Little Gifts...

 

'Tis the season! At our recent Christmas dinner for the quilt guild in Ocala, we received several delightful gifts, most crafted by guild members. Our water bottles were topped with this cute pieced Santa topper. It's a Half-Log Cabin block fashioned into Santa. We also received a pair of craft scissors in a handy stitched holder with tuck spots for other sewing tools. Our committee did an outstanding job once again organizing a very special event capped off by a talented musical performance by a married couple singing holiday songs.

Our gifts were contained in this cute stenciled drawstring gift bag. And one member upcycled dozens of empty thread spools into clever tree ornament. There are so many tiny details including a little charm at the bottom.

And speaking of gifts, we have a number of crows on our farm- three or more are called a "murder of crows". While walking the dogs over several days, we noticed small shards of decorative house tile on the ground. And then we found these golf balls. We are miles from any golf course and nobody near here hits golf balls into a pasture as a pastime. Finally we figured out that these treasures must be "gifts" from the crows. I put them in the grotto with St. Francis. Those old quilt blocks are "aging" nicely. We started giving the crows some grapes and peanuts along the fence line, but the gift giving seems to have ended. With horses, we have plenty of grain bits and water sources around to keep them happy. I remembered a neighbor down the road telling us several years ago that she received gifts from the crows, too. We'll keep looking.

And a Cherry on Top...

 

Here's a new use for an old-fashioned glass sundae dish. I was invited to fill the dish with a pincushion that would hint at an ice cream sundae. The coordinators of the raffle baskets at our recent quilt show assembled many wonderful baskets built around a theme. They received the dish as a donation and wanted to fill it sewing style. So this is what I came up with. The bottom is weighted with glass pebbles and the whole thing is topped off with a fancy beaded stick pin. 

The daughter of a guild member saw the pincushion and asked if I could make some to sell. I don't often sell things I've made... I am really stumped when it comes to putting a price on them. But she was so delighted with the pincushion that I told her I'd get started. I am awaiting the glassware for them. She has since found two sundae dishes in a thrift shop, and by chance I began by stitching these two. So when all the parts get together, the job will be completed. They look a little like giant stuffed yo-yos. One small template, shown at left, is the only pattern piece required. Eight of these wedges cut from assorted fabrics for each pincushion are stitched together, stuffed, and then embellished with embroidery floss and a T-shirt beaded ball or other topper. The idea came from "Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts" by Joelle Hoverson. It makes a unique and fun gift I'm thinking.