{Post 1,298} Winter Mantle and Chalkboard

Since I took the Christmas decorations down today, I had a few minutes to play with some winter mantle ideas.  I think this still needs something, but it's late, and I'm tired.

I read Psalm 74 this morning and was struck by this verse, perfect for my chalkboard!

I am a complete novice at lettering chalkboards, but I did the one above in about 15 minutes.  It's an original (who would publish that online, right?).  If one makes a mistake, a wet washcloth makes it all go away!!  These are fun, fast, and easy!

{Post 1,297} Headband and Blue 9-Patch AGAIN

It took me about 10 minutes to whip up this headband the other day, and I like it so much!  It's a 5-strand braid (as opposed to the usual 3-strand) and was soooo easy to make.  It's upcycled from a black T-shirt destined for the trash can.  It's on my Pinterest page under "sewing projects".  The only sewing I did was to sew the 5 pieces stacked up at the beginning and then over the other finished end.  I cut my strips vertically out of the shirt instead of around the bottom, making my pieces too short.  But it went from behind one ear to behind the other.  With my voluminous hair, one would never know it wasn't braided all the way around.  It is extremely comfortable, unlike the plastic ones that dig in behind the ears, or the elastic ones that are so tight that one expects them to boing off the back of their head at any moment.  In the picture, I am looking down (I know someone will wonder!).

My last 9-patch pictures of the day, second complete with photobomber!!

{Post 1,296} Blue 9-Patch Progress

Here is my progress to date on the blue 9-patch and shirts.  I am starting at the lower right hand corner since I'm about halfway finished with the piecing starting at the top left corner.  I have 10 more 9-patches very close to completion, so that will yield me almost 2 more rows from the bottom right side.  This is moving along.  I think I'll put an outside border of more shirts, probably 5" wide to keep it from stretching too much.  

Off to finish packing up Christmas dishes and other assorted holiday decor.

{Post 1,295} Blue 9-Patch Coming Along!!

I spent tonight de-Christmatizing the house and working on this quilt.  I wanted to get it at least all up on the design wall to see if I needed to cut any more squares or side triangles.  As it turns out, I have extras for my lime green quilt-to-come.  I am adding the 9-patches and rows as they are finished.  I like.  Muchly.

{Post 1,294} A Different Look

Here is my 9-patch and shirts quilt with a different color scheme AND a different orientation for the cream and colors in the 9-patches.  Same quilt as last post.  See the difference?

I am making this new one for a gift.  I should scare up a few shirts with lime green in them just to draw the green out.  But it doesn't look too bad with the shirts I already have.  This is going to be a 2014 Christmas gift.  No time like the present to start.