We Are Not All Quilting Queens!

 January is named after the God Janus...the one with two faces, one looking backward and one looking forward. This post is my glance back, I guess you could call it, at 2017.

There is a small amount of information Blogger provides for each post that gets published. One of those things is the number of page views. This count of page views is then broken down by countries of the world- but I don't know, dear readers, what province, state, territory or county you live in.

The number of  pageviews and comments continue to grow which heartens me to keep this blog going whenever I think I should concentrate more on other endeavors.

Here are the top five posts for 2017 in ascending order ranked by page views.

For the Sake of My Sewing Sanity

We are not all Quilting Queens!
I loved how so many of you chimed in to let me know it was okay to change up a pattern to suit my skill level and thus save my sanity.  It really helped me feel fine about the decision.
I was talking about my A Patchwork Year project by Kathy Schmitz.  I am loving it and just finished another block using the Pot Holder quilting method.

I attempted to hand quilt what I thought of as snowy swirls around Santa in this block.

 And this little video from that post is so pleasing especially as I look out on my snowy landscape today.

Liberty Block and Smashed Finger

I got a lot of concern and advice about my smashed finger which I showed you. The nail did grow out the broken bit which took about 4 months and it was really ugly during that phase. At one point I had a brand new nail and the smashed bit in equal parts on my finger! I now have a slight ridge straight down the center of it that I suspect will be permanent.  This is also the finger that I have trigger finger response in and I've wondered if the two are related.

Liberty Block on the wall.

What's Green and Very, Very Scrappy

All the scrappy patchwork quilters out there responded well to this post. And this one lived up to its name- truly scrappy as seen here getting its binding.

What the World Needs Now

This one was such a sentimental favourite I assumed it would win.  I received by far the most emailed comments about this post, some so touching and heart felt.  There is a lot of concern about leaders, politics, war and the general way of the world these days.  Some of you, like myself, are doing your share of fretting about these things!

The concept of Sonder intrigued so many of YOU!

Sew Spooky So Finished

Such a fun project to work on.  No stress!

Thanks to Cheri Payne's patterns!  A huge number of people completed this project after she posted the free patterns on her Facebook page, Quilts by Cheri Friendship Group.  There seems to be a massive following for anything primitive these days.  Other than that I can't think why this one got so many clicks. I never did post my finish on the Facebook page.  I'm still learning how powerful Facebook can be for bloggers.  Something to explore in the new year perhaps.

I am so happy to meet people from all over the world through this blog and the connections it gives me are so meaningful. I appreciate it all every single day and I hope you all know that amplified as it is by the fact that I am a true loner in real life.

Stay tuned...A Scandinavian Christmas is THIS close to being a flimsy...my happy job for today.

Happily linking with the following: Best of 2017 Linky Party

Photos of Today

Merry Christmas to all my friends in the Blogging World.

 Snowy Owl is looking down from his tree top.

Still snowing in my backyard!

But all is calm here in southern Ontario, Canada!

                     

My wish is that it is calm and peaceful for you too, wherever you are.

Trees, Treats and Tricky Churn Dashes

I've tried to capture just how tall some of the trees on this property are and during our last snow fall I was able to do just that.  I caught Hubby with Murphy as they were leaving this wooded area and stepping into an open meadow.  The woods felt almost like a winter wonderland that day, a feeling I won't soon forget.

I'm glad I remembered this project in time to get it out for Christmas!  My Shiny and Brite hanging made from a Crabapple Hill Studios pattern.  I do remember how much I enjoyed the hand quilting and I wish you could see the true colours of the wreath.  The pieced blocks in the border are not perfect but I got it done!  I decided to give it a place in the foyer this year.

Soup season continues here with a Beef and Barley version. I know many of you share my love of soups and I love to read about them too.

I am now working on the border pieces for the Scaninavian Christmas project. These are supposed to be 3 inch square Churn Dash blocks and I am really struggling to keep them consistently so tiny.  I am having a hard time using a quarter inch seam as the pieces are so small. So far, there are about four different sizes of blocks!  But I am not discouraged (even the pattern mentions this might be a challenge) and will soldier onward and perhaps even think of a substitute if in the end, I am not happy with them.  No pressure!

