Xmas By Quiltmania, Granny Stripe Crochet, Feelings

Hello again, all quiet here at the wooden house. No blowing snow, just dropping temperatures. -22 C on my morning walk and my cheeks felt cold. The warmest clothes, of which there is no shortage here, are being worn inside and out. I love coming in from the cold...it must be one of the best feelings there is. 

The scrappy Granny Stripe Afghan was finished and then I decided to add more to it. Not for size but for strength. With all those colour changes, I thought a scalloped trim around it all would help it with possible fraying or loosening on the sides. So that took a few nights to crochet. Used Stylecraft Special DK yarn.

 The finished size will cover a double bed and has a weight to it too for warmth. Happy to have it finished and it has gone to a good home, LOL. 

I have finished appliqueing all the Quiltmania Xmas blocks that I want to do. Here they are on my ironing board. Can't decide if I want to finish this now but really the Christmas stitching mood is kind of gone. I want to embroider a word or two in that star/flower block lower left.. sometime.  

LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's prompt this week has to do with whether or not we had an impactful event in 2023 and how we dealt with it. Yes, I had a crisis event that involved close family and I don't mind saying it was stressful and challenging for me. One thing I learned is there is a lot of help to be had if you advocate for it ...which I'm not shy at all about doing for someone else. Kudos to our healthcare system and the wonderful people who showed only care and kindness to us as we moved through the many appointments and meetings. It is a comfort to know the "system" works and is there for us all if needed. The resolution of this event took time- many months, but I'm relieved to say there is a happy ending (for now) to this story.

 Like most folks my age, we have faced down any number of crisis events of varying degrees so we know how strong we can be when we need to be. We know how to put one foot in front of the other and just keep going. And for family especially, we try our best to help. 

Now to the mundane...I have a couple of thrift finds to share next post. 

And a word about comments. First, thanks so much for taking the time to leave me comments whether it be encouragement about the stitching or suggestions/sharing or echoing my thoughts on topics, etc. It is also always a thrill to hear from someone who has been reading me for awhile and just now decides to introduce themselves. Because I do not know who reads this blog unless you comment. And your comments go straight to my gmail account for moderation so are completely private. It is up to me to publish them or not. So please don't hesitate to say hello if you have dropped by. 

Hope your weekend is wonderful!

Sharing this post with Kathy's Quilts, The Inquiring Quilter and Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

Bramble Blooms QAL, Quiltmania Xmas, Sweet Gifts

 We dog sat during the holidays while Beth and family spent New Years Eve at a hotel which is their tradition. This is Petey and Ned after the ball playing... panting at me, right in my face. Just don't care at all. :D  You can see the difference in height between the two brothers in this one.

We finished Billions...loved all the many references to sports, books, history, philosophers, politicians, pop culture, etc.; their research team must have had a field day.  I also loved the music that was chosen for each show. We are now watching something much gentler -Season 10 of Doc Martin. As they call it- 10 Surly Seasons now, :D. Those who watch "the Doc" will know what that means.

We really ate well during the holidays and are actually still eating Christmas treats that I froze. Amongst them was this large tray of homemade cookies and squares from family...the snowflake tray is unique and of course, the sweets were delicious. 

How did you fare with the temptation of treats, etc. during the holidays? Do you have a sweet tooth?  Tony certainly does!

I stitched another of the Quiltmania Xmas blocks. Poor tiny mittens are almost thumbless. I still have a little embroidery to do on the trim. 

My Bramble Blooms QAL project is moving along. I really took my time making a decision about this one. It is meant to be improv and I just kept wanting to make the blooms small and neat and to look like actual flowers that I could name. But improv invites you to think differently and throw caution to the wind as it were. 

The very gloomy weather must have been an influence as I gravitated to bold colours. Or it may have been the beautiful Poinsetta we got for Christmas from Tony's former inlaws influencing me.

More later about that lovely Ardisia plant that came with it.

 They are such beauties and I'm determined to keep them alive. I managed to keep a Poinsettia alive for a few years once since moving to this house. Any tips?

  Anyway, back to stitching- I made my cloth blooms really blooming big with overblown sized petals. I didn't draw a thing on paper first either, just went at with scissors on cloth. All from the scrap bags too. I used embroidery and matching perle cotton to stitch them down so they won't blow away and to tame the tattered edges. We are ready for the first borders. My mind is all over the place with that mainly because using up my scraps is my number one aim just now. What fun and a big thank you to Audrey at Quilty Folk for this entertaining QAL.

