I knew this would be an adventure and I got a live tree just for Mortie to enjoy. Here’s a series of pictures putting up the tree.
I decided to use just the pampas grass and remember those hydrangeas from last summer? No ornaments this year.
Christmas from our online friends:
And a question. I was looking through a quilt block book and saw this and thought it was the worst block I’ve ever seen. Now I’m wondering if it’s somehow a misprint. What do you think?
Send me 3-4 of your favorite Christmas decorating photos – don’t be shy! I’m not the only one who will enjoy them.
Brrr….its really cold. I am thankful for my warm barn.
LOL, I saw a chicken in the Cubic Rose block. Turn the block 1/4 turn clockwise to make the right side the bottom of the block. Center square is the eye, beak on the left, comb and wattle at top of the new block and lower left corner. Voila, Cosmic Chicken!. I guess beauty really is in the eye of the beholder. Not a block that interests me, but it would be fun to see a bouquet of Cubic Roses in a variety of colors or a flock of Cosmic Chickens!
Your tree is lovely, Mary. I love having a real tree, just not finding the needles while barefoot in July! The panel quilts really make a statement, don’t they. So much fun and oh so YOU!
Happy decorating everyone and thanks for the incentive to deck the halls, walls, and windows! I’ll look forward to seeing more holiday vignettes. Things will be simple at my house this year. I’ll put the 3-foot tree I used to take to the library on my big wooden box in the middle of the living room window and just put lights and icicles on it. OK, maybe a few snowflakes. From the outside it will look like a middle size tree! A few favorite pieces in the kitchen and living room, a runner on the LR dresser with a big bowl of ornaments and candlesticks and I’m done. All I’ll need are some sugar cookies and cocoa! Yum.
Take care and enjoy your holidays! Kris in WI
I love your Christmas tree and all of your quilts—beautiful! And of course Mortie is adorable, as usual!
I found a picture of Cubist Rose on Pinterest. I don’t seem to be able to save it to my photos from there but sent you an email with the link. Nancy Cabot was the pen name of Loretta Leitner, who was the needlework editor of the Chicago Tribune in the 30’s. Most big newspapers had a needlework columnist, most of whom wrote under a pseudonym. Weekly quilt block patterns published in the newspaper were a thing beginning in the 1920’s and some newspapers continued the practice through the 1960’s. According to an article I found from the Quilt Index, oriental and “exotic” patterns were popular and Nancy Cabot promoted them and anything considered “modern”. Picasso was painting in the Cubist style at the time which was no doubt her inspiration. The block isn’t particularly attractive but I would be curious to see what several set together would look like.
Sue – as I just stumbled across this block I had no idea of the history behind it. For me personally, I would not waste my time making even one block – but then I don’t care for Picasso’s work either.
Morties natural tree is just beautiful just like her. All of your Christmas decorations make your home so warm & inviting. I love seeing pictures of Three because he looks so much like my late cat Sonny Boy.
Des – was Sonny Boy huge like Three?
Love your tree…I’m partial to the natural elements when decorating! Merry 1st Christmas to Mortie!
Mary, your home looks so inviting . I really love all the red/white quilts that you have displayed throughout your rooms.
Morty is a great little kitten to enjoy. She has that sweet little expression on her face, but I bet she could be a little mischief maker!
Dear Mary your tree and beautiful wall hangings, especially the red truck ones, are beautiful! Of course, miss Mortie takes the show! Love her!
It’s a cold day, but sunny!
We did a banging around day today or some would call it a road trip. Had lunch out! It was great! 💕
Keep warm!
Mortie’s tree is beautiful and being a typical cat, she’s being playful and curious. Don’t be surprised if Mortie ends up sitting on a branch inside the tree batting at the pampas grass.
Your panel quilts are beautiful. I’ve done quite a few also but using the attic window pattern.
Looking forward to seeing everyone’s Christmas decorations.
Wow. The Christmas tree vignette is a gift that keeps on giving. I have not seen such a beautiful, original idea. What a perfect combination. Greenery and grass.
Love your tree – so pretty and natural!
Great photos too – off to work on my own decor. I’m staying in today to get things done – a good excuse to avoid the chill outside! 🙂
Cubist Rose == hope I never see that one again. I suppose when done looks like rose but I can’t stand looking at it on paper! HA HA
Love your tree Mary. So unique. And the others were lovely too. Enjoyed the quilts too.
