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Tuesday, December 23, 2025

It's Coming Together!


My design floor is full!

Or at least it was as I was putting this beauty together.

"Why don't you use a design wall?" comes the question I know I'm going to find in the comments.

I do not have wall space in the studio.  If you've been inside, you'll know why.

And I just find this easier.  When blocks get sewn together, they often don't stick to a design wall without pins.  I don't want to deal with placing and removing pins.

And it's good to bend and stretch and rearrange while I can.

It's when you stop doing it that you lose your ability to keep doing it.

So I keep doing it!

I am always amazed out sewing the blocks together really shrinks things up and makes the pattern more evident.


It's exciting to see blocks meet blocks in the corners!


Accidental fussy cut message.

Be Unique In All The World -


To distribute the weight of a growing quilt top, I tend to piece in two halves, and then join the halves together.  It really helps keep things manageable.


Before I knew it, I was running a "Victory Lap" of stay stitching around the outside edge.


TaDa!!

I could add borders at this point, but it's already nearly 80'' X 80''.

I don't like to go much bigger because it will drag on the floor in the front foyer of the inn if I hang it there.  And not all quilts need to be bedspread dimensions.

Up next:


Remember when I was making the scrappy blue backing for my blue string star called Stardust? (It's releasing next month! Stay tuned!)


I'm planning on doing the same thing with the contents of this pink hunks & chunks bin.  

I need stuff to be used up in a fun way - and I really enjoyed making this backing back in August.

There will be more scrappy backings in the future!

Today, however - I need a huge grocery run as Jason is coming in on Christmas morning, and heaven knows I don't want to be out and doing that on Christmas Eve.

I'll get to the machine if I can - but there are other things in the must do side of things today.

From Wilma:


Isn't this gorgeous!
Good morning Bonnie!

I am 80 years old and don't do any social media.

However, I wanted to share a picture of my 10,000 pieces quilt I made from all scraps. Didn't buy anything but a big backing.

I gifted it to my oldest son.

I made this as leaders and enders while I worked on at least 3 other projects.
I have several more of your projects bookmarked as I have most of your books.
Keep inspiring us with your amazing ideas!

Merry Christmas!

Wilma Louise Reasoner

This is my Perkiomen Daydreams quilt from my book Scraps & Shirttails. The squares finish at 1'', so this quilt is 100'' square!

Beautifully done, Wilma! If only those scraps could talk!


Quiltville Quote of the Day -

For those still baking up a storm - who else has given up on googling for recipes and went back to your favorite old tried and true smudge covered cookbook you've had for decades? 

Or the old box of recipe cards you inherited from grandma in her own handwriting? 

There is something so satisfying turning the pages of a favorite recipe book that does not come from an internet search. 

Two days Before Christmas - what are you baking today? 

 

33 comments:

CatQuilter said...

Making cheese straws this afternoon. It's a tradition my late British husband began years ago. Then a batch of Chex Mix for the adult kids. Merry Christmas!

Anonymous said...

I tried something new this year called Picky Palate's Oreo-Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies. We'll see how much the crew likes them. I'm off to the grocery store today too for one last time before Christmas. Have a merry Christmas with your family.

Diane said...

Baking dog treats today, applesauce oats cinnamon and honey! For my sisters and nieces dogs,
Currently pet less at our house, but dogsit occasionally for these dogs. We baked family recipes for cookies on December 7 and there are not many left. LOL. tried and true, paper recipes. Have a great Holiday, and thanks for your great blog each day.

Peg Lyons said...

Good morning, Bonnie! As I read your morning blog I continue to be amazed at how prolific you are! You are so talented but your willingness to share that talent with all of us is such a blessing. Thank you and wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Tracey Honig said...

Awe... what a fabulous scrappy happy! Both yours & Wilma's!
Today I will probably get the dough going for gingerbread cookies & some chocolate chip ones. Enjoy your visit with Jason & the others! Merry Christmas!! :-)

Nancy j Boisvert said...