I was happy to find this in the mail box recently.  A beautiful issue of Quiltmania magazine and a very Christmassy one too.  Of course I love those salt box houses on the cover.
  A visit to their site to see all the lovely quilting is a treat too I promise.

And getting real mail is so nice.  I've set this aside for next week when I'll have the time to savor the wonderful project ideas and illustrations.

Myra at Busy Hands Quilts is compiling a list of all the 2018 Quilt Alongs. If you are interested, the rapidly growing list is in this post!  And it is turning out to be quite an array of beautiful and varying projects.  It is so useful to have such a list in one place so thanks, Myra for doing this.

And here is a link to Free Quilting Printables from the folks at The Quilters Planner. 

Though the countdown is on, hope you are not feeling any pressure!

And if you have the time, visit some of these folks to see what they are cooking, stitching, photographing, etc. in their part of the world.  Visiting you all is a true treat for me.
Not Afraid of Color, It's A Small Town Life, The Needle and Thread Network, Sew Fresh Quilts and  My Quilt Infatuation.

The Down Side of Christmas (And There is One)

Has this ever happened to you?

Yesterday I went into my sewing room feeling a little down...just a bit out of sorts I guess you could call it; came out two hours later feeling just fine.

I think that proves right there that stitching is theraputic. As long as this is true for me, I can justify the cost of all those pretty things I buy for this habit of mine.

Truthfully, I have to guard my feelings a little this time of year.  Christmas was always very special to Newfoundlanders and a highly celebrated time of year. Memories of  Home Christmases are still very much with me and I can miss Newfoundland and family and the happier old times very much.

I know I am not unique with this situation; Christmas becomes delicate for many of us for any number of reasons.  Kind of sad that there is that down side to Christmas.  I work hard to not dwell on it but it creeps in from time to time.

But getting on with it...as needs must!

The wonderful Nurdan Kanber has designed this Christmas cross stitch project to celebrate the beloved Little Women book by Louisa May Alcott.  Did you read the book or see one of the movie versions?


                               


I love how these old movies endure through the decades.  This is a clip from the Little Women version with Susan Sarandon, Claire Danes and Wynona Rider.  A little Christmas music too.

On the Stitching Front

The pretty hearts for the Scandinavian Christmas border...

Are now all appliqued and I have the sore finger tips to prove it. Used a few band aids along the way.
Is there anyone else who just can't get used to thimbles??  I  just thought of one of my grandmothers who would have put that this way..."used yourself to thimbles".

 I loved making the house and angel.  I thought Santa would be my favourite but no. I do love houses.

Poor angel is headless here.

My Wall now and she is sporting a head!

Santa is up last but certainly not least. This morning will be my stitching time today as a get together is on the agenda for supper.  I plan to make some sort of pineapple fluff thing for dessert. I have fresh pineapple, a favourite of Hubby's.  I'll let you know how that turns out.

Hope all is rosy in your December garden today! (I'm sure that is actually true for my friends in the Southern Hemisphere!)

Something that makes me so happy is to be able to link up with other stitchers the world over through these marvelous sites-Kathy's Quilts, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts,Love Laugh Quilt. Sew Can She,
Free Motion By the River,and Show & Tell With Bambi.

A Happy Robber, An Elf and My FMQ Adventure

Tuesday we had a snowfall alert for a 36 hour period. Such is met with mixed reactions...glee for the snowmobilers, skiers and kids hoping for a snow day.  But not so happy for anyone traveling.

Then Wednesday, temperatures plummeted to minus 26C with windchill overnight so walking the dogs early morning was definitely a dress up affair.  I even got out the balaclava Hubby had bought me at Princess Auto.  It is bright orange so I struck quite a striking picture in the white woods. Hubby said I looked like a happy robber.

No not really...you can't make these things look un-menacing.  Hope this picture doesn't scare anyone!!

