Thursday, July 30, 2020

Christmas in July Then and Now


Welcome to my day on this fun hop.  Have you checked out the previous days, and gotten inspired?  Feeling a little cooler after seeing so many great projects?  Christmas in July is fun to celebrate, and anticipate.  And get the list of possible projects started. 

Here's my table runner project.  


I LOVE fancy ornaments, as well as home-made and quaint.  My tree mixes it all, because that's what I love.  When I saw this embroidery collection on Embroidery Library, I wanted to make them. 





I also had this fabric with beautiful blue and cream ornaments so picked a creamy tone on tone snowflake fabric and started up the embroidery machine.  I used Aurifil 40wt in shades of blue.  I love how it looks.  I kinda sorta started this maybe 2 years ago, when I was still caregiver for my mom.  (She's doing okay, in the nursing home now, but I haven't been able to see her since March 10).  It got set aside for a while.  I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with the embroidery and fabric, and had so many ideas.  But that was then, and this is now.  Get it?? lol.  I have been spending this year trying to get more finished, and clear up some UFOs.  This blog hop came at the right time.  

I decided to just allow the embroidery to stand out.  I trimmed them to square, cut 3 squares of the printed fabric, and stitched it in a row.  I often have something special in the center of a table runner, but realized that may be where people put flowers or another centerpiece, and maybe it was better to put the embroidery blocks out of center.  I added borders to make it about 15 by 50".  

I loaded it on my Handi-Quilter Amara with Prostitcher, and did the cross hatch around the embroidery with Aurifil 40-3 thread, in cream.  I quilted snowflake designs in the other squares and the border.  I think it came out pretty!  I will be binding it soon, but there are so many "end of month" deadlines, this had to be put off again.  

I love how it replicates vintage fancy ornaments, but has the more modern blue, silver and cream colors.  Then and now.  

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I hope you've enjoyed my project, and choose to follow my blog and Instagram (marymackmademine).  Please also visit the other bloggers listed below, and leave them a positive comment.  We all work hard to make your visits fun and inspiring.  Please enjoy!  And make your Christmas project list.  Stay cool!  

Maryellen

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July 29
  
July 30
  
July 31

32 comments:

Michelle said...

Your table runner is so pretty. Blue is one of my favorite colors. Perfect for Christmas I think.

Karen's Korner said...

I am glad that you could move your pretty UFO to the finish line.

Elizabeth Coughlin said...

Very pretty runner!

tink's mom said...

Lovely runner. I think you're right about people placing things in the middle of table runners and the center is generally lost to the admirers. Much better to have your embroidery blocks off center.

Pam said...

I love your embroidery -- I may have to check these ornaments out!! Thanks for sharing

Rebecca Smith said...

I love your blue ornaments! Beautiful project.

piecefulwendy said...

The blue ornaments are lovely! Thanks for sharing.

Calicojoan said...

I see a blue blue Christmas on the horizon at your house. Beautiful table runner. I do love embroidery library!

For the love of geese said...

I love the beautiful blues, now you just need a few pieces of china and you will be all set.

Janis said...

What a pretty table runner. I love blue and white together - and fancy ornaments. Thanks for sharing!

Carol Swift said...

The blues are so beautiful and bring out the feeling of winter snow. I love how you quilted it around those embroidery sections. It's really a beautiful treasure with a vintage feel...love it! Thank you for sharing your then and now runner!

Brenda @ Songbird Designs said...

I love your table runner and so glad you were able to get it finished and show us. I really love that blue ornament fabric also! I'm sure it's hard not being able to see your mom since March. This crazy virus has us all locked up. Thanks so much for sharing. I have a question about the ornaments but will ask you privately! Take good care of yourself and stay safe!

Deonn said...

That embroidery is just gorgeous! Love the frosty winter colors.

Charlene McCain said...

Beautiful table runner! This will lovely on your holiday table.

Susan said...

What a wonderful combination of techniques and blue fabrics! Thanks for sharing a great idea of combining then and now, too.

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

That is so pretty! I love blue and white together!

Karrin Hurd said...

Beautiful table runner. I have always loved blue and white, and love the ornament embroidery! Thanks so much for sharing!

Sharon said...

What a beautiful runner! I love the combination of blues and white; so fresh.

Lee said...

Such a pretty runner! thank you for the inspiration!

ShirleyC said...

It's just beautiful!

Turid said...

So fancy with those ornaments on the runner.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Blue is my favourite colour so of course I like your project! I think it's one I would be leaving out all winter. Thank you for the invitation to come for a visit.

Siouxzq64@gmail.com said...

Fabulous table runner. How nice to finish up a project.

Barb said...

Beautiful runner--your blue and white colors are so pretty!

Marian said...

So until I came to your post today I'd always avoided doing table runners or table cloths because I never like how the design always ends up in the middle and when you put a vase of flowers or a decorative item or even just pots and such no top the design of it gets lost. I am definitely going to try one now where the design won't sit smack dab in the middle. Thanks for that tip. I love your pattern I just wish Embroidery Library didn't make there designs so heavy, I really like the lighter embroidery more designers are employing today in their designs.

Patti said...

Blue and Cream is so timeless. Thanks for sharing the table runner and tips.

Anita said...

Beautiful table runner, the design reminds me of fine porcelain!

Lori said...

wow your table runner is gorgeous. i love how you put it all together. thanks for sharing and inspiring. quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

Susan said...

That's a pretty blue runner!

Carla said...

Perfect Christmas blue stitches. So pretty and a great runner.

LJ said...

What a wonderful table runner. Emb Lib has so many excellent designs - I have more than I'll ever use. Thanks for sharing your Christmas project.

Carol Andrews said...

Maryellen that table runner is so elegant with your beautiful embroidered blocks. Thank you for sharing. Hope you get to see your Mom soon. 😢 Carol