Free Patterns, Special Video, Appliqued House and Knitting Again

I've been thinking about all the turkey dinners this week and put in an order to Farm Boy for our Christmas one. We've done this twice before and enjoyed it very much. Their turkeys are amazing and they even include dessert. Of course, I'll make a couple of our traditional side dishes too and a trifle. 

  I was switching out the mugs to start using the Christmas/winter ones and thought I'd show this one below again. I'd used Rifle Paper Co fabrics in the Christmas Present quilt I shared last post and here is one of my winter mugs from them as well in the same design. They produce a wide range of  high quality items from mugs to rugs and you can check them out HERE. When I was in Winners a couple of weeks ago, I saw a teapot in this design as well.

 The house on my Christmas table runner is taking up a large chunk of my stitching time lately. This one block is the largest appliqued piece I've ever stitched. Here is the photo from the book.

And here is my version. It's not quite finished but almost there. I found the leaf bits fiddly just like the windows and needed a lot of reoganizing. I had them all placed perfectly and a dog jumped up and they flew everywhere. That taught me to use a little glue to hold them in place. 

I've used blanket stitch around these leaves.

We've been watching The Americans and enjoying it. They feature their bedroom quite a lot in the show and you can't miss this quilt hanging behind the bed. It is a Lone Star design in what appears to be white with greys and black. And there are interesting little pieces in deep reds here and there. I tried to find the maker but couldn't. 

I like the idea that supposedly the Russians would think a quilt should be a part of American decor. 

I went down a rabbit hole this morning while visiting Magpies Mumblings and I had been warned by Mary Anne too. She had included a link to the Smart Knit Crocheting site and at that link was a list of 30 sites, yes, 30 of them!, offering free knitting and crocheting patterns. I just got out of there to write this post...so many glorious wonderful patterns! 

Meanwhile, I have knitted a couple of rounds on my own afghan. The pinks in this are brilliant and it feels great to be working with wool. 

I'm up early most mornings and lately that means getting up in total darkness. One morning, not wanting to disturb hubby, I got dressed and felt my way out of the bedroom, down the hall to the main area without turning on a light. (I've since put a flashlight by my bed).That made me remember the line below. It's been written in many of my journals over the years right from the very young me years when I was definitely trying to figure out myself. Like so many young people, I was smart enough in school but clueless in life.

But I was lucky. The people I found myself surrounded by were all good people. I'm so sorry for any of the young women out there who do not have such luck when first venturing away from home.

You know by now that I love whimsy and I adore these creatures below and their woodland world all fashioned by the enormously talented Victoria Beata. This little video is called A Fairy Tale From the Glen/For Those Who've Forgotten How Gentle the World Can be.

Yes, we must hold fast to that knowledge too. In this world, there are many soft, safe places to fall too. I hope my family will always know I'm one of them. 

Giving thanks here always! And now all the goodness that is Christmas awaits!

So happy to share this post with Quilting Patchwork Applique, Songbird Designs, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Sew Can Do, The Inquiring Quilter, Creations Quilts Art and Quilting Art Whatever.