I love this magazine and all the people I know who work there. What a great group! So when Mary Kate Karr Petras asked me if I would be interested in designing a project for their annual “Best Christmas Quilts 2012″ magazine (on sale now!)
I couldn’t wait to share something I have done for the past 6 years — Family Memories Ornaments.
Six years ago, I was blessed to have a grandchild. She was born in September and that gave me plenty of time to sew something that she would have for many years — a Christmas ornament with her photo on it. I also thought she would want to see who else was in her family at the time so I made ornaments of all her grandparents, her parents, her Aunt and Uncle, her cousins and, of course, their two dogs.
Each year after, I have continued the ornament-making tradition (at least for my grandaughter, her brother born a few years later, her parents, and yes, the dogs.)
These ornaments are easy and fun to make and hopefuly, they will be a keepsake for my grandkids as they grow, mature, and have their own families.
I hope you can find this magazine on your local newstands (try your quilting shop, sewing store or bookstore) so you can learn how to make these for YOUR family. If you can’t find it, you can get it here.
Here’s what they look like hanging on a Christmas tree!
To help promote the magazine, Quilter’s Newsletter is offering free prizes for project designers to offer to their blog readers! So, one lucky reader of my blog will receive this– a fat quarter bundle of Skaters Village, and a fat eighth bundle + panel of Winter Wonderland, both from Windham Fabrics.
All you have to do to qualify for the drawing is comment on this blog sometime before September 1st. I will pick a winner at random and send your contact information to Quilter’s Newsletter and they will contact you and get your shipping information.
So, if you are reading this blog, comment and enter! It’s that easy!
BTW, I sent the magazine to my granddaughter and she was AMAZED her picture was in a magazine and can’t wait to take to to her first day of kindergarden and have something to contribute for “show & tell”! Love it!
Great idea. Loe this magazine..
I love these memory ornaments especially since I was just blessed with my first grandchild.
Never too early to start on Xmas projects!!!! Love these!!!!
Those are so cute, and what an awesome “show-&-tell” for your granddaughter!
What a neat way to display famiy and decorate for Christmas!
What a fabulous idea! I look forward to reading about your ornaments in the new issue.
What a great idea! My grandson started kindergarten today. I can just picture your granddaughter in all her excitement showing her picture in the magazine to her classmates. Isn’t being a grandma the best?!?
Incredible idea, and one that your grandchildren will cherish for years to come!
The photo ornaments are a neat idea and will create memories forever. Love it!
I also make ornaments for my Grandchildren, and I am always looking for new ideas. thank you for the chance to win
Love the photo ornaments!
I make ornaments each year, too, for our family and have for many, many years. Love it!
Love the ornaments. I have my son’s Santa photos framed for our tree! Your blog is really great!
I love the ornaments…they will be so treasured in the future. What great fabric..Thanks for the chance to win….I will search out the Magazine and try your project.
Christmas is 365 days a year!
hi! Nice to meet you!
This is a fun idea for ornaments and pictures.
I loved reading your post about being a New Yorker, and giggled because it sounds so familiar–my husband is from Long Island and tells me stuff all the time, using phrases like this.
Thanks for a giveaway–cute fabrics!
Such cute ornaments. Our Christmas tree tradition is to hang a picture ornament of the kids for every yer of their life. They have always loved hanging their pictures on the tree.
What a cute and clever idea! I can’t wait to pick up my copy of the magazine and make these gems!
What a wonderful tradition, and such wonderful family memories.
Great idea. Grandkids are the best.
These ornaments are a great idea, especially for a new grandchild. Now all I need is the grandchild….
These are fun! My mind is spinning, as these would be great as gift tags too!!!
Using the raffia as binding and hanger is so clever! And it gets you out of the teeny tiny binding issues the Christmas ornaments often produce.
Love your ornament idea! Ever so cute! and heirloom treasures
Godspeed,
mary
..ornaments w/ my kids’ pictures are still the favorites, as are the Christmas quilts…
Great idea! I need to do these for my grandson.
I love your ornaments – far better than buying a dated ornament. I may just have to adopt your idea too!
i love this idea, i have been putting special pics of family members in a frame for the tree, why not do this instead. i will this year. Do you know any deaf quilters out there?? would like to meet some.
What a great memory ornament.