 But it covered my cheeks which was all I wanted.
 Then I had to shovel the front steps because shovelling is my job and I like them cleaned off. This is good for me and keeps the body parts moving.  And all that fresh air is invigorating.

 I really like the Down to Earth blog and came across this posting.  I found it very interesting.  Animals are remarkable adaptors and considering how us humans keep spreading it's a good thing they are.

How Animals Move Through Cities

I loved having a little elf stop by to help me decorate for Christmas.  What a good reason to get it all done.

And I enjoyed watching his way of decorating too like the garland should hang like a waterfall

and these red birds should stick close together because they're friends.

Stitching news: Nice to have a finish to report!

I have my little Happy Scrappy Trees table runner finished and on said table.  I wish now I had widened it but the length is just right.  I dropped Tree #12 because it was too much like one of the others.  I used FMQ to quilt it and that is always an adventure for me.

 I worked stars in the "sky" section and was pleased with those.  The slightly wonkier ones suited the wonky trees I figured. ~ Smile~

And worked out a big curl for the bottom part.  This bit was fun to do. I traced the design onto the fabric with my Frixion pen.

I had to remove all those stitches the first time because I was not pleased with the flow of the stitching. ..a little jerky in spots.  I learned to take frequent pauses and readjust and relax my hands.

I used a zigzag stitch for the binding.

A great feeling to have it done and put to use. I like these pine cones the little elf and I collected from around the property.  I keep thinking I should do something clever with them.

So "Christmas is coming and the goose is getting fat" ...are you familiar?

It is adding so much to my blogging life to link up with Not Afraid of Color, The Needle and Thread Network, Stitching Cubby Hole , Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Busy Hands Quilts and Our World Tuesday.

Can You See What I See?

Can You See What I See

There are three deer here though I know that is hard to believe. When I first thought I spotted movement (from my kitchen window), it seemed as if there was some strange optical illusion at play.  It wasn't till the first one stepped out of the trees and onto the laneway that I knew for certain I was seeing deer.

 It is deer hunting season and it hurts me to think of such graceful creatures being killed.  However, I am a carnivore and will eat venison so my dilemma continues.

Two large and the smallest one is in front there showing why they are called White Tailed Deer.  They are part of a large population of them here in Ontario.
 Interesting how even stark bare-leafed trees can provide camouflage.

My chipmunks have gone underground, but the black, gray and red squirrels are still rushing about trying to beat each other to the bird feeders.

 Taking a Break from Scandinavian Christmas

My fingers are making protesting noises today from the tiny applique stitching I've been doing lately. I am now working on Block 4 of my S.C. and also cross stitching the snow flakes for the border. I think it is going well, as in I am still on track to fulfill my OMG for December.

 In the meantime I began this little runner for my sofa table made up of wonky Christmas type trees.  Just working around the green now with a little hand work that is not as exacting... blanket stitch and totally questioning why I try to make up my own patterns! (Will this look ridiculous!)

Wreath Making

Just love this tutorial on how to make your own wreath.  She makes it looks sooo easy!
But what I really like is the idea of using local foliage and that this could be a winter wreath and stay up through the winter months.

And speaking of wreaths, one of my fb friends decided she would try her hand at making outdoor winter decorations.  Here's the set she made for me.  I know I will enjoy it all winter. 

I think she did a great job.

As always happy to link this post to some wonderful sites hosting parties that bring so many of us on the web together. I always try to visit three sites at each party and have learned so much!
Kathy's Quilts, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Sew Can She, Busy Hands Quilts, Our World Tuesday and Normandy Life.

I Like a Little Morris in My Life

I know a lot of us like this saying by William Morris because I see it on your blogs. 

My Morris inspired bag is one I bought at a quilting store and really value. I only use it to house my good wool or some such in the sewing room.  Someday it might see the light of day LOL.

I just got out my Morris scarf (as I call it) again to wear now with the colder weather and just love it so much.  It is one of two scarves that I've received compliments from perfect strangers about. 

