Little Trees Pattern

This quilt finishes 24" x 24"

Perhaps you have seen this little Christmas quilt making the rounds again this year. Its popularity seems to grow more each year. It used to be a free pattern on my website, which is now closed, but people keep asking for it, 
so due to many requests, I am reprinting it here. 
Feel free to cut and paste to make a hard copy.
Click each photo to isolate for printing.

Merry Christmas one and all!

Marcie Patch

Photo Flood

Since this is such a busy time of year I am going to flood you with photos rather than lots of chatter. These are the little wool ornaments that I made for my grandchildren this year. Little penguins. If you read my post from a few weeks ago you will notice that they go with the penguin gift theme. I am pleased to say that my grandkids look forward to their ornaments each year and love looking back through their collections from over the years. That is what makes it worth it to me!

Below is a photo from Thanksgiving of me with three of the little darlings. August and Katie on top and Grey on the bottom getting a little tickle of encouragement to smile.

 And the tree! We all love our own tree, filled with love and memories from years gone by and usually something new as well. My Williamsburg Medallion Quilt is the backdrop.

 I found the perfect spot for my little red hexagon table topper. My little rocking horses and reindeer are playing merry-go-round on the pedestal plate. That is my Wintergreen pattern in the background--still available on my website!

 If you have been reading my blog for a long while you may remember this little cute tree quilt. I designed the pattern and have the instructions for FREE on my website. This version is smaller than the directions specify. I made so many of these for gifts! And so did many of you! If this design is new to you be sure and see the gallery.

Lastly, I want to share my Tone it Down quilt from last winter's American Patchwork and Quilting magazine. If you are on Instagram, go to #apqquiltalong and you can see lots of variations, including the original by Lissa Alexander, commonly know as the very talented ModaLissa. Right-she designs for Moda Fabrics!  Anyway, I love mine! The pattern is actually called Burgoyne Surrounded, a very old pattern after a Revolutionary War general. Lissa updated the pattern in a beautiful way! (I know--if you follow all these links you will be here all night!)

 I hope you are enjoying this wonderful season of hope and love!

A GIFT OF THE HEART

 

 I am always pleased when someone makes one of my patterns and sends me a picture! Some of you will remember this design from last Christmas, it is called Christmas Punch. Wendy Coomer from Cache Creek. BC, Canada made this quilt. Here is what she told me:

  A good friend of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer before Christmas. Every day is Christmas to her, she loves Christmas so much, so when I saw this pattern, I had to make it for her. 

I made 15 inch squares and the finished quilt ended up being 45 x 70 inches - just a nice size to snuggle in. I'll be giving it to her this week.

 Thanks Wendy for sharing your quilt with me and giving me a chance to share it with others!

P.S.: This free pattern is available at www.patchalotpatterns.com

CHRISTMAS PUNCH

The Christmas holidays are fast approaching, and now we are all beginning to panic over all the things we still need to do. Maybe it is already too late for you to make this darling little Christmas quilt. However, if you are looking for an idea for a nice little gift for a special friend, try a little Christmas Punch! That is the name of this sweet little quilt that measures 22-1/2 inches square. The link to the free directions is at the top of my sidebar.

This pretty blue and white version was made by Dot at Rantala Rags. Dot has made one of my little Christmas designs each year for the past three years.

This little cutie was made by Karen from Sew Primitive. Karen has plenty of her own design creations to work on, so I was pleased when she made one of mine! Love it!

Elaine Adair took this design to a new level. She made a bigger block and set it on point for a totally different look. She is making hers for Quilts of Valor. What a wonderful quilt with a wonderful purpose!

This little quilt was made by Janet at Mrs. Sew 'n Sew. It is from last year's design, which can be found at the same link on my sidebar. I was pleased to see this on her blog the other day! She is finishing this one up from last year. Nice job Janet!

Are there any others out there that I have missed? I hope you will let me know if you have a Patchalot Christmas quilt in progress so I can share a link to your blog. Maybe these nice quilts will inspire you to make one as well.

SOMETHING BLUE

Thanks to Dot at Rantala Rags I have something to show and tell today. Dot is the first one to send me a pic of her completed Christmas Punch quilt. As you can see, Dot opted to change the colors, and doesn't it look great?!

