Friday, November 4, 2011

First Friday Freebie #22

Can you believe it’s November already?  Where does the time go?

I finished this month’s First Friday Freebie this past Sunday, a couple of minutes before the lights went out.  We were hit with a wicked nor’easter, the same storm that brought 12” and more of snow to the New  England states.  Thank goodness the moisture that we experienced was in the form of large amounts of driving rain and 65+ mph winds rather than snow.  We lost power for 20 hours and that amount of time without heat or lights seemed like an eternity.

With the Holiday season just around the corner, I decided upon a seasonal design for this month’s FFF which I called Homespun Holidays.

DSCN0363

The table topper, mini quilt or wall hanging finishes at approximately 22” square.  It is stitched in the traditional redwork style and is hand quilted.   It worked up relatively quickly and I think that it would make a great gift for a special friend or relative.

img45

Here’s a closer look at the main design which features a festively adorned Canada goose perched on a quilt on top of a mantel, surrounded by a wreath of holly and berries.

DSCN0362

I had forgotten about this Victorian toile fabric that I purchased a couple of years ago until I looked in my bin marked “Christmas fabric” and found it neatly folded with the rest of my seasonal fabrics .   Doesn’t it make a perfect backing for this design?

DSCN0372

To download the PDF file which includes the instructions, photo and line drawings, please click HERE

poinsettia-border-h

Thanks for stopping by and as always…

Happy stitching!

Kaarenheartname

46 comments:

Lesley said...

Kaaren, this is lovely and may be just the project I am looking to start! I always like to have several projects on the go, and the redwork is perfect as a take-along project. Thanks so much for sharing!
PS...nice to see someone else is awake so early...it's still dark outside!
Cheers!

Tudy said...

Thank you, it is so pretty.

KaHolly said...

Lesley said it all! Right down to the early riser part! Thank you. I'm going to print and trace this off first thing this morning to add to my handwork basket! If I don't get to it before I leave for the states, it will give me something to work on while I travel. It's perfect! ~karen

Wendyb said...

Oh Kaaren, this is so sweet! I can make it and think of you each Christmas! Just perfect....thank you sweet friend!
XXX sugary hugs
Wendy :O)

Elyte said...

Lovely design, thank you Kaaren

Anonymous said...

Hi Kaaren,

The table topper is just lovely. Just in time to make for Christmas. I'm glad to hear the storm did not leave you with too much snow. I was wondering what was happening in your part of the country. Time without power can be wonderful, always an excuse to read or do hand work as long as you have addtional heat. Thanks for the great table topper.Have a great day.
Dianne

SueB said...

Thank you Kaaren. It is beautiful and your quilting is just perfect.

Siobhán said...

Wow, that is gorgeous!! Both the front AND the back--I love that toile! Thanks so much, Kaaren!

Ter'e said...

This is such a regal piece. Simply gorgeous. Kaaren, your work is simply a thing of beauty.
One of these days....when I am not so intimidated......I will set the hooking aside and learn to quilt.
xoxoxoxox

Abby and Stephanie said...

I think hundreds or thousands of lucky people are going to receive one of these beauties for Christmas. The toile is perfect for the back. Glad the power is back.

Sheila said...

Thanks again Kaaren for your generous Friday Freebie , I always love them and enjoy doing them.

Sunnybec said...

Hi Kaaren, thank you for another lovely pattern. I absolutely love toile we have a duvet cover in red and white toile and a blue and white one for our guest bed. xx

Sandy said...

Dear Kaaren,
Thank you again for a beautiful project to do. You are a very special person to share your talents with the world. My notebook entitled Kaaren is overflowing with your projects. Sending lots of well wishes your way.

Janet said...

It's a beauty but that's what I've come to expect from you. Isn't the power appreciated when it comes back on!

Linda said...

Kaaren what a lovely project. I'm sure there will be a number of lucky recipients out there.Glad that you made it through that awful storm. Do you have a generator. I think it's a must. I have a couple of prim lamps for sale. Thought you might be interested. Drop by if you get a chance.

Colleen said...

Kaaren, this is so pretty. And that red toile is the best! Thank you for sharing!

Chris said...

Good morning Kaaren,
It's so nice to see you posting your FFFs again! This is such a beautiful design.....more than one will probably be opened Christmas morning from here. Thank you...

Phyllis said...

This is just lovely. I will be anxious to start. I have been working on Stitchin Annie and just finished the beautiful pitcher of flowers. Thank you for sharing your designs with us.

Terry said...

