Wednesday, December 09, 2009

The Sweetest Things

Recovering from the Ornament Exchange Party, a little shopping, enjoying our colder temps and a little stitching will account for happenings the past week.

I finished my Holly Jolly Cameos quilt top the week before the ornament party but I haven't quilted it yet. Why? Well, I love it but I want to 'age' it. I think it would look wonderful with a coffee and/or tea aging. I'm not sure how to do it - should I age it before or after it's quilted, would you just spray it with a mix or would you dunk the whole thing in a mix? Help!!!!




Sweet package arrived from Carrie at A Passion for Applique. I was instantly in love with the tissue wrapping paper, the tag, and tiny ric-rac. :-)


And, when I opened it I discovered an adorable embroidered, felted wool mitten filled with more tiny ric-rac and a candy cane. There was a fat quarter of red fabric (she remembered that I love red) and chocolate. Carrie, thank you so much for your thoughtful gift.



Another sweet! Years ago we discovered that all of our Christmas decorations and such had been stolen. I won't bore you with that story again this year! I did lose some collections - Santas, ornaments, cookie jars, feather trees, etc. Every year since then we've purchased a few new things and began making new memories. It was difficult the first couple of years but I finally moved on and we have treasures we enjoy. I discovered Thelma's blog (Cupcakes'nDaisies)recently and she showed her wonderful collection of Christmas themed cookie jars. Inspiration! Here's the first of a new collection - he makes me SMILE. :-) BTW, Thelma and I agree that we don't have to fill the jars with cookies. LOL


I've been doing a little stitching in the evenings. I'll share soon!
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These are busy days - take a few minutes to enjoy your needle and thread.
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I appreciate your visit - thank you and come again.
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In Friendship!

20 comments:

Meredith said...

I agree age it! I will be excited to check back and see how it looks. thanks for sharing your items with us. I love snowmen. Yours is so cute.

Kaaren said...

Check with Mary ay Quilt Hollow. She ages most of her quilts so I dub her the "Queen of Aging"...but not in years, of course. (wink) I think it'll look super aged a little.

Lovely gifts from Carrie. I just love that woolen mitten.

Carrie P. said...

Love your quilt. I have not ever tried ageing one before so I look forward to what others suggest.
Your cookie jar is sweet.
So glad you like all your goodies. Merry Christmas!

Lori said...

The quilt is fantastic! My thought is to quilt first, bind then fill up your sink with the "aging" and put it in. That way the quilting thread, backing and binding are all aged and it should look more natural.

Jocelyn said...

I think your quilt looks great! I've only tea dyed by dunking, so I am not sure about any other method. SUCH a cute snowman cookie jar :-)

Carol said...

Oh your Cameo is wonderful! What cute gifties from Carrie and I love your cookie jar! The start of a great collection!

paulette said...

I LOVE your Cameo quilt! I can't wait to see what it looks like aged! Make sure you do a tutorial of how you did it! I have one that I am thinking of doing too so I will learn from you! Thanks! ;o)
Paulette

Wendy said...

I age my stitcheries with tea and dry them in a low temp oven but a big quilt is much harder. So I asked the expert Libby, she pours the tea mixture on the finished quilt and then lets it dry outside in the sun. We only get sun a few months of the year so if I want to do a whole quilt I have to plan.
Such sweet little gifts for a sweet girl. I love the snowman cookie jar. I have a collection of snowman I decorate with.

Sherri said...

I think it will look great aged...although I've never done that before! Just love that pattern with those fabrics! I just got the binding on my Christmas Cameos quilt the other day!

Nicole said...

Aren't Thelma's decorations wonderful? I want everything she has! I also covet your Cameo quilt--aged or not!

Robin said...

The cameo quilt is so lovely. I would probably age it before I quilted it just in case. . . I have never dared age anything because I am afraid I will ruin it but I have a friend who tea dyed the silk she is making her daughters wedding dress out of. She used scraps and dipped them in the tea solution for 3 seconds, 6 seconds, etc. until she had the color she wanted. Best Wishes!

*karendianne. said...

Oh my goodness but I love absolutely LOVE your Holly Jolly Cameos! Goodness but you have the "eye" as I think you're spot on with the tea-dying there. Naturally I come bearing only supportive words and I'm of no technical help but friend I CAN SEE IT NOW! Smart. Very smart. I'm going to love this.

You made my heart sing!

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

Well Darlene, I don't know anything about aging, but I love your Holly Jolly Cameos!! Way cute!

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

P.S. The gifts from Carrie are awesome.

Carol said...

I like your Cameos quilt, very cute. Not sure about the color aging thing. I love your snowman cookie jar, good start to another Christmas cookie jar collection.

Thimbleanna said...

Love, love that quilt Darlene! It's just adorable!

Kim Brackett said...

Your Cameo quilt is so pretty. That pattern is so great in all kind of fabrics. Definitely on my to-do list. I haven't attempted to age anything, so I'm anxious to see what you do with it.

Carrie is so sweet to send such a nice gift. And I love the cookie jar!

Kelly@ Charming Chatter said...

Love, love, love the Cameos quilt in Holly Jolly! Can't wait to see it "aged"!

Millie said...

Love your quilt, Darlene. I have aged a few quilts by dipping the whole quilt in tea...and it smells good too.

Karen said...

The mitten is very, very cute! Have you tried working with the wool felt yet?

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