ventured too much into other patterns. This year I want to make a couple of stuffies for my first grandbaby! She will be a little over 11 months old at Christmas time! I am so excited! Bed runners sound like a wonderful and quicker project for those that I've already made quilts for but give me hints that they would like another.

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  6. Gorgeous projects! I really love the animal quilt.

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  7. Great projects, you are all set now! I like the second triangle setting best, but they are both fun! Thanks for the giveaway.

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  8. I have made a few Christmasy quilts and hangingsfor our home over the years and tend to make things as requested by family members such as tree skirts. Two years ago I made winter quilts for my sisters. However, last year I realized I needed to use up and get rid of my Christmas fabrics so I made a Christmas quilt for each of my grandchildren and grand niece and nephew. Then in September my guild had a fabric exchange of Christmas fabrics; back to the drawing board! So this summer I am making a Christmas quilt for my brother and niece, both of whom are single parents of children going to university. I am sure a quilt will brighten their Christmas season and spirits. Janice.snell@gmail.com

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  9. What a fun surprise to find that your table runner was too big...it makes a beautiful, perfect bed runner! Plan B seems to work out so well most of the time, at least for me. I do enjoy making Christmas projects for my home and for others, but the holiday sewing mojo doesn't hit me til at least fall. duchick at gmail dot com

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  10. I am a happy Blgolovin' follower of yours, Barb! duchick at gmail dot com

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  11. I also follow you on IG! _duchick_

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  12. Wow, your quilting is excellent. I think I like the diamond design where the points touch the best but I really think having both in the bed runner is perfect. You have been busy with all your projects - super wonderful to have things done early. I've been making Christmas ornaments for the grandkids since 2000 when the first grandbaby was born. Now we are up to 10 and the time commitment has grown, too! They may not be totally excited at this point in their lives but hopefully, in years to come, that will change.

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  13. Barb, your plan b's are definitely winners and actually far beyond your plan a's...I love them! The quilting is gorgeous on each of them and your projects are amazing. I'm old enough to get nostalgic with the fabric in your beautiful runner and my brain is swarming with memories. That last quilt is so cute! Thank you tons and tons for joining in the hop and sharing your Christmas projects. :O)

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  14. Love your bed runners. I'm partial to the one with alternating blocks. Nice simple table runner which many of us have enough scraps to whip one up this afternoon. Thanks for sharing.

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  15. I am going to make a Brick Wall quilt for Christmas so extra scraps sound perfect. rozz01(at)cox(dot)net

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  16. I follow on IG & those are some great photos esp the deer grazing.
    rozz01(at)cox(dot)net

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  17. I follow on Bloglovin' rozz01(at)cox(dot)net

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  18. I love your runners. I follow on IG and Bloglovin. I make Christmas projects as gifts and if I get to it, for our home. I have about 4 redwork ornaments for me done, just need to finish them off. Those UFOs. Hope to finish this year

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  19. thanks for being a part of the tour. i really love your bed runners and your table runner. thanks for the inspiration. Until this year i have always made for others. this year i am making for our own house. so many great ideas on this hop.
    quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

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  20. now following you on Instagram. Lori Smanski
    quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

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  21. following by email
    quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

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  22. I try to make a few things for the kitchen especially, and I also try to do some for gifts. I love Christmas!
    I love the bed runner! Great idea to decorate the bedroom.

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  23. Following on Instagram. @embmimi

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  24. My Christmas projects are given away as gifts.

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  25. Yes I do make Christmas projects. I follow on bloglovin.

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  26. Wow, your projects are beautiful. And yes I do make Christmas projects. Some for gifts and for my home.

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  27. love your projects and that Santa fabric

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  28. Love all your projects! I have sewn Christmas items for gifts, but I need to sew some for my home now. Thank you, peterstankovich@comcast.net

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  29. I am following on bloglovin, great projects!

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  30. Hi Barb,
    I just started following you on Bloglovin'! I am going to go back and catch up on your posts! I just love your bed runners. My favorite would be the one with the white in the same triangle shape but they're both great. And that Santa table runner does take me back - I'll have to keep my eyes open for that fabric. Happy Thursday! ~smile~ Roseanne

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  31. I make Christmas stuff for both home and as gifts. I love all 3 of your projects.