Speaking of which, our friend, Frederique, has updated her page of current 2024 QAL's here....  Quilting Patchwork Applique. So many wonderful projects! Thank you for sharing!

January can mean fresh starts which certainly feed into the sense of newness that belongs to a brand new year. What are your fresh or new/old reimagined starts?

Have a great week all!

Linking up with Quilting and Learning, Creations, Art, Quilts, Whatever, Alycia Quilts, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Quilting Patchwork Applique and The Inquiring Quilter.

Quilting and Stitching Updates, Shopping and Reading

A Healthy and Happy New Year to you all! I hope 2024 will be good to us all.

Do you believe in angels? I've read more people believe in angels than God these days. And I've also read over 80% of us believe there are things which science or nature can't explain. Interesting. This was one my ex found in the house we shared and gave it to me this Christmas. 

During the holidays I read Prince Harry's book Spare.

 Since I love the Royals, I thought I owed it to him to read his story. I finished it feeling an enormous sadness for him and his wife. And how sad for Prince William also, to not have the comfort of his only sibling by his side when he eventually must manage the monarchy himself. Regardless of means, relationships in families can get so messed up; I hate to hear of it. 

A little shopping...Online in this case. I've received this 12 pack of  these zippered mesh project bags from Amazon to organize embroidery floss, applique scraps, pattern pieces, etc. I've spent many hours in the sewing room taming all the bits and bobs and am looking forward to putting these to good use.  They're a good size at 16 x 12.5 too. 

 Here is where I finished cross stitching on my Autumn Quakers. This is on the left side and the motif started at the bottom is the last one. What remains to be done should be manageable the next time this one makes an appearance. 

I've chosen Madame La Fee's Jour De Neige -Snowy Day project for my 2024 winter slow stitching. A snow day was such a treat back in my teaching life. You can take a peek at Madame's other beautiful projects here at 123Stitch.Com. I have my eye on Winter's Tale.

Here is my start. This is being stitched on 28 count Ice Blue Lugana fabric which is kind of a greyish pale blue but is bluer than how it shows here. I'm using all DMC threads.

And in sewing I finished a little cabin in the woods for my Quiltmania Xmas project. Stitching houses is fun. 

And my crocheted blanket is all done as well. I'll share a photo next time.

LeeAnna at  Not Afraid of Color's prompt this week has to do with which appetizers you enjoy. At our Christmas Eve gathering, we enjoyed a number of Presiden'ts Choice appetizers that were from the frozen food section of the grocery store. They included wings, cheese tarts, shrimp, and sausage rolls. They were all very tasty. 

Not sure about the masterpiece, but the work in progress bit definitely applies.

 So I'm starting another new year in this new place that, while not home, is beautiful and peaceful. Also so happy to have my little family near and in my daily life. Thankful and grateful always!

Also grateful for the wonderful folks offering these link up parties like Kathy's Quilts, Life in the Scrapatch, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts and Quilting is More Fun Than Housework.

Simple Pleasures, Applique, Pattern Testing

I've begun my winter goal of spending an hour each day outside in the fresh air no matter the weather. It is easily done as two long walks with Ned will take up the time. And then there is collecting sticks for the fire and shoveling the front steps too which I've done twice so far.  It is slow going in the woods with the snow we've had already. And I take time to look about, take a photo, try to find birds, etc. Ned upset me one morning by eating a lone rabbit's paw we came across. He gobbled it up before I knew what he was doing. I reminded him that we are feeding him organic food for his itchy skin and then he goes and eats something wild like that. He was completely indifferent, if anything a little proud of himself. Here he looks so much older to me...going to be 3 in March.

 I wasted, no I shouldn't say wasted, I spent an entire evening playing with a new pattern. My latest Quiltmania magazine featured a beautiful vintage quilt with the pattern to make it.

No, not the cover quilt; that one is incredible wool applique. This one below...The Scrappy Stars quilt made by Poulien Wolfswinkel (what a neat surname!). 

And we are all in love with stars. It would work well as another scrappy project to use up some of those sorted scraps I've been up to my knees in lately. So I set about copying the pattern, tracing and cutting the card stock pieces-made loads of the triangles and corner pieces to stitch them EPP. Then tried out a few of the fans with my blue scraps which are plentiful. 

Overnight I had the thought that the pattern at this size-2 1/2 inches, was far too small and fiddly for my fingers, plus it would take a million of them to make a lap quilt even.  I need the pattern enlarged. So today I'm going to resize the pattern to make it bigger, maybe to a finished 6 inch square size at least. 

