I have been busy but not a lot to show for it ... yet! My goal for December was to focus on the projects and kits as well as fabric that either relate to Christmas or were in mystery and Advent boxes from various quilt shops over the last few years. Always the best of intentions but some of these kits and their contents got mixed up and I wasn't sure what went with which patterns etc.
It was a shambles of projects and I dug them ALL out of their hiding spots. I had started off in November making a lot of pillowcases from Christmas fabric and that allowed me to get all my fabrics with a winter or Xmas theme all crammed into one container. That felt good to know that fabric wasn't scattered in a variety of places.
There was a quilt I finished and got bound for Quilts of Valour. These blocks came from Marge and I put them together, quilted, bound and labeled the quilt.
And two more fun pillowcases made - the fabric was free on our give and take table at guild. I couldn't resist. I did donate them to a friend's church Christmas bazaar and have been too busy with knee injections for arthritis and excisions for my husband's skin cancer to get to a Wednesday Diva meeting to hear if they sold.
I started off making some super simple mug rugs from one of the kits on hand. They came with the fusible batting (very stiff, like Timtex) and I chose the fabrics to use. I have no idea if there was fabric that came with the pattern but I wasn't going to ponder all my supplies wondering? This was the start of my first one and there was stitch ripping involved. After learning my lesson the hard way, the rest went a little more smoothly.
I also finished two quick preemie quilts that came from our guild meeting in November... kits with fabric already cut so I sat and stitched and got them finished with the labels and binding.
We are still entertaining raccoons at night and we patiently go out and turn all the sod over so it is grass side up, stomp on it and try to flatten, and this activity has become something we do two or three time a week. At some point, the grubs must be all eaten up? But annoying and frustrating although we are one of many front yards that look like this in our subdivision.
Christmas light were put up with many thanks to our much younger neighbor (he is half my husband's age) and he did the main string that needed a ladder. I did around the garage doors and all the other extra bits. The first string he put up, and we turned on the lights after he was finished, did not work but no one can see that from the road. We are thankful for those that help their elderly friends. I love that he put lights on the bushes close to the road. We usually wrap that tree in lights but didn't need to when I saw what he had done. Don't you wonder whose brilliant idea it was to plant a tree in front of our driveway when the subdivision was planned?
We have had some beautiful sunsets and lovely sunny weather for an entire week... great way to start December!
One of my clean up jobs while decorating the house was to get rid of all our wax candles. There was time when we were younger, that we burned candles all the time and we entertained a lot and always had them on the table and sideboard. But, another sign of aging plus I discovered battery operated and rechargeable candles and many can be programmed to come on at 4 and go off at 10pm. I love that! The thrift shop got a huge delivery from me as I reduced my decor items by enough to fill my SUV. Hopefully, easier to put away and get out next year?
My Thanksgiving cactus is very happy and was sad that I had to move it for the Christmas tree.... but look at those blooms! I think it loves the location with light coming from two windows.
Adding to our raccoons digging up the lawn, apparently, we also had something the size of a bear or coyote... strong enough to lift our compost bin and pull the deep screws out that held it on the ground. That bin has been there for 14 years and this was a first.
And the decorating began... but, I haven't taken pictures yet! However, I am finished with as much as I plan to do.
The tree is set up and decorated but, my tree skirt from 30 years ago, a really sweet Dick and Jane themed one, is far too large for this tree and the space so that was one of my first December projects. I dug out some vintage fabrics and kept my idea simple with some strip piecing and then cutting 60º triangles. I also found a bolt of green solid fabric which worked great for the back. I used a pillowcase method rather than binding and did a lot of top stitching to keep all in place.
It fits perfectly.
When you are a senior, the small things seem to keep you watching the activity on the street. We have a huge issue with people speeding by our homes... we are a through street to the subdivision next to us and most of the homes have renters which means more cars as there is no bus stop close to us and there is more construction happening east of us so people tend to drive far too fast on their way to and from. We now have traffic calming bumps... ha ha... they used to be called speed bumps.
More mug rugs waiting to be stitched.
This is a Missouri star project that was in their Advent box last year and it included the pattern and the charm pack. I don't usually like these small half square triangles but, was determined to get this done and now, it sits on my design wall because - do I make a table runner or 3 table toppers? I can't decide but at least the picky piecing is finished.
I chuckled a short time ago when I was upstairs having lunch and my husband wanted to know what I am doing downstairs? I explained that I have many projects from the 1990's as well as the last 23 years and was either making things or getting projects ready to donate, thrift, give away etc. One of the first ones I have started is this set of gingerbread hot mats or pot holders. I have the fabrics cut and just need to get the gingerbread stitched down and then can proceed with finishing them. I can't remember what project box this was in but am sure it was from 2023. It was a good thing that I had put all the fabrics and the rest of the parts all together so I didn't have figure out what to use to make them.
This picture is a bit confusing but it is all the kits and projects that I have pulled out but haven't started to make. Not all of them are Christmas but are all waiting to be dealt with.
This bin of blue fat quarters will become a quilt of Valour using the blocks I call Carolyn's block and uses the entire fat quarter with minimal waste. This will be a January project but ready to get started.
I have this ready to stitch... another mug rug and it is actually from a 2024 Advent box!! Super simple and while I am making mug rugs, figured I would include this one. It isn't Christmas themed but it will be done shortly.
A table runner kit from last year and I remember it was from Cherry Tree Quilts in Summerland and was in their Christmas box. I debated about making it but decided finished was better than a kit so it needs the outer border, which is cut, and then I will layer, quilt and bind it. Kind of funky Christmas fabrics that someone might like?
You can't see this but, all the leftovers from my tree skirt got cut into rectangles to make placemats for meals on wheels and they are ready to be stitched, turned, and top stitched. I need these done for Tuesday's guild meeting.
I had a crazy, ancient panel that I had no idea what to do with... and it was winter themed. I cut it up and decided placemats, again, for Meals on Wheels would be perfect. I have six of them and I think I will keep two for us. They will be good in January in winter weather.
Two mug rugs made from the leftovers from the above table runner. These mug rugs are fun because you can actually insert the bottom of a wine glass in them and carry the rug around with your glass. Also, a great way to identify your glass in a crowd of people.
These are two table toppers... more well aged funky fabrics and I decided to cut up the panel and make two projects. They are folk art and who knows, someone might just like them?
So, here I am, drinking my tea, sewing all these projects and hoping to get some finished soon. It is a slow process because you need to read the pattern, do all the cutting, pressing etc and then finally, you get to sit at your sewing machine and do some stitching but nothing happens quickly.
That bin of projects is calling my name and I really want to reduce it but, to add to all of this, I have a few Advent boxes that I signed up for this year and they contain projects to make. My rule is, if it is Christmas related, then get it done... otherwise, I can carry on in January on the rest of them. If I want to buy another advent box for December 2025 then I am telling myself that the current projects need to be gone... either finished or donated.
I hope you are all busy working on Christmas - a fun way to be in the season of making and giving.
Carolyn, I always enjoy reading about all of the projects you've done. Excellent work, as always
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