Friday, July 27, 2007

Christmas in July

Thank you so much for all your very kind comments about SweetiePie's pink purse. You're all so very sweet -- and you know how much I love your comments! The little love birds are out for a special dinner tonight and when they return, I'll give her the purse. I hope she likes it!
I've seen lots of posts this month about Christmas in July. Oh my! It's unbelievable that next Christmas is closer to us in time than last Christmas. There's good reason to think Christmas in July when you make homemade gifts. They take planning and time to make. It's hard to even think about it though. Hopefully I'll get my act together in the next few weeks and sit down and do a little thinking about gifts for this year.
This Christmas tree skirt is a "Christmas in July" project from a year or two ago. I had to start planning in advance. I made it for MeMum and gave it to her for Christmas. She desperately needed a tree skirt as she'd been wrapping her tree stand with quilt batting for years. Every year I planned to make her one, but I could never decide on a style. She loves Victorian things and for a long time, I sort of planned to make her a crazy patch tree skirt. But, I just couldn't ever get excited about that plan, so it never happened. Then one day, we were in a quilt shop and she commented on how much she loved redwork. How well I remember that lightbulb moment. Right then and there I decided I'd make her a redwork tree skirt. I love embroidery, so it was really fun to make. I adapted the sleigh and reindeer outlines from a wool table runner project called All Through the Night by Bonnie Sullivan.This tree skirt is much larger than normal because MeMum and BigDaddy always get a big tree -- 10 to 12 feet high. Big Daddy always puts the stand on this huge piece of plywood, so the tree skirt had to be big enough to cover the plywood. MeMum loved it and it looked pretty under her tree last Christmas.

So, now I'll yell at us. Get off of that computer and get to work on your Christmas in July! Oh, and have a great weekend!

XOXO,
Anna

16 comments:

Jade said...

Oooh, they do a lot of Christmas in July over here....because its winter and some areas have actual snow.

That's a great tree skirt! I love the embroidery. Did you do the quilting yourself too?

Anonymous said...

Love that tree skirt. I'll bet your mumm was so happy to get it.

meggie said...

Very classy Xmas tree Skirt! No wonder your Mum loves it.
And I just adore that lovely pink bag you made for SweetiePie! So pretty!

Anonymous said...

Anna, it's just gorgeous! I love the embroidery.

I just caught up on your posts...and my, you HAVE been busy! I love the SweetiePie purse...she's certainly a keeper. Sounds like you'll have a wonderful MIL-DIL relationship...And your mum's coneflowers are beautiful. Also, I got hungry when I read the poppy seed post...I guess it's time for breakfast!

XO,
Jill

Yummers! said...

I love the skirt... love that it's square. Lovely, lovely, lovely.
Joni

molly said...

Your tree skirt is lovely! Maybe this will inspire me to finish a christmas redwork/patchwork wall hanging i've had "under construction" for a few years.....

dutchcomfort said...

A tree skirt is something completely new to me, but I like it very much!

Nicole said...

That tree skirt is a work of art! Positively exquisite.

Heather said...

The tree skirt is adorable!
Heather

Juliann in WA said...

You have been very busy! The tree skirt is beautiful and your knitted bags are an inspiration. As soon as I get over this jet lag, I will be back at stitching.

Sew Create It - Jane said...

How absolutely beautiful! I just love the red and white together. It will look so stunning under a lovely green tree...Santa is sure to visit!! :o)

Dannielle said...

I adore that tree skirt! It's stunningly beautiful!

Nan said...

Your tree skirt is a work of art and heart - no wonder your mum loves it! Can I adopt you? lol!

Anonymous said...

Anna that tree skirt is sooooooo pretty. I love the fact that you took a pattern originally designed for one thing and made it into something else. So clever Ms thimbleanna - so clever. I'm planning for fall - that's close to Christmas, right?

rohanknitter said...

That is one gorgeous Christmas tree skirt. Wow!!!
Love that little bag you made for sweetiepie.

Kymberly said...

OH MY GOSH! I love your tree skirt. I have wanted to make a tree skirt for quite some time and this one is absolutely gorgeous. I also love the way you call your mom...MeMum