Cross Country Christmas Day 4 - It's MY DAY!

Today is 'Pat Day' in the Cross Country Designer Christmas blog hop... (wow!)

If you are not familiar with my work.. come visit my webstore at www.PatSloan.Biz, then visit my website at www.PatSloan.com  I enjoying meeting all of you!!

The Topic for today is the Tree and it's ALSO my day to give EACH of you a gift!

First let's talk about that Christmas Tree.. the most magical and BIGGEST decoration many of us put up for the holidays!

First I must have a tree... even if it's tiny.  It is just not Christmas without one (I tried that one year... oi vey!)

Having a tree has loads of interesting memories. It was the center piece of Granny and Pappy's living room being put up on the day after thanksgiving  (no matter WHAT... I might add!). Na-Na and Pop-Pop made sure their tree was up for us too. My parents continued the tradition with the decorating of the tree being our main family decorating event!

The ritual of collecting the perfect ornaments is also part of 'the tree'.. I still have some from Germany. 

Hanging the icicles JUST RIGHT (according to what DAD thought was just right.. hehe!) is another part of putting up the tree.  I LOVE the icicles and wish they were easier to get and deal with. 

And let's NOT forget the lights... twinkle lights... colored lights... just be sure you have LOTS of lights on the tree!

Leave me a comment below with your Christmas Tree memory.  Someone will win a packet of my NEW Georgia fabric, my Christmas Wishes pattern, a group of Aurifil threads and few other goodies I have here!

The fun part of this hop was being asked to design a project to give you... here is my Zig Zag Magic Pillow!  I've been very keen on this zig zag pattern for awhile and really wanted to make something with it.

I came up with the pillow idea and then was inspired by a vintage advert to create snowflakes to sprinkle on top. The best part is I was able to make up a few kits for you! The kits include the fabric for the entire pillow AND

This matching 12" block that you can make into a small pillow, a trivet or use for the pocket on a nice winter totebag!

CLICK HERE for my christmas blog hop pattern to download

CLICK HERE to buy the kit which includes all the fabric to make the pillow and the square.  PLUS I will print off the pattern for you so you have a nice copy with your kit!

If you are a new 'Sloanie' sign up for my newsletter on the top left at this blog! And be my Facebook friend.. CLICK HERE

Happy Happy Holidays everyone!!

Remember TOMORROW is another giveaway here at my blog for a copy of the 100 Quilt Blocks issue.. woot woot!

Oh... before I forget.. did you notice the NICE bangs in this photo? My hair was even a tad longer.. must mean I was letting mom washing and brush it... seems  THAT was a battle of my childhood....hehe! And brother was having a MUCH better time this day.

Now jump around (CLICK HERE FOR A LIST) and see what everyone ELSE says about their trees... and tomorrow is Heather's day so be sure to come back

AND .. add your quilt project photos to the Flickr group we set up.. how much fun is THAT!!!

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1256651@N20/

Comments

[Sarah G]

Hi Pat. Love the pattern. Just made it and posted a photo on you flickr page. Can you tell me what the snowman fabric is you used in your sample? I am trying to locate it, and believe I've seen it in black.
Thanks again!
Sarah
sdgreider@yahoo.com

[Natalia]

The Zig Zag pillow is sooooo cute! I'm going to link to it on my blog on December 7th. http://www.sewwhattoday.blogspot.com

[Peggy]

Thank you very much for participating in the blog hop. I loved it.

[kristen - gock's frocks]

gorgeous pillow... would be perfect for lying under the xmas tree watching the lights dance on the darkened ceiling....

[Sharon]

Thanks for the pattern.