I need to finish shoveling my deck and a million other things I need to do today. I need to be in the sewing room. Not much accomplished yesterday but I enjoyed my friends being here.
I absolutely love your tree! Snow is rare in middle Georgia so I may have to add a tree like yours to my patio. I’m sure Mortie is going to enjoy your tree.
A beautiful tree, Mary!
Mortie is so cute!
Mortie is just so cute! Your house is beautiful!
All the Christmas decorations and quilts are lovely! My grandmother gave me, my sister and brothers Santa mugs when we were small. I still have mine. I’ve seen a lot of those mugs, now vintage, in a lot of Christmas decoration pictures.
I love Marie C’s steer quilt. I have that pattern and 2 other Laura Heine patterns but haven’t made any yet. I noticed others have commented on the pattern or have the pattern. I need to find a good collage video to get started.
Sheryl – I tried the tomato pincushion and failed – hope you have better luck.
I have the sewing machine, steer and a pickup truck. I noticed Marie C replied to someone so I’ll scroll to read.
Sheryl, I’m working on Laura Heine’s jellyfish collage (the small one). I have to say, I’m not really enjoying the process … what a mess it makes! However, I’m getting there, and I’ll keep going until I finish the top. I need this mess cleaned up before Christmas! Not sure if I’ll quilt and finish it. Oh, well! I hope you enjoy making yours. “Abeline” the cow uses a different technique, since it’s all done in strips. That might be easier!
I wasn’t familiar with the jellyfish so I Googled. WOW! That looks amazing. I hope you finish and send us a picture.
Lovely tree. One of my favorite looks, nature decoration on a Christmas tree. Mortie is as cute as can be. All your Christmas panels brighten up your walls. The snow is getting me in the mood.
Love your tree and Mortie!
That snowy backyard photo could be my yard too! Bitter cold now. Take care everyone. 🌻
Your all natural Christmas tree is a winner! And it complements your wall-hanging perfectly. Enjoyed all the Christmas photo. Had an epic and crazy Thanksgiving here – 13 people, some staying here and surprise guests from Holland! Slowly getting Christmas decor up. We have lots of snow and below freezing temps continuing for another week at least. Hope everyone has a great day!
Love, love, love your Christmas tree!
Mortie is just the cutest! Wish we could get a kitty, but allergies aren’t going to let that happen. Hope your Thanksgiving was great!
Love seeing all of the Christmas quilts and decorations. The Christmas panels make for beautiful decor. Mortie is just the sweetest. We got 7 inches of snow here in Southern New Hampshire yesterday and through the night. Everything looks so pretty this morning.
Mary your tree is spectacular! The best. Todays post puts me in the Christmas spirit. Going to bake some biscotti. The cow quilt is one I’ve wanted to make for years but I do not know that technique. She’s special!’
Hi Mary, Morty is so spoiled! Her own Christmas 🎄 tree! Love the hydrangeas and pampas grass decorations, when my sons cats were kittens it would take them 8 seconds to knock down the tree!Nice to see Three, certainly well feed!l must put out my little trees soon, not much room for a big tree here. Take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy
I LOVE your tree! And I have always loved the nativity quilt.
The “cubist” rose looks right if you like that style. The instructions say to break it down into 12 3″ squares. I think it should be 16 squares.
I agree. I counted the squares and saw there were 16. And to “break down” the squares isn’t a helpful direction at all. I am neither that creative nor math oriented. Laugh.
Vicki – evidently I am neither – creative or math oriented – because this block does not interest me in the least.
Love the Christmas pictures. So many of you have your trees done and I’m just getting started.
I love the sweater pillow! I have a sweater that I just can’t bear to toss but it has a hole and is way to tight to wear. I think it will become a pillow. Thanks for the idea.
Brenda – this sweater got too tight as well but I still loved it!
Your tree is beautiful. The picture of Mortie reminds me of the look on the faces of my grandchildren when they were small. The Cubist Rose is an interesting pattern. I would love to see the secondary patterns that appear when multiple blocks are put together. I might draw it up in EQ and plug it into a layout just to see what happens.
Janet – and then you’ll show us, right?
I love your natural tree and I think Mortie was just sent to be your little buddy. I am decorating slowly. We had 14 inches of snow! I like snow but not bitter cold. Snow just makes the world look peaceful, and Lord knows, we need that.
