Pine Cones and Stars

Whenever I'm feeling stressed or a little bit down, taking some time to sew is a wonderful way to give myself a boost.  But since it's dark already and I generally do not sew on Sunday, I thought that perhaps writing about sewing would give me just the lift I need to make it to the end of the day.  And it will give you another opportunity to comment and get entered in my fabulous quilt give-away.

My friend, Sue and I were shopping at Country Dry Goods in Canby, OR many years ago and saw a quilt similar to this on display.  We loved it and as luck would have it, they still had most of the fabrics available.  We both wanted to make a Christmas quilt.  This is more like a winter quilt with the pinecone border fabric, and truth be known, I leave it in this spot year round, but we loved the colors and purchased the pattern (she must have it because it is nowhere in my house) and fabrics.  (Update:  The pattern is called "Holiday Stars" by Thimbleberries).

It was fun to take it off its shelf.  I'd forgotten it had stars in the corners.  There are only 6 fabrics in this quilt and two of them are almost indistinguishable.  There is the main border print, the background fabric, the gold for the stars, the red, and 2 greens.  One green is used for all the triangle shapes (flying geese and hour glass blocks) and the other is used for the squares and long 2" borders.

This quilt is assembled from the center outward and is called a Medallion Quilt.  Together, these 4 star blocks form the main focal point and pieced borders are added around and around.

The finished quilt is a little longer than it is wide (64" x 73").  The first round is the green and tan flying geese blocks.  Next is the gold stars and red squares.  Then comes an extra row on the top and bottom using red squares and hour glass blocks followed by the green squares and hour glass blocks all the way around.   The 5 long borders are added on each side after that.   Makes me dizzy just thinking about it.  I used the pine cone fabric on the back (which I also forgot was there).

 

The quilting was done by Pam Rockwood of Canby, OR.  She did an allover stippling pattern.  I love this fabric, which reminds me.  Did you notice the giant pine cones in the first picture?  I gathered eleven pinecones when I was on a little hike near Lake Tahoe with Mckenna's other grandma, Lynda, last Memorial Day weekend.  Kent and Mckenna were nearby on a "shortcut" adventure (that is a story for another day).  They had just fallen from the tree (the pine cones, not Kent and Mckenna) and were sticky as can be.  I opened up my jacket and put in as many as I could (Lynda told me it was okay to take some and I believe everything she says) and carried them down the trail.  Can't wait to use them this Christmas but I'm not sure how.  Any suggestions?

And now that I have completed this post (it's now almost 24 hours later) and done a little sewing today, I'm feeling much better about the world.  I may not post again until December 2nd when I will let you know whose name I draw out of my jar.  Good luck every one of you!  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.  I have much to be grateful for.

P.S.  The awesome quilt shelf was custom built by my fabulous brother, Keith when we were visiting him and his wife Jeanine in Vermilion, Alberta the summer of 2008.  I had a picture from a magazine and that was all he needed.  Jeanine and I bought the wood when Keith and Kent were out golfing.  I love it and have had this quilt hanging from it ever since.  It was only yesterday that I put the plant, candle and pine cones up there and I think they add a nice touch.