329 Days Until Christmas

Here is my first finish of 2025. Yes, I finished this wool applique table topper for Christmas 2025!!! I enjoy making seasonal mats on which to display this lovely little tree made by the Simon Pearce glass factory in Vermont. It was a gift one year from my godchild’s family. The wool applique design was by Buttermilk Basin, and I purchased the kit from Shabby Fabrics. The name of the piece is “Christmas Treats Mat.”

I had started that piece in December, but things got too busy to finish it. It will be tucked away with my other Christmas things until next year, and my tree will be displayed on my wool, mittens topper. It, too, was a Buttermilk Basin design, and I also bought this kit from Shabby Fabrics a year or two ago. 

When I put my Valentine pieces out the other day, I wasn’t happy with how “Just My Type” had been finished a few years ago, so I took it apart. I purchased a 12” unfinished wood square piece at Hobby Lobby, and I discovered just the right shade of paint in my stash. “Just My Type” was a pattern from the Fat Quarter Shop.

Once again I plan to stitch one new Christmas ornament each month. That was also my plan last year. Please don’t ask how that turned out. :-)

I did, however, finish one for this month which I’ll show in an upcoming post. 

Stay calm and keep warm. 

Brrrrr . . . It’s Been Cold Outside

 After not having much snow this winter, this is what it looked like during the sweet light of early Monday morning. It was beautiful, and the very nicest kind of snow to shovel, light and fluffy. We only received about five inches which is little more than a nuisance for us. 

It has been a little over two weeks since my last post. Why so long? Well, I didn’t have any work to show. I’m in the middle of a couple of projects, but nothing is finished. I could write about Donald Trump having been sworn as our forty-seventh President, but I won’t. This blog is “A Positive Outlook,” and I don’t have one when I think about the next four years. So, no politics here. Wait . . I changed my mind. Just one thing . . I encourage you to read and follow Letters from an American by Heather Cox Richardson. Her posts each day offer clear, insightful analysis of what is happening in our government. Her post of January 22 is particularly worrisome, make that downright frightening! I have added a link to her site under “Blogs That I Follow” which can be found in the right hand column of my blog. If you follow my posts by email notice, simply click on the title in the email and it will bring you to my full page. Oh, and thanks for reading my posts.:-)

On a brighter note, after five and a half months, I have been out of my boot for a couple of weeks. Yeah!!!

Yesterday morning I headed to The Quilted Crow in Bolton with my friend Edith. My plan is to stitch strictly from stash this year, but I had two store credits that would have expired soon, so off I went. There I was able to pick up a few pieces of wool for an upcoming project. 

That’s it for now. Stay calm and have a good week. 

A New Year Begins - 2025

 My friend Laurel sent me this adorable Happy New Year greeting. So, how’s 2025 treating you so far?

I saw this posted on the Quilting Gail blog site, and I’m also not bragging but I haven’t bought any fabric this year either!!!  I can’t say the same about wool applique and cross stitch items. If you are looking for a fun, quilty challenge, check out her site to read about the 2025 SAHRR (the 2025 Stay at Home Round Robin. ) Visit the site for full information, but basically you work on your own project following weekly prompts provided by moderators. I did it a few years ago and it was fun, but I’m not sure whether I will do it this year or not. As it is, I already have a number of  nearly finished quilts to complete. 

It’s a tad late for Christmas 2025, but yesterday I fully finished three ornaments. There was a gap between the stitched piece and the top of the sled, so I found the perfect shade of laced edge bias tape in my stash of trims to place around the edge. I may have picked up this package of bias tape on the giveaway back table at one of my guild meetings. The price marked on this vintage trim was 29cents.

The two sleds are Sue Hillis designs  and the penguins are a pattern by Kathy Habermann  of Hands on Designs. Last year I planned to stitch a new Christmas piece each month. That didn’t go so well, but this is a new year, and I’m going to try once again. :-)

I had been looking forward to booting out 2004, but I’m the one who got booted instead. I had exchanged my boot for a lace up ankle support, but unfortunately, my bootless freedom only lasted  about eight days. Thankfully, I was able to spend Christmas with my family; I always enjoy seeing my young cousins and their parents. :-) I have, however, been back in my boot since the day after Christmas. While the boot is incredibly fashion forward, it is really getting old. Hopefully, an MRI which I had on Saturday will shed more light on what is going on and suggest how much longer I will be “booted.” Why, oh, why couldn’t it have been my left foot, not my driving foot. :-(

Have a great week.