[Patty]

Love the pillow. Count me in, Thanks

[LaurieC]

Thanks for the pillow pattern and especially for being a part of the blog hop. It's been a fun 12 days! Happy holidays to you & yours

[Brenda]

Hey Pat, the pillow is wonderful, but did you have to bring up bangs? That's one of my most unpleasant childhood memories -- Mom cutting our bangs. We'd be holding an envelope over our eyes. Dual purpose -- to keep the hair out of our eyes and to give Mom a straight edge to follow. But somehow she never managed to do that -- the envelope would creep higher and higher until we had bangs a half inch long or so it seemed. Short enough that we didn't want to be seen in public. The one saving grace of the whole thing was that they were so short that it was quite a while before they needed cutting again. My sisters and I were so grateful when a hairdresser moved to town, became a good friend of Mom's, and took over the cutting of bangs. Of course, in high school NOBODY had bangs -- the goal was long straight stringy hair. Something I never achieved with my natuarally curly hair. I used all of those straighteners, but the best I ever got was straight frizz instead of curly frizz. OMG, I'm probably going to have nightmares tonight.

But thanks for the pillow pattern. If I try hard enough maybe I can dream of zig-zags and snowflakes and "giant rick rack."

All of you are to be commended for being willing to give us these gifts. And I don't mean just the projects, but also the memories and stories. I can't tell you how many childhood memories of my own they've triggered.

So thanks (an inadequate word, here).

B.

[Annette]

this pillow is fabulous. Thanks againf for participating in the blog hop - it's been a blast.

[Cindy]

One more time here refreshing my memory of teh wonderful gifts the designers have so kindly shared with all of us. Hmmmm......which one now, which one next, which one after that.....and so on.

BUT - NO MORE BANGS for me please. Althought now my DD says I need to go back to bangs because my hair has receded so badly. OH NO - don't tell me what goes around, comes around - NOT when it's bangs....LOL

[Jenice]

Haven't found any cute winter fabric but as soon as I do I'm making this pillow. I put out snowmen in January and this would be a perfect addition.

[Ruby]

Sorry, I'm not going through the 600 plus comments to see if I've left a note here or not. Besides it will give me a chance to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Thanksgiving. The photos, stories and patterns have been really great. I've enjoyed meeting some new designers and visiting with some I knew a little. I know I have your Applique book and probably a few other patterns. Thanks for inspiring me! :)

[Linda D]

Your pillow is so cute - plan to make some in "northwoods' fabs for new 5th wheel! Great personal touch from a great quilter! Wanted you to know that your Xmas stocking pattern is a big fav of mine!! Thanks - have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

[Patchwitch]

Thank you for this sweet pillow! I really like the design, especially the fabric choice! Thank you for sharing your project! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Advent!

[Ange Moore]

Oh I love those 1950-ish snowflakes on your cushion - thanks so much for sharing!

[arlette]

Love the pattern, thank you soooooooooo much for sharing!

[Alda, FL]

Thanks for the great pillow pattern,love it.
Alda,Fl

[Chus]

Me encanta, me encanta este cojin, no solamente para la navidad sino para una habitacion infantil, me pillo la idea
Inscribo tu blog entre mis favoritos para ver los interesantes trabajos que realices.

Un saludo

I am charmed with it(him,her,you), I am charmed with this cushion, not only for the navidad but for an infantile room, I plunder the idea from myself Inscribe(Register) your blog between(among) my favorites to see the interesting works that you realize.

A greeting

[Jane McCarthy]

Thanks Pat for this cute pattern. The entire 12 Days of Christmas has been a blast! Happy Holidays and THANKS

[Marcy]

I stopped using icicles on the tree because my husband thought the only way to put them up was to stand away from the tree and throw it on and when our daughter came along he began showing her how it was done. I had it from here to kingdom come. I also had a cat that loved the stranglers on the tree. Cats and icicles don't mix!
Marcy

[Karen M]

Thank you for the fun snowflake pillow. I love the zig zag pattern. Thanks for all the fun and Happy Holidays!
Thanks,
Karen M

[Glenda]

I love this pillow. Thanks for all the fun.

[Sandi]

These projects have been so much fun!

[Sandi]

Just stopping by one more time to say Thanks for this great blog hop and the cool pillow pattern. My pieces are cut but I have yet to sew them together. I hope I stitch them right or I will have a zig where I should have a zag in my zig-zag pillow. :-)

[stampinwithbeth]

Thanks for the cute pillow pattern, and for the easy zig zag technique! It looks like fun!
Beth (stampinwithbeth)