Friday, December 4, 2020

Snowmen!

Welcome to my stop on the Virtual Cookie Exchange blog hop!  Our hostess and mastermind, Carol of Just Let Me Quilt is generous in what we can post for this hop.  While highlighting holiday-themed projects you've already completed is allowed, I knew I wanted to use this hop as motivation to finish a UFO.  In 2017, I participated in the New Quilt Bloggers group. Twelve members from that group started a Christmas-themed QAL that year.  I completed that quilt, and I liked the Snowman block designed by Sherry Shish of Powered by Quilting so much that I planned a quilt of just snowmen.  I cut out pieces for 9 scrappy snowmen.  I pieced 5 of the blocks.  All this in 2017, and it has been in that state ever since.

Until now!  I think my original plan was to decorate each snowman in a fairly intricate fashion, but since that didn't happen in 2017, it certainly wasn't going to happen this year!  I'm not entirely sure what my original vision was, but I'm really pleased with my posse of snowmen.  

 


Sherry's pattern calls for embroidery of the faces but I used fabric markers instead.  I gave some snowmen a smile and some buttons.  I did hand stitching for the arms on a few and markers for a few others.  On those with busier backgrounds I skipped the arms.  I figure this variation gives a bit more visual interest.

 I quilted it with vertical wavy lines, hoping it would look like snow is falling.  I like the effect.



 

There are a lot of tiny pieces in this 12" block but it sews up so cute!  Sherry has the pattern for sale here if you are inclined to make your own snowman.  When the QAL happened in 2017, lots of people added some really creative accessories to their snowman, there's lots of room to play with this one.



Here in North Carolina we don't get a lot of snow but when we do, my son always wants to build a snowman.  We've made a couple really small ones, probably less than a foot high.  Like I said, we don't get a lot of snow!

As you can see, I went completely scrappy with this.  Some fabrics look a little Christmas-y but I wasn't trying to make a Christmas quilt.  Though I did pose for photos by our Christmas tree.

 


The Snowmen was on my list of eligible finishes for my PhD (Projects Half Done) with Quilting Gail.  I just need one more finish this month to earn mine!


Be sure to check out all the other bloggers featured today as part of the Virtual Cookie Exchange!

 December 4

Just Let Me Quilt

Quilt Fabrication

DesertSky Quilting

Seams To Be Sew

Happy Cottage Quilter

Pumpkin Patch Patterns & Quilting

The Darling Dogwood That's Me!

Kathleen McMusing

23 comments:

  1. Perfect motivation and timing to get that snowman quilt done, Emily! Some fun details going on. I like how you quilted it. I enjoy seeing the photo by your tree and mantle!

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  2. Congrats on getting it finished in time to enjoy it this holiday season. Snowmen always make me happy. Happy Holidays Emily!

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  3. Don't you love finding those projects we hide from ourselves and wonder what your plan really was for it. LOL!! Congratulations on getting the PHD finished. Those little snowmen look so happy now. Merry Christmas!

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  4. Oh, Emily, you made me smile with what you said about your original plan of intricate designs that didn't happen. My brain usually has big ideas, but then the reality comes down to it and I opt for lesser rather than more. I think your "posse" of snowmen are just the cutest as they are and it looks like a treasure to me! Thank you for sharing your joy with us and hopping along! xo

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  5. Cute snowman quilt! Congratulations on your finish! Thanks for sharing!

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  6. Wonderful snowmen! Now I need to take someone's sugar cookie recipe and make some snowmen cookies!

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  7. Awe so cute!!! Congrats on finishing the UFO.

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  8. I love the scrappiness of your snowmen! What a fantastic quilt!

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  9. And ... I forgot to say ... Congratulations on finishing a UFO!!! :-)

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  10. Finishing a UFO is wonderful and the results are fabulous. What a great reminder of snow and making your own snowmen.

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  11. If you don't get much real snow, these guys (gals?) will be equally as much fun.

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  12. What a sweet Snowman Quilt. I love the variations in each block Emily. Thank you for sharing your photos. As for you not getting much snow; I’m sorry! I get more than my share up here in British Columbia, Canada 😉

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  13. Hi Emily! Oh, your snowman quilt is SO cute. What a great job you did finishing it, and standing near your tree is just the perfect backdrop. Congrats on being so close to earning your PHD! It is truly a sense of accomplishment. ~smile~ Roseanne

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  14. Your snowman quilt is adorable and congrats on an amazing finish!

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  15. Adorable snowman quilt, I love it! Thanks for sharing.

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  16. Emily, your snowmen are just adorable! What a neat quilt. We don't get much snow here in AL, so I am especially fond of snowmen! Merry Christmas!

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  17. Wonderful snowmen! A lot of snow is a lot of fun, but it gets old fast. I am happiest when it snows and melts in a few days. Good luck getting the last 1 done; I have 2 to do.

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  18. Merry Christmas! Your snowman quilt will be cozy, all winter long. Thanks for sharing.

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  19. Those snowmen are pretty fun, with a bit of whimsy. Congrats on finishing off another UFO and getting one step closer to your PHD.

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  20. Oh Emily, this is so cute. Love it so much that I know what I am going to make for my 2021 RSC block :-D Thank you!!!

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