Welcome to Pieceful Thoughts! Is your cookie plate empty too? Are you needing some fun ideas for Christmas gifts or projects? It’s my day to join in with the Virtual Cookie Exchange and Christmas Blog Hop 2020 hosted by Just Let Me Quilt, where there abounds all kinds of Christmas project fun and delicious cookie recipes! This is a fun Hop, so let’s get started!
If you are new to my blog – welcome! I’m Wendy, and I live in a little piece of Minnesota where our city’s motto is Cows, Colleges and Contentment – and that pretty much sums it up.
I’ve been quilting for over 20 years, and I never seem to tire of it. A few years ago, my son encouraged me to start a blog about my quilting, and here I am. I get easily distracted by all kinds of quilt projects, so I often have several going on at once. My quilting space is a cozy little affair (notice I didn’t say tidy), which I share willingly with my cat, Wilbs.
It’s been awhile since I joined in on this Hop, so I’m excited to be here today! There are always so many fun projects and tasty treats shared by my fellow bloggers. You’ll find the list below, so you can visit them too! And if you want to see my last post, you can find it right here. Those cookies are still my favorites! – but stick around, and let me show you what I have for this year!
2020 has hardly been a traditional year, has it?! In keeping with that theme, then, I decided to do something a bit non-traditional for this Hop. I made a Christmas Tree Runner, and I’m excited to share it with you today.
This is what happens when I begin to organize my quilt room after a few fun projects. I find scraps and think – I could just sew those together. Before I know it, the cleaning is forgotten and non-traditional Christmas trees begin to take shape.
I started sewing strips and snippets together, then cut out one tree. The next tree was made from the scraps of the first, and sew on. Don’t ask me which tree came first – I have no idea!
Once the trees were done, I grabbed some Grunge in a dark gray and made the trees into blocks. Then I sewed the blocks together, flipping the trees so that some trees are upside right from either angle. A little quick quilting, some Kona Pickle for binding, and the runner was done. This will be a nice runner to use throughout the winter season, don’t you think?
Since part of this Hop is a cookie exchange, of course I had to make cookies! In keeping with this non-traditional post, I went a little non-traditional with my cookies too. This is not a cookie I usually make. I found it in the Betty Crocker Cooky Book, but you can find the recipe easily by asking Mr. Google. They are called Joe Froggers – many of you may be familiar with them, but the name was new to me.
The cookie, however, reminds me of a soft molasses cookie. I had to quickly snap a photo before they were all gone.
The Christmas Tree Runner provided the perfect backdrop for the plate of cookies, too!
Okay – one more peek at the Christmas Tree Runner . . .
Because – kitty toes! Wilbs always has to get in on the photo, one way or another.
Before you go, here’s the list of those participating in the Blog Hop. Be sure to stop by and see what they are creating, leave an encouraging comment, and maybe find a tasty recipe or two!
December 1
Doreen – Just Let Me Quilt Guest
December 2
Pieceful Thoughts of My Quilting Life
December 3
December 4
Thank you for stopping by my blog, I hope you’ve enjoyed your visit. If so, I’d be delighted if you would follow me by email. You’ll find the sign up for that on the side menu.
Thanks also to Carol from Just Let Me Quilt for hosting this annual fun Blog Hop!
May you have a festive and joyous holiday season, whether traditional or no!
Wendy
What a perfect, bright happy tree runner and it does look nice with your dinnerware 😉. Wilbs toes are the perfect finishing touch. Love the name for the molasses cookies! I think I’ll make some to test my sense of smell or taste next week. 😉
Love your tree runner. Such happy colors. The cookies look delicious.
Super idea for the table runner, it’s so bright and cheery! The cookies look great too!
Love your table runner and I love Molasses cookies (although I’m not baking much right now). Have a great day Wendy!!!
Your table runner is such a great piece and a wonderful use of scraps. Love the kitty toes in the picture, such a sweetie.
Oh my gosh, Wendy, I love this improv Christmas tree table runner! I want to make one—maybe next year. I don’t think I can fit one more project in this month!
Your runner is adorable! I like molasses cookies and may just give these a try.
