Making Christmas: Preparing for Thanksgiving

The MRL household has promptly shifted from Halloween decor into Thanksgiving prep...  I spent some time wrestling with the white lights and stringing them across for a bistro effect in the dining area.  In the evening when the sun is down it really gives a soft atmosphere perfect for drinking wine and enjoying dessert.  The Mr. and I will enjoy this most during the upcoming snowy winter evenings!

I rolled out our this grainsack table runner which lightens up our dark wood French Country Style kitchen table.  I love that the turquoise stripe down its center pulls the otherwise nondescript blue chair cushions into focus.  This casual rustic look matches our anything goes style and yet still dresses up the table just a bit.
As we are hosting Thanksgiving this year I really wanted to do something festive for a centerpiece.  My goal was to incorporate some light colored gourds and do a big bountiful pile of them for the table like this.  But, I must've missed gourd season because I can't find any!  I've opted for these mercury glass globes with cording which will double for Christmas as well.

The girls had so much fun helping with the Halloween decorations that they happily helped out with this informal turkey garland.

I was told to inform you all that this red and orange turkey is the Daddy turkey.

Not sure if this yellowish turkey has a designation and I wasn't given any further instruction so he must be a distant cousin that no one really knows!

How is your decorating going???

Be sure to check out this week's (well last, as today is Monday!) Making Christmas tutorial over at Whims and Fancies....

- rebecca lynne

Bees and Sneezes

Thought I'd catch you all up on my Modern Stitching Bee blocks...  These stars are for Jennie of Clover and Violet who was the Queen Bee in November.  You can learn all about making these blocks by going here.

The October blocks were sent out long ago but I forgot to post them!  They are these lovely log cabins for Emily of Strawberry Patch Ramblings.  Ever since making them I have been slightly obsessed with the beauty of navy...mmm...it is just such a rich winter color isn't it?  I'd like to make some tops in some navy fabrics ever since completing these blocks!

Unfortunately I am feeling under the weather lately, so other than Bee blocks I haven't been doing much sewing.  However, I did curl up under Joy, for the Queen and start my winter knitting.  I suppose there is a reason for everything - even a nasty cold!

- rebecca lynne

p.s. Yes, people have been signing up for Fabriholics Anonymous!  If you have no idea what I am talking about check it out here...

Fabriholics Anonymous

Hi, my name is Rebecca, and I am a Fabriholic.

The time has come where I am admitting that I need help - as in a serious intervention to curb my never-ending desire for new fabric!  I am making this a public declaration so that I have support from real and virtual friends alike as I embark on my challenge to stop the fabric buying madness!

For the last year I have had the greatest respect for Jodi of Tickle and Hide whose Fabric Fast over the last year has had me shaking my head in disbelief...the restraint that Jodi has exercised is amazing!  I happened to mention the idea of a fabric cleanse to Jess of The Elven Garden via Instagram of all places and from there the idea was cemented --- as soon as I made the admission that I knew I really needed to stop, well, once the words were out I couldn't take them back.  

GOALS:

- To use the Stash I already have!

- Finish UFOs without distraction by shifting to other new beautiful fabric.

- Stop the insanity of constantly buying the latest and greatest fabric.

- Save the $$ I spend on stashing.

- Destash the fabrics that I realize I am never going to use.

FABRIC FAST RULES:

1) No fabric purchases for 6 months beginning January 1, 2014.   

2) At 6 months reevaluate status and decide whether to keep going for full year.  Evaluation July 1, 2014.

3) Create a UFO list and complete them!

4) Exceptions

• Backing: purchasing a backing to finish a quilt top is permissible.  However, attempting to use fabric in your possession for a backing is preferable.
• Books and Magazine purchases are allowed as they are not fabric.  Notions acceptable too.
• Swap Mama Fabric: if hosting a swap you are permitted to by fabric to execute swap duties, but you may not join a swap simply for the sake of being able to buy fabric!
• Quilts for Publication: if you are making a quilt for a publication and need certain fabric to execute it correctly then that is a major exception - who can blame you?

So there you have it.

If you think you have got what it takes to join the challenge then by all means do so!  

Grab the button on the right.

I've started a linky in case you'd like to formally pledge to the cause.  Also, by joining the list we can all provide each other with extra support to see how we are all doing with our fabric fast commitment!  Linky will close on January 1, 2014.

I am starting to feel the panic set in!  AGH - FREAKING OUT!  Wish me luck!!!

My next Fabriholics Anonymous post will be the beginning of my Destash which you can preview via Flickr...so stay tuned...

- rebecca lynne

Fabriholics Anonymous Pledge ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Linky Party 1: WIP LIST Share your WIP List for the duration of the fabric fast here:

Making House: Mail Sack Domestic Pillow

One of my recent antique store finds was a Vintage US Mail Sack.  

I think my mom thought I was a bit nuts because when I saw it I took an intake of breath and was so delighted!  If you don't know there is a bit of a DIY US Mail Sack craze going on...so when I saw one of these bags for $20 + %40 off I was all over it!

I knew I wanted to cut it up to make rustic pillows for our living room.  

As the Mr. has been slightly opposed to some of the brighter pillows being placed on our inherited green chair I thought how could he say no to this tough pillow...even if it does say "DOMESTIC" on it?  I mean, the chair looks equally as beat up that it goes with it don't you think?

The Mr. ended up loving it - just don't tell him that it is So Cute!

My thought is to use the remainder of the bag "U.S. MAIL 3" for our rocking chair pillow.  I love that the 3 fits in so well with our family...it is our special number!

- rebecca lynne

Miss Os Zig Zag Quilt: A Making Christmas Finish!

Miss O's Zig Zag Flannel and Fleece Quilt is finally finished!  Actually, it has been finished all week, but it has been pouring here so I was waiting for a photo op to become available.  Unfortunately, my only option was to brave the snow and take it outside this morning!  

I have a feeling this will be my last outdoor photoshoot for some time.  Ah, winter...

Can you see the snow falling in this shot?  I was trying to tale the photo so it would appear against the flannel.  Anna Maria Horner  Good Folks and Lou Lou Thi flannel of course.  You can read more about the progression of this quilt here.

I chose a durable fleece for the back and was just going to knot it or do little x's with my machine to quilt the back to the top.  But I ended up doing these little swirls and the flannel/fleece combination was like butter for the Juki!  I rather like the pattern it creates on the back.

I have quite a few strands to cut from the swirls now that it is complete - I am looking forward snipping those while sitting under it in the evening as we watch tele.

Even Miss Portia was dying to go in during this photoshoot...can you spot here there amidst the snow and grass?  She almost looks like a large leaf!

And as promised - me as a Sugar Skull!  

[The Beer Pong going on in the background is NOT at my house but at a Halloween Party we attended!  Hahahahaa...]

Don't forget to stop by Quilt Matters to see how everyone's holiday makes are progressing and to learn about how to create a Holiday Card Holder!

- rebecca lynne