Welcome Christmas Blog Hoppers

Thank you Madame Samm and Lesley for putting together another fun blog hop for all of us to enjoy.  I'm embarrassed to admit, I've been so busy I have only been able to visit a few blogs during this  hop.  Hopefully, I can catch up and see them all this weekend.  Welcome!  Please come in and take a look at my Christmas tree.  Doesn't it smell wonderful?

Two years ago, Denise at Just Quiltin with Denise Russart organized a swap featuring a snow globe block that she designed and distributed for free.  I loved each of the 8.5 inch blocks that I received.  I must have loved them so much that I put them in a treasure chest and buried them, because I can't find them or the pattern we used.  Using Denise's block for inspiration and a cake plate to trace the shape, I came up with my own 12.5 inch version.  Although Denise is not one of the stops on the blog hop, visit her blog to download a gorgeous butterfly quilt she is sharing.

I'm sorry for the poor quality of the pictures of my blocks, but I snapped them at 11:00pm.  Hopefully, I will be able to edit the post and put in better quality photos tomorrow.  The snowman is machine embroidered on the tree print fabric.  I think they look kinda sorta like the real thing if you squint.

Sally over at Sew Wonderful has a great tutorial for the Disappearing 4 Patch, also known as the 4 to 9 patch block.  I decided to put a wintry spin on the block by adding some Redwork snowmen. Charming Station Embroidery offers free Redwork machine embroidery designs of snowmen and clever sayings to go with them.  Over 200 of their free snowmen designs are available to download for machine embroidery.   I embroidered the snowmen on 10 inch squares and trimmed the squares to 7 inches with the snowmen centered on the square.  Major error!!!  I did not take into account that when creating the 4 patch block you cut one inch from the seam both vertically and horizontally.  As you can see, the snowman with the song book is too close to the edge.  I embroidered the squares before we left for vacation so it was too late to embroider another block.  I love the block, but when I get back to my embroidery machine he will be replaced.   I am showing this block as a cautionary tale and to remind myself that Sister Diane Marie  was right 49 years ago when she told us that geometry/math is an important skill.  If only I had paid attention.

Thanks for stopping by.  Don't forget to visit the other blogs scheduled for today.

Creations On The Island
That Other Blog
Sunshine Girl
Hallbrook Designs
The Recipe Bunny
Sisca At The Other Blog
Polka Dot Classic
Ariane Quilts
Katie's Salt Marsh Path (you are here)
The Cuddle Quilter