Friday 16 December 2022

Free Patterns, Christmas Redwork, White Lotus, White Winter World

Ned, stopped in awe, looking at what the back yard has been transformed into this morning. Our first real snowfall taking the yard from brown to white overnight. It actually made him frisky something he is not supposed to be these days. I just got the shovels from the garage and will tackle the front steps shortly. So winter really begins.

While it's great to be finishing up Robbie's quilt, I felt the need to be stitching something of the season.

In my stash was this little kit someone gave me ages ago. The included fabrics are quite nice...I'd not taken it apart and really looked at them before. It's called Holly and Jolly from Australia's The Rivendale CollectionThe floss included is DMC #304, a medium Christmas red with a hint of maroon and I'm really liking it. Using two strands in a running stitch for most of the lines and trying my best to keep them small and smooth.

A word about those glasses which I need for up close work. These are half rims I've gotten from what I have to say is my favourite online store, Eyekeepers. They are inexpensive but I find them great for the price. I like wearing the half rims while in front of the t.v. I'm not affiliated with these folks but as a return customer I now get 20% off. 

LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's prompt this week was a favourite song or musical. It really is so much fun seeing live performances. Never discount local musical productions because often the voices are strong and beautiful. Over the years, I've been very lucky to see Phantom of the Opera, Jersey Boys, Camelot, Mama Mia, 42nd Street and many more but the standout for me was seeing Cats on Broadway and hearing Memory being sung from the stage. Considered the most successful song ever from a musical, Memory is hauntingly sung by Grizabella, a bedraggled old cat recalling her former glory days.  SO thrilling. "Memory- open up, enter in"

We liked the ending of Season 2, The White Lotus, and were happy to hear there is going to be a Season 3.  Created, written and directed by the very talented Mike White.


Great Free Patterns this week...thanks to all the generous makers!

Christmas Countdown with Janome Free block patterns found at the American Quilter's Society site.  I just checked and the PDF's are still there ready for downloading. What a terrific site! Here are the pinks again and the teals.

More from the Martingale Freebies bank.  O Christmas Tree   I can picture this in all colourways and fabrics. Perhaps my Morris greens that I'm still saving.

Since Christmas stitching time is running out, here is another freebie for a great little project. 
Fort Worth Fabric Studio has the download for this Sew Merry Log Cabin Table Topper. Love the fabric used for the edging.


 FYI, at Cora's Quilts you will find a list of 2023 Quilt Alongs.  The Barn Star QAL is one that is very popular as everyone loves stars. 

And for my slow stitching pals, Cuore e Batticuore has this lovely free pattern called Christmas Joy. Check out Carolina's beautiful site and also her Etsy Shop and see her very sweet patterns. 

Several folks asked what I was using for quilting the Friendship Stars.  It is a Sulky 30 wt blendable doubled, colour Foliage which suprisingly has a little of all the colours of the rainbow in it. That stitch featured is herringbone, my version.  I ran a few lines of that here and there just for fun.  

Hopefully I won't be playing catch up next week. I have all the decorating that I will do done, the cards mailed and gifts ordered so that is under control. 

23 comments :

Susie H said...

Thank you! Love all your snow. Wishing for some here too but probably not until January. You always have so many goodies to look at. Thanks again for the links!!!

Jenn Jilks said...

Our cats were similarly shocked!
I'm going to have to shovel again!
I love your needlework. Such fun.

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

love the free pattern for the tree - and that backyard - so beautiful - I love the look of snow but do not enjoy the cold weather that goes with it all that much anymore. Have a wonderful Xmas season

MissPat said...

Oh, I really like the Holly and Jolly stitchery piece, not that I need one more project. Several years ago, I started a snowmen bluework piece, but my lines were too faint and I put it aside. Guess i should finish that first before starting another. Our snow event turned out to be rain with a mixture of sleet. Not quite so pretty.
Pat

Jenny said...

Your found stitchery looks so nice, it's always fun to rediscover something which has been out of sight and tucked away for a while. Happy Stitching.

