Better late than never right ?   I have so much Christmas fabric that I love, Love, love... and I never use it :(  This year I decided things would be different.... and they were -- just a little late for Christmas.   This afternoon I finished up 
"Redbird Christmas" pillow.  
I started with my "Family Tree Quilted Envelope Pillow" tutorial posted here on the Moda Bake Shop, designed a new applique center, and re-used my pillow insert. 
 Ta-daa!  
Redbird Christmas
The final finish of 2013.
I used hand dyed wool from a sorta Local Quilt Shop and some very old Holly Taylor fabric with a little Judie Rothermel and Blackbird Design fabrics mixed in.  For the pillow front, I cut my own 2.5" strips from yardage and it worked out perfectly.
I used Valdani 12Wt Pearle cotton to hand stitch the wool applique and Aurifil Mako 50Wt Cotton for the piecing, cotton applique, and machine quilting -- LOVE these threads!!
 I quilted it with my Janome Horizon using a Queen Supreme Slider, Machingers gloves and lots of patience ;)
 
 As you can see - I added a little stuffing to the bird and the tree -- makes quilting it a little more of a challenge but I just LOVE the dimension that it adds.  What do you think ?
For the back I used the same Holly Taylor fabric from my stash -- it sure feels good to use up some fabric.   
(Rarely happens... ha ha ha).
If  you're interested in the template for the tree and/or the bird leave me a comment, I'll package it into a PDF and attach it to my sidebar to download.
 I would like to take a minute and thank you all for supporting my blogging and sewing efforts this year!  It's really been an awesome adventure and without all the great bloggers and readers out there I'm not sure what would have motivated me to continue to learn and grow and share.   So.... 
Thank you all so much and have a wonderful New Year!    
2014 Can you believe it ?  
Bring it On!!

Off to celebrate my "little" brothers 50th Birthday -- he turns 50 tomorrow -- 
A New Years' Baby... 

Hugs to all,
Happy New Year!

Karen