Christmas in July
Last fall I made a quilt for my mother-in-law. I asked her what her tastes were for a quilt and went from there. This was the first traditional looking quilt I’ve ever made. The pattern is called “Fanshaw Dam” and it’s made entirely of homespuns. It recently won Best Machine Quilted at a quilt show in my hometown! Hooray!
and a close up…
It’s hard to see, but there are primative stars quilted on the outer border and inside each of the quarter circles. It was the most warm and cozy quilt to sit and bind. My husband was in grad school at the time finishing up his MBA and I would sit and watch classic Christmas movies (you know, National Lampoons, Home Alone, A Christmas Story) while I worked on the binding.
Right now I am getting started on a Christmas quilt of my own. I’ve had the desire to make this specific pattern, but haven’t had the time until now. It’ll be the Past Times quilt pattern, made from the Moda Three Sisters ‘Maison de Noel’ fabric line. The fabric line is old, so luckily I found enough to make it. Here’s what it will look like…
I am also really wanting to make one of these…
It’s from American Jane. The pattern is called Merry-Go-Round. Looks like it’ll be good for people like me who don’t have the patience for Grandmother’s Flower Garden. 
I’ve been hoping to find a thrifted quilt to get around the whole paper pieceing of the granmother’s flower garden. This american jane quilt looks like a great alternative that I might have to try out.
The American Jane quilt looks awesome! I have a Grandmother’ flower garden quilt that was, well…my great grandmothers! She didn’t quilt and I never did learn who made it but it is so warn and sad I keep it in her Cedar Chest that I am also lucky enough to have. I have, through the years, gathered vintage fabric, (I buy a lot of feed sacks, too) and hope to recreate a similar one. Reading you and seeing your quilts might be just the inspiration I need to get back at it! The XMas quilt pattern you are starting looks really pretty as well. I did a Bow Tie XMas quilt a few years back that came out quite nice.