Good afternoon, Sweet Peeps and Happy Friday. Well the sun is peeking out from behind the clouds . It is a beautiful day. I haven't been outside yet to see how cold it is, but it is lovely nonetheless.
The other day, I showed you a peek into my foyer as I dreamed of warmer weather. In my small entryway are 3 old thrifted shutters that I display seasonal quilts on.
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Well today I thought I would share one of my favorites which is on display this year- my Scrappy Happy Christmas Trees quilt. Lots of cheery fabrics in this one! 😀❤💚
I have received so many warm and thoughtful compliments on this little quilt . Thank you for all who noticed it. 🎄❤🤗
Actually , this quilt has a story. In 2018, Mr. Pinker and I were off on one of our usual long camping trips in Oklahoma . We were gone for several weeks . While traversing the beautiful Sooner State, it was raining cats and dogs back home.
Upon our return from Oklahoma, our truck barreled into the driveway around midnight. As we came into the house, we were hit by an odor. "YIKES! What's that ?"I asked. Little did I know what was in store for us! 😳
Mr. Pinker went downstairs to find that our whole bottom level was flooded and water was running out of the doorway onto the patio. ( My daughter never noticed it when she checked on the house because she didn't go downstairs, plus it was raining so she did not see what was happening along the doorway. ) Anywhooo... Mr. Pinker discovered that our small hot water heater which was in the kitchen cabinets had burst and hot water had spewed and sprayed for a few weeks . Not only was the bottom level flooded but because it was in the middle of summer with all of the heat , the walls were covered with mold. It was an ordeal to say the least. ( Now we cut off our water when we travel unless our kiddos are staying here which they do since then. ) After weeks of drying out with large industrial fans, wrangling with the insurance company and gutting the whole downstairs, we were ready to rebuild that section of the house. Soooo... where does the quilt come into the story? Well, while Mr. Pinker worked, I sat here watching the workers for a couple of months .
As they stripped the walls, and banged with their hammers, I worked on this little quilt as well as my Scrapberries quilt which I have showed you before. I have to admit these two projects certainly kept me sane during a stressful time.
Now lets get to the nitty gritty on how I made Scrappy Happy Christmas Trees.🎄
It is a small quilt just made of scraps and bits that I found in my quilting room. It is made up of 9 Christmas tree blocks.
I strip pieced the trees in pretty playful, reds and greens.
The background fabric measured 8 1/2" squared unfinished . I framed each block with 2 1/2"( unfinished) strips. The red trees received green sashing and the green trees received red sashing.
My scrappy jolly trees are hand appliqued.
To create my blocks, I drew out a triangle on a scrap of paper. The sides measure 6 ", 6" and 5 1/2" roughly. Of course you could use your triangle ruler to create your trees.
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| Drawing out an isosceles triangle for my tree. |
I also drew out a small rectangular trunk.
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| My applique tree pattern is drawn out on scrap paper. |
Using my scraps, I foundation pieced my trees making sure to press and pin each piece so puckers and wrinkles would not appear.
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| Don't forget to pin and press when foundation piecing. It will save you a lot of headaches. |
Once the foundation paper was covered, I was ready to cut out my tree for applique.
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| The scraps are all pieces and ready to be cut out into a tree form. |
Using my predrawn template, I auditioned the placement of my tree and then used a pencil to draw out my applique lines.
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| Auditioning where to cut out my tree. |
After cutting out the brown trunk, I was ready to pin and needle turn applique my scrappy tree. Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!
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| Time to hand applique my scrappy tree. |
That is what I will be working on today. A new scrappy tree quilt. I may just work on a few blocks . Hmmm perhaps for a door quilt.
Yesterday, Jocelyn at Canadian Needle Nana blogspot shared her gorgeous Peppermint Trees quilt. Oh, do hop over to see it. The trees are so delightful and yummy. Jocelyn always has so many fun projects in the works.
Have a great afternoon, Sweeties. Don't forget to sparkle and shine!
As Always...
Happy Stitching and Quilting, y'all
Melisa
"Under the Christmas tree, let us wrap love, peace and joy for all. " - unknown
Hugs and Stitches!!!!🤗🧵❤
Dedicated to my dear sister, Amy. I love and miss you so much.. Love you , Amo.
🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅
Other Posts That Might Strike Your Fancy!
🌞Parade of Homes- Early 2025 parade of home freebies.
🌞 Root A Toot Toot Patriotic Parade Early 2024 patriotic freebies. 🌞A Buzzy Bee Parade An early 2025 bee freebie parade.
🌞A Sunny Sunflower Parade for 2025 A parade of sunflower freebies up to July 24, 2025
🌞Pumpkin, Leaves and Autumn Please- A Fall Parade 2025 A parade of Fall themed stitches and doodles up to September 8, 2025.
🌞 A Parade of Stamps 2025 A parade of stamp cross stitch design freebies up to August 14, 2025
🌞Time to Dye- 2024 post on how I tea/ Coffee Dye my fabric.
🌞Pin Pillow Tutorial - 2023 post on how I finish my pin pillows with chenille trim.
🌞A Spooky Parade - Halloween freebies up to October 4, 2025. More Halloween pieces followed this date.
🌞Turkey Struttin' Thanksgiving Parade 2025- Thanksgiving freebies up to the date of November 3, 2025. More Thanksgiving freebies followed this date.
🌞Ho! Ho! Ho! Christmas Parade Of Previous Freebies- 2025- A Parade of Christmas Freebies up to the date of November 15, 2025. More Christmas Freebies followed this date.
🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅
I am joining these lovely ladies' link parties. I hope you check them out; they always have so many wonderful projects going on and provide the opportunity for other needleworkers to meet.
Nina at Creations, Quilts, Art , Whatever by Nina for Off the Wall FridayAlycia's of Alycia's Quilts for Finished of Not Friday
Michelle at From Bolt to Beauty for Beauty Pageant - Friday
Frederique at Quilting Patchwork Applique for Patchwork & Quilts - Saturday
Angela of So Scrappy for Scrap Happy Saturday
What a story, Melisa! So sad about the flooding, but you did finish two sweet quilts during the ordeal. The candy cane and pepperming background fabric is perfect for this project. Thanks for sharing the steps.
ReplyDeleteIt was a long ordeal but I do have so many fond memories sitting in the sewing room working on these projects. I think it will be a lot of fun to make a new little tree quilt. Enjoy your evening, Jeanna and thank you for the sweet visit. Hugs.
DeleteJust love your lil Christmas Trees quilt--so bright and cheering on these long, gray days...
ReplyDeleteWhat a story--what a mess to clean up you had!! Good that you had quilts to keep you sane;))) right?? hugs, Julierose
Oh Julierose, it was a mess. We did all of the cleanup and a lot of the work until the construction crew came in. Wheww! Thank goodness for quilting to keep my nerves from fraying. LOL. Thank you for the sweet visit. Hugs.
DeleteI'm so sorry you had to deal with the flood major mess but you ended up with a great story. Yes, I noticed the quilt with the trees and failed to ask you about it. The quilt is so stinking cute. The prints you used are cute, adorable and sweet. I love the quilt but the best part is that it's YOU and looks perfect in your home. Thank you bunches and bunches for sharing all the details. Big Christmas Hugs for you and one for Mr Pinker (don't forget to give it to him - LOL). DarleneJ
ReplyDeleteWorking on this little quilt and the scrap strawberries certainly kept me busy during that time. I felt confined to the house for days on end with the construction crew here so I am blessed that this hobby kept me from fretting. Thank you so much for the sweet as honey compliment Miss Darlene. You always bring a big smile to my day and Mr. Pinker will love the hugs. Hee! Hee! Big hugs from the holler. I hope your day has been a good one.
DeleteOh my dealing with flooding issues is such a big deal. I worked in Association managment for many years and a flooded unit was always an involved process. So glad the quilts were able to help you through it. The Scrappy Happy Christmas Tree Quilt is so festive love the fabrics. Thanks for the instructions on how you made it. Have a great weekend. Alicia
ReplyDeleteOh it was terrible, Alicia. What was so bad was all of the mold that had built up in our absence. Everything had to go and the downstairs was stripped to the bare bones. Fortunately the upstairs was fine with no damage. I am so very grateful that I can always fall back to quilting as a stress reliever. Thank you for the sweet visit. I wish you a wonderful weekend. Hugs.
DeleteThe quilt is gorgeous. So sorry 😞 about the flooding 😢
ReplyDeleteAaw thank you so much, Linda. It was an ordeal, but working on this little quilt got me through it. Plus we learned a lesson about what to do when we travel. LOL. Thank you for the sweet Friday visit. Hugs.
DeleteOh My Goodness, Melisa! So sorry about the flooding and all the work that had to be done. Your tree quilt is sooo cute (and so is the strawberry quilt on the bed)! Thank you for the tutorial! Have a super weekend!
ReplyDeleteOh thank you so much, Astrid. It was hair raising experience, but we made it through and I came out with 2 quilts. Hee! Hee! Have a beautiful weekend. Hugs.
DeleteThat's such a sweet quilt, Melisa! The perfect stress relief when you have to wait for workmen to fix your house. I love how you made those trees - scrappy is the best!
ReplyDeleteOh it was the perfect stress relief. I would sit in the sewing room and buzz away on the sewing machine as they worked downstairs. This quilt holds lots of memories that is for sure. I hope you are enjoying your time with your sons, Diann. Warm hugs
DeleteOMGoodness! I can't even imagine water running for that long and the damage. You handled it with some great quilt therapy. Love the string trees and the strawberries. Alternating the tree color and framing color on each block really gave it some zing! It would be fun to hear the stories behind the other two quilts displayed on the shutter, too.
ReplyDeleteIt shows that every quilt has a storey, and this beautiful tree quilt sure has !
ReplyDeleteOh wow, what an unpleasant thing to come home to, everyone's nightmare! So glad you were able to find some solace in quilting, and what a beautiful result. I love the way you make the trees and look forward to your next one!
ReplyDeleteWhat an awful thing to come home too, so sorry that happened to you. Your tree quilt is so cute! You chose great reds and greens for those sashings and love your background fabrics too. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteOh my, Melisa! I'm glad this little adorable quilt helped you through that difficult time. I cannot imagine!! I love that you sashed them with opposite colors red and green! Fun! Have a great weekend, B
ReplyDeleteOh dear, what a terrible time that must have been for you, I can't even imagine the damage and the smell!
ReplyDeleteI adore this quilt full of Christmas trees, Melisa!
ReplyDeleteIt's so sweet. I think I'm going to try making one of these blocks today.
Thanks for sharing.
Hugs
It's such a fun quilt. Which is pretty amazing considering what was going on when you were working on it. Not what you want to deal with after a fun vacation.
ReplyDelete