It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas . . .

I have a customer named Minnie, who is a prolific quilter. And Minnie likes BIG quilts, too. She keeps me busy year-round, quilting all types of quilts - very traditional patterns with subdued colors and shapes, very bold quilts with lots of pattern and pieces which are usually for her grandchildren. And she's a wonderful quilter . . . it's always a pleasure to receive a box filled with Minnie's latest creations - some hot of the sewing machine, others that were pieced or appliqued over the past several years. The above quilt - for Minnie's granddaughter, Sara, is a two-color quilt of red and white, and it had me singing, "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" as I was laying out the backing, batting, and quilt top as I prepared them for the quilting frame. And as you can see by the photo, I'm using my "busy bee" quilt stitch to really make the quilt "sing". Little swirls and loops and curves to give the quilt surface an interesting texture and sense of whimsy 'cause after all, it's for a little girl. The toile print is Mary Engelbreit's "Best Friends" fabric, which is perfect for this quilt. So as you start (or finish) your Christmas holiday shopping for friends and loved ones, think "red and white" and how "it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas".