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. 

First Wool Applique Finish for 2023 and MLK Day

 In a recent post,  I wrote about my resolve to do all types of stitching strictly from my stash and of my intention to work on some of my wool applique projects. Last evening, I finished this Simply Sweet January Wool Mat  from Shabby Fabrics. 

It was fun to stitch, but I wasn’t sure as to how to approach the swirl stitching in the middle. I wasn’t  confident that I could accurately draw the guiding lines for the stitching. After a great deal of thought and one or two failed attempts, this is what I did.

I used a slim exacto tool to trace along the lines on the pattern and around the cuffs of two mittens on opposite sides of the pattern. I then removed the two cuff pieces which would work as registration points when I pinned the pattern over my stitching. Finally, I used a Frixon pen to trace through the slit lines on the pattern. It worked great! For those not familiar with Frixon pens, all traces of the markings can be removed with a bit of heat after stitching.

When all the stitching was completed, I followed my regular wool applique pressing procedure. I always place a white terry cloth towel on my ironing board and then place the stitched wool piece face down on the towel and use a medium heat setting.

It makes the perfect spot to display this Simon Pearce blown glass tree which was a beautiful past Christmas gift gift from my godchild and her family. 

As today we honor the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., let us reflect on his words.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

The time is always right to do what is right.

Have a peaceful, happy week.