"Buttons and patches and the cold wind blowing,
The days pass quickly when I am sewing"
~Author Unknown

Thursday, July 7, 2011

'Christmas in July' part one

There are two evenings that my quilt group really look forward to. One is our December Christmas party and the other is 'Christmas in July'. Last night, the ladies arrived with gifts and food in hand ready for laughter and a touch of Christmas in summer.

I had asked them to save me jam jars from a certain brand for a recipe I was going to use for the dessert for this evenings buffet. They did such a good job saving the jars that I had more than double what I needed. What does one do with all those jam jars? Why start stitching of course! I made ort jars out of them...

...with their initial using a vintage Sajou alphabet. I just love playing elf! *grins*

We exchange gifts at these evenings. I gave them all a bandana and the challenge to make something from them. I was looking forward to seeing the ideas they came up with but more about that in my next post. Here is my gift wrapped up in bandana wrapping paper ready to give away. Want to peek inside???

I kept the bandana whole and created a casserole carrier. I simply sewed backing and batting together with the bandana and then machine quilted it. I needed it to be strongly stitched so it can be tossed in the washing machine over and over.

Dutch gabled houses on ribbon were used for the handles.

I found a really pretty white casserole dish to add to the gift. After all a girl can never have too many casserole dishes, can she?

In the next post, I am creating a slide show of the fun. I will also be showing you more of the wonderful creative gifts that were made. Hope you come back again for more.....

22 comments:

Dani - tkdchick said...

OMG how creative you are and the jam jar ort jars are fantastic and beautifully personalized!

Catherine said...

What fun! Love the jars and the carrier!!

Nancy said...

I cannot wait to see the gifts they all made. Yours is wonderful and useful also.
The jars are great and you did a really nice job on the initials. I bet the ladies are still talking about the party and the fun they had.
I'm so glad my Christmas in July card and little gift came on just the right day too.
Love you, Mom

Heidi said...

It's always fun to see what you all do next when you get together! The jars are beautiful, and the wrap is pretty and functional, a great idea. Looking forward to part 2!

Elizabethd said...

What lovely ideas you have Heidi!

Willy said...

Ik kan me voorstellen dat je je verheugt op deze avond.
Het ziet er erg leuk uit. Ik ben ook benieuwd wat er verder gemaakt is.
Groetjes

Susan in SC said...

The ort jars are just lovely! I know everyone was delighted! What a clever girl you are with the casserole carrier out of your bandana!

Saskia said...

O Miss Pickles, we had a blast!!!
If I have the time this evening I will make a slide show. Such a great evening, and lots of great things one can make from a bandanna.
Knuffels

Teresa said...

What a wonderful gift you made, would love for you to show us how to make one. Can't wait to see the rest.
Teresa's Heartfelt Stitches

Kathy Ellen said...

Heidi, you are truly an incredibly gifted gal! What beautiful quilted casserole carriers, and I just love the little jars with your lovely stitched initials on them. Your stitching companions are going to be speechless when they open your gift!

Jackie's Stitches said...

You're so creative! LOVE the jars (what does the paper inside them say) and the casserole carrier is great too. The ribbon you used was perfect. I'm sure you had a great time!

Deborah said...

Great jars. You have the best ideas. I think that I will steal the jar idea.

DonnaTN said...

You used your make do attitude on the extra jam jars to great advantage. I may steal that idea! The casserole carrier is so pretty and colorful. You're right; a girl can never have too many casserole dishes!

Ginny said...

How fun! I love the ort jars.

Christine said...

I love reading about your Christmas in July events, they always sound so much fun, and you are so creative.
Love the casserole holder, I'm pretty sure there are some old bandanas upstairs...

Anonymous said...

Oh Heidi what a fun evening you must have had, I love the jars and if it is okay I might do them for my ladies at the little group I go to. Look forward to seeing more photos.

Hope you and Jos are well.
Love Hazel C (UK)

Denise said...

I love the jam jar idea! Would you share with us the name of the jam company as well as which Sajou alphabet that you used??
The casserole cover is amazing -
how clever and also, how talented!

Anonymous said...

You have the most wonderful ideas. I can't wait to see the slide show.

Hazel said...

Those ort jars are fab!! Why oh why did I throw my jam jars away??? Lovely gifts. So exciting. I have started thinking of Christmas stitching too. Better start early methinks. x

Anonymous said...

Heidi,het was een "Superavond" wat is iedereen toch creatief.
Dit alles komt bovendrijven nadat jij weer een nieuw idee hebt bedacht, over creatief gesproken!!!
Het eten was ook superlekker en ik heb nooit eerder een toetje uit een jampot gegeten,erg lekker en een jampotje als afvalbakje bevalt mij ook prima.
Het was allemaal zeer geslaagd, bedankt.
Liefs en een dikke hugh, Bep.

Lynn said...

These jar lids with the initials are awesome, Heidi! What a super scrap craft project. I have been stitching lots of jar lid covers lately -- I think I may have to do a post on crafts soon. I try to keep my blog about recipes, but maybe I can justify posting about jar lids and table runners. They go in the kitchen, right? :)

Carolien said...

Oh, it all looks so good and cosy!!! I hope you all had a splendid time but I bet you did.
You don't want to know what we were doing at that time. One hint: a not-working-car, sitting in a very warm garage in the middle of nowhere, waiting for the ANWB calling ... which they didn't ... oh I stop because I feel tired again when thinking of it.
Anyway, have a great week!
Hugs, Carolien