Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Blueberry Mocha Trails

010 
I've heard of Peppermint Mochas, Cinnamon Mochas, and Boozey Mochas.  But Blueberry Mochas?  Nope, never.  Here is my version of a Blueberry Mocha, which is coming along nicely.  I like how the caramel plays along so well with the chocolate.

I loved reading the comments on yesterday's post.  You guys are way more entertaining than I am.  You reminded me of crafts I had tried decades ago and never thought of again. 

Needlepoint.  My mom used to do it, and was really good at it.  We took a class together around 25 years ago and it was loads of fun.  Except my piece was clumsy and hers was elegant.  I dreamed of having needlepoint seat covers on my dining room chairs, but it never was to be.

Crewel work.  Oh my gosh, remember crewel?  In the 70's I must have made a dozen super hokey pieces that I actually *Framed* and gave to my in-laws, my parents, my grandparents….Super dreadful.  And they hung them on their walls and seemed to love them.

Felt Christmas ornaments.  Oh yeah.  Early 70's again.  One Christmas I was low on funds for gifts, and discovered a women's magazine that was chock full of  ornament patterns.   I made felt Santas, Snowmen, Doves of Peace, and yes, I admit it:  Cats with jeweled collars.  And again, gave them to the usual list of recipients, perpetually doomed to receive my homey craft projects.   And they hung them on their Christmas trees and seemed to love them.

I know I was into rug hooking too, back in the 70's, but no project has survived to shame me, luckily.

My craftiness really came out of the woodwork at Christmas time.  One year I made all my female relatives long plaid holiday skirts.    The next year they all got fleece zip front bathrobes.  Another year I made stuffed fabric Christmas wreaths that look EXACTLY like padded toilet seats, done up in jaunty Christmas colors of course.  My mother in law still hangs hers up every year.  And seems to love it.

Thank God I discovered quilting and moved on to a much better place.

So, these are the crafts I want to re-examine or explore in the future:

I've already mentioned applique and embroidery.

I did learn to knit when I was an early teen, and made a couple of sweaters for myself.  Then, about five years ago, I picked it up again and made a gazillion scarves for every woman I was related to.  Now, I feel I am ready for a challenge and want to learn to knit socks.

My son is graduating from Cal Poly in December and I want to throw him a combination Graduation and Bon Voyage party.  He is planning a move to Ireland at the end of January.  I was thinking I should make some customized invitations that incorporate stamping and scrapbooking techniques.

I would consider making penny mats out of wool, but that activity reminds me too much of my felt ornament days.

74 responses to “Blueberry Mocha Trails”

  9. Knit socks sounds way fun! Love the quilt. I think the blue compliments the caramel and deep brown tones very well. Makes me a little hungry reading your post!

  10. Knit socks sounds way fun! Love the quilt. I think the blue compliments the caramel and deep brown tones very well. Makes me a little hungry reading your post!

  11. Cheers for the excellent progress you’ve made on Blueberry Mocha Trails! I love the look of this quilt. You do have a good imagination for what will look good together!
    I have needlepoint chair seat covers that I started 32 years ago when pg with DS1 for my mother’s 5 DR chairs (railroad salvage in 1950; the 6th chair was smashed or something). To my dismay, I found I didn’t enjoy doing needlepoint so I did two of the seat covers and a dear friend who loved to needlepoint did the other 3 seats. I chose a soft moss green and love it still.
    If you sincerely still want needlepoint seat covers, check out eBay. Some folks are removing lovely needlepoint seat covers and are selling them.
    I’ve printed out the goals I listed yesterday so I can keep myself on track!
    Hugs!

  12. Cheers for the excellent progress you’ve made on Blueberry Mocha Trails! I love the look of this quilt. You do have a good imagination for what will look good together!
    I have needlepoint chair seat covers that I started 32 years ago when pg with DS1 for my mother’s 5 DR chairs (railroad salvage in 1950; the 6th chair was smashed or something). To my dismay, I found I didn’t enjoy doing needlepoint so I did two of the seat covers and a dear friend who loved to needlepoint did the other 3 seats. I chose a soft moss green and love it still.
    If you sincerely still want needlepoint seat covers, check out eBay. Some folks are removing lovely needlepoint seat covers and are selling them.
    I’ve printed out the goals I listed yesterday so I can keep myself on track!
    Hugs!

