Merry Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve has always been my favorite holiday. I associate it with my childhood in northeastern Oklahoma where we attended church service on Christmas Eve at our little white-steepled Methodist church. After singing Christmas carols, all the kids received a red net stocking filled with an apple, an orange, and ribbon candy, passed out by "Santa", the father of one of my friends. After church we would go home and get warm with hot cocoa that Mom made in a pot on the stove with cocoa and milk and sugar. I was always so excited and happy when I went to bed, anticipating the gifts that would be under the tree when I got up. After I got married and had a family, watching Holiday Inn and making and decorating my Granny's sugar cookies became some of the traditions my kids enjoyed, but I still feel the anticipation and warmth of those childhood Christmas Eves.

Here is Granny's sugar cookie recipe that my adult kids and husband expect me to make every year. According to my Mom, Granny made these all her life, so the recipe is at least 125 years old. Be forewarned, it is a tender dough that is not easy to cut and roll out, but the cookies are so, so good!

Granny Mitchell’s Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies

1 cup shortening
1 stick salted butter
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs, slightly beaten
4 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon soda
5 to 5-1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons nutmeg

Cream shortening and butter; add sugar and mix. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well. Mix soda into buttermilk (in a container that will hold the overflow when it bubbles!) Whisk together 5 cups flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg; add alternately with buttermilk. Add more flour as needed to make a dough that holds together. Chill dough at least two hours or overnight. Roll out on floured surface and cut into shapes; sprinkle with sugar. Bake 375 about 10 minutes. Dough freezes well. These are excellent with a powdered sugar icing.

May your Christmas be filled with magical memories!

Christmas Eve Quilt

This quilt was begun as a sew-along with Mama Spark. In January she issued an invitation on Instagram to join her in making a few blocks per month from Moda Bakeshop's 2018 Countdown to Christmas. I decided to do two per month so that by November or December I should have plenty of blocks for a nice Christmas quilt. I made blocks through May then focused on other projects. The photos did not have good lighting, but hopefully you can get a good idea of the colors of red, green, pink, teal, and black.

My improv block

Block pattern from My Carolina Home

I really enjoyed choosing from the variety of blocks on Moda's website. Because each was from a different maker, some instructions were clear and some were sparse but all were fun to make. The two blocks above were not part of Moda's choices. One of the blocks I improvised to use up some leftover squares and another was a free pattern for Nine-Patch Star from Carole at From My Carolina Home. I liked her pattern so much I may make a full quilt of those simple blocks. At the bottom of this post I have photo of my quilt with numbers on each block. You can match each block to the list that includes links to each website.

Instead of my normal quilting from end to end,

I outlined the designs and added extra detail in each block.

The back was pieced with a panel and two of my favorite fabrics - a red/black checked and a print from Mary Engelbreit.

Quilt Details:
Pattern: variety from Moda's Bakeshop
Finished size: 58 x 58 inches

Fabrics:
Blocks: A variety of Christmas prints from my stash, featuring Tinsel Glasses from a 2015 Cotton + Steel collection and Llama Navidad by Michael Miller, and creamy white background
Sashing: Mary Engelbreit Cranston Village
Cornerstones and border: Pearl Essence by Maywood Studios
Binding: Anne of Green Gables Swiss Dot Red by Penny Rose for Riley Blake
Backing: Panel - Frosty Fun by Sue Pipkin for Clothworks pieced with Red Buffalo Plaid from Robert Kaufman's Caroline Gingham Collection and Mary Engelbreit Cranston Village

Superior Threads:
Piecing: #50 So Fine in 503 Genoa Gray
Binding: #30 So Fine in 1105 Stop!

Top Row L-R: Regent Street Star, Night Divine, Grammy's Staircase, Prairie Christmas Star
2nd Row L-R: Let It Snow, Festival, Candy Cane Christmas, Hard Candy Christmas
3rd Row L-R: Special Gift, Reindeer Games, Grandmother, My improv block
Bottom Row L-R: Wrapped Up, Country Winter, Nine-Patch Star, Rocky Mountain Christmas

Snow Sampler, Joy Sampler, and Red Robin Candle Mat

My hand stitching for Christmas has resulted in three completed projects, Joy Sampler cross stitch by Lizzie Kate, Snow Sampler embroidery by Kathy Schmitz, and Gail Pan's embroidered Red Robin candle mat.

Although it may have been on Instagram, I really don't remember where I first saw Snow Sampler. If it was one of your IG accounts or your blog, I apologize for not thanking you!

Decades ago I taught myself embroidery (it was called "stamped crewel" on the packages I purchased) and was familiar with the basic stitches. My love for embroidery continued into the early 2000s, but only until the last few years have I again picked up an embroidery needle This pattern is mostly stem stitch, and for some reason I had trouble "getting it". Once I did, things went fairly smoothly. There are mistakes for sure, but overall Buddy likes the result because it matches his collar!

I auditioned a few fabrics for a pillow and decided on a Grunge-y denim fabric, which harmonized with all the variegated shades of blue in the thread. Overall a fun project (although I am not fond of the stem stitch), and I'm thankful to be back in the embroidery squad.