My EQ6 project folder is over flowing with ideas and never enough time to complete them all. I am currently working on something strippy. Maybe by the end of the week I will have a picture to share.

Last Thursday and again this Thursday I am teaching a lovely class for Indian Paintbrush. I enjoy making new friends, and especially when they are making one of my patterns! Ha! Plus it is fun to see what fresh eyes and a different interpretation does to a pattern. One of the gals mentioned that she is doing a BOM where they send you a few fabrics, but with a black and white photo so you have to depend on your own imagination to create each block coloring. I like this idea of stretching your own vision. Sometimes we depend too much on the interpretaion of others.

But not Dot! She did it her way! Thanks for sharing with us Dot!

FREE CHRISTMAS PATTERN

Computers make me crazy. I can't prove that is what did it, but it is just my guess. So here is the deal, I usually work on a PC desktop. But my husband has an Apple Laptop. I actually prefer working on my own PC, never mind what the commercials on TV say. But that is another story. What I want to explain is that while looking at my blog on my husband's MAC I clicked on the free quilt image on my sidebar. It links to my website. Well my whole website shows up as a goofy mess on the MAC. I can't explain it, but it is just awful. If you have a MAC and find my website to be a mess (or any other computer) I just don't have any advice. I think it displays better on Internet Explorer. But who really knows.

So far no one has complained that they are having problems. However, if you are trying to read the directions for the free quilt pattern and are unable, and if you want to make the pattern, please e-mail me and I will e-mail the directions to you. It shouldn't be this difficult. Honestly.

Thank you for all your kind words about the pattern. I am glad you like it!

YOU MAKE ME SMILE

Yes, you make me smile! I can't tell you how many times I sit here all alone at my computer and read your comments and laugh out loud. Or I read your blogs with a big grin on my face! When my husband and I moved to Virginia nine years ago I didn't know anyone. I was barely literate on the computer. We had never had the Internet before, and so I began looking around for quilt stuff. I managed to find some quilt blogs that were great fun, and so I began winding my way into Blogland. To my great joy, I found a whole new way to interact with quilters. I found a format for sharing my projects, and I found inspiration through other quilt bloggers. I found quilt bloggers to be open and unafraid, generous with their comments, and helpful to me as I struggled to learn new computer skills. In short, I found new friends! Most of you I will probably never meet face to face, but I do enjoy dropping in for the occasional visit. There are so many bloggers out there now that I don't know everyone, and can't always keep everyone straight. I recently found myself making a comment on a blog and as I scanned thru the other comments I found that I had already been there and done that. Haha! That made me smile too!

So my friends, as this year has literally flown by, I once again offer up my little token of friendship in the form of a free Christmas pattern. It is a simple little design that I hope you will find attractive and maybe you will have a chance to make it this year. In light of all that is going on in our family, I put forth my best effort to get this out early this year. You can find the link to the free pattern by going to my website at PatchalotPatterns.com. Free patterns from years past are there as well. Feel free to share this picture and the link to my website and blog.
If you are in this area you might join me at What's Your Stitch 'N Stuff where I am doing this as a class on November 3rd.

Best Wishes and Happy Stitches!

FUNNY BONES

Guess what got pulled out of my daughter-in-laws Christmas box? I bet some of you will remember this pattern. It says on the back that I made it in 1988! I was not yet into quilting, but always loved working with fabric. Looking at this now, it makes me laugh, but it is still a cute design. No quilting on this at all. I just machine appliqued right through the sandwich. I have to say, I feel better about what I am doing now! LOL! Don't know how these photos are turning out on this computer.
Arizona is not as sunny as usual! In fact it has pretty much rained the whole time we have been here. When the sun comes out the air is cool. but we are glad to be here and enjoy the family, etc. I looked out the window this morning and noticed this grapefruit tree, and I swear one of the grapefruit was smiling! Can you see it? Ha ha! (Yup, I did it)!

We had a lovely Christmas and now it is over and we can relax! Today is our 41st wedding anniversary! We are not into big celebrations, but every year is a milestone, and I am grateful to have had a good and loyal companion for all these years. And he is funny too! To me, that is priceless!