  13. Oh love how the quilt is coming together. I am glad you added the touch of blueberry.
    As for knitting I only knit scarfs and socks. I might add that I really like knitting socks. I do two socks at once on double circular needles so when you finish you are finished no going back looking for the first sock that you knitted to make sure you knitted them the same length.

  14. Oh love how the quilt is coming together. I am glad you added the touch of blueberry.
    As for knitting I only knit scarfs and socks. I might add that I really like knitting socks. I do two socks at once on double circular needles so when you finish you are finished no going back looking for the first sock that you knitted to make sure you knitted them the same length.

  17. Nicole,
    Your list of handmade Christmas gifts sounds so much like mine for the 70’s. There was one fabric Christmas tree I made back then from a McCalls pattern that I wish I could see again. I think I would like it again. I too am chomping at the bit to try my hand at knitting some socks….can’t wait to finish these Christmas gifts so I can give them a try 😉

  18. Nicole,
    Your list of handmade Christmas gifts sounds so much like mine for the 70’s. There was one fabric Christmas tree I made back then from a McCalls pattern that I wish I could see again. I think I would like it again. I too am chomping at the bit to try my hand at knitting some socks….can’t wait to finish these Christmas gifts so I can give them a try 😉

  25. Your blueberry quilt is so yummy! It’s turning out to be a stunner for sure! ’70’s crafts? Oh, yeah! Crewel flowers on mustard colored cloth…accckkkkkk…to think I proudly hung those puppies in our home as newlyweds–makes me cringe!! I, too, made felt ornaments and stockings back in the day. We still use them and love the memories! Crewel? Not so much; long gone and I don’t miss those!

  26. Your blueberry quilt is so yummy! It’s turning out to be a stunner for sure! ’70’s crafts? Oh, yeah! Crewel flowers on mustard colored cloth…accckkkkkk…to think I proudly hung those puppies in our home as newlyweds–makes me cringe!! I, too, made felt ornaments and stockings back in the day. We still use them and love the memories! Crewel? Not so much; long gone and I don’t miss those!

  27. I love this quilt . . . the colors are so so rich looking . . . and the blue looks terrific . . .
    I wish you lived near me . . . I love making invitations and cards . . . be prepared . . . once you go to a rubberstamping-scrapbooking store . . . you will be hooked there too . . .

  28. I love this quilt . . . the colors are so so rich looking . . . and the blue looks terrific . . .
    I wish you lived near me . . . I love making invitations and cards . . . be prepared . . . once you go to a rubberstamping-scrapbooking store . . . you will be hooked there too . . .

  31. sorry to post again . . . but I just thought of something that might help you with your invitations . . .
    check out Sandy Genovese’s Scrapbook Showgram . . . she does some neat things . . . here is the website . . . go to the past episodes because she does a lot of cards etc. which you might be able to adapt to what you want to do . . .
    it’s all video so you can watch it over and over . . .
    http://scrapbookshowgram.com

  32. sorry to post again . . . but I just thought of something that might help you with your invitations . . .
    check out Sandy Genovese’s Scrapbook Showgram . . . she does some neat things . . . here is the website . . . go to the past episodes because she does a lot of cards etc. which you might be able to adapt to what you want to do . . .
    it’s all video so you can watch it over and over . . .
    http://scrapbookshowgram.com

  35. The Mocha goodness is beautiful!
    I too have made many many crafty things at Christmas time and given them away. You are too hard on yourself!

  36. The Mocha goodness is beautiful!
    I too have made many many crafty things at Christmas time and given them away. You are too hard on yourself!

  39. If that quilt were to disappear, make sure you don’t look in my house for it…
    I love it. It takes my breath away.
    We must have been on the same craft wave-length for years! I felt a lot of freedom when I finally ditched my unfinished efforts. (I did accomplish a lot, but had a lot that were never done).

  40. If that quilt were to disappear, make sure you don’t look in my house for it…
    I love it. It takes my breath away.
    We must have been on the same craft wave-length for years! I felt a lot of freedom when I finally ditched my unfinished efforts. (I did accomplish a lot, but had a lot that were never done).

  41. Love the blueberry mocha trails quilt!! The mixture of caramel and “blueberry” is just right.
    LOL at all the crafts! I never did needlepoint of any kind, but macrame, decoupage, felt ornaments…. eee gads!

  42. Love the blueberry mocha trails quilt!! The mixture of caramel and “blueberry” is just right.
    LOL at all the crafts! I never did needlepoint of any kind, but macrame, decoupage, felt ornaments…. eee gads!

