Images of Christmas 2007

Posted on December 26, 2007 by Norma Hanson

This post is all about the Christmas season at our house.

First, is a picture of our tree. This year, I considered not putting up the large tree. I was feeling overwhelmed with all of the preparations leading up to Christmas, work commitments, etc. My husband insisted that we needed to have the tree and so while I cleaned the house and rearranged the furniture to make room, my DH put up the tree and with my DD’s assistance, the tree was decorated. This is how handsome our tree looked this year in the corner of the living room.

I collect snowmen and these are some images of my favorite snowmen that were displayed in the house this year.

My DD not only assisted her father with the decorating of the tree, but she was also responsible for unpacking of the snowmen and other Christmas decorations and setting up the displays throughout the house. My DD was also responsible for wrapping most of those presents that were under that tree.

Of course, Joey the helper cat was never too far away!

This is a picture of my DS and DD on Christmas morning. They are just starting to open the presents in their stockings.

Later, we were joined by my parents. We continued to open presents–just look at that pile of wrapping paper in the center of the room!

My DS.
My DD with some computer software that my DH and I gave her. She looks tired, doesn’t she.

My Mom received some quilts from me. Here she is with one of the table runners that I made for her.

And here is my mother with her latest table topper – the first 4-Patch Stacked Posie Quilt that I made. The quilt collection grows! Note the quilt inspector (Joey) in the foot of the photograph.

After dinner, my DH played board games with the kids.

My brother and his family joined us after dinner. This is my SIL, nephew, brother, mother, and father.

…and my niece.

Merry Christmas to you and your families from our house to yours!

Table Runners

Posted on November 18, 2007 by Norma Hanson

I have been working on Christmas table runners using a quick and easy pattern from Ursula Riegel–a Canadian quilt designer from Victoria, BC. This is the link to her web page: http://www.designstoshare.com/patterns.htm

The first picture with the snowmen in the border and the holly in the center is a picture of the first table runner that I completed. It is now quilted and bound–ready for gift giving.

I have always used Warm and Natural batting in my table runners / toppers and that is what I used in this first table runner. When my mother and I were at the Creative Expo last weekend, we were in a vendor booth where there were some wonderful table runners, but they were quilted much flatter than mine. I inquired what the batting was and discovered that this particular shop uses Hobbs’ Thermore in their table runners. The shop owner told me that Thermore makes a thinner, flatter product more suitable for items that are to be used on the table. This helps ensure that things like wine glasses don’t tip over when set on the table runner. This was a eureka moment for me–I wondered why I didn’t think of something so simple. I will be quilting future table runners with Thermore.

The next two runners are just flimsies at this point. I did not have any Thermore at home until I made a run into the LQS yesterday so these are still unquilted.

Just a note about Thermore. When I was in the LQS yesterday, they told me that Hobbs is having some challenges with the production of Thermore right now. One of the fibres that they use is no longer available. If you purchase the “new” Thermore, you will find that it is flatter and stiffer. I managed to get some of the old formula — prepackaged in a bag which is the soft Thermore we are used to. Apparently the factory is doing some re-formulations and is trying to get a combination of fibres that more closely resembles the old formulation.

Halloween At Mom’s House

Posted on October 24, 2007 by Norma Hanson

I stopped by my Mom’s house on Sunday to deliver a quilt I just finished for her. This is a picture of my Mom on her front step holding BQ#1.

This quilt was inspired by a quilt I saw at the Lynden Fair in August 2006. If you take a look at my post from August 16, 2006, you will see the quilt that inspired me to search for the pattern for this quilt.

On September 18, 2006 I finished BQ#1 to the flimsy stage. I mentioned in my post on that date that I cut out two of these quilts at the same time–one to be finished for my mother and the other to be finished for myself.

If you look back to my post of October 6, 2007, you will see my quilt, BQ#2. It only took listing these quilts on my side bar and making them part of my finished quilt goals for 2007 to get them finished–a year and half later! I wanted them finished for Halloween, I didn’t say which Halloween! LOL

My Mom took pictures of all her fall/Halloween quilts on Sunday and e-mailed them to her friends with the following message:

The” Quilt Lady” (Norma) came by today with a new quilt for me. (the one
on the dinning room table) The other ones she made me last year. I am real proud of my Halloween / Fall assortment.

These pictures are included here as well for your viewing pleasure.