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My first set, they are 6.5 I may re-do the dark blue, but I really like that fabric, but might find something else that does stand out better. I think I will do some angels, or reindeer, humm so many choices!

Here's my first set of blocks! Sorry the pictures aren't so good. I'm not sure why they kept coming out so dark. The gift fabric has gold accents and the ribbon is metallic gold.

I love the packages, they are really cute.

Question: We are to make any type/style of block in holiday theme, Christmas, Fall, Winter? Just need to know before I sign up on what you mean by holidays.
Thanks
Diane

I am making bells today with Embroidery machine, need to take break headache Again! will post after a nap. blocks are 6.5.

I am thinking of doing all embroidery instead of half Applique. It is easier for me (the machine does most of the work) and I have so many Christmas designs.

Would that be ok?

Hope I have the time for another project. Would like to join this one. If I get the chance to join how does everyone feel about Santa. I love him and collect him. Have been collecting Santas since I was about 15 and would love to have a quilt with Santa on it. Of course any xmas is better than no xmas.LOL

I love these blocks, but do agree with the others that the dark blue doesnt allow Mr. Frosty to standout as much as the others. Very pretty otherwise and inspiring. Oh I hope I can get the time to join this one.

rwquilts, I'm in just trying to get to sewing them. They are cut out, well 5 sets, but need to sew. Have sent a pm and will let you know for sure how many asap. All of mine will be Xmas.

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my second set is done Christmas bells they are 6.5 inches
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My Reindeer I have 3 finished but I have a question for you; Right now they are 6.5 I think adding a border to bring them up to 9.5 would be really cute, do you want me to add it or would you all prefer to add your own fabric if you want to make it bigger? I have lots of Christmas scraps and can easily add a border, so let me know what you want and I will go with the majority!

Next set will be Angels!

I vote to add borders maryt, I so envy your embroidery. It is stunning!

Mary, your blocks look great! I love getting embroidery blocks! I also vote for borders. The more variety of holiday prints the better, I say! This is gonna be such a fun quilt!

Here's my next set of blocks. Well the first one anyway!!! This one measures 9.5 square. I forgot to add that the last set was 6.5 square.

Oh, I love the Candy canes, they are really cute, I love how you set them on point. i might do that with the Angels, they really look good set that way.

Thank you all so much for the compliments but I really owe it to my machine, she is a perfect lady! I name all my machines and when I first got this one I named her Greta, she is Swedish, I think Greta is a Swedish name LOL. I name everything, my husband thinks I am a bit odd but now he understands me a little better. He knows thier names so he knows which machine I am talking about.

OK gotta go. My time on computer is now limited to 1/2 hours and I think I went over that!

Terrific blocks ladies!! :)

I have one set to go! I changed my mind again! I have these really cool old Santas that I think are reproductions of the 1800's but were made in the 1970's I got them to make little dolls for my kids when they were young, might have been late 70's or early 80's since my daughter was born in 79... LOL my brain is mush... Any way I took the Santa's and Appliqued them onto blocks, they are so cute and I have 6 of them so the extra one is for our wonderful Hostess.

And I have my angels done. So tomorrow I finish the last set and put them in the mail!

I promised my Hubby/coach that I would not do any more swaps until after the run (Nov 4th) So I will be around a little but my computer time is 1/2 hour. I did that myself so that I will have the time I need to get ready for our fall shows and get my marathon training in! It is the typical me thing over doing Everything!

But I really wanted to do this swap. I will check back often, but quick! Tomorrow I will leave some more pictures.

Thanks to everyone for all the kind words,

Marybeth

Train well Marybeth.

Can't wait to see the angels and the santas Marybeth! I haven't decided on all my sets yet but after the candy canes are done I'm going to do a stitched snowflake and go from there. Hey Marybeth, maybe if you picture your squishie with all your swapped blocks waiting for you at the end of the race it will motivate you!! hehe

The first ones are the reindeer with the frame, they are now 9.5
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The Santa's are 12.5 I think they are so cute!
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And the Angels are 6.5 Only one set to go! what shall I make:p
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Marybeth, those are all so cute! I can't believe you got so many finished already!

Ronda, I love the angel. She's a cutie!

I have got to learn to use my embroidery machine, guess I need to quit sewing all these and take the time to go thru the book page by page and see what it looks like. Question for all those that do this all the time, while learning can I just use regular cotton thread or does it have to be the other just for embroidery. Would like to see if I can make it work before I go and spend $ on thread sets. Help me on this please and what kind of thread to most of you use??
Here's the blocks that I got done for this, just need to get them packaged and on their way.[ATTACH=CONFIG]364646[/ATTACH]9 1/2" x 12 1/2"
[ATTACH=CONFIG]364647[/ATTACH]9 1/2" x 9 1/2"
[ATTACH=CONFIG]364648[/ATTACH]9 1/2" x 9 1/2"
[ATTACH=CONFIG]364650[/ATTACH]9 1/2" x 9 1/2"
[ATTACH=CONFIG]364651[/ATTACH]9 1/2" x 9 1/2"
[ATTACH=CONFIG]364652[/ATTACH]12 1/2" x 12 1/2" And this is the end of christmas fabric that I had. Hope these will be okay with all of you.

Jaba, they are so cute, I love them. And as far as thread goes, I get my thread on Thread art, right now they are having a special if you buy more than 20 you get them for $1.00, if not they are $1.95. I love the thread I get from them, it is a lot cheaper than the thread I get at the store, and at that price I can afford a lot of colors. Some one else told me their machine does not like it, but mine is fine with it. But you have to use stabilizer, and that is where it gets a little crazy expensive. But if you use the Dryer sheets of fabric softener AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN USED.... Very important to make sure they get all the fabric softener out of the sheet, for our dryer it is about two uses. We put two in each load of laundry one brand new one and one used one. I use them with a lighter weight stabilizer, or maybe 3 dryer sheets. Press them with a iron set to synthetic. It works great and really saves a lot of money. Hubby goes to the Laundry mat down the street about every other day to collect them too! If I use a big hoop I have to sew two together.

If you have any questions let me know maybe I can help. There is a thread on here about embroidery machines, I found it once but have not been able to get back there. My machine is a Viking Limited Edition, I bought it in 2007 and really just started using the embroidery part the last 3 months, the more I learn the better I get at making the blocks.

HOLY COW Jaba! All your sets done already?! They are all so great. I really love those Santa and snowmen fussy cut blocks. Oh, I am getting VERY excited to swap.

Marybeth, I sure know who I will turn to when I finally purchase an Embroidery machine!!

craft phanatic thanks so much. been making xmas quilts with those and you have to fussy cut so you get like 3 extra from every panel that is too narrow. Decided this was a good place to use them. Think I'm excessive over these swaps, once I sign up, gotta' get 'em done and sent or I'd probably forget about them and not meet the deadline. Then they roll in and I go "oh - - - -!!!" forgot about those. At least I always have a project to do:thumbup:

I am just checking to make sure I have the rules correct, can I send the blocks to you now Rhonda? I am done and want to send them off before the get buried in my mess!

I am so tired, time to shut the machine down, don't want to make any mistakes! If it is ok to send they will be in the mail tomorrow.

Ronda - I'm very new to the Quilting Board and am "finding my way" around, and just found your "Winter/Holidays, Holidays Block Swap". Sure would like to join in the fun! I feel I can do 2 sets of 5 blocks. Thanks.