Thoughts turning to Christmas

Good morning!
My thoughts have started turning towards Christmas! Actually, they are turning towards gift crafting and decoration planning. Isn't it wonderful we can have the spirit of Christmas in August? I just love Christmas! I've joined a yahoo group, Christmas Notebook. It is a class to help you put together a Christmas Schedule Guide for your decorating, gift-making, wrapping, baking, etc.... Membership is open until the end of August. I urge you to join this wonderful group to get your Christmas stress free this year! Christmas Notebook homepage I know you are thinking that you don't need one more obligation towards Christmas but in the last two weeks, i've already seen what a great tool this notebook is going to be for me! Like my dayrunner and my daily Control journal, it will become my brain during the christmas season.

I finished a gift this week. I crocheted my niece a scarf in lime green and turquoise. Obviously, since she is getting it for Christms, I couldn't let her model it for you yet. Remington Braveheart Bear agreed to model it for you. I just hope i can get it off him now!

Blogging is really such a good exercise in writing. I read somewhere a couple of years ago that every artist should write, whether they are a writer or not, two pages daily. Just sit down and write whatever comes out of your pen. Of course, blogging is a little more disciplined than just writing in a journal but it is such a great exercise in getting those creative juices flowing!

Have a marvelous day!
hugs & smiles,
Leigh Anne Haygood
Patchwork Parrot

Samples of my quilts

Today, I’m just sharing some of my quilt art since I have figured out how to upload the pictures now! I’ve been quilting for about 30 years and teaching for about 25 years. Wow! Time flies when you are having fun!

I enjoy all styles of quilting, but seem to be really drawn to machine appliqué and thread painting when doing my art quilts.

Here’s a couple of art quilts I have done that are traveling with the Women of Biblical Proportion.

Living Water – 24” x 24”

Deception, Greed, & Lies – 24” x 24”

This quilt, Bear on the Square, is my first self-published pattern. It was designed in conjunction with the Bear on the Square festival in Dahlonega, GA. I was asked to design a quilt and teach the design at the 5^th annual festival. The Bear on the Square festival came into being after a small bear wandered onto the town square. The Dahlonega residents only need a small excuse to have an arts festival so the Bear on the Square weekend was born. This quilt pattern is easy enough for beginners but entertaining enough to keep intermediate and advanced quilters interested. It is a stripped pieced design so it could easily be the weekend piecing project.

This queen size log cabin is aptly named the chicken quilt. The centers of each log cabin block features a little hen sitting on her nest. The back of the quilt features a very large chicken fabric. This quilt measures 100" x 110". It is machine pieced and machine quilted with a large feather pattern.

That’s all for today! Thanks for visiting my blog! Come again very soon!

Hugs & Smiles,

Leigh Anne Haygood

Patchwork Parrot

http://lahaygood.blogspot.com

my cakes`

I just have to share my cakes today! Cake decorating is another creative outlet for me. I get to play in color and design. The sky is the limit as to what can go on a cake or the shape the cake can take!

This first cake was my grandson's first birthday cake. My dd emailed me a picture of the firetruck she wanted to use.

Here come the clowns! Clowns can be positioned sitting or laying down. They can sit on the edge of the cake too! Clowns are really cute on cupcakes too!

I did this Tractor cake for my father-in-law’s 70^th birthday. He has a John Deere tractor that he just loves!

This cake was done for my daughter-in-law’s birthday. She loves pink, yellow, and flowers!

Hugs & Smiles,

Leigh Anne Haygood

Patchwork Parrot

http://lahaygood.blogspot.com