Welcome to Melva Loves Scraps and the Christmas in July blog hop!
It would seem that we are never really happy about what season of the year it its... in the winter, many long for the warm summer and all that goes with it... gardening, vacations, playing in or near a body of water.... a time that many layers of clothing are not required to be comfortable outside and windows can be open wide, allowing the scents of outside waft in.
And in the summer, many long for winter and cooler temps... because the summer heat (and humidity) can be unbearable. There is just something so comforting when there is a warm, cozy fire in the fireplace. Winter is also a season of many holidays and family gatherings... such as Christmas!
So, in the midst of the summer heat, as Dave and I were longing for the 90+ degree temperatures to drop, we pulled out one of our favorite "winter time" movies - New in Town. It is a story that takes place mostly during a Minnesota winter. It stars Renee Zellweger and Harry Conick, Jr. and we find it hilarious. We have most of the lines memorized, but that just adds to the humor.
There is a Christmas scene in New in Town when all of the residents go gather for caroling around the town tree. It's a time that the two lead characters begin to acknowledge their attraction to each other. It's very sweet...
As I pondered a small project for this blog hop, I wanted to have something "Christmas", but not overly Christmas... something that could be used throughout the year.
Since I have been playing with scraps lately, particularly "strings", I stitched up four trees using some Christmas scraps. They offer a small pop of red, but not too much for my taste.
In my Christmas scraps I found a neutral print that featured the gifts from the song Twelve Days of Christmas. I was excited to discover that there was enough for a narrow sashing strip between the tree blocks.
The scrappy piano key border was made 2-1/2" wide with HST cornerstones and offers a nice frame for the mini.
I've written up a pattern for these trees... you can find the link near the bottom of this story.
The quilting is simple straight lines, a chevron pattern, following the shape of the trees. I didn't stress over having them perfectly spaced, most are 1/2-inch apart, some a little closer, others a tad bit more like 3/4".
On the back of my mini quilt I used a portion of a panel that features gingerbread folks... which inspired me to make some gingersnap cookies to be included in my photos. :) The recipe is gluten free and quite yummy and comes from Homestead on the Hill's Holiday Treats book. I did a big-stitch binding finish which is printed with holly leaves and red cardinals... I included one of my personalized tags.
I'm not very good at doing cut-out sugar cookies... the dough always gives me fits when I am rolling it out... the ginger snaps were a snap to make, and more my style. ;)
I've taken up enough of your time. There are several other bloggers that have joined me for this Christmas in July hop. Be sure to visit them! There are a few prizes available! BUT, consider it a scavenger hunt to discover which quilters are doing them. 😉 Here's the link for my String Christmas Trees Pattern.
The pattern/tutorial is listed for $2.00 but you can get it for FREE by using the Code: XMASNJULYFREE. The code is only valid for the duration of this blog hop ~ July 24-27, 2025.
Before you go...
What are your favorite holiday cookies to make?
Leave a comment... I'd love to hear from you.
Merry Christmas (in July) & Keep Piecing,
Melva
July 24
Melva at Melva Loves Scraps ~ hostess
Diann at Little Penguin Quilts
Carol Andrews at Quilt Schmilt
July 25
Vivian at Bronx Quilter
Gail at Quilting Gail
Linda at Texas Quilt Gal
You are so right, the extreme heat of this Summer has me looking forward to Fall --- Winter on the other hand can always wait, LOL. Great table topper and cookie display mat (and yummy looking cookies)! I bake peanut butter cookies for my MIL and a few friends every year for Christmas. Thank you for offering the "tree" pattern. I'm on a mission to use more of my strings and have been lining up designs for them so can add that one too! I will also be sharing a scrap project --- post is scheduled and ready to go!
ReplyDeleteI love your string trees, especially with just a sprinkle of red. My favorite holiday cookies are spritz cookies using my old cookie press…….love butter cookies of all kinds but spritz’s are my fav!
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty little (feisty) mini quilt! That scrappy piano key border is perfect, and I love that panel on the back. Thank you for the trees pattern! And thanks for hosting this blog hop - fun times!
ReplyDeleteThose cookies look yummy. My family's favorite Christmas cookie is my Granny Mitchell's sugar cookie, a tender, not-too-sweet cookie made with buttermilk and nutmeg. I decorate them with powdered sugar icing. Granny used to make them "plain" for me and my roommate in college. After spending the weekend at home, I would take a shoebox filled with cookies layered with waxed paper back to the dorm!
Melva, your String Trees are such a pretty design! And I think the piano key border is perfect for them, too - it fits the string theme. Cute backing idea, too! I'm not familiar with that movie, but it sounds like one we would like. Thanks for the recommendation and for the fun blog hop!
ReplyDeleteYour trees are adorable! And ginger snaps sound really good, haven't had those in years. I love Fudge Puddles at the holidays, it was in a magazine many years ago.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the pattern. Can't wait to start. My favorite cookies are the ones made every year by my mom. Unfortunately at 97, she has passed the apron to my cousin who makes them just as well but with her own twist. Since mom made the Christmas cookies, I made fudge and candies to add to the boxes. Enjoy your blog so thank you for that too. -- Pamela Papazidis
ReplyDeleteI love the tree quilt Melva! I just finished the quilt top for the pattern I started 2 years ago from Sarah at Confession of a Fabric Addict . It was part of her Christmas in July series. I am glad you are doing this hop! My first grandbaby arrived 2 weeks ago and I have many things already planned for her first Christmas. One of my favorite cookies to make for the holidays are brown sugar refrigerator cookies. I grew up with these wrapped in waxed paper, ready for us to bake.
ReplyDeleteAww, your tree table topper/wall hanging is adorable, Melva! I haven't heard of that movie, but being a Minnesotan, I will definitely be looking it up! I do love gingersnap cookies. Gingersnap was my name as a Girl Scout camp counselor--we picked such names out for ourselves. But my fav Christmas cookie is peanut butter blossoms.
ReplyDeleteMelva, your string trees fit perfectly in the star!! It's gorgeous! Thank you for hosting the blog hop!
ReplyDeleteI love your string trees Melva. They are really awesome in the Star. Star blocks have been my favorite for a while now so this is one I need to make. It looks very beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDelete