HAPPY NEW YEAR

It has been a while since I posted anything new so today is the day.  For most of November YKW and I were both sick with a nasty cold and cough that is going around and seemed to hang in for a long time.  Then came Christmas and that is a busy time of year spent baking and decorating.

Since my Christmas gifts have been given out I can now post some pictures.  When I was in Southern Ontario last September I bought a pattern at Mary Maxim's for a wine bottle holder.  It was also suggested that it could be used as a slipper holder and Christine decided that she would carry her knitting needles and wool in it.  I am glad that it can be put to good use.

I also bought wine fabric while I was there.

I gave the one with the dogs to Amanda and put a pair of slippers in it for her.

Lynda also wanted some coffee cup holders so that when she goes out walking on a cold day her coffee stays warm and her hands don't burn from the hot coffee.

Colleen wanted some placemats for every day use and I have had these unfinished for about 4 years so I thought that they would be great for every day.

She also wanted a table runner for every day use and I had a panel with birds and bird houses so I added fabric with bees on it.

I wanted to make a narrow table runner for my hall table with a winter theme so I just chose a star block and put sashing between the blocks.  I can use it all winter instead of just at Christmas.

Star table runner

I have made a lot of quilts lately, so I decided that it was time to switch gears and make some placemats.  In September the program gals showed a really cute pattern to make a quilt that looks like you did a lot of work but it is just the way you cut what you have sewn together and come up with triangles around the edge.  I decided to adapt the pattern to placemats and to use up some of my 2 1/2 inch squares.  I had a lot of fun and went a little wild since I made 6 of them.  I made a small dent in my box of 2 1/2 inch squares.

I like the ones that were made from the same colour family rather than the third one down that is more of an assortment of colours.  I will make more I think using the one colour.

I don't know the name of this pattern but if you click on the above picture you will get a larger view and will see how it is done.  I used 48 - 2 1/2 squares in a 6 x 8 grid and made placemats that are 17 1/2 by 11 1/2.

I hope to post sooner than last time when I get some more pictures taken of what I have done over Christmas time.

Peggy