Beautiful tree!!!
Such fun and so beautiful! What a warm Christmas feeling. Thanks so much.
Love Mortie’s tree. It is beautiful with just the hydrangeas and pampas grass. I really expected a picture with Mortie peeking out from among the branches, has he tried that yet? You don’t need a Christmas gift from Rick this year, it arrived early as an adorable small little kitten named Mortie. The price was right too, wasn’t it?
Admired all your framed Christmas panels that adorn your walls, and all the reader’s Christmas trees photos.
I just may take your suggestion Mary and start a new project on New Years Day. Actually, I have a pattern for a Christmas tree that was designed by Edyta Sitar. It might get done by Christmas 2026. lol
Jeanne in Co. .
Mary, your home is so inviting. Your decorations and quilts are stunning. Marie C.,thanks for sharing your
cow collage quilt. It is Fabulous! I would say it definitely is worth all the time you spent making it.
Love all the pictures. Marie C is the bull quilt hard ?
I have pattern and plan on being a winter project.
The bull quilt wasn’t hard, just time consuming. It took me a couple of months. Just use the fusible product they suggest you use. It’s fun as long as you know it’s not a weekend project. Don’t get discouraged if at points it gets messy looking. I built mine on a design wall and most of the time I had more discarded pieces on the side of the cow than on the design. I’ll see if I can find some in progress pics to send Mary. Maybe she can put them up for you to see
Marie – yes, I will post your work tonight! Much interest!
Kay, totally forgot to tell you in my last reply to your question about the bull quilt. Use the camera on your cell phone as a tool. For some reason you can see color mistakes easier on a phone photo than by looking at your project in person .Also try the black and white option. I use my phone on all of my quilt projects.
Beautiful Christmas decorations, and Mortie is so adorable–those eyes!! Love the live tree with hydrangeas and pampas grass. Three is a beauty, too. We got several inches of snow last night. So thankful for our truck and snowplow. Only a small area to have to hand shovel, and husband is a sweetie to do that while I hibernate.
I wonder if the idea of the block is the secondary pattern multiples would create? I’m not going to do graph paper to find out!
Love your tree!!
That is a cubist art block. Think Pablo Picasso. The pattern isn’t a misprint or mistake.
Julie – boy, my brain can’t think like that – thank you so much for this explanation!
Mary , I agree with you my brain looks at it and sees yuck!
I agree, Julie. It’s just that style of art. A modern style of a quilt block and with the right fabric might be interesting.
OMG, Mary, that Mortie is just the impossibly cutest and photogenic little thing!!! I think she has to be your spirit animal!
I agree the Cubist Rose block is uuugggggly! I don’t know if there’s a mistake in it; it seems mostly symetrical. Maybe it needs a specific coloring to resemble a rose? The dark pieces could be the green calyx and the lighter pieces the rose petals. Still not one I even want to experiment with!
Mary Says – I’m not going to waste my time on that block either. Ok – I think she’ll be my spirit animal from now on. She’s very entertaining!!!
Really great pictures. Love the house behind three. I think the old quilt block was meant to be that way. It’s name, cubist rose, gives you a hint. Cubism art is odd looking to me
Lots of disjointed figures. Maybe someone was trying to copy the idea.
Marie C – that just proves I know nothing about art! Not that I’ve ever said I did.
I’m with you Mary, I guess I am not an artist with that cubist block. I need more symmetry or something?
LOVE your tree! I used hydrangeas once, but on an artificial tree. I loved it but not the cleanup. Using a live tree would make cleanup easier – you don’t have to pick out all the pieces. Mortie is just the cutest darling! And so photogenic. I enjoy all the Christmas photos. I have some to share that I will send you. I wasn’t going to decorate this year since we’re going to our kids for Christmas. I had Thanksgiving here this year and my 93 yr old Mom shamed me into taking down my Easter decor and helped put up Christmas/winter decor !😉
Karla T that’s so funny that you had Easter decorations up! I haven’t done any Christmas decorations yet. Hopefully we will this week. I love Mary’s tree and thought I would do something similar but another commenter pointed out the mess at clean up time. Not bad with a real tree but ours is artificial… Jan in MA
Karla – I’ll take the tree outside and set it up for the birds to hunker down in until spring. A mess but I don’t have any carpeting so not really an issue.