Thank you for this Kaaren! It's just beautiful! :0)

Needled Mom said...

Thanks, Kaaren. It really is beautiful and that fabric is perfect for it.

I can't imagine 20 hours without power. It is amazing what we find we cannot do without it. That was a wicked storm.

Darlene said...

Another fabulous design, Kaaren! Thank you so much for sharing your talent.

Loveday's Day said...

Thank you so much. I love your blog. Hope you are feeling well.

Jan said...

It was great seeing this project in "real life" and meeting Kaaren at one of our local little quilt shops this past week. My friend and I were "star struck" to see a few of Kaaren's georgous creations up close and personal. Thanks Kaaren for your designs you share and for being so nice to the "locals" ... LOL.

Joan said...

Kaaren, this is so beautiful and I love the redwork. Thank you for sharing!

Candace said...

How absolutely gorgeous, Kaaren! I may have to start on one right away!
Cheers!

Sandi said...

Hi Kaaren,

Once again something lovely to share with us; thank you so much.

I hope you had a roaring fire and candle light to keep you all cozy during the storm.

the wayside cottage said...

Hi Kaaren...your designs are lovely...so sweet of you to share them with us...while I'm here I should tell you that I have a sister named Kaaren...it's a rather unusual name, my sister has only met one other in her lifetime...

Kate said...

Thank you once again, Kaaren. This is a delightful design!!

Sylke Feldhusen said...

Thank you, it's so lovely!

V A N I A said...

Beautifull ! j love it so much!!!
thank you!

JudyCinNC said...

Thank you dear friend - this is perfect and will be a nice little project to work on in the evenings.
Hope you and yours are feeling well. Judy C in NC

pinsandneedles said...

Kaaren, Thanks for sharing your talent. Just right for the holidays.

Sheila said...

Kaaren, Thanks so much for the FFF. I love anything "Redwork". Have a great weekend; keep warm.

Stitched With Prayer said...

Kaaren, Thank you so very much. It is truly beautiful. I'm finding that Redwork is rapidly becoming one of my favorite types of stitching. Again, thanks so much for sharing your incredible talents and wonderful designs with us. Big Hugs...

edyB said...

Another pretty design ... thank you, Kaaren.
Look at all those goodies you've received! You certanly have a terrific group of friends.

Hope your days are filled with sunny thoughts and hugs.

Gmama Jane said...

Kaaren I do love your patterns but alas the format for downloading them is just too involved and I can never get it to work. The format is not very user friendly or perhaps it's more me than the format. Have others had complaints about the downloading procedures to get to your free patterns? I'm used to just clicking on print. But then, I'm not as tech savvy as I'd like to be. Your pattern is so lovely and I want it very badly. Just can't get it to come to Mama.
Blessings
Gmama Jane

Carrie P. said...

Oh, it is so simple but so beautiful. Thank you for sharing you talents with us.

Patty said...

Very pretty! I'm one of the New Englanders who got hit in the storm, we just got our power back today at 3:19 pm. It was terribly cold and did seem like it went on forever. But I can honestly say that I'm well rested because when your cold and in the dark from about 4:30 you go to bed awfully early. Thanks for the lovely stitchery!

MoeWest said...

Thank you Kaaren. I love redwork designs and this one is perfect for a holiday project.

Merilyn said...

Lovely little stitchery Kaaren, many thanks for sharing it with us!!!

Catherine said...

This project is wonderful for a Christmas gift !!! Many thanks Kaaren !!! Best regards from France

Jenny's Place Online said...

Kaaren, thank you for such a lovely design. I can imagine it as a table runner, too :) Best wishes, and happy crafting, Jenny

vernagrace said...

This looks like your mantle, or one you would have.
It is lovely, and wanted to say thank you for it and all the other beautiful patterns you have provided..
Thank you for sharing your talents.

Colleen G said...

Thank you, Kaaren, you can imagine that with a name like Gander we have quite a few goose-related decorative items, especially on our CHristmas tree. I might be able to work on this in secret and thrill my husband with it in his stocking. Again thanks for sharing your talents.

Sandra Henderson said...

I LOVE This so much! Kaaren, tried emailing ya, in case I forget, do you have a tiny piece of the backing left? Enough to make a little rod pocket? I'd like to buy it.. thanks! XO

Carole said...

It always amazes me, despite the present challenge in your life, you manage to give. You are an amazing soul Kaaren! Thank you! Presently doing a bit of catching up. Seems to be the story of my life as of late! Time for a new story if you ask me! Hugs