CHRISTMAS STITCHES

I stopped in at the LQS the other day, namely What's Your Stitch 'N Stuff. The shop is looking so good and decked out with all things Christmas. I asked if I could take some photos for my blog. I always love visiting quilt shops around the country via quilt blogs, so I thought I would share with you what my favorite shop looks like right now.

Pattern above: Christmas Sampler by Country Faces

They have projects and kits galore! I just had to buy that book from Primitive Gatherings with that wonderful sampler in it. And these stockings are the absolute cutest! They have patterns for six of them (from Under the Garden Moon) and they were all hanging off the fireplace mantle. There is no actual fireplace, but a year or so ago they brought in a mantle and it is always fun to see how it gets decorated. Now take a look at that Advent Santa! All wool of course!

That is it for now. Wishing you all a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving!

MY QUILTING PORCH

This pretty little quilt comes to us from Eileen at My Quilting Porch. Actually, that is HER quilting porch, lest you become confused. Using only nine blocks, Eileen made this darling Sparkler, adding a border of trumpeting angels! Eileen makes wonderful quilts and her blog is full of those that she has made in the past, as well as her current work. She also does beautiful hand quilting. Such a talent! Thanks for participating in our Christmas Sparkler Extravaganza!

MORE SPARKLERS

Two more Christmas Sparklers have shown up in Blogland! (Are there any others I don't know about?) The one above was made by Dot at Rantala Rags. Check out the fabric Dot chose by clicking on the picture. It is always a delight to see what people decide to use. In this case Dot surprised me by using red and blue bandana prints! Does Dot have a certain cowboy in mind? I don't know, but this does not scream Christmas to me. Nor does it have to. The design is good for other seasons and events...like maybe a picnic! Thanks for sharing Dot. It's a winner!

Next we have a quilt with a bit more of a Christmas flair. Karen Diane, the Sparkler of LeeHaven, created this version. Karen likes those dark, rich colors that make the stars pop!

Be sure and check out the Sparkler Gallery and you can see all of the photos that have been sent to me. It is really fun to see the variety. Now I am waiting to see YOURS!

LEAD BALLOON

Apparently my idea of a continuing story has gone over like the proverbial LEAD BALLOON! But, as I am not able to let go of this idea, I decided to add another verse myself. Heck, maybe I will write my own silly continuing story. Feel free to jump in at any time... You are all being much too shy.
This is where we last left off:

Far away, on a warm, tropical island, King William lay with his head in the lap of a long-haired, dark eyed beauty. What need had he of quilts in this perfect temperature? He found himself thinking less and less of the Royal Hearth, the kingdom he'd left behind, or the Queen of Quilts. Was it an enchantment? (Added by Susan-Desert Sky Quilting)

But alas, no, for he was already growing weary of the fair maiden. Beautiful to look at, lovely to touch, but other than that, she was really not much. Pushing his disappointment aside, the king rose and wandered further down the beach. Still searching for something, but what it was, he knew not. (added by mp)

Back to reality, I find that it is one month until I leave for Arizona for Christmas! EEEK! I have little ornies to make for my grandchildren, a gift for the LQS Christmas party exchange, Sparkler quilts for my daughters. Oh me, oh my! I have been working on a few things, however. Take a look at these cute little gingerbread men from Primitive Stitches! I just couldn't resist ordering the pattern and stitching up a little "bread cloth". There are so many darling things on that site! You will love it!

Christmas Sparklers are still in the works at my house. Everyone who has made this little quilt has found it to be fun and easy! Claire from Newport News, VA made this one. Claire added another blue to hers and don't the stars and snowballs just pop! Claire does not (yet) have a blog, but Claire, feel free to leave a comment any time! And thanks for sharing your quilt with us! All the quilt pictures that I have received thus far are on my website in the Sparkler Gallery.

SPARKLER GALLERY AND MORE!

Far, far away in a distant land the Queen of Quilts was silently stitching. The cold wind blew outside her castle, but the queen, wrapped in her own handiwork, was warm and cozy before the glowing embers of the Royal Hearth. "Oh, I wonder where Sweet William is tonight?" She pondered.

Did you ever play that game where you start as story and then pass it along to the next person to continue, and so forth? Well, do I have any takers?