Those are so cute. Love that your grand daughter is going to be able to show eveyone her picture in a magazine.
Love this idea. This is a tradition I’d like to start for my grandchildren!
Thanks goodness for the gift of grandbabies! And what a wonderful way to commemorate these gifts. Thanks, Carol Waugh.
What a cute idea. We are stationed overseas and don’t get to see family very often. This would make great Christmas gifts for them.
What a sweet idea! I could go back and dig out the pictures of my kids when they were little and cute! Of course, I would have to also include those school pictures we all hate!
What a great idea. That is a great magazine.
WOW, what a fantastic christmas ornament idea. i must get the magazine but also print this out – cause i gotta get this one done. my twin Grands start kindergarten in 2 weeks too. course they won’t have a magazine for show and tell but that’s ok, they will have the ornaments for years to come. thanks for the idea. scarlette
These family ornaments look like a fun thing to make. Looking forward to getting Best Christmas Quilts Magazine..
I like the ornaments- I have made something similar.
Nothing better than handmade ornaments.
Christmas is definitely about family…and making memories. So neat to look back after the kids are grown and see how they’ve changed…or not!!lol
Wonderful idea to make grandchildren ornaments. No better way to decorate~
What an excellent idea! I waiting on my first grandchild and think this would be such a neat gift for my son and his wife plus one for me of course!
Love the idea and love the fabrics!
What a cute idea for ornaments! Thanks for sharing.
Great idea! Can’t wait to try it. Great magazine.
I have been making Christmas ornaments for my grandchildren for years. I like your design with the pictures.
I love these ornaments, they would look so cute on the tree! I can’t wait to get the magazine and make some for my grandkids!
Your ornaments are so cute. What a great idea!
Awesome idea! And how cool that your daughter is taking a copy of the magazine to show off at school! Way to go, Grandma!!
Those memory ornaments are so cute! We have 2 new great-nephews this year so I’ll be making them some special tree ornaments.
Love the ornaments. I always give the kids a new ornament each year so they will have a collection when they grow up and leave home
It must be great fun to get out those ornaments each year to hang on your tree! I think I’ll start a set so my 3 yr. old grandson can see how we’ve all changed over the years.
Love this idea. Great for my tree as well as gifts! who wouldn’t love to get those as gifts??
Cute! Looks like a fun project to do with my granddaughters on our twice-monthly “Craft Day” – with a little help from Grammy, of course!
Thank you for sharing your annual traditions. The photo frames are ways to remember those close to us and may no longer be with us. The Skaters Village and Winter Wonderland would work well in numerous quilt projects I have in mind.
I LOVE your decorations! I would love to do that will my family-children, grandchildren and pets. I’d have to get a huge tree to hold all the ornaments! I love your blog !
Great idea for the ornaments- I think I’ll make some for my little boy.
love the ornaments with the striped borders! I love to see what other people come up with!!
Very cute! This would be a fun project for me and my granddaughters on our twice-monthly craft day at Grammy’s!
clever ornaments – I have 14 grands and 3 greats so far…..need lots of ideas thx = pick me for the drawing, OK???
love magazine!
Beautiful fabrics. Thanks for the Chance to win!
I love your design to display family photos! I will have to try it.
Can’t wait to try this.
I love these. I plan to get the magazine so I can do some ornaments for my grandchildren. Thanks for sharing.
I also became a grandmother 6 years ago this Fall but in November not September. Love your creation and know your granddaughter loves it also.
What a wonderful idea and a true treasure for the person that receives the ornament. My daughters and I will be trying these for this upcoming Christmas. Perhaps it will become a tradition in our family as well. Thank you for sharing.
Your memory ornaments are adorable. What a great idea.
Glad I checked out your blog onthis tour! You do some neat stuff!
What a great idea!! Keeping the memories alive….
Showed these ornaments to my grandsons and now they are all geared up to make some – nice present for Mom & Dad – thanks so much and I’ve enjoyed reading your blog.
Blessings,
Terri
What a fun idea! I love making ornaments for my family, and I think this will have to be this year’s.
I’ll be making these photo ornaments! Thank you for such a great idea!
What a great idea! It would even be great as a “memory” gift…several blocks of different stages of growth-especially with all the children together!
Thanks! Cleo
I love the idea of an annual Christmas ornament!
