Glam Holiday Fun with Michael Miller Fabrics

Fabrics featured in this post were provided by Michael Miller Fabrics as part of my being a Michael Miller Brand Ambassador

To celebrate the holidays and the new year, Michael Miller Fabric Ambassadors were asked to create projects with the theme of "Glam Holidays." For me, going glam equates to sparkles, and Michael Miller's Fairy Frost collection is perfect with all their pearlescent and glittery accents!! 

Trio of Wintry Fairy Frost Combinations

I ordered a set of wintry colors to create a trio of holiday inspired Mod Mandalas:
Left:  Zirconium (background), Seasisde and Boy (bias tape)
Middle:  Twinkle (background), Hollyberry and Evergreen (bias tape)
Right:  Indigo (background), Snow and Ice (bias tape)

Once the units were all cut, I had lots and lots of bias tape to prepare, as in 36 WOF strips or a whopping 1,512" of bias tape!!!  Thank goodness for Clover Bias Tape makers!!

Mod Mandala Making

These mandalas are constructed using a combination of bias tape applique and piecing, and come together fairly quickly (especially when making 3 at a time!)  I looked for ways to incorporate each holiday into the quilting, along with experimenting with different weights of Aurifil Thread.

For the Christmas Mod Mandala, I stitched in several words related to Christmas including Noel, Joy, Love, Believe, and Wish, along with hearts and stars.

Christmas Messages

Knowing I wanted to make a Christmas tree skirt, I modified my pattern slightly to create a circular mandala, and cut the binding strips on the bias to work around the outer and inner perimeter.

Christmas Tree Skirt, Finishes 23" diameter

In honor of Hanukkah, I incorporated eight candles and flames representing the menorah and its rich tradition, as well as circles for the chocolate coins can be won playing the dreidel game. To help the quilting stand out against the dark background, I used Aurifil 28wt in a variety of light values.  I especially love how the quilting looks from the back!!

Elements of Hanukkah Tradition Stitched into Mandala

Many thanks to my friend Sarah Goer, for lending me her family's Menorah and dreidels--which helped inspire my quilting and beautifully complemented the finished mandala.

Hanukkah Inspired Mandala, Finishes 22" x 22"

The last mandala is a winter-themed mandala featuring ice cool blues and quilting inspired by delicate lace-like appearance of a snowflake combined with the crystalization that can be seen when magnified.  Most of the quilting was stitched using 40wt threads.

Snowflake Inspired Quilting

Thankfully, snowfall is pretty rare here in San Jose, as are extremely cold temperatures. While I have downsized much of my winter gear from 30+ years of living in upstate New York, I have a few sets of scarves and gloves still remaining, just in case!!

Snow Inspired Mod Mandala, Finishes 22" x 22"

These glam finishes will be a fabulous addition to my Mod Mandala workshops!  This is a fun workshop which covers all the steps to construct a Mod Mandala, as well as how to design your own! Join me for one of these upcoming workshops:

• February 12th for Surfside Quilters Guild in San Juan Capistrano, CA
• September 20th for Piecing Partners Quilt Guild in Colorado Springs, CO

Visit my website to learn more about this workshop, new dates/venues, or sign up for my monthly newsletter!

Wishing you a joyous Holiday Season and a very Happy New Year!!