Fall leaves and snowflakes

Even as I continue working on my fall birches piece, winter is moving ever closer and there's a definite snowflake theme going on lately. It's snowing outside. Schools in some parts of the provinces have been closed and there are power outages. We've had enough snow to warrant the passage of a plow but still nothing serious.
I've been slowly getting into the mood by pulling out my winter decorations. This is a runner that I made last year, one of a few I did using a stencil technique that was featured in the August 2013 Quilting Arts Gifts.
Having no children at home, nor grandchildren, I put off decorating our small tree until I have to, usually a few days before Christmas. This year since were driving to Fredericton the weekend before Christmas to pick up my daughter who is flying in from South Korea (I'm getting excited!), I will get it done a little earlier.

After being a little slow to get going this morning, I baked and then decorated my gingerbread cookies.

After lunch, I sat down at my machine and finished up most of the sewing on the birches. I added some gold accents with fibre and the leaves are stitched down.
Before I add a backing and binding, I'll decide if it needs anymore. I'm also adding a few lazy daisy stitched leaves here and there.

What I did differently on this birch tree piece (this is number 3) was to add the appliqués trees in the foreground and I quite like it. I see more birch trees in my future.

I'm linking to The Needle and Thread Network.