Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Christmas is Coming

July seemed to be all about Christmas - so many great ideas.  For me, every year I tell myself that I am going to make a new tree skirt.  Every year as Christmas approaches the time runs out and I move the idea to next year's list.

Several years ago Connie (Freemotion by the River fame) did a beautiful tree skirt in reds.  She was kind enough to send me her link for it and I got busy on the piecing of it this week.  All it needs now is the quilting, cutting and binding.  I think this is the year my new tree skirt will happen.  It was a great use for the red scraps.


Not only that, but look at all of the fun HSTs I have from it.  Hmmmm.



The baby birds are growing.  They are taking on their "vulture" phase this week.  All but the youngest has eyes opened and the ablility to see the world now.  There was real chaos in the cage this week as the oldest baby managed to escape the nesting box.  There was relief in all when I slipped it back in place.  I don't think it will try that again soon.  The size of their feet crack me up.


Today is tree trimming day before the Santa Ana winds start here.  I never cease to be fascinated seeing these men at the top of the huge eucalyptus trees.  The yard always looks so different when the trees are opened up.

There is a fun looking QAL coming up in a few short days.  I am planning on playing along.....how about you?  Check it out here.


I'm off to mending for today - a necessity of life!!

Linking up this week to Fort Worth Fabric Studio, Finished or not Fridays at Busy Hands Quilts, and Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication .

33 comments:

  1. I love the fabrics for your quilt skirt. Someday I may try to make me one, but then again, I have to have a tree to put up for it. I haven't had a tree for a couple years! Those birds...oh my. I love those faces and feet! Will you keep all of them?

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  2. Cute Fabrics. Aww the baby birds are so cute.

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  3. The tree skirt is lovely - love the reds altogether and the design is effective for sure! Have you a plan for the bonus HST yet? Sounds like those baby birds are keeping you out of mischief :-)

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  4. Your tree skirt looks beautiful already. The chicks are adorable.

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  5. I am looking forward to seeing that tree skirt. Those little birds are "cute".

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  6. Oh my, Mary! I LOVE your tree skirt! I have one to make for a wedding gift in October and I am always looking for new patterns! This one is just the right one for the couple getting married. How big did you cut your rectangle pieces? I'm excited!!

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  7. Your tree skirt is looking fabulous. Cant wait to see the end product. I love the little vulture-like chicks.

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  8. Loving the red and white! way to use up some scraps.

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  9. Very pretty red and white project - bonus pieces are super. Oh, those babes are just too ugly/cute.

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  10. Love the tree skirt, Mary!!! I can't believe how much the birds have grown...

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  11. Love that red tree skirt! Well done!

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  12. Mending! Isn't that a bad word to a quilter? ;o)

    Can't wait to see the Xmas tree skirt finished. As is, it looks like a great quilt. I love all the possibilities hst give you...have fun with them, looks like a lot.

    Those babies are adorable! Did you have the opportunity to see the web cam of the two eaglets in Washington DC? They went thought some of the same phases your babies are. So fascinating to see how much they change every day. I used to have a cockatiel that laid eggs - but with no male around they weren't fertile.

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  13. Look forward to seeing your new tree skirt finished....hmm what will you make with the HST ??
    LOL, the baby birds do look vulture like...sure do have big feet.

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  14. I love, love, love that tree skirt! That reminds me that I've been wanting to make a tree skirt myself ... maybe that will be my next project. I should have plenty of reds already in my stash. ;-)

    Those feet are huge! And yes, they certainly do look a lot like vultures.

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  15. Sis gave me a Christmas tree skirt kit and i finished , it will be my Friday finish this week. Love your, will it be as red as hers?

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  16. did you say the C word...oh my.........I will just forget that I read that and just say your red project is beautiful and your vulture like not so...oh my they look funny at this stage...imagine if our babies ever looked so ball and fuzzy lol...any mend away....toodles...

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  17. There is something so appealing about quilts made up almost entirely of red scraps. Yours is beautiful Mary! I have to try this someday.

    My goodness the vulture phase is aptly named if they are very comical little vultures, LOL.

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  18. I agree Summer should get a speeding ticket. I LOVE your red scraps Chriistmas Tree Skirt. I seem to do the very same thing each year and Chriismas comes and goes all too quickly. Your baby birdies are precious..

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  19. Incredibly beautiful red scrap quilt! Now the HST challenge - what to do? Thanks for sharing on Midweek Makers

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  20. Your tree skirt is going to be gorgeous! I've been telling myself the same thing the last few years. Our tree skirt has yellowed over the years and I'm scared to wash it in case it falls apart.

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  21. Your tree skirt is going to be gorgeous! I've been telling myself the same thing the last few years. Our tree skirt has yellowed over the years and I'm scared to wash it in case it falls apart.

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  22. A Christmas tree skirt has been on my "one day" list for so many years it's pathetic. Awesome you can finally did it. Such a beauty! The bird feet to body ratio is hilarious. I hope you stay safe from heavy winds and fires.

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  23. You are smart to make YOUR gifts first! Too often we put off ourselves in favor of our loved ones. It is good to see your progress on this long awaited treasure. It is going to be the star of your holiday because it is gorgeous. Toddler stage in bird form is pretty funny indeed. They are so much cuter with their clothes on. Can't wait for the feathers to grow in. There is only so much that can go on it that tiny egg. Have fun with your QAL Mary.

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  24. 4 months yesterday. I can never believe how fast it sneaks up on us. I love red and white quilts. It's beautiful . What ever will you do with those little hst's? Maybe a stocking?

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  25. Your quilt will make a beautiful tree skirt! Thanks for linking to Finished or Not Friday.

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  26. Great looking tree skirt quilt, thank you for showing it here, and what fun to have bonus HST's, to boot!

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  27. The skirt looks lovely!! I know you will think of something clever to do with those HST-s. Those feet are so big!! I had no idea.

    -Soma

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  28. Very pretty tree skirt, love the red and white. Baby birds are so homely. Baby chicks are kind of like that all cute and fluffy and they go through that ugly vulture look too. One of the last flock we had, one of them had the funky pin feathers sticking out all over for a long time. The boys started calling her Doc Brown after the character in Back to the Future.

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  29. I'm quite interested to see how you make this tree skirt, so will follow along your progress. I know some people around the web were making "tree pants" --using a squared shape, instead of circular, so I'm curious.

    Those birds! I love your updates on them. And the yard--a never-ending project. Our irrigation accidentally got turned off while we were gone and I came back to a dead garden, crispy plants and mostly dead lawn. Sigh. Water is so crucial around here now that we've switched to drip system, it seems, but it was over 100 degrees while we were gone (and heating up again this week, I hear).

    Elizabeth

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  30. Wow!!! You have birds and I have chickens!!! A tree skirt is something I want to make too! They left several Christmas trees here at the farm. So I need several. So glad to be back blogging. I feel like I am home here visiting with you!

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  31. Oooooo that is going to be one gorgeous tree skirt!!! I still need to quilt the one I've had in progress now for about 3 years LOL!!! And I'm on cuteness overload with those sweet chicks! You're right, those feet are quite something - sure do hope they grow into them quickly :*)

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  32. I love that Christmas tree skirt. I checked at the blog you mentioned, but didn't find where she tells how to make the blocks to come up with those cute white pinwheels. Can you share the block construction with me? Thanks much.

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  33. Beautiful Mary! I'm so tickled you finally are making the tree skirt and I know you will love it! Your little birds are really growing!

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