Since last writing, I also finished another Quiltmania Xmas square, the little potted hearts. These are small as well but not too small. I'm including a little blue fabric here and there from now on. 

So what are you looking forward to this week? It's important to have something to look forward to- even a very small thing like for me right now I'm looking forward to putting the kettle on for tea and know I will have a muffin with it. Our wood guy came with a load of wood for us and we were pleased to find out it had been stored inside so dry...that will catch easier and burn cleaner. I look forward to making a cheery fire with it each winter morning. We've also been enjoying the little thing of opening up our advent calendars from Beth each day. Mine is really neat, a 50 piece puzzle of puppies, each day. Tony's is all chocolates and Ned, the rabbit eater, also gets an edible treat. 

So what are your tiny but enjoyable somethings to look forward to this week? 

Also enjoyable to link up with great parties around the net such as Life in Pieces , It's a Small Town Life, Melva Loves Scraps, So Scrappy and Quilt Fabrications.

Canadian December, Christmas Patchwork Diamond Quilt Begun

It's looking a lot like Christmas here and the kids got a snow day last Monday. We've broken a former record for how many hours straight it had been snowing -59. And it does feel like it has been snowing for days, just lightly but no sun. Our world is a post card like black and white winter one. Ned loves sniffing all the obvious tracks that now we can name as the usual visitors...squirrel, turkey, bird, fox, etc. 

The trees in the front area of the house are huge. See 6ft 4in Tony with Ned?

I went to two grocery stores and could not find Puff pastry. I don't know if I was looking in the wrong frozen food sections or what. Anyway. in the kitchen, I decided to make us muffins which will always get eaten. I use a blend of white and brown flours.

This time I made Apple Pecan Oat Muffins and they were good. This is definitely a rare kind of  guilt free baked good for me as I know exactly what has gone in them. I used  Lara's recipe as a guide.

  I was deep into short story compilations there for a couple of weeks. I realized these are great while sitting waiting for Jack or Tony at appointments. I read these books before but forget the bits enough to enjoy a reread. That seems to be happening to me lately. 

Wherever I set up, it seems I have a ton of stuff around me. It gathers and grows. But it's not my fault as I like to have at hand whatever project crosses my mind to work on while I'm watching tv. Once settled in, I hate getting up and going all the way to the sewing room down the hall, etc. Sounds lazy I know. Does this sound like you too-not the lazy bit but the accumulation of project paraphernalia? 

Tony is very good natured about all my "stuff" though I think he is mystified as to why there is so much of it all.

Here are a couple more of the appliqued and embroidered Quiltmania Xmas Blocks below. I don't like writing Christmas as Xmas, never did. It's very fitting there is a squirrel in the mix, don't you think.

After waffling about far too long, I finally settled on what I'm going to sew with the Noel jelly roll.   A Bright Corner 's free 2018 Christmas Patchwork Diamond tutorial link has been in my notebook for a few years. I'm pretty sure I've shared it here at some point. I like how Andy has presented the pattern in easy to follow sections.  I've cut the squares and laid out how the first block will look. So far, so good. Hopefully I'll get in the sewing room itself this weekend to get this block stitched. Have a look around Andy's site as she has lots of wonderful free quilting patterns and great tutorials.

In very slow stitching, I'm still cross stitching motifs on my Autumn Quakers. The goal was set to finish two more before changing to Christmas/winter cross stitching and I'm sticking to that. 

A while ago, someone asked about a game I mentioned called Lexulous. It is a free online scrabble game where you have the choice to play against the computer or solitary mode. I always choose solitary and work out one game every day. I use a dictionary in an effort to expand my Scabble vocab. Trying to keep the old brain working. :D

 I do hope you are keeping warm or cool depending on where you live in this wide wonderful world!

So happy to link with Not Afraid of Color, Kathy's Quilts, Quilting Patchwork Applique, It's a Small Town Life, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts and Wendy's Quilts and More.

Christmas Quiltmania, Crocheting, Coziest Time of Year

 The weather outside is just a little bit frightful...

I'm feeling thankful I don't have to go out in such weather anymore. And all good inside. It is very cosy in the tv room with YouTube entertainment, a large mug of coffee and crocheting like crazy. Doesn't get much better for a retiree. 

I've pulled out my Applique and Embroidery Xmas at Quiltmania, 2018 project. I have no idea where I ended this before. But here are a few blocks up close. The idea was to use a very limited and muted palette- just white, red and grey in the mix.

I checked and the free patterns are still there at that link if you'd like to take a look. 

