As with most stitchers at this time of the year, a lot of what we create is secretive until after Christmas. There has been a bit of sewing that can be shown.
Using a snowflake embroidery design, I created a small candle mat. Hopefully, it will be able to be used past the Christmas season.
Like so many others, I have been trying to keep up with Bonnie Hunter's En Provence Mystery. I managed to finish Step 3 and finally finished Step 1 too.
Although I probably won't have a lot of time to work on these blocks, I did start on Scrap Dance Waltz - hosted by Carole at From My Carolina Home. I loved this pattern.
We had a few little helpers to help get the Christmas tree up yesterday. Of course the ornaments ended up rather clustered and low! ;-) It is always fun to have the little ones here for the Christmas traditions.
Before the train goes under the tree, the children like to set it up and play with it - building bridges with the blocks and running it faster than it can go on the smaller track under the tree.
While we are enjoying the last of the roses before they get pruned back, the poinsettia now has bright red flowers all over it.
I was recently a winner on Soma's blog and received these gorgeous batik fabrics along with a few of her beautiful patterns. The photo does not do the colors any justice. As I told Soma, I have been wanting to make a blue quilt for awhile now and these should be perfect.
Just to add to the Christmas eating, they have recently opened a Krispy Kreme Doughnut shop fairly close to us. Oh.my.goodness! I loved seeing the doughnuts make their way down the processing line only to get placed in your box at the end - still warm. They absolutely melt in your mouth.....so, how bad can they really be for you?
Two more weeks from today is Christmas. Relax and enjoy the beautiful season.
Your candle mat just says winter, not Christmas so you should be able to use it all winter. I have some snowflake embroidery patterns too so you have given me an idea.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen such a large poinsettia flower. That must be fun growing them outside.
Love your snow flake candle mat...
ReplyDeleteIts great to see your little ones decorate the tree and play with your train 🚂 before it goes around the tree.
Beautiful roses and what a whopping big pointsetia....
Loved your post! Your candlemat makes me think of winter - a good choice. I'm in awe of having your own poinsettia growing in your garden.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty candle mat, Mary, and all your blocks are great!!! I have to take part in a quilt on here again soon...been ages!
ReplyDeleteThe little ones look like they truly enjoy that train too...precious!
I have never seen a poinsettia growing in someones yard. How cool is that? And the bloom is huge! Your candle mat is so pretty and will look great during the winter. I'm glad you had help with your tree. My daughter's dream when she was as teenager was to lay under the glazing machine at Krispy Kreme with her mouth open. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm sure anything that melts in your mouth has no calories! Beautiful little candle mat. I prefer a snow theme to Christmas colors, so they can be left out through January.
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous poinsettia...and congrats on your batik win :) I have never been in a krispy kreme donut shop - looks like trouble, but yummy huh?
ReplyDeleteLove your blue blocks
ReplyDeleteYour small candle mat is very beautiful, Mary. I love blue. You should to use this mat all Winter :)
ReplyDeleteLove your little snowflake mat! It would be perfect for a hostess gift for holiday parties. Wonder if I can find time to make something similar.
ReplyDeleteKrispy Kreme fresh off the line are sinfully yummy. Pretty poinsettia, and love your embroidery, I think it is wintery.
ReplyDeleteYou truly pack a lot into your days Mary. I hope you are feeling fully recovered by now!
ReplyDeleteThe snowflake mat is so pretty. And it always amazes me how people can make progress before Christmas on Bonnie's mystery quilt each year. And here you are doing two quilt alongs, LOL
Your tree looks beautiful and the children are all such darlings! That's something to be able to grow those lovely poinsettias in your yard.
I love the Scrap Dance blocks--I keep looking at the Tango for a future project. Happy Holidays!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!! All of it!!
ReplyDeleteThe snowflake embroidery is so delicate, just like a real snowflake. Love seeing the little ones having fun. Krispy Kreme...deadly. At the Ohio State Fair one of the junk foods you can get is a hamburger with a Krispy Kreme donut bun. The mister will try anything. I will not. I have my standards. LOL Your certainly have a way with poinsettias. That is glorious.
ReplyDeleteLove your mystery units (Don't lke Krispy Kremes though!)
ReplyDeleteKrispy Kreme donuts close by would not be good for me. I love the glazed ones when they are fresh...yummy and a bit greasy. Your roses and poinsettias are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteChristmas is even more magical when there are children to enjoy it with. Your tree looks lovely. Fun sewing and beautiful candle mat. Warm fresh Krispy Kreme donuts???...now they are calling out to me! Fortunately our closest is over an hour away and in massive traffic and we have never timed it right to get them warm...they still taste good when cold. Gorgeous Roses and Pointsettias. Merry Christmas Bliss and Jingle Bell Joy...
ReplyDeleteThe tree decorated by the little ones is all the more precious when you notice how low the ornaments are....I marvel each year that you share that magnificent poinsettia with us! How lucky to be able to grow it in your back yard. I know how you love spending the holidays with your family and know you will have another wonderful Christmas with them. Many blessings!
ReplyDeleteYour flowers are gorgeous! Enjoy the fun traditions with little ones. They really do make it magic.
ReplyDeleteEverything looks so lovely, Mary! Loved seeing them playing with the trains and gathered around the Christmas tree. My most favourite is the snowflake embroidery. It is beautiful!
ReplyDelete-Soma
Oh my! I love me a hot, fresh KK donut!!!! My mouth is watering so badly right now LOL!!! And not just over the donuts either - you have lots of wonderful blue fabrics for me to drool over in this post - yum!!! Really loving that blue and white snowflake mat, and it is definitely winter - good for 3 months at least. And your poinsettia - WOW!!!! I believe my little Christmas Cactus is going to bloom for me for Christmas and I'm so excited. I do not have a green thumb, so this is big LOL!!!! Wish we had a few of our little grands here for the holidays, but it looks like it will just be the two of us this year. We are in need of some quiet and relaxation, so it's probably just as well.
ReplyDeleteThat pretty snowflake candle mat will be lovely all winter. I adore KK donuts hot off the line, but the one in our small town has stopped making them on site, boohoo!! Better for my waistline though, as they are addictive. Love your Scrap Dance Waltz blocks! Please please add them to the Flickr group!!
ReplyDeleteLove the snowflake candle mat Mary~ and of course your blue blocks caught my eye too! Wow your roses are gorgeous! merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteEverything looks so festive and I love love the picture of the grandchildren playing with the train. Such great memories for them and for you. I enjoyed seeing all the things you are working on, and know that you will always be an inspiration for me. Thanks for your friendship!
ReplyDeleteThey just reopened a new Krispy Kreme in Fresno too! I took Gabe and Ruby there, hoping they could see the donuts being made. But alas, they were not making them at that time. The line was out the door but they had a special line for the classic-only donuts. They are SO good warm and fresh, not quite as good when they cool down.
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued by the quilt on the wall with that looks like a musical score. I feel like I have seen that one before. It looks amazing!
Merry Christmas!
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ReplyDeleteI LOVE trains! I don't know why! I always have. I think its a childhood memory. I need to get me one. I hope you had a Merry Christmas!
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