Thanks for the chance at the drawing.
Thank you for showing us your talent. THey are super cool. I will have to make some and figure out how to put the year on it with my embroidery machine. Thanks for the chance to win the fabric. Your grand daughter will be in the spot light the day she gets to take the magizine to school.
Like that idea, and can be used for any occasion! Make it an easter tradition, in their new spring outfits, and it looks good too. Thanks for sharing.
I love this idea. I have a great granddaughter that is 4.pi. She lives quite a distance away. She is with her mom part time and dad part time. I’ ll make some of these for her memory box so she will h ave something to hold on to—I hope. Thanks, Audrey
Love this idea. How smart. Tradition is so important at Christmas.
Love the ornaments! I’m sure your grandchildren, and many others due to your generousity, will cherish them forever.
I liked your idea of photo ornaments for decorations for Christmas. Actually you could make them into a family photo wall in a hallway to leave up all year too.
I just got the magazine today and zeroed in on your project. What a cute way to display family photos..and would make fun gift tags too!
These look like a fun project to make this year!
Such a great idea. My children always loved the ornaments that had their pictures or they made. Have to try one for my granddaughter.
those ornaments are adorable and a good way to keep track of how the grandchildren grow and change each year. thanks for a chance to win some fabric.
I am new to quilting, and it caught me by surprise when everyone started advertising Christmas progjects. It makes sense, though, as you never know what will happen or if you will get sidetracked. Thanks for the chance to win this beautiful material!!
thanks for the chance to win….love your project and book
Nicki
What cute ornaments. I love the family tree having pictures of your kids to look at each year. Even with my own children being over 25 yrs old they still love pulling out their ornaments from their younger years and talking about each one.
What a great tradition! I now have 5 grandchildren and another one due to arrive in October, 2012. I think I’ll start these right now and make some keepsakes for the little ones.
What a great idea!! Way to keep a hold of the past for the future and enjoy the subtle changes everyone goes thru over the years. I hope to start making some of these myself……Thanks for your idea
The ornaments are a great idea. I have 5 grandchildren, 4 under 2 years of age. This would be a wonderful keepsake for each of them. I also like the idea about the gift tags. Thanks!
Hello from a neighbor to your north in Wyoming! Thanx for participating in QN’s program. Their site says must enter by midnight tonight…..8/22; if I’m correct yours reads 9/1?
These ornaments are so cute. Your granddaughter will have so much fun at kindy show and tell.
What a cute idea, I lost my Sister to cancer in October and my Dad to a massive heart attack in December, it was a tough Christmas for all our family last year as we always celebrated together, I will try making some of these for family.
I too love this magazine with all its wonderful projects and ideas. Great idea for the memory Ornaments. I know I love to look back and remember when.
What a wonderful way to superstar the family.
I am the “maker of the grandkids” ornaments for my mother’s tree! I need to start making them for my own! Good idea!
Cute ornaments!
I can just picture my grandkids and my grandpuppy’s pictures hanging on my Christmas tree. Sure hope I can find a copy of the magazine here in Lancaster County!!
I found this magazine at local quilt shop and love your ornaments. Very cute!
The ornaments are adorable. Great idea.
I love the picture ornaments. I have 7 grandchildren and always make an ornament with our family Christmas card picture. These will make a nice twist to what I usually do. Thank you.
I have been making family ornaments for 16 years. The quantity has grown from 18 the first year to a whopping 138 last year! Families sure do grow.
I love the idea of memory ornaments! Your granddaughter will have fun sharing the magazine picture with her class mates for show and tell. Thanks for sharing.
I want to try photo transfers and this would be a nice small project and not as scary. and I want to win some awesome fabric!!!
wonderful memory maker!
I love christmas traditions and photos on the tree is one that my family enjoys. I’m always looking for different ideas to frame them for the tree and I love your idea. Thanks for sharing!!
Beautiful and great idea. Perfect timing for my first granddaughter arriving in October. Can see a new one each year as she grows up.
What a great project! Love it!
Great Idea. This magazine looks like a must have.
My mother just passed away at the age of 82 on 7/30/12. We used to just do glass ornaments w/ puff paint to recognize all the members of the family. But if I get busy NOW, I could make one of these for my 3 siblings, 8 nieces and nephews, and 16 greatgrandchildren of Mama’s. She was a quilter, taught me how, and over the years made quilts w/ the church ladies for every family member. What a blessing she was to us. Love you Mama.
