Wednesday, July 13, 2016

12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop

JULY 14th - 25th


Welcome to the first day of this exciting hop.  A huge thank you goes out to Sarah @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict for putting so much time into this project.  You want to be sure and visit her each day as she has a fantastic tutorial for making your own Christmas quilt.  You can find the fabric requirements HERE and options for other color ways HERE.  She has broken down the assembly of this quilt into workable time blocks each day - very doable.

And I share today with Carole Carter @ From My Caroline Home, so be sure to hop on over and see what she has to inspire you for early holiday gift making.


On my stop today I would like to share my close bond to the Feather Tree.    A family heritage back to the beginning of the feather tree and it's 'transplanting' to the USA by German Imagrants.  I have three of my great grandmother's feather trees - two from Germany and one she made for her first Christmas in America. 



Feather trees were initially made of green-dyed goose feathers which were attached to wire branches. The feathers were split and then secured with wire to form the branches. These wire branches were then wrapped around a central dowel which acted as the trunk. The branches were widely spaced to keep the candles from starting a fire, which allowed ample space for ornaments. 



These trees appeared in the U.S. in 1913, when they were offered through the Sears-Roebuck catalog. These little trees are highly valued by antiques collectors today.

The Addis Brush Company developed an artificial tree in the 1930s, using the same machinery used to produce toilet brushes. These trees had branches made from twisted wires with needles of pig bristles dyed green. These small branches were twisted together to make larger branches, which were inserted into a center pole. The branches were color-coded for easy assembly.

I would like to share a tutorial with you on how you can make your own Feather Tree :


STEP #1 - fabric requirements:  Brown 1" by WOF (or equal of) and background 12.5" x 15.5"
STEP #2 - from background, cut three 1" x 12.5" off bottom and then cut your remaining 12.5" square in half (6.25")
STEP #3 - cut one 12.5" strip from your length of brown and sew in between the two backgrounds.
STEP #4 - from remaining brown strip cut one 4.5", one 6.5" one 8.5" and one 10.5".  Set one background stip aside and from the other two strips cut two 2.5", two 2.5", two 3.5", and two 4.5" pieces.

                            

STEP #5 - sew your backgrounds to the ends of the brown strips per photo - smallest background piece to the largest brown strip, etc...
STEP #6 - slice your tree base background into four sections from bottom - 4.5", then a 3.5" , then a 2.5", then a 1.5" per photo.
STEP #7 - sew your longest branch to the widest background, and continue up so you now have branch sections.
STEP #8 - now sew those secions together taking care to line up the 'trunk' seams and and the ends. per photo.
  

Now you have a funny looking phone pole!  and that lonely strip.
STEP #9 -  Cut a 1" strip off the bottom and sew it to the top of your tree.  Now you can make your tree your own. 
STEP #10 - Either sew the plain strip to the bottom or you can add a brown base or a pretty bit of color.  Border and quilt as you like.  Now you decide how you want your feather tree.  Sew on some bits of green yarn.  sew on some strips of green (or colorful) fabric scrap, add some little buttons, add some little ornaments - just play with it. 

I will be finishing up my feather tree as the hop progresses and show the finish at the end.  And yes, I make a new feather tree mini every year as you can see some of them today.

I, also, have a very quick ornament tutorial HERE

As a thank you for visiting my space during this hop, I have a little give away.


A mini wool quilt kit (13" x15") - a gift for yourself or an early start on the gift box.  I will keep the comments open until the last day of the hop, July 25th, until 12pm(est) and announce the winner the next morning.  I will ship international.  Be sure I have a way to contact you.



Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

113 comments:

Martina said...

Thanks so much. What a interesting backgroundstory! Love the feather quilt pattern and the tutorial!
Thanks also for the give away which I would love to win, lol!I look forward to see your finished tree, hugs Martina

Karen M said...

I love the look of feather trees. How lucky that you have some from your family. Thanks for the tutorial. Such a cute mini. Must add it to my list.

Beth said...

Thanks so much for the giveaway! One of the most beautiful Christmas sights I've ever seen was a Christmas tree lit by candles in the home of a German friend. It was absolutely magical! (Because my mother's childhood home had burned down right around Christmastime when she was 4 years old, I was also a tad bit terrified at seeing those candles blazing on the tree, and held my breath the whole evening, but even then, I found the candlelit tree enchanting. That tells you how stunning a sight it was.) Thank you for the history of the feather trees. I didn't know the details until now.

Unknown said...

Oh what a wonderful idea. I never heard of feather trees before. I will have to show this to my daughter.
Thank you for hosting the giveaway also.

sewyouquilt2 said...

thank you for the background on feather trees. what a neat pattern you have. love your giveaway too but dont include me. I already cant live long enough to finish using my stash LOL

Nancy J said...

lovely to read a part of history from another country. Super tutorial, and as I do have some dark brown and some green just waiting, this is on the list.