  43. Loved hearing about all the crafts you did in the 70’s. I did them all too! Quilting didn’t start for me until the early 80’s and I’m so glad I found it, or it found me, I’m not sure which.

  44. Loved hearing about all the crafts you did in the 70’s. I did them all too! Quilting didn’t start for me until the early 80’s and I’m so glad I found it, or it found me, I’m not sure which.

  45. How funny, I remember all those crafts, but you missed Macrame. How many of us made plant hangers with shells. Oh, my poor mother who had to love these gifts. Yes, thank goodness for quilting. But remember, every other craft you start takes time away from quilting. Love your Mocha Trails, the blue was a perfect addition to make it your own.

  46. How funny, I remember all those crafts, but you missed Macrame. How many of us made plant hangers with shells. Oh, my poor mother who had to love these gifts. Yes, thank goodness for quilting. But remember, every other craft you start takes time away from quilting. Love your Mocha Trails, the blue was a perfect addition to make it your own.

  47. I’ve tried it all: rug hooking, crewel, scrapbooking, stamping, etc. But my favorite needlecrafts continue to be quilts, knitting, and crochet. Although I do love to incorporate embroidery and applique into my quilts.
    Love your Mocha Trails. You work always inspires me.

  48. I’ve tried it all: rug hooking, crewel, scrapbooking, stamping, etc. But my favorite needlecrafts continue to be quilts, knitting, and crochet. Although I do love to incorporate embroidery and applique into my quilts.
    Love your Mocha Trails. You work always inspires me.

  49. The quilt is coming along so beautifully! I love those colors together.
    Did you ever try hair-pin lace? I tried it in the 70’s and really liked doing it. I need someone to teach me how to do it again.

  50. The quilt is coming along so beautifully! I love those colors together.
    Did you ever try hair-pin lace? I tried it in the 70’s and really liked doing it. I need someone to teach me how to do it again.

  51. Your Blueberry Mocha Trail is stunning, I just love it! Hopefully once I get a few of my 9 patches blocks done, I’ll like mine just as much.
    Someone mentioned macrame…oh my, the ugly pot hangers I made! I also did a hook rug, one was enough!
    What a nice crafty conversation you have going on here…..

  52. Your Blueberry Mocha Trail is stunning, I just love it! Hopefully once I get a few of my 9 patches blocks done, I’ll like mine just as much.
    Someone mentioned macrame…oh my, the ugly pot hangers I made! I also did a hook rug, one was enough!
    What a nice crafty conversation you have going on here…..

  53. My aunt made Shape and Drape dolls. Do you remember those? It was almost like papier mache, but kinda awful. I had a friend that actually made extra money by selling paper flowers that she crafted. Yikes.
    Your blue and brown is wonderful, however! My favorite color combination. This will be pretty decades from now!

  54. My aunt made Shape and Drape dolls. Do you remember those? It was almost like papier mache, but kinda awful. I had a friend that actually made extra money by selling paper flowers that she crafted. Yikes.
    Your blue and brown is wonderful, however! My favorite color combination. This will be pretty decades from now!

  55. Your quilt is looking great – i think the blue is ‘working’ terrifically.
    And don’t be too condescending about those felt ornaments..I think they are coming back in. LOL Want some links?? 🙂

  56. Your quilt is looking great – i think the blue is ‘working’ terrifically.
    And don’t be too condescending about those felt ornaments..I think they are coming back in. LOL Want some links?? 🙂

  57. Blueberry Mocha is beautiful beyond my descriptive capabilities!
    I like you, have done many, many crafts. And everyone got homemade gifts from these crafts. It started out sewing garments in the late ’60ies. That same decade I learned to knit,crochet embroider. Needlepoint, crewel, rughooking, macrame and took up the early ’70ies. Oh!I don’t want to forget cross stitching in the ’80ies. In 1976 I took a quilt class at a church and began my quilting journey. I wasn’t too prolific until my first introduction to rotary cutters! Wow!
    The crafts I continue to revisit are embroidery, knitting and crocheting but quilting always comes first!

  58. Blueberry Mocha is beautiful beyond my descriptive capabilities!
    I like you, have done many, many crafts. And everyone got homemade gifts from these crafts. It started out sewing garments in the late ’60ies. That same decade I learned to knit,crochet embroider. Needlepoint, crewel, rughooking, macrame and took up the early ’70ies. Oh!I don’t want to forget cross stitching in the ’80ies. In 1976 I took a quilt class at a church and began my quilting journey. I wasn’t too prolific until my first introduction to rotary cutters! Wow!
    The crafts I continue to revisit are embroidery, knitting and crocheting but quilting always comes first!