I am excited to share three more little Sparkler quilts with you today. Yes I know, you see four. Well, Picasa doesn't make a grid for three, so the fourth one is mine again. And, here is another little game for you. I will give you the names and blog links, and you can go to their blog and see for yourself who made which quilt! Aren't they great? I love them!

Mary B. at Nana B Quilts in St. Michael, MN made one, and

Julie at Through the Barn Door, in California, made two!

Nice job ladies!

Also, for your viewing pleasure, I have added a link to the new Sparkler Gallery on my website! Also, you can find a link right under the Friendship Star block on my sidebar.

Ya'll come on back now, ya hear?

FRIENDLY LITTLE STARS

I am so happy to see that a few of you are making your little Christmas Sparkler quilt well ahead of the seasonal rush! This cutie was made by Mary at Quilt Hollow in North Carolina. She even has hers quilted and hanging on a quilt rack! Nice going Mary! And thanks for sharing with us.

Remember this basket? This was the logo I used when I first began blogging two and a half years ago. I have had a blast reading your blogs and getting to know so many quilters. When I first began I was so clueless about the whole thing. I had seen a few blogs and found them to be so interesting and I didn't want to be left out. I soon realized that many bloggers seemed to be good friends. Gifts were being exchanged, personal e-mails, etc. I kind of felt more left out, actually. But I kept blogging and making comments on other blogs. I asked questions on my blog, and got comments from very helpful bloggers. One of the comments said that I needed to open my e-mail so people could write me back directly! (Ever hear that one before?) So I very bravely added my e-mail address. I even opened a new g-mail account for this. Turns out it was no big deal! Lots of other advice came my way as well. I still have questions from time to time, and I know someone will come forward and help me out. AND, I have "met" some lovely ladies as I continue to blog and exchange ideas and inspiration. My sidebar contains a list of many of you, and there are many more out there. Many of you laugh along with me as I make my silly jokes. I appreciate that. As I told one friend the other day, laughing alone is no fun. So my whole point is this: all you quilt bloggers out there, I appreciate you and enjoy your friendship. Thanks for reading my humble blog and for leaving your nice comments. These Friendship Stars will always remind me of all of you!

MS. PATTERNS AT YOUR SERVICE

From the northern reaches of Alberta comes a Christmas Sparkler to warm the heart! Janet at Mrs. Sew 'n Sew created this little beauty. As you can see, Janet added a second blue instead of red. It is very pretty. I hope this picture enlarges so you can better see the lovely fabrics Janet chose.

I am happy to see these little quilts beginning to trickle in. Are you making one? Please share it with us if you are.

Also, I can finally show you the wool pillow that I made for my friend Joan. Her birthday was in October and we had trouble connecting. Joan loves acorns and anything pertaining to fall, so I knew she would love this pillow. If it looks familiar to you, perhaps you saw the larger quilt version by Lisa Bongean of Primitive Gatherings, in the American Patchwork and Quilting magazine, October 2008 edition. Yes, I can see that it could have used a little more stuffing. Dang.

Running errands today I stopped at the bank and went in the drive-through to deposit checks in my Patchalot Patterns account. After sending me my receipt the teller said, "Thank you Ms. Patterns". Isn't that funny? I keep chuckling over that.

It is storming here in Virginia Beach again. I cut my running around short and came back to my warm home. I lit a vanilla candle and am now I am headed into my sewing room to work on Christmas Sparklers. You know all my kids expect their own and I aim to please!

P.S. Do you want to add the little Sparkler block to your sidebar on your blog? I would love it if you did. That way more people will notice it and news will spread. Here is my method.

Save a copy of the block picture from by blog onto your computer. Open a posting page in your blog. Add the picture of the block in the center position. click on the picture and reduce the size so you have a nice little picture like mine. Click on the picture and the link icon to link it to my website. (http://www.patchalotpatterns.com/)

You may also add words, as I did. Center them as well.

Now SAVE the draft, DO NOT publish. Next, click on the tab above that says Edit Html. Click on the mouse to hi-light the whole page of HTML. Right click and copy.

Click on the tab above that says Layout. Open the list of gadgets and select the one that says HTML. Paste the copied HTML in the box. Title it, save it, and you are all set.

It may sound complicated, but it is really easy. This way you only get a small block on your sidebar instead of a quilt size picture. Plus you have it all linked, as easy as can be!