Kate @ Smiles From Kate said...

I enjoyed reading the history of the feather tree and hearing of your family connections too. Thank you for both your lovely tutorials. It is kind of you to make your giveaway open internationally, thank you.
Smiles
Kate

Michele said...

I didn't know all that about feather trees either. Thank you for the info. Your mini quilts are just adorable. Please don't add my name to the giveaway. Wool isn't something I work with.

Sharon said...

Loved the background info on the feather trees. Your tree minis are a great idea...thanks for sharing!

Emily C said...

Very cute. I love the history lesson, I had no idea!

Sarah Craig said...

Interesting history of the feather trees. I was familiar with the concept, but didn't know the background! Love your tutorial and I really appreciate all the time you put into this, Sharon! Thanks for kicking off the blog hop in style!!

cityquilter grace said...

so nice to have traditions that make the holidays extra special...lovely blog too!

Garnet said...

Thank you for sharing your genius and for the opportunity to win a prize!
Love the story behind your feather trees too.

KimM said...

What a great post! How interesting. What a fun hop!
xxx

Karen said...

Thanks for sharing a great tutorial and the history behind the feather tree.

Betsy said...

Fabulous little tree and so fun! I have been waiting for this hop all month

Donna said...

So cute. Thanks for the tutorial. I enjoyed the history of the feather tree which I cannot say I was familiar with.

dortha said...

Thank you. The cat kit would make a great gift for my cat lover friend. I would have to make it for her though as she doesn't like how wool feels. Strange, right.

Carole @ From My Carolina Home said...

Great tutorial, will be fun to see it progress over the next days. I love doing wool projects and would love to win the kit. The history lesson was quite interesting!

Leanne Parsons said...

What a great connection to your family heritage! Thanks for sharing the tutorial, too :)

Diantha said...

That was interesting to learn about the feather tree. Thanks for the tutorial & giveaway!

Jill said...

Pretty feather trees! I have not tried wool applique yet-this kit looks like a sweet place to start!

Renea said...

Thanks for sharing the cute tutorial. Love the little trees. I have never worked with wool but it is on my bucket list to try. Thanks for the cute giveaway.

NancyA said...

Love the fun feather tree! Thanks

NancyA said...

Love the fun feather tree! Thanks

Charlene S said...

I love your feather tree.

allthingzsewn said...

I like the idea of a different each year. I have always been fascinated with feather trees, Do you have these on Pinterest, if so what is the name of the board?
Great share, thanks.

Roma said...

Sharon you always seem to come up with lovely things for people to make.. I will do one of the feather trees soon.. Also thanks for a chance on the wool. I dabble in wool rug hooking too.. Would make a great addition to my stuff..
Have a great day.
Roma

Monica said...

I will have to try to make a feather tree.

Kathryn said...

I, too, like those little Christmas trees. Thanks for the giveaway.

mlcquilts said...

I enjoyed the history of the feather tree. I already made the angel ornament - love it. Thanks for the chance at the cat kit.
Mary

mlcquilts said...

I enjoyed the history of the feather tree. I already made the angel ornament - love it. Thanks for the chance at the cat kit.
Mary

Di said...

thank you for a fun blog hop, and the sweet little Feather Tree tutorial along with its history.

Jean said...

Nice to discover your blog.

cjmont said...

i have always loved feather trees, thanks for the free pattern and giveaway.

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

Cute trees. I didn't know about them. I have seen some (newer), but, didn't know the history.

Susie said...

Hi Sharon thank you for a great Tutorial and I will have a go when I get five minutes!!!! Thank you also for the lovely Giveaway. I will be looking at all the Blogs in the Hop. Hugs, Susie x

Needled Mom said...

I enjoyed reading the history of the feathered trees, Sharon.
Thank you for the fun tutorial for one. I love the geese tree. Sooo cute.

Laura said...

I never thought about the history of the feather tree before. Thanks for the information!

Carol Clemmons said...

Hi there, nice to meet and make new quilty friends! Such interesting info, I love History! Thank you so much for the tutorials and the giveaway. This is my first time participating in a blog hop, therefore I'm pretty excited

Anita SS said...

I've not heard of feather trees before, but I love the idea and will start making them for my family. also liked your angel ornament. Perfect. Thank you for a chance to win your giveaway.

Sherry said...

Thank you for the tutorial. I always find fun things on your blog. I think this might be a fun way to use up the miniature ornaments that I have been buying for my husband. . .

Have a great day.

Sherry said...

Thank you for the tutorial. I always find fun things on your blog. I think this might be a fun way to use up the miniature ornaments that I have been buying for my husband. . .

Have a great day.

The Joyful Quilter said...