Today I made your peanut cluster recipe. This time I added raisins to some of it and caramel bits to some. My grands love it and it's so easy to make! Thank you for your daily articles and of course your free patterns! I'm a scrap quilter so I LOVE your work. Have a wonderful Christmas and thanks for being you. Nancy

Anonymous said...

Today I am making chocolate chip cookies and coconut candy balls which are not baked. You are amazing and so very talented. And thank you for sharing that talent with us. Nancy Angerer

Kept n Stitches said...

Thank you Bonnie for the inspiration. The Crackers and Jam quilt is beautiful. Thanks for your humor too. I've been hitting the recipe box more this year. Today is grocery shop day for me too. We're going early to hopefully beat the crowd. Merry Christmas!

Karen and her dog Zoe said...

Good morning and here's to a very Merry Christmas! I absolutely love your new quilt! It's amazing to me that your initial blocks, when placed with the secondary blocks, to me look like a border to your secondary blocks! I love it, and how it all comes together so beautifully! You are amazing!

Anonymous said...

As we are north waiting on our 2nd great granddaughter to arrive - my husband wanted oatmeal raisin cookies -- I'll be doing those today!! Hopefully the baby is "supposed" to arrive today!! Pam Richards

Doris said...

Bonnie, you never cease to amaze me. You go from a bin of scraps to a finished top in no time! Thank you for sharing your talent with us. As I looked at your top this morning, the song lyrics "chain, chain, chain" ran through my mind. Have a wonderful Christmas with your family, and best wishes for a Happy 2026.

Anonymous said...

Grocery shopping done early this morning. Baking date-filled oatmeal cookies for my husband - a family tradition full of memories for him!

Anonymous said...

Completing the binding on two Christmas quilts for the grandkids. Making the pie shells for two lemon pies and shortbread cookies. Using my grandmothers recipes. Merry Christmas Elaine 🧵🎄🇨🇦

jessieth said...

Baking Julekaka, a family tradition along with lefsa (which I picked up and froze from the church bake sale before Thanksgiving).

Lisa Stack said...

Wilma, your quilt is stunning!! Merry Christmas to all of you!

Anna in IL said...

I am done with my Christmas sewing (I have never said that before!) and may or may not have one more item to make for sharing. It's the richest fudge I've ever made but people have to try it before I tell them what's in it. We'll see if it happens.
Later today I will be making my annual run to drop off baby blankets at one of the local hospitals. I've been doing this for 15 of the past 16 years (missed the Covid year) and this year will be 65 blankets again. I'm happy that 10 of these are actually made by me this year!
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a wish for a healthy New Year for all of us.
Anna in IL

Mary said...

Not taking today. pie must be fresh made for Christmas day. And my Candy Cane Bread cooks while I sleep on Christmas eve. so happy you'll have you boys home. We are invited to our local daughters.home,. can't wait. Today I tackle the DWR beast. Gotta get it at least to a Flimsy. For my Sister.. I want to make a RWB one next year.
Merry Christmas, did you eat all the treats yet? My hubster keeps eating mine. Happy Christmas Eve Eve.

Anonymous said...

Cooking cookies which will end up being Happy New Years cookies by the time my oldest son gets them. Just made my trip to the Store for odds and ends. Amazing how much flour and sugar are needed for multiple double batches of cookies. Making: ginger, double chocolate, blossoms, and sugar with icing, Haystacks. After Thursday I am going to retreat to the sewing room and relax a few days. I am looking forward to #6 this week. Your leader/ender quilts are so much fun! And Kudos to Wilma for such a gorgeous quilt. Hope you have a very Merry Christmas. Brenda J.

Ginny A said...

Crackers & Jam is just so fun. What a great quilt the "kitchen sink" approach can make. Wilma's Perkiomen Dreams is amazing. I am done with baking for this year. Three types of cookies and two types of sweet quick breads made for a good variety in the goodie bags I gave neighbors and friends. Christmas Blessings and a Happy, Healthy New Year to you and yours, Bonnie.

LizzyT said...

As a Englishwoman in the USA I'll be making mince pies this afternoon when I get home from work. As good mincemeat is hard to find (or expensive) here in New Mexico I make my own and each year I seem to convert people to liking them.

Anonymous said...

That quilt is amazing and some child would have a ball picking out all the different fabrics and fussy cuts. I could see it as an "I Spy" quilt. I too use a "design floor," much to the delight of the cats who have their own ideas about block placement and will rearrange for me when they think I've made a design mistake. As far as baking, Christmas is the time for the old tried & true recipes. I have one in German that was a great-grandmother's. Uses ingredients not easily found now though. Why do the cookies the neighbors give me always seem to taste better than mine, though? I make good ones (I've been told), but there's something about cookies that others make that is taste magic. Oh - almost forgot to mention - I was looking at the picture of the flimsy on the longarm and thought, "Gee, she's really getting fancy with a toothed border." Then I realized I was seeing the edge of your floor mat tiles. Duh! Maybe Santa will bring me new reading glasses. Mary J.

KristinMathews said...

Merry Christmas Bonnie!!! Absolutely love this new scrappy Crackers and Jam quilt! You are totally amazing coming up with such creative and exciting designs! I can't imagine HOW you do it all!!!!! Thank you for sharing your joy and energy to inspire all of us! Wishing you a very cozy Christmas filled with love and laughter! Kristin

MaryAnn said...

Love my old Better Homes & Garden cookbook.

Anonymous said...

My Christmas baking consists of several batches of Nuts & Bolts. We love them, and don’t really care about sweets (although I admit I love sweets, but would eat them all!). It seems the less often you bake, the less successful the outcome. Oh, well! Have a wonderful Christmas with your family, Bonnie … and to all the readers of Quiltville!

Shelley from SD said...

I am making Mint Chip cookies which are really small meringue cookies that go in the oven overnight - you heat up the oven, mix up the cookies and turn the oven off when you put the cookies in.

Su said...

Baking gingerbread - recipe is in my 1960's edition Fanny Farmer cookbook.

Anonymous said...

Applecake.It is my hubbies birthday! He would prefer Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, but we have little grandchildren. Greetings from Germany, Elisabeth

Catholic Bibliophagist said...

I love watching the progress of this quilt!

Kathy Rockey said...

My daughter and her boyfriend are attempting real gingerbread houses instead of using graham crackers. The grandkids came over yesterday and we made our standard chocolate chip cookie dough and used Christmas m and m’s instead of chocolate chips.

Renata said...

Today, I am making Swedish Rosettes. I make batches for family, friends, and potlucks. Your quilts inspire me to make scrappy quilts. I am using prints for my neutrals and loving the resulting quilts. I do love your colors in this years leaders and enders. Have a good holiday season.

Anonymous said...

How funny!! I just received a box of my Grandmother's recipes in her handwriting. I also received 4 quilts. One made by my Great-grandmother on my Grandmother's side. Another made by my Great-grandmother on my Grandfather's side. And 2 quilts made by my Grandmother for my mother and me.
Merry Christmas Bonnie! And thank you for all you so!

Lisa in Wisconsin

Anonymous said...

Finished a batch of sausage rolls for a family gathering tomorrow, already have whipped shortbread in my Marks and Spencers biscuit barrel which I've had forever. Sent off a tablerunner and flannel quilt to our oldest son, now working on three Project Linus quilts. Happy Christmas, Penny Kraemer Moncton NB Canada

DeaneK said...

Happy Holidays Bonnie! Love how Crackers and Jam came together. Just did a marathon cookie bake with my middle granddaughter. Some was with printed off patterns but the last I was inspired by this post and got my Fannie Farmer cookbook out for the peanut butter cookies to make the peanut butter blossoms. I also dragged out some wrapping paper and card stock and glue to recover the recipe book because the spine was falling apart. It’s been around awhile.

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