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.