I also love Michele Hill's blog  William Morris in Quilting. Michele writes about all things Morris and also shares beautiful photos of life happenings.  I go back a ways with Michelle because I'd bought her book long before this blogging business came along.       
Her book is gorgeous with beautiful templates. I've pored over it many times.

I also own this book of cross stitch patterns adapted from Morris works.

And  I loved working on this cross stitch design from the book.  It's called Strawberry Thief and I really need to get it framed.

My sister gave me this beautiful book for Christmas last year.

The sweet illustrations are by Liz Catchpole.  So soft and pretty.

The post Black Friday sales beckoned me and I did cave in. Of course, I've had my eye on various Morris inspired fabrics for quite some time. This one is Moda's William Morris 2017 by the Victoria and Albert Museum.  Mine came from the great folks at  Green Fairy Quilts.

It just arrived and my big question for myself will be...can I cut into such beautiful fabric! The idea of chopping it up just seems too harsh or something.  My scissors and (especially) I are not worthy. LOL
What pattern out there will warrant doing that.

 But I do feel myself edging closer to working something Morris like in fabric so if you know of something, please let me know.  I welcome all suggestions!

There's something in the blues in particular that I just love.

But do you have a favourite fabric you can't bear to cut?  Or perhaps I just need to give it time.

So that's my current Morris likes.  How many of you share my interest in his work?


And here are places where Positivity Reigns- Not Afraid of Color, It's A Small Town Live and Good and Random Fun.

How Lazy is This?

How Lazy is this? I just googled crock pot meat loaf.

This is going to not only be a slow stitching Sunday, but slow all round and I have a good reason.
I fell asleep about 9 pm last night and woke at 3 am with absolutely no way of going back to sleep.  I was up fixing a tall glass of lemon water and completely confusing the dogs who kept trying to lead me downstairs to give them breakfast at 3:15.

Turns out crock pot meat loaf is definitely a thing but you have to mix it all up just like making one in the oven.  I think I need something where you just throw everything in.  Next up was looking up a ground beef stew thing; I decided on the one below because I can add beans and corn and a pile of mushrooms I was given by someone who grows them. Mine won't look as nice as this one put together by Corey at Family Fresh Meals.


                                     

Here is her link to the Crockpot Cowboy Casserole recipe. ( Not sure what cowboys have to do with this and Hubby is about as far from a cowboy as you could get, LOL.)  But with some mashed potatoes, I'm sure he'll love it.


Back to business.

 Scrappy Happy Christmas Tree Runner

I have a sofa table that is calling out for a Christmas runner.  I keep a neat Ikea one there most of the year but it is definitely summery.

I think this is my own idea...I mean as much as any of us can own ideas these days even though it is so vital that original work be protected.  But maybe I saw one similar somewhere.  Let me know if you did.  But I did look through some colouring books and old magazines to come up with a newish pattern for each of the trees. When I was eventually satisfied with the placement, I used fusible backing and ironed some of the pieces in place.  I've kept them a little loose so I can readjust them along the  way. Then I began hand stitching a little blanket stitch around the edges.

I loved how this project allowed me to use up the reds and greens that I have in my little scrap box and also provided a pattern that could stretch out as long as I needed it to. First I started with 8 trees then expanded it to 12, all of them slightly wonky.

I used a neutral light grey fabric for the background that has white stars and circles.  It helps the trees stand out, I think.

Blocks 3 and 4 of my Scandinavian Christmas blocks were all cut and freezer papered on Friday- there is an angel, a reindeer, a house and a large Santa here.

 All the while I listened to this audiobook, The Big Why by Michael Winter.  I said to someone I found just about every sentence interesting and I didn't want the book to end.  It is always interesting to a Newfoundlander to see ourselves and our province through the eyes of someone from away, in this case an American artist from New York.  I guess that idea applies where ever you are from.


                                  



Well I won't be causing any ruckus today.  Just a bit of slow stitching in my flannel wear while something else does the cooking.
And linking up with other stitchers at Kathy's Quilts.  Also so happy to join Quilting is More Fun Than Housework and Love Laugh Quilt.