Thanks fur participating in the blog hop, for sharing your tutorials, AND for a chance to win a prize!!

Rebecca said...

I've been collecting wool lately and working on a very small picture, hand applique with the wool, which is so fun to work with. Thank you for the chance to win a great looking packet.
sewfabrics at outlook.com

Lara B. said...

Sharon I love your idea for a feather tree mini quilt! Feather trees have such nostalgic charm. It will be fun to see how you "decorate" yours!

The Colorful Fabriholic said...

Thanks for sharing your family's feather tree tradition and your tutorial. Looking forward to everyone's posts on the 12 Days of Christmas in July blog hop.

Anna brown said...

Very nice been waiting for this blog hop..Ilove christmas... happyness04431@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I am of German heritage and haven't heard of a feather tree. I so enjoyed reading your history of it. I will be making one and sharing with my children.

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

I love your Feather Trees! Thanks for the tutorial - it will be fun to make one!

Mary maloney said...

I made a wool quilt and used flannel as a backing and did not use batting. It turned out great. It is both soft and warm. M.

sunny said...

What a great post! You incorporated a lot of quilty goodness in one post. Thanks!

Mary C said...

Love this and hope to get mine completed soon. Thank you for sharing!

Tami Von Zalez said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Rina Mason said...

Wonderful post. My 2nd mother had a feather tree and it always fascinated me. Thanks for the tutorial on a fabric one. Rina

AZWendyG said...

What a nice little tree project! Thanks!

Barbara said...

So interesting about the feather tree. I love that kind of stuff. Thanks for the giveaway, and for sharing that information.

Sewgirl said...

What a great project. Thanks for the tutorial. And thanks for sharing a great giveaway!

ckrut said...

Love the story behind the feather tree, and love the little angel ornament as a bonus. Thank you for the giveaway.

OhioLori said...

Great article about feather trees! Never heard of before. Thank for your Tutorial to make a tree..plus the Angel Ornament too! Love them both!!

Thank you too...for chance to win your Awesome Give-a-way! :D

apple blossom said...

love your tutorial. thanks for sharing. Also thanks for chance to win your giveaway.

MoeWest said...

The history of the feather trees is very interesting. Thanks for a chance to win the wool project.

Pamela Arbour said...

Thanks for sharing your unique and easy to make feather tree. I can see why you make several every year.

Anonymous said...

THANKS FOR THE TUTORIAL+GIVEAWAY!
msstitcher1214@gmail.com

Sarah said...

What a fun tradition to make a new feather tree every year to add to your Great Grandmother's trees! Looking forward to pictures of the antique trees come December!

Kathy L said...

Very nice project. Thanks for the chance to win.

Kathy H said...

Thank you for the tutorial. I have always liked the feather trees. The ones with real feathers and the quilted one. I have always wanted to make one and never tried it. Hopefully this year.

@lutzcats said...

Great information and tutorial! Never realized until now, why I've somehow admired feather trees-even old neglected ones. I'm of German decent, got to be the connection.

Kathy E. said...

Sharon, I enjoyed your mini history lesson on the artificial Christmas tree and now I know what a Feather Tree is too! Looks like a fun project to add to my list.

Joy said...

Cat Stack is darling! Thank you for the give away. So far the 12 days of Christmas is full of beautiful patterns.

Cindy said...

What a wonderful story, and your making a feather tree every year is a lovely tradition. I'm loving your little feather tree! You always have such great projects and tutorials. jadahlgr@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

thanks you !
j'ai partagé sur mon blog français

Kathy S. said...

I haven't made a feather tree yet. Thanks for the chance to win. Shahann at yahoo dot com.

tink's mom said...

Love your tree. Thanks for the history and mini tutorial. I love the back story for quilt items, especially holiday traditions.

tink's mom said...

Love your tree. Thanks for the history and mini tutorial. I love the back story for quilt items, especially holiday traditions.

Karen H said...

enjoyed reading about the feather tree , thanks for showing how to make one-

Pamela said...

Thanks for the feather tree story! Your tree looks great already. I'm looking forward to seeing the progress. Thanks for the chance to win!

June D said...

What a nice tradition to share. Thank you! Appreciate having my name in the hat for the drawing!

Dawn said...

What a sweet story about the feather tree. Cute pattern also!

Mary Marcotte said...

I've never heard or read about feather trees before, so your history lesson was especially interesting. The tutorial seems very easy to understand and I think it would be fun to add a mini to our Christmas decorations this year. It would be a great way to add a little history and culture to our holidays! Thanks also for hosting a sweet giveaway--those colors would make an great base for a feather tree mini!

Paige said...

Sharon, thanks for the history lesson on feather trees...I had no idea! How special that you have some from your family. Thanks for the tutorial to make my own!

Catskill Quilter said...

