Stitching little sewing kits

Well Christmas has come and gone and so has my little grandson and family. It made us very sad; we are about 4 hours drive away but it could be worse. We had fun after a fresh snow playing on a little sliding hill we made after a fresh snow.

What a happy little guy. Who doesn’t love baby giggles!

We had a blizzard on Christmas Day and stayed cozied up inside eating, opening a few gifts, and playing. My son and his fiancé got up for a quick visit before the weather got too bad. This pic of my son with his fiancé with our grand puppies was taken at her home not far from here.

After all the company left we went into a cleaning frenzie which took most of the day. 

Yesterday, despite the frigid temperatures, we went snowshoeing. Once you’re warmly dressed and in the woods away from the wind it is comfortable. With the fresh snow it is so beautiful. 

I’ve been thinking about my studio and itching to do a little sewing. Every year around this time, I take stock ( as many of you probably do) of all my unfinished projects. My shoe box of gift items was almost empty so I wanted to finish a couple of sewing kits. I had some in various stages left from my Quilting Arts Magazine October/November 2016 article.

I needed to cut a lining and a couple of pockets for the inside. 

They’re a bit fiddly because of the bits of Velcro I add for closure. I’d hoped to sew assembly line style but then realized that they were different colors and really needed matching threads. 

I finished one.

There is a piece of wool stitched along the center for needles.

Tomorrow, I’m hoping for more snow shoeing and more sewing. 

Happy New Year!

Snow day

This morning I was out for a doctors appointment and a few groceries. Pretty pleased that she cut my blood pressure and diabetes medication in half. All because I finally got the C Pap machine for sleep apnea. To think I kept putting it off. It did take a little getting used to but it wasn’t bad. I sleep more soundly now, only waking up once as opposed to many times a night.  

It’s been pretty quiet here. I’m approaching Christmas with a minimalist attitude this year. Less gifts and we want less. We’re choosing to spend time enjoying family and activities. We’ve just found out that weather permitting, our little one and parents are planning to come for Christmas.

I did have a bit of fun with some wrapping this morning. I think I need to cut more snowflakes.

I’m really hoping we can keep some snow so we can all go snow shoeing. Ollie hasn’t seen snow in any amount yet. Gord wants to make a little slide out back. This was this afternoon on the trail.

It’s snowing now and will be overnight; however, they’re calling for a change to rain tomorrow.

I knit this little monster for Ollie. The red is a litttle hat that will have holes for the ears.

It fits in the palm of my hand.

I hope things aren’t too frantic for you and that you can enjoy some quiet time.

Decorating and stamped stitched poinsettias

Last Friday in a small burst of slightly freezing rain, I had a nasty slip on my concrete front steps which necessitated a trip to emergency.  I was very lucky to have no broken bones but extensive bruising and pain as I hit four steps all the way to the bottom.

On Saturday and Sunday, I didn’t move much; I watched a movie each afternoon and did some knitting.

I’m making a size 4 sweater for Ollie in merino wool.

Yesterday, I got out for a couple errands. I can’t stand or sit for too long.

Today, I visited my mother in law at lunch time. I made muffins and I started to put out a few ornaments. We’ve had a wee bit of snow. Tonight we’re supposed to get snow, then freezing rain and rain. I’m hoping for a snow cover before Christmas. We bought a little sled for Our grandson, Ollie.

We enjoy these snowflake lights all winter on our back deck. My husband set them to come on at dusk and off at 10. We really enjoy them at supper. As winter passes it’s interesting to note how the turn on time gets a little later each week.

The snowflake table topper was featured in a Quilting Arts magazine issue several years ago.

I switched out my yearly cushion covers for my poinsettia ones which I made a couple years ago. They are monoprinted, free motion stitched and quilted.

Last year I started a runner. It only needs to be sandwiched and quilted. Maybe I’ll envelope it for speed.

I used a craft foam stamp for the poinsettias.