This post is inspired by Julie at Julie's Quilts and Costumes. Her Throwback Thursday post for today features a gorgeous Log Cabin quilt with alternate blocks featuring Santa figures. Julie made her quilt for her husband, who has a large collection of Santa figures and memorabilia.
As it happens, my Dear Husband also collects Santa figures. His birthday is in December, Christmas is his favorite holiday, and somehow the collection started and grew and grew. When I saw a quilt kit using the Santa panel in 2006, I knew I had to make the quilt for my husband. The quilt kit was on offer at Bright Hopes Quilting - a favorite stop when I traveled across Lake Pontchartrain to visit friends.
The Santa blocks are arranged to form a wreath with a center star. I liked the simple, but effective arrangement and I knew I could finish the piecing quickly (although not in time for Christmas that year).
The Santa panels were framed in a purple metallic print.
I sent the finished top to my friend Annie Kusilek for quilting. The main quilting theme is snowflakes, but there are swirls and holly and stipple quilting as well.
Annie does all her FMQ on a treadle sewing machine. Yes - you can do amazing FMQ using an antique or vintage machine and people-power!
I didn't really notice this until I was taking pictures at lunchtime, but the center red star is reflected again in the center gold "star".
And now the quilt is hung on display for the Christmas season; if only the rest of my holiday decorating was so easy!