Thanks for your blog post! I always love to learn more about Christmas traditions, and their origins. I also appreciate your giveaway!

Linda H said...

This is my first visit to your blog. However, it won't be my last. Very interesting. I have never come across a feather tree before but will be trying this in the future. Thanks for providing tutorials. It's so helpful for relatively new quilters or just the inexperienced like me.

Lee said...

How great - I loved reading the post and the tutorial!

rosemaryschild said...

I love the story of your feather tree-how interesting. Thank you for the pattern, wonderful stuff!

Unknown said...

What a wonderful story! I love history and tradition. Thanks for this giveaway!
Ralstonpamla@aol.com

Ramona said...

What a wonderful story! I love the feather tree! I am going to have to try one! momik97ataoldotcom

Teresa in Music City said...

I so loved your story Sharon!!! I had never heard of feather trees, so I was fascinated with how they are made. Looking forward to seeing the ornaments too :*). And of course you know I love your little giveaway! CATS!!! And WOOL!!! Please sneak my name in at least a dozen times *hehehe!*

Diane Beavers said...

Sharon, thank you for the Feather Tree history and tutorial. I'm sure I can make " Phone pole" .It's priceless.

schimmel(dot)db(at)gmail(dot)com

Susan said...

Thank you for the history lesson. I really like the surprise ornament too.

I have a couple of questions. In the first picture with flying geese as the branches, there is a row of what looks like 3D stars. Did you make those and if so, do you have instructions for making them?

I like your blog header picture. Did you design it? Are the quilts in the pictures ones you have made? As a musician, I am really drawn to the one on the right and was hoping there might be a pattern or tutorial for it. Is there one?

Jennifer Fulton Inquiring Quilter said...

Feather trees remind me of my childhood! What a wonderful tutorial.

Seacoast Quilter said...

Thanks for sharing the history of a feather tree. Very interesting.

Chris Dodsley @made by ChrissieD said...

I love your feather tree quilts and the history of them was a total revelation and even more so as I own one! Unfortunately it's not one of these wonders from the past but a very modern, one made of chrome and with white bulbs instead of candles, it's actual beautiful and my daughter decorates it by adding tiny, tiny baubles. Thank you for teaching me the true history of a feather tree :D #12daysofchristmasinjuly

Mary said...

Thanks for sharing about feather trees. I knew nothing of this history. So interesting! I love all your little feather trees, and I think I may just need to make one! Thanks for the tutorial, and the chance to win.

Vesuviusmama said...

Hmmm, I had never heard of feather trees before. Thanks for sharing and for the chance to win.

Mary said...

I am a follower through email.

Zenia Rene said...

very interesting. Thanks for the history lesson on the
Feather Tree. I'd never heard of it before today. You little minis are adorable.

Zenia Rene said...

I really like Latifah Saafir's Grafic collection!

QuilterinMotion said...

I love feather trees and their connection to earlier times when things were simpler. Thank you fort the tutorial and for sharing with us. Marsha@quilterinmotion

KatieQ said...

Thanks for sharing the info and the tutorial for the feather tree. Please do not put my name in for the giveaway. I hope the lovely kit will be won by someone who will enjoy making it.

Kate said...

Thank you for the history lesson. Very cool stuff. Your feather tree blocks are beautiful.

Donna W said...

Thanks for telling us about the Feather Tree and for the ornament tutorial

quilter said...

Thanks for sharing, I love cats. I have 2. I would love to work with wool, I have a small wool stash started. cork@pa.rr.com

Ilana said...

I love the little feather tree. Thanks for the giveaway.

hijoffe AT gmail DOT com

Marian said...

This is adorable Sharon, love the tree.

kt said...

Great tutorial! Thanks for the chance to win the kit--love cats!!

Calicojoan said...

Hi Sharon...just catching up with this hop. Beautiful tree projects. Your all decked out and ready for the holidays to begin!

sisylyn2 said...

Thank you for the tutorial. I never heard of a feather tree but plan to make some.
gandn74@ymail.com

DebbieM said...

Thank you for the tutorial of the tree. I love it. Thank you for the giveaway and I always enjoy your blogs. I've been following it for quite a while now.

DebbieM said...

Thank you for the tutorial of the tree. I love it. Thank you for the giveaway and I always enjoy your blogs. I've been following it for quite a while now.

Cindy Maki said...

I have seen some of these little tree quilts but never knew what they were for. I found one in an old barn wrapped up and stored in a trunk but it was destroyed by bugs. Too bad I didn't know what it was back then or I may have saved it and tried to restore it. Interesting story as I have German heritage but no elders left to tell about it.

LInda Pearl said...

Hi. I love your adaptation of the feather tree, and your tutorial looks great! I've often wondered about the origin of the feather tree.

Susan said...

Love your tree! Glad to have met you through the hop!
Susan @ quiltfabrication