Great gift idea. Also a cute way to use those annual shots of grandkids with Santa.
Now is a good time to get started, things always take me longer than I figured.
What fun! Love this idea!
Sweet little memory ornaments!
This is such a cute idea for Christmas ornaments. I still have an ornament with my daughter’s picture on it from when she was about five and she is 35 now, and I still put it on my tree every year.
The ornaments are such a sweet idea! What a wonderful gift to make for grandparents or parents!
Oh my goodness! My eye was immediately drawn to something that looks like it might be a rare DIAGONAL stripe! In green and white! I love to design with diagonal stripes!
probably my favorite magazine.. and these are so wonderful… thank you for the beautiful fabric giveaway…
Love the ornaments. Thanks for the chance to win!
These are so sweet… Great idea for Christmas I must go and get this Magazine and make some of these this Year.. Gift tags!!! and Memories Love it!
Great idea, why didn’t I think of that! I have 3 grand kids that I can do this for.
A new idea for Christmas ornaments. Our quilt guild exchanges ornaments each year. It would be really neat to put a picture of all the women in the ornament or a picture of the donation quilt several worked on during the spring season. The finished ornament would go into the exchange.
I’m going to be sure to look for the magazine.
Those are neat ornaments and I love the idea of making ornaments for my grandchildren. Thank you for the chance to win.
Love the ornament idea!! I am so ready for Christmas projects!!
I am new to your blog, you have wonderful ideas and projects. Thanks for sharing.
Darling idea for Christmas ornaments. Your granddaughter will be the hit of her class. I love Quilters Newsletter Magazine and can’t wait to get a copy of Best Christmas Quilts. Winning the FQ bundles would just be icing on the cake!
We are on the receiving end of photo ornaments at Christmas from our 2 grandchildren. It might be fun to give them photos for Christmas. Can’t wait to look for the magazine.
Interesting! Opens up a lot of possibilities!
Love the ornaments–would be a great way to use school pictures and remember each year, too. Barb
I love the way this project enables you to share and instill the importance of family history from an early age. Great idea!
I love these! Everyone always wants new pics of kids and families, but as soon as Christmas is over, the Christmas cards are picked up and put away and the pictures that came with the cards just get shoved in a drawer somewhere. With this idea, you can keep the photo displayed, and it doesn’t look like something you just thumbtacked up on the wall. Love it!!
What a great idea for a teacher gift!
I love this project and it looks pretty simple so I know I’d get some done every year. What great gifts they’d make!
What a marvelous family tradition! If you made one with a grandchild’s picture every year, by the time they were out and on their own, they’d have a whole tree full (especially if ones of pets were included)!
Great idea….love the feel of your blog! Will be back!
Lovely fabric and what precious ornaments
What a nice idea! I’ll be sure to find the magagzine and read more.
Can’t wait to get this magazine. I have been making ornaments from family Christmas cards for a few years now. They are always well received.
I love making gifts for Christmas for others, thank you for a wonderful new idea! awolk at rogers dot com
I’m so glad to have found your blog. I think I’ll be spending a lot of time here.
What cute ornaments these are! Just love them! And the cute comment from your grandaughter is priceless too! Aren’t grandkids just the sweetest things?! I need to buy this magazine as I can see me making these for Christmas this year. I have always at Christmas made my kids hands out of felt as an ornament and hung on the tree. It was fun to see how they had grown from the year before. The very first small hand ornament of them is my most prescious. Thanks for the giveaway too.
Adorable ornaments.
Thank you
sandyb720 at gmail dot com
I love homemade ornaments– can also think of many ways to use that fabric!
I love the idea. My cousin and I have been exchanging ornaments for 30+ years. I am always looking for new ideas. Thanks.
Looks like a great Christmas magazine and what a wonderful ornament idea. Thanks for the chance to win.
Nice way to capture photos and display on your tree. Love the idea. Might have to try it. Could work on a family wall too! Thanks for the idea.
Great idea and a wonderful way to remember the years. Kids grow up so fast. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve made homemade ornaments for each of my daughters and now my grandchildren. No two years are alike…
What a wonderful idea! I have a brand new grandson, I can’t wait to get the magazine and start a new tradition making these frames!