Judy Biggerstaff said...

Beautiful work! Love seeing all your snow.

PaintedThread said...

The snow is pretty! Goodness, you always have a project to three going on. :-)

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

Beautiful white world out there! I love the Holly and Jolly kit - perfect for stitching on this week. You find the best free patterns, Jocelyn! The log cabin tabletopper is calling to me!

Rosa said...

Wonderful blog! Thanks for the links (especially the glasses and quilt patterns). I'm always in awe of how productive you are. How do you keep motivated to work on and complete so many projects?

Linda said...

Did Ned persuade you to walk - he looks so cute in his cone. Great links - I was pleased to see the name Janome - my fave machine - and have saved that site for the many blocks. I like that DMC red - your stitches look so pretty. Enjoy your weekend!

Radka said...

You are a busy lady, Jocelyn! I like to see a nice redwork :-)
I hope you keep that snow at your side of the "pond".
Have a lovely Christmas! xx

Gwyned Trefethen said...

What a fun pattern to stitch up during the holiday season. Perfect when the snow makes staying inside desirable.

Frédérique - Quilting Patchwork Appliqué said...

Holly and Jolly is going to be lovely, pretty stitches so far! Enjoy some snow for the holidays ;)
Thank you for sharing, and linking up!

Chopin - A Passionate Quilter said...

I like the Holly Jolly embroidery pattern - fun to stitch one during the Holiday Season. Poor Ned.... he is missing out on running through the snow.

I like the idea of the wishbone stitching for the quilting. Pretty. I thought that was what you were doing. Hugs and stay warm if possible. I think it will be a brutal winter since the summer was so brutal with the heat.

Predictions for Friday morning here in South Texas is now 18. Going to be fun - as long as we have electricity - we are 100% electrical. Hugs

Linda said...

The red work stitching is looking great.

Karrin Hurd said...

My knee would be frozen in that snow. It is bad enough around here, 34 this morning and my plants are looking a little sad. I think I am going to have to put the staghorn fern in the garage and hope it survived last night. Happy Holidays and thanks again for the links to the freebies!

LA Paylor said...

everything done! Hooray! Did Ned have his big boy surgery? He looks good in that blue recovery collar! and what a snowfall... we were told blizard conditions but got only about 3" which is almost melted 3 days later, or evaporated more likely in our dry climate. Still ice on sidewalks and streets of course. Love your kit and spent a good amount of time at the eye glasses place
I really miss plays/musicals. I like local, liked Broadway, and on TV live productions. It's so immediate. I was lucky enough to be cast in several local productions back in Florida, and can still sing lots of the songs!
LeeAnna

Jackie said...

Everything looks so lovely with the coating of crisp white snow. We are still digging out from our Colorado low snowfall here. More coming so it will definitely be a white Christmas on the prairies.

God bless.

Kim said...

I sit here in awe at the beauty of your winter wonderland, Jocelyn. Goodness me, it is beautiful, isn't it?? Your Holly and Jolly little pretty is sweet and your Redwork is coming along nicely. The Janome Christmas Countdown quilt looks like a fabulous pattern. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas in your beautiful part of the world, as you celebrate with your family and loved ones.

Astrid said...

That's a cute stitchery. The Christmas Joy cross stitch pattern is really cute. Thank you for the freebies, love the tree. Elaine Paige's voice is amazing, love that song from 'Cats'.

Kate said...

Snow is so pretty, so long as you don't have to get out in it. You've got some fun projects in the works, your redwork piece is coming along beautifully! Have a very happy Christmas.

Jocelyn said...

Your snow is so pretty. But I have to admit I don't miss living in the winter wonderland :-)

Magpie's Mumblings said...

'Holly & Jolly' is really cute! Should be a relatively fast make too.
As for musicals, I'm a huge Cats fan too. It's evidently making another go-round and we looked into tickets but at $100 each it's a bit too much for our blood. We'll just have to remember seeing it years ago.
Thank you for the amazing links!