Wrap it up!

Gift wrapping...seems like most people either love it or hate. What about you? Do your presents have perfect corners, coordinating ribbons, themed gift tags? Or are you one of those people that accidentally cuts the wrapping paper rectangle too small so that you end up "piecing" the paper, and then just skip the ribbon all together? 

Gift wrap lovers, you'll LOVE this. Gift wrap haters, you may not love it, but you'll certainly appreciate it (and maybe reconsider that no-bow position?!)

Judy Hansen, designer of the Nutcracker Christmas collection, found a new use for her fabric--wrapping! The true icing on the cake, though, are the pom-pom bows. 

Judy made these cool accessories using Clover's Flower Frill templates. 

Gorgeous, aren't they? 

We love seeing all of these presents wrapped up in Nutcracker Christmas--it really puts us in the holiday spirit!

The best part of fabric wrapping paper? You can recycle it by using it your next quilting project! 

And just for fun, Judy also sent us this bloom, made with an old wooden spool center and garment tissue paper petals.

You can find more information on the Flower Frill templates here; you can also find them in Judy's online store, the Quilt Shop of Deland.
See the entire Nutcracker Christmas collection here.

Happy wrapping!

Prepping for the Holidays

During our 12 Days of Christmas celebration, we showed you Judy Hansen's Nutcracker Christmas collection as well as a free pattern and an easy tissue box holder made from the fabrics. We also gave you a sneak peek of this table runner:

"Center Attraction" by Diane Tomlinson;
featured in Love of Quilting Nov/Dec 2014

We're back today to talk more about this table runner, featured in Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting Nov/Dec 2014 issue. Called "Center Attraction," this seasonal beauty would be exactly that on your holiday table! Designer Diane Tomlinson talks a bit about what she stitched below. And the best news is that there's still plenty of time to make this runner before Christmas!

Q. What appealed you to about Judy's Nutcracker Christmas collection?

Diane: I like the prints with the accents of gold.

Q. Can you talk about your design for the table runner?

Diane: The block lent itself well to a table runner and the poinsettia print fit well in the center space of each block!

Q. Why did you decide to make a table runner?

Diane: Time is a big factor- easier and quicker to make for the holidays, but sometimes it¹s hard to commit to a larger project around the holidays and this creates a nice centerpiece to highlight someone's quilting talents and adds a personal touch to the table from that quilter.

Q. Any tips for making the blocks?

Diane: Just to cut carefully and piece with consistent seams.

Q. Can you talk about your quilting decisions?

Diane: I thought that the stippling in the cream ''background'' fabric made the block pop more.

See the entire Nutcracker Christmas collection here.

Find the kit for this table runner here.

Find Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting magazine here.

12 Days of Christmas: Day 10

Christmas is only 65 days away!

Welcome back! It's day 10 of our 12 Days of Christmas fun here on the blog, and we've got some show and tell featuring Judy Hansen's Nutcracker Christmas collection--a downloadable tutorial, plus two quilts made featuring the fabric! Be sure to check out the other holiday decor-themed tutorials and fabric lines we're featuring, and don't miss the giveaways--win some of our favorite holiday fabrics to get your own project started!

On the tenth day of Christmas, we have:

A tissue box featuring Nutcracker Christmas (+ two quilt designs!)

Download the tutorial for this easy project here!

Looking to make a quilt using the Nutcracker Christmas collection?

Judy designed the "Nutcracker Christmas Sampler," a 40" x 40" wall sampler.

 You can order it on her website (as well as sign up for her newsletter or find the link to follow her on Facebook).

Here's a close-up of the center appliqued blocks:

Or try this Nutcracker Christmas table runner, "Center Attraction," designed by Diane Tomlinson for the Nov-Dec 2014 issue of Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting magazine.

Find the magazine and kit for this project here.

The 12 Days of Christmas:

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12

12 Days of Christmas: Day 3

Christmas is only 76 days away!

Our 12 Days of Christmas feature continues...with Judy Hansen's Nutcracker Christmas collection. Over twelve days, we'll be sharing our holiday fabrics as well as ideas we love on how to use them. Be sure to stop by every day for Christmas fabric and project inspiration!

On the third day of Christmas, we have:

Nutcracker Christmas by Judy Hansen

We asked Judy to talk to us about Nutcracker Christmas. Here's what she said:

On the nutcracker theme:

I went to the Nutcracker in Tampa with my daughter last year around the holidays. I was struck by the soldiers—such an incredible performance with the soldiers in unison. That got me thinking about using the nutcracker idea in fabric. I looked at different nutcrackers and researched the history to develop the line.

On how nutcrackers run in the family:

My daughter danced in the nutcracker when she was younger, and her husband, my son-in-law has his own nutcracker collection. I know a lot of people with nutcracker collections—they're popular!

On her favorite print in the collection:

I think it would have to be the candy canes—they're mixed in with peppermints. The yellow background is my favorite; it's so nice and bright.

On the color palette:

I like primary colors for Christmas—bright red and green, plus blue. I do think the bright yellow is a nice change-up from a golden yellow. Then the prints are accented with metallic gold.

Head over and "like" Judy on her Facebook page and visit her website.

Judy designed A Nutcracker Christmas Bargello using her fabric collection.

Download the free pattern pdf here.

The 12 Days of Christmas:
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5

Day 6

Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12

Saluting the Red, White and Blue (plus a free flag pattern!)

In honor of the 4th of July holiday, we're showcasing the red, white and blue! 

First up, download a free pattern for this classic flag quilt, made from 2-1/2" strips.

The "Old Glory" Snack Pack includes 42 strips--everything you need to make the quilt top and bind it--all tonals from our Tone on Tone collection.

Rich, textured hues from Marblehead and Marblehead Global Brights:

A fun red and blue swirl from Ro Gregg's Marblehead Venetian Glass:

Stars and swirls from Judy Hansen's new Nutcracker Christmas;

Contemporary coordinates from Linda Carlson and Diana Henage's Imagine This:

Juicy reds from Farmer John's Organic:

Modern designs from Ro Gregg's new Vibe collection:

And of course, the entire Bella Casa collection:

Look for this wide variety of red and blue prints at your local quilt shop! 

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!