Family memories and ornaments! Great combination!! I also gave the kids an ornament each year and now, with 5 grand kids besides, it’s getting harder each year to find the perfect ones….I think you’ve just solved my problem!
The ornaments are so cute. I have half a box of scraps of Christmas fabric I love too much to toss, but the pieces are not very big. This would be a perfect way to use some of that fabric!
Can’t wait to show this to my daughter. It’s a great idea and could be used in her classroom with photos of the students taken the first day of school and then they can take them home and use them on their trees. Must find the magazine on my next trip to the bookstore. Thanks so much!
Great ornaments..would be great to make a few things early this year!
I love pictures and making ornaments with them is a good way to save Christmas memories.
Great magazine!
What a great way to showcase your family! I love the idea!
Lovely idea for Christmas tree ornaments & That fabric would be the ideal for a family portrate ornament or quilt;
I love the memory ornaments. I have given my grandchildren ornaments each year for Christmas and these are really cute. Will try them out this year. And since I have 12 grandchildren, I had better start soon!
Great family photos.
I absolutely love Windham Fabrics. All of their stuff is so much fun! Great giveaway
What great ornaments on the tree! Thanks for a chance to win some fabulous fabric!
There nothing more presious than a home made gift,a grand child is a blessing. and something that can be treasured forever. thanks.
Great idea! Great fabrics, love THE magazine
This is wonderful! I love it! I can’t wait to get a copy of the magazine!
Great ideas! Thanks!
Fantastic idea. I love that you have provided a “Show and Tell” for your granddaughter. She will be the coolest kid in class…
I had a fabulous time in your class on Saturday! I am already planning out my next “Stupendous Stitching” project.
I’ve been looking for a Christmas project! This is it! Thanks so much. I can have these done well before I need them and that’s always a plus!!!
Awesome idea, and can’t wait to make some of my first grandson!
Very nice!
I love the idea. What a great magazine.
Thanks for coming to my class and I’m so happy you had a good time. Can’y wait to see your first (and next) piece!
I love the Christmas ornament idea! I bought my very first sewing machine in June, and I’ve been eagerly looking for Christmas gift ideas to get started on. These will make great stocking stuffers for my little boys and my husband. Thanks!
Love this magazine! I have a 2 yr old grandson who loves to see pictures of himself and those he loves. He will absolutely love a tree full of these. This grandma needs to get busy. Thank you for the opportunity to win!
What a cool idea..the lil pic. frame ornaments are! Love the fabric bundle mag too! Would loooove to win!
Thanks for the chance!
Wonderful, easy ideas that will last a life time. Thanks for the chance to win as well.
The magazine looks wonderful – thanks for the giveaway!!
What a terrific idea for the memory ornaments, thank you.
Thanks for putting my name in the hat for the drawing!
: )
I love looking at how people personalize their Christmas tree. It sounds like your tree would be fun to check out.
Barb@Witsend
Photo ornaments are a great idea!
Love the phot ornaments…great ideas for any tree!
I love your ornaments! Will definitely look for the magazine and make some for christmas! Thanks for sharing!
What a great idea! I’ve never seen these before!
Love it, including the family dog!
What a lovely and fun idea for ornaments.
Every year I look for a new and creative ornament to add to my tree. I’ve Found it !!
Never too soon to start Christmas sewing. I follow on twitter as @kdavis52.
Thanks,
Kathy Davis from the MO Ozarks
kdavis1@centurytel.net
Wonderful idea! Thanks for sharing! I have a photo of my son from kindergarten that was made into an ornament. It is one of my favorites.
Thanks for the giveaway – My husband and I always exchange ornaments each year, and what a good idea, I just started quilting/crafting this year so of course I should make him a photo one!
Great magazine, always fantastic projects.
Good idea! I love the ornaments. I’ll have my first great grandchild in March and that would be a wonderful thing to for the baby!
Love the idea of photo ornaments!
I’m going to try this ornament…also nice fabric assortment.
Always looking for great Christmas projects.
Very pretty ornaments and thanks for the chance to win!
Great fabric! Thanks for a chance to win!
Great fabric. Glag for the chance to win.
I’d love the win if it’s not to late on Sept 1st! Great book!