Joy Sampler was a fun stitch for me. I'm finding that I like cross stitch more than embroidery these days, maybe because my fingers aren't as nimble as they used to be. The pattern suggested 28 count cloth stitched over two, but I substituted 14 count stitched over one. This is a pattern I purchased several years ago, and I'm glad to count it in my "Done" list.

There were three little charms included in the kit for added embellishment.

It seemed that an oval frame best suited the size and shape,

and I found one for half price at Hobby Lobby.

The little candle mat by Gail Pan was a quick finish. This week I realized Gail has a even cuter version of this in her book Christmas Patchwork Loves Embroidery. Diann at Little Penguin Quilts has beautifully made some really cute projects from that book, and so now I've put the book on my Christmas wishlist!

I decided on a greenish grunge for the background, and my husband

chose the black Mary Engelbreit for the backing and binding.

Cross Stitch Details:
Joy Sampler kit by Lizzie Kate
Finished size: stitched area 3-1/2 x 7-1/2 inches
14 count Zweigart cloth in Vintage Country Mocha
DMC threads in 898, 930, 815, 500, 367, 321, 434, 931, 783, 712, 3853, 310

Embroidery Details:
Snow Sampler by Kathy Schmitz
Finished size: stitched area 9-1/2 x 11 inches on a 12 x 16 inch pillow form
Background: muslin-like fabric from stash backed with lightweight fusible interfacing
Backing: Hobby Lobby's version of denim grunge
Thread: DMC variegated in 93 Cornflower blue and 121 Delft blue

Red Robin Candle Mat by Gail Pan
Finished size: 8 inch octagon
Background: Grunge Mint by Basic Grey for Moda
Backing and binding: Mary Engelbreit Cranston Village
Thread: DMC 115 (variegated red), 728 (gold), 367 (green)

Winterlude Table Runner

I first started this table runner in December 2014, and you can read about it in this post. I had purchased a kit with a honey bun and fabrics from the Winterlude collection by 3 Sisters and planned to use it for Christmas decor.

When I blogged about it, I had worked on it for several hours and stated that I had cut 420 tiny pieces of fabric. I carefully paired and placed those pieces on a board to transport to my closet, planning to keep it out of harm's way until I could work on it again. On the way to the closet the board hit the wall and all those pieces spilled onto the floor. I was so discouraged that I threw everything into a bag and decided to wait and finish it later. This year I found it again and sorted everything out and was excited to get it finished.

It was fun to start on a project with the pieces already cut. I wasn't as picky about pairing fabrics this time, but I like it just fine. The fabrics are so pretty, and it was a pleasure to chain piece and press them. The pattern consisted of 3-1/2 inch 9-square blocks.

I had planned to use a piece of Grunge-ish red metallic as the main part of the backing, but in my Christmas scraps I found a remnant of Moda Fruitcake and decided to piece it with the red. Fruitcake is my very favorite fabric line. I bought it for my first quilting class in 2010, a table topper I finished in 2014. You can read about that right here.

This was (I think) my first time working with a flange. I like the effect, and it was easier than I thought it would be.

My seam ripper was used quite a bit. Normally the scant 1/4 inch seam is my friend, but in the case of the little 9-square blocks, a full 1/4" was required. I found that out the hard way.

Jack was very helpful during the quilting and the photographing

I kept the quilting simple

I'm keeping this one for my Christmas table runner this year!

Winterlude Table Runner Details
Finished size: 26 x 52
Pattern and Fabrics
Front and binding: Winterlude Table Runner Kit by 3 Sisters for Moda
Backing: Fruitbasket by Basic Grey for Moda, Luxe Brushstroke in Bordeaux by Moda

Superior Threads
Piecing: #50 So Fine in 402 Pearl
Quilting and binding: #40 Rainbows in 806 Desert Rose and #40 King Tut in 1002 Holly and Ivy

Quilting
Straight line walking foot and some free motion

Countdown To Christmas SAL

After my mad dash to the deadline of finishing my Hands2Help quilt, working in the garden, and getting ready for a family dinner last Sunday, I was finally able to concentrate on my blocks for the Countdown to Christmas SAL at Mama Spark's World. This month I chose three more from Moda's Countdown to Christmas 2018, and you can find that index here.

Grammy's Staircase at first glance looked more complicated than it actually turned out to be, thanks to clear instructions with good photos. (I love instructions that indicate which way to press a seam!) Heather Long is the creator of this block, and I liked her inspiration of photographing her children on the staircase every year before they open their Christmas gifts.

Candy Cane Christmas had rather sparse instructions, but I really enjoyed making this string block and might make more of them.

Rocky Mountain Christmas is a variation on the traditional Rocky Mountain Puzzle block. The instructions next to each photo really helped to lay this one out properly.

I'm linking to MamaSpark's Countdown To Christmas SAL.

