2011 Christmas Quilt Show

Ransom Family Christmas Quilt- 2008

SewCalGal is sponsoring the Christmas Quilt show HERE.  There are Prizes to be won and Beautiful Quilts to see.  Over 85 already linked in. Mine is #86, I'd appreciate your Votes on Sat- Sun at the SEWCALGAL blog. Maybe some will inspire you to make a Christmas Quilt for Next year to enter in the SHOW.  I have given a Christmas Quilt to 5 of my 6 Children and their Families.   That was a few years ago.  I had hoped to have a new one to post for this contest. The deadline to join the Contest is in 2 days so I will have to share one of the ones I made back then. I chose the one that has a STORY - I made the Trains for the Husband who likes Trains and Nutcrackers for my oldest Daughter who has collected Nutcrackers since I took her to see the Production of the Ballet in Richland Washington when she was younger. The quilt blocks pattern was taken from the Block Magic Book by Nancy Johnson-Srebro.
I made the blocks and took them out to my Quilt Buddies to figure out how to sash and border them. I made the LOG CABIN blocks to fill in between the Nutcracker and Train blocks. Log Cabin is NOT my favorite Block to make. I can't make them without 'frogging' a lot! I want to piece them going clockwise and get so mixed up. After a few tries this setting came to be and the quilt kept growing it seemed. I liked the scrappy sashing that I used and quilted the huge quilt on my home sewing machine. I quilted the names of the family in the quilting. The Ransom Family got the Biggest Quilt, but not because I love them more- it just turned out that way. This quilt wanted to be HUGE! A side note:  It's almost time for the week-end of the Annual Production of the Mid-Columbia Ballet's Nutcracker in Richland and my son-by-love and grand daughter from this family will be in it.  I get to go and see them perform on Saturday, December 10th!

So Tonight as the Families begin their rounds of sleeping with their Christmas Quilts, as they sleep beneath them- I want to remind them how much Grandma Loves them!

The idea is to get the Quilt out on December First and starting with the youngest in the Family take turns sleeping under the "Christmas Quilt"  for the 24 days before Christmas.  On Christmas Eve the Christmas Quilt goes under the tree for Santa to have a nap.  My firend, Wendy gave me the idea and wrote the Poem that I gave with each Quilt. I'll post it here, just in case you feel like making some "Christmas Quilts" for your family.

I am a little Christmas quilt

For Christmas time this year.

I don’t do very much, you see

But I’m given to someone dear.

Beginning on One December

The family’s littlest one

Sleeps beneath its loving warmth

Until the night is done.

The next night of the month

The next child does the same.

Continue through the coming days

Let each one enjoy this game.

On Christmas Eve beneath the tree

Lay the quilt so dear.

For Santa wants to feel its warmth

And hopefully linger near.

On Christmas morning bright and early

Enjoy the love abound.

Then wash and store me for the time

When Christmas comes around.

I’m still a little Christmas quilt

For Christmas time this year

If I become all tattered and torn

I’m glad it’s by you my dear!

Written by Wendy Turner (edited by Mary Crowther)