And these four...at some point I decided to add this darker blue into the mix. The bell could use more embellishments. 

I think I've stitched a couple more since so will do another search in the WIP's drawer. Because surely I would have picked this up again the following Christmas. But anyway, this will be my main hand stitching for December with the plan to get 20 or so of these blocks finished. 

Last year I was given a jelly roll of  Laundry Basket Quilts lovely Andover Noel fabric, the only new fabric in my stash. I've been doing a little search for a machine stitching project. Isn't it pretty. Any suggestions...I've never used a jelly roll in a real project before. 

I've gotten the over 65 Flu Vaccine and waffling on whether to get the Covid one too. It made me think of how differently vaccinations were viewed when I was a kid. 

I think all of my vaccinations were given to me at school growing up. "Getting a needle" day would be almost terrifying with someone crying- sometimes even a boy would cry! and once someone fainted. You can imagine how exciting that was! I doubt very much if my parents gave permission or even knew ahead of time this was happening. And all we felt was gratitude, thankful that we were being protected against some dreadful disease. No more thought than that. My parents would have agreed anyway especially since my mother had a brother who'd become slightly physically disabled as the result of childhood polio. I don't think anyone questioned the value. There was certainly less grey area and more black and white in that post '50's world I grew up in. The door has been firmly shut on that world (and there are certainly things that do need to stay behind that door!).  Would this have been your experience with vaccinations too?

I hope you are having a great first weekend of December and your fingers are flying. 

Happily linking with Songbird Designs, The Inquiring Quilter, Alycia Quilts, Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

Advent Calendars, Pears in December Sunlight, Applique Blocks, Yuletide Blanket

 Besides being fleeting, the sunlight is not especially good sunlight these days. It is weakened and I think of how the sun is really so far away especially in winter for us in our corner of the world. We are careening, it seems, towards the 21st, the shortest day of the year. But the air is good. I compare it to the kind of air humidity creates which I complained about so much last summer and the air these days is superior even while cold. But as always grateful to be breathing still or topside as my grandparents put it. 

I liked how these pears and home made honey, gifts from older daughter, looked in the pale sunlight this morning. I have a thing about pears; I like their shape and their taste.

The three of us here, Hubby, myself and the Ornament Eater, are enjoying our Advent Calendars, a gift from younger daughter each year.  

Mine is the best...Clarins. Their Rose Radiance Moisturizing Cream is beautiful but so expensive. I have a jar and use it sparingly. Then the voice in my head will say things like use it up, you don't spend money on makeup, what are you waiting for, you're thrifty in other ways, etc. etc.  Do you have such a voice?

I've read this recent trend...folks are making the resolution to stitch strictly stash (say that 7 times!) in the new year. And this trend is also circulating FlossTube which is YouTube for cross stitchers. That I can understand as some stitchers there have over a hundred patterns collected. I should be taking the same vow even though my stash is nothing compared to many. But sometimes I can feel overwhelmed by what I have sitting -waiting. 

 Now completely disregard that train of thought and have a gander at a little temptation...

Art Gallery Fabrics has released a video of their new lines for the new year. A little bit of gorgeous is all I'm going to say about that.

On my continuing Christmas TO DO list for this month...several more of the Xmas at Quiltmania blocks are finished.  

And this big-eyed bird. 

I've been testing a vintage style block called Jewel Box for some Christmas machine stitching. Photos next time. 

And I love how Yuletide Blanket is growing. Definitely Yuletide colours and crocheting goes well with the evening tv viewing.

A little smile today...

Writing About Writing

Hope everything about your week is wonderful!

 Also wonderful to link with Not Afraid of Color, Alycia Quilts, Life in the Scrapatch, Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Texas Quilt Gal.

Disappearing Tree, Slightly Foxed, Appliqued Blocks, Christmas Thoughts

The tree was up and enjoyed for two days. As always Snowy Owl looked down from the very top and I loved the way the 8 year old decorator decided every single item had to be hung on it and that most of the lights hanging in one spot was especially pretty. 

Then it had to come down. Ned! He just loved the ornaments too much and his reach was too far. After losing several of them, I decided to put it all away where everything will be safe for another year. Hopefully, he will be more mature then too and the soft ornaments won't be quite so enticing.

.How did Ned feel about this?

No comment though I'm sure inside he feels badly.

I am enjoying reading the little book down below, A Countryman's Winter Notebook by Adrian Bell.  I purchased it at Slightly Foxed, an online literary magazine which also features reissues of classic memoirs for sale like the one I bought. 