Countdown to Christmas SAL March Blocks

Here are three more blocks for a Christmas quilt before Christmas! I have nine blocks so far by participating in Mama Spark's Countdown to Christmas Sew-Along. The blocks are from the Moda Bake-Shop website, and you can find them by going here. I am choosing blocks that appeal to me rather than doing each block listed. This month I chose Festival, Special Gift, and Christmas Logs. I am picking my blocks from the posts listed under Countdown to Christmas for December 2018 and am enjoying making a different block each time.

Festival

Special Gift

Christmas Logs

I made a mistake by not thoroughly reading the instructions for Christmas Logs. The directions are to trim the logs after each round, and I did not see those instructions! So this block finished at a full 3 inches larger than the other blocks. I will either use it as part of the backing, or it will become a pillow!

I'm linking this post to MamaSpark's Countdown to Christmas SAL.

Countdown to Christmas SAL February Blocks

Here are the completed February blocks in my monthly goal to have a Christmas quilt before Christmas by participating in Mama Spark's CTC (Countdown to Christmas). The blocks are from the Moda Countdown to Christmas for 2018, and the links are found here. Warning: some of the instructions are not crystal clear! But the patterns are free, so I can't complain - lol! I am picking and choosing my blocks instead of making all of them in order, and the blocks I chose for this month are Prairie Christmas Star, Wrapped Up, and Reindeer Games.

Prairie Christmas Star

Wrapped Up

Reindeer Games

Jack (tail pictured) is glad Mama Spark initiated this sew-along.

I am enjoying sewing for Christmas early in the year, with no holiday pressure! I am linking to Mama Spark's February CTC Sew-a-Long Link-up. It's not too late if you'd like to join in. You can do as many or as few as you like, even just one for a pillow!

Countdown to Christmas Sew-Along January Blocks

"Mama Spark" is a prolific quilter whose feed I follow on Instagram. Earlier this month she issued an invitation to join her in making a few blocks per month from Moda's 2018 Countdown to Christmas, and I was in. I have an abundance of Christmas fabric and ran out of time to make anything Christmas-y last year. If I make a few blocks a month, then I should have a quilt ready for Christmas this year! The blocks are found on Moda's website. In order to find posts/links to each block, go here.

The first block I made was Country Winter and is composed of half square and quarter square triangles. I used fussy-cut a glass from Cotton+Steel Glasses in Teal from the Tinsel collection to coordinate with Hometown Christmas Icey Dots by Moda.

This block is Grandmother. This block was a challenge for me as it involves Y-seams. But I liked the challenge! I used another fussy-cut from Glasses along with Courthope in Julep from Savernake Road collection by Free Spirit.

This was my favorite block, Regent Street Star, and I like it so much I may make several for a quilt. I used a generic red with white dots from my stash.

The completed quilt will be a sampler, and Moda has included suggestions for layout. There are 12-inch and 6-inch block instructions. I am starting with 12-inch blocks but may do a few 6-inch so I can include some of the blocks from Moda's 2017 CTC. My colors will mainly be teal and red.

I am linking this to Mama Spark's link-up. It's never too late to join in!

OMG November Finish - Mercyful Quilt

Last month I was inspired by Bernie at Needle and Foot to make a quilt for Mercy Hospital in Sacramento. The quilting group that normally made quilts for dying patients was no longer able to do so, and a nurse at the hospital (who is also a friend of Bernie's) reached out to Bernie to see if she could provide a few quilts. Well provide she did, backed by several quilters who contributed quilts.This week the total was 27 quilts donated! You can read an inspiring update here.

I used a bundle of Enchanted Pond and a pattern by Kelli Fannin called Flower Power. I already had six blocks, started in 2017 as a quilt for my sister-in-law. Enchanted Pond has beautiful shades of burgundy, purple, sage green, and cream. When my SIL painted her bedroom turquoise, I decided this quilt wouldn't coordinate well, and it became a UFO. I guess it was destined to become a comfort quilt instead!

When I was looking in my stash, I found a beautiful Enchanted Pond panel I had purchased, put away, and forgotten! So I changed the pattern just a little bit to accommodate the panel, which I cut and pieced as the top and bottom borders for the front, and as a middle section for the back. The panel features creatures such as cranes and dragonflies among the pond grasses.

The binding was pieced with strips cut from leftover scraps. I still have enough unused Enchanted Pond fat quarters to make another quilt!

I quilted a simple grid.

One of my kitty-helpers, Rosie, approved the final details.

I also donated a quilt I made in 2015 for my mother-in-law, documented here. My sister-in-law was her care-giver, and she put it in a drawer "to keep it nice", so my mother-in-law never used it! I know she would approve the donation, and at least it will get some use.

Details for Mercyful Quilt:
Finished Size: 56" X 70"
Pattern: Flower Power by Kelli Fannin

Fabrics
Enchanted Pond by Holly Taylor for Moda
Apple Cider by P&B Textiles

Backing
Atelier by Three Sisters for Moda
Enchanted Pond panel

Binding
Enchanted Pond

I am linking this post with Patty's Elm Street Quilts November One Monthly Goal Finishes