  59. Boy do you crack me up…”seemed to love it”, lol.
    Well I do love the quilt design and colors! The finished product will be perfect!

  60. Boy do you crack me up…”seemed to love it”, lol.
    Well I do love the quilt design and colors! The finished product will be perfect!

  61. Beautiful – I love the chocolate and caramel blended in with the other colors – what an eye for color you have, talent!

  62. Beautiful – I love the chocolate and caramel blended in with the other colors – what an eye for color you have, talent!

  63. What, no bread dough ornaments? My 70’s lovingly handmade gifts seem to have parallelled yours. I enjoy your posts and seeing your handwork.

  64. What, no bread dough ornaments? My 70’s lovingly handmade gifts seem to have parallelled yours. I enjoy your posts and seeing your handwork.

  67. Nicole,
    You reminded of a few that I had forgotten about- I did rug hook, crewel, macrame without shells but definitely macrame LOL, pottery and candle making. I have a good friend that made the most unusual craft project – She used a a turkey wishbone carcass and spray painted it gold to turn it into Santa’s sled- it makes me laugh just thinking about – I bet you might want one of those to decorate your Thanksgiving table… VBG
    Love your quilts – as always they are beautiful and the workmanship exquisite- Hope your dogs are doing well.
    Warmest regards,
    Anna

  68. Nicole,
    You reminded of a few that I had forgotten about- I did rug hook, crewel, macrame without shells but definitely macrame LOL, pottery and candle making. I have a good friend that made the most unusual craft project – She used a a turkey wishbone carcass and spray painted it gold to turn it into Santa’s sled- it makes me laugh just thinking about – I bet you might want one of those to decorate your Thanksgiving table… VBG
    Love your quilts – as always they are beautiful and the workmanship exquisite- Hope your dogs are doing well.
    Warmest regards,
    Anna

  69. Blueberry Mocha is wonderful…great combination! Oh Nicole you took be back through the years…and someone mentioned macrame…oh dear…I did that until my fingers hurt soooooooooooooo much. That’s something I had completely forgotten. When we were first married, and very poor, everyone got a macrame hanger with a plant. Oh my! Thanks for the memories.

  70. Blueberry Mocha is wonderful…great combination! Oh Nicole you took be back through the years…and someone mentioned macrame…oh dear…I did that until my fingers hurt soooooooooooooo much. That’s something I had completely forgotten. When we were first married, and very poor, everyone got a macrame hanger with a plant. Oh my! Thanks for the memories.

  71. Now Nicki – everyone loves the felted Christmas Ornaments you made back in the 70’s. There is always a collective “Awwww” when they are unpacked and hung on the tree.

  72. Now Nicki – everyone loves the felted Christmas Ornaments you made back in the 70’s. There is always a collective “Awwww” when they are unpacked and hung on the tree.

  73. I used to love crewelwork–made a couple of pictures and framed them, also. One I got back when my MIL died and it’s hanging in my bedroom now. I kind of miss that one.
    Never did macrame, but I tried my hand at crocheting, including broomstick crochet. Remember that one? Once I developed carpal tunnel syndrome, I quit crocheting, and then never took it up once I had the surgeries. Never learned to knit–too much coordination needed for two needles.
    Cross stitching hung around a while, but I only used colored charts–the black and white ones were way too hard to follow. I like stamping, though not scrapbooking, but haven’t done it in so long my inkpads are probably all dry. Compared to today’s papers, mine are sooo out of date.
    I think quilting will last me a lifetime, though.

  74. I used to love crewelwork–made a couple of pictures and framed them, also. One I got back when my MIL died and it’s hanging in my bedroom now. I kind of miss that one.
    Never did macrame, but I tried my hand at crocheting, including broomstick crochet. Remember that one? Once I developed carpal tunnel syndrome, I quit crocheting, and then never took it up once I had the surgeries. Never learned to knit–too much coordination needed for two needles.
    Cross stitching hung around a while, but I only used colored charts–the black and white ones were way too hard to follow. I like stamping, though not scrapbooking, but haven’t done it in so long my inkpads are probably all dry. Compared to today’s papers, mine are sooo out of date.
    I think quilting will last me a lifetime, though.