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  32. Follow you on Feedly. I took the year off from making Christmas projects. I've got two quilts queued up in their sandwich stage for quilting.
    I would have combined those two projects of yours into a Christmas bed quilt, using the four panels as the centerpiece.
    Please enter me in your fabric giveaway. tvonzalez at gmail dot com

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  33. Barb, I try to create Christmas projects for myself but usually just wind up giving them to someone else!! I'm sure no one else does that!! I follow by email and on instagram as well!

    I love all your projects and yes, I'm in that era where that fabric really makes me reminiscent of those "good ole days!" LOL

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  34. What fun, Christmas-y things, Barb! I spy a modern-looking penguin there! I do make gifts and Christmas decor for my house, too. My favorite is making something for my quilt group's Christmas gift exchange every year. We have so much fun!

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  35. I do make Christmas projects. Last year it was pillowcases. This year will still be some pillowcases but not sure what else. I love the bed runner idea.

    tushay3 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  36. I follow you via Bloglovin and on IG.

    tushay3 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  37. I love all your Christmas runners and that animal panel is just sweet.i do make Christmas gifts for family and friends and also for my home. I try to start early but then I see so many cute ideas right before Christmas.

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  38. I make Christmas items for my home and also gifts for my family and friends. Your bed runners are beautiful (can't decide which I like better) as are all of your other projects.

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  39. I follow you on instagram ... @janarama11

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  40. I do make Christmas-themed projects for our home and as gifts. I love the ones I've received from other people because it makes me think of them every year, so I think they make nice gifts. Recently I've been planning larger Christmas quilts--a bigger undertaking but such fun to think about us pulling out every year.

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  41. I follow you via email. (wordygirl at earthlink dot net)

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  42. And I follow you on Instagram, where I am @wordygirl11.

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  43. Your bed runners turned out great Barb! No need to put my name in the draw. I rarely sew with Christmas fabrics. Scraps.....that is a different story :)

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  44. Your wall hanging is wonderful. I love making items but finding the time is a challenge.

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  45. Such cute projects! I love them all. I always sew for Christmas. I think I have 10 things on my list to make. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  46. I like to make quilts for gifts at Christmas. Last year I made quilts for my mom and my son's girlfriend (who I consider my daughter in law) This year I plan on making quilts for my sons. I love your projects, love the bed runner!

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  47. Bed runner? Perfect and so is the table runner and wall hanging. Yes, I make Christmas things for the home and have a Christmas Joy from many years ago pass around project that could be finished up and adorn my bed one of these days. I stumbled upon the project box yesterday when looking for something else. LOL

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  48. I love the projects and great for Christmas. Hugs, Susie x

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  49. Love all of your projects, especially the quilting!

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  50. Wonderful fast and beautifully created Christmas projects, great squirrels... I mean ideas! But squirrels too, oh my. I can't decided which runner I prefer, maybe the one with alternating diamonds and 'hourglass' shapes. I keep wanting to make a bed runner, still haven't! That IS most annoying and unfair about that kit! I'd drop them a note; I did that with the first Quilt Sampler kit I bought from a shop that had shorted me fabric and they sent some immediately even though it was 2 years after the magazine had come out. I do have a daughter in the US across the river from me, just in case I win... :-) Thanks for linking this up with DrEAMi! as you definitely did. Several times, ha!

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  51. I follow you on Instagram and on bloglovin' and I think on Pinterest, but I'll have to doublecheck that! Oh as for making gifts, you betcha, for me and for others, always, though some years more than others. :-)

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  52. Your projects are great--I have made Christmas things for both myself and gifts--They are usually table toppers.
    barbkaup(at)(yahoo)(dot)(com)

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  53. I follow you on Bloglovin'.
    barbkaup(at)(yahoo)(dot)(com)

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  54. Your Christmas projects are so cute! I love the Vintage Holiday fabric, I purchased a bundle of it. I love Christmas quilting, I have quilts for all the beds and lots of wallhangings and several tablerunners. I follow you by email and Instagram.

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  55. Love the Christmas projects! Thanks for sharing.

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I always love to hear your thoughts!

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