That tree is definitely right up your alley, improv! It’s so cute, especially love it with your plate of cookies with a bite out of one, was that you or your DH that took that bite, haha!
love your trees – my cookie plate is usually empty because we eat them as soon as they hit the plate!
Wendy, your tree runner is just wonderful! I love the improv style and the great colors. You’ve made me want to go right down to my sewing room, push everything else aside, and play with scraps! The cookies look yummy, too! Molasses cookies have always been a favorite of mine.
Your Christmas tree runner is spectacular. I have fallen in love with it. Your cookies look delicious
Love, love, LOVE your Crumb-y Christmas Tree Runner, Wendy (and those cookies look yummy, too!!) Thanks for sharing with the Hop.
What a cute table runner! And glad to see some pickle got in there!?! I have that Betty Crocker Cooky book, too!
That is adorable! I live in a small house surrounded by pine trees, so I rarely decorate — the decoration is already outside! But I have been thinking about doing a Christmas tree runner and I really like this one! I am also glad to see all the other people listed — a nice blog hop will spark my holiday mood!
So cute! Wilbur toes and the runner. I love the non-traditional scrappy fabrics used in the trees. Also love any sort of molasses anything. Yum!
Lovely table runner, I love the colors! Never heard of those cookies, but my husband loves molasses cookies! Thanks for sharing
I laughed out loud at getting distracted by scraps while cleaning, then using scraps from those scraps – lol! But the runner is pretty, nice colors in those scraps!
Your Joe Froggers look delicious. Betty and I are old friends, but I didn’t find that recipe in any of my books. The recipe I found on Google (supposedly from Betty’s cooky book) calls for a whopping cup of molasses! I’ll need to replenish my Grandma’s Molasses supply. 😉
Yep, an entire cup! I had just enough!
What fun trees you have there. Playing with scraps is so much fun. Looks like Kitty agrees! My hubby loves molasses cookies, so these would be a hit here for sure. Thank you for sharing…I’ve never heard of Joe Froggers. Have a very Merry Christmas!
I’ve never heard of Joe Froggers, but they do look like molasses cookies (which I love.) The kitty toes are just the best with your scrappy trees…so sweet! Thank you, Wendy, for sharing your Christmas goodness with us! xo
Adorable runner Wendy! With all the colorful fabrics it’s like your trees are decorated
Joe Froggers are a new one on me. We always make a roll-out molasses cookie at Christmas so molasses/sorghum cookies always mean Christmas to me. Your runner is great – non-traditional but great. Thanks for sharing today.
Cute table runner.
Hi Wendy! Look at those cute little kitty toes. I love Wilbs. Untraditional trees and cookies – they’re just perfect together. The trees are so darn cool . . . and I can just see how a few simple scraps got you going and before you know it, cute trees. And the pickle as the binding is the perfect pop. I have never heard of Joe Froggers cookies but they sure look delicious. I will give them a try – although I am certain I do not have molasses. {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne
That runner is the bomb! Love it so much. Great idea for scraps for sure!
aww that runner is cute looks VERY familiar! You could have shown my pincushion with it 😉
Your table runner is so cute – love the scrappy trees, and yes, it will be great all winter long!! My hubby would love those cookies as he is a molasses kind of guy! LOL I will look those up for him. Yes, here’s to a much better and more “normal” 2021, Wendy!! Wilbs is adorable! I used to have a kitty that loved to sit on the bed of my machine and watch me stitch! I miss her!
The only thing sweeter than those cookies are those toes! I love this bright, scrappy, mod table runner, Wendy! You have such a great sense of color and combine the brights with confidence and skill 🙂
Love your runner. If that plate were in my home it would be crumbs, lol.
Love the improv table runner! Very nice!
Kitty Toes! Such cute trees, made cuter by Wilbs, of course. I love molasses cookies!!! I use the recipe from the Betty Crocker cookbook, though Joe Frogger is one I haven’t heard of.
Merry Christmas! Wilbs seemed quite excited by your non-traditional table runner, and I agree with him. Thanks for sharing!
Just love your runner, Wendy. It looks fresh and interesting to me. And I also like the way you quilted it. Molasses cookies are popular where I am from and I have made a lot of them over the years. I’ve heard of that name but never made them. Wilburs photo is just perfect.