I like a passage in Adrian's book about how old folks search at Christmas time, searching for the Christmases we used to know, what we think of as the true Christmases...if not those of our own youth, then the ones we provided for our children in their childhood. The further away from those we grow, the less real the feelings of Christmas are. I think there is truth in this as I heard my own parents comment that Christmas wasn't the same anymore to them (and this from a mother who was mad about Christmas back in the day) much the same as I too am feeling and searching these latter years.

I am busy deciding on embellishments for the squirrel and bird in the little Xmas at Quiltmania SAL.  I'm almost ready to put these on the wall and make a decision or two about putting them together. 

That's one of Murphy's ornaments...I've kept it out. 😔

It's now the season for heartier food it seems. My bread machine turns out a pretty good loaf. With real butter and molasses and as always, my cup of tea, it definitely makes a hearty treat. 

I had to do my first snow shoveling on Monday, a chore I don't mind at all. It felt good to be taking my time, getting a necessary job done and breathing in the crisp, fresh air. 

 The Virtual Cookie Exchange has been going on and I've tried to visit a couple of folks every day. Wonderful concept as you get to see projects and enjoy a cookie/sweets recipe- more often than not, a tried and tested one. Sometimes vintage too which I especially like to learn about. Hosted each year by Carol at Just Let Me Quilt. There you can visit all the folks both past and present. 

Marja at Sweet Home Alamarja has this saying at the end of every post.A stitch every day is a shirt sleeve in a year. Perhaps the Dutch is not translating perfectly but we all know the sentiment to be true.

I am trying not to feel pressured, to relax, take my time and enjoy this wonderful month. And that includes, of course, the stitching, yes I am going to celebrate every bit of that too. 

 Hope you are too!

Check out these great parties....Not Afraid of Color, Kathy's Quilts, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Quilting Patchwork Applique, Quilt Fabrication, Powered By Quilting and Brian's Home Blog.

#2 Best Auction Score, Quiltmania SAL, Homemade Yogurt, Neddy

After two years, we were able to revive our tradition of Robbie helping me decorate the house for Christmas. We had a wonderful day together and he had much fun opening up the totes, unwrapping the ornaments, and choosing just the spot for them.  

Before the shutdown we had won an amazing auction lot for Christmas items. Last year I showed you two of the items we got, the little tree and Scrooge with his moving arms, one holding the light up lamp.

But we didn't bother getting out the large item that was a real score, my #2 best all time thrift purchase.  So here it is, a vintage animated Santa in Sleigh and Reindeer.

 It came in it's own huge tote that takes two old people to lift and is beautifully made with lots of amazing details. When plugged in, the sleigh light comes on, music plays, Santa's arms move and the reindeer's head turns back and forth. It all works, is in pristine condition and Robbie loved it. 

I found this YouTube video of it. 

We can't remember what we paid for the lot but it was probably less than $50. I looked this fellow up and he originally cost around $275, now available on eBay for $200C plus.  An estate sale and surprising that nobody in the family wanted these items. 

I do love saving things from the landfill!

My larger sewing room projects are moving along. I found the time to get out an "in between" project, the appliqued blocks from the Xmas by Quiltmania  2018 free SAL. Here is a link and all the patterns are still available.  I've just added mittens and a berry bowl to the group (mittens are away getting their wooly ties). 

This just might be the year to get this project finished! In fact, I'm going to say finishing this little UFO will be my To Do project for this week.  They will make a cute little hanging. 

 

You've been asking about the yogurt maker. My first batch was a success! Several of you mentioned I did not need special yogurt starter to get it going (thank you) so I bought plain yogurt at the grocery store, followed the easy directions I found online and used that.  Worked like a charm.  The yogurt is a little tangier than commercial which I liked. This one used up leftover chopped apple and grapes and a little honey. It will definitely provide our yogurt from now on. 

I'll leave you today with this photo of Neddy. He had chased a red squirrel into a hole in this mound of rocks. We are unsure of what the rocks were...we have two lines of them running more or less straight through our property. Moss covered, very old looking and definitely arranged in lines like fencing. 

They are now home to many little creatures as I've seen chipmunks running in and out and the pile down by the driveway housed a fox's den. We were told that by the former owners. But fox also use the mound behind the big garage as Rex once chased a fox and it disappeared into the rocks leaving Rex completely bewildered as to where it had gone. With snow now we will see lots of tracks around them.

Hope your Sunday is wonderful!

Happy to be linking with other stitchers at Kathy's Quilts, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Texas Quilt Gal, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Love Laugh Quilt and Quilting is More Fun Than Housework.