Christmas House Tour and Upcoming 2026!

Nativity on cross stitched Village in the Snowfall table topper I made in 2023

Like most of you, I've been decorating for Christmas since I was a child, and I still love it. We have whittled down our Christmas decorations over the years, and a couple years ago we thought we were done with the tree and sold it. But my husband missed it so much that he bought a very nice gently-used one on Marketplace last year! So even though our space is a bit crowded, we are enjoying a tree again. And as you will see, I love lighted table decor, especially changing multi-colored ones. We probably spend more on batteries for them than the decorations cost!

Video of our outdoor Christmas Lights

The outside of our home is decorated for the first time since we moved here in 2020. We purchased what we are calling "Faux-Vee" lights (real Govee lights cost $400 more!) and a nice young off-duty fireman installed them for us - no ladders for us! They are permanent lights that can be programmed for any holiday or even as security lighting.

Our entry with the Christmas Eve wall quilt I made in 2021

Little village pieces my husband gifted me on bottom

My Mom's nutcracker carousel and Noel train on shelf

I wish I had gotten a full-length shot of our tree! We put it in front of my husband's desk this year. 

Our mantel

Console table and tree

Kitchen coffee buffet. See photo below for what the pretty

Pfaltzgraff Winterberry dish on the left was filled with on Christmas Day.

My Granny Mitchell's Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies!

My favorite candle ever is the LED one on the left.

I purchased two of them and they have a remote control!

The house is back to normal, and my sewing room beckons. I'm not doing a year-end review or a preview of upcoming projects, but among many started projects and squirrels, I do have two UFOs, a few cross stitch patterns, a couple Christmas stockings, and a set of embroidered Christmas ornaments I hope to finish in 2026.

Boomer

Baker

Our good boys with the bandannas I made for them!

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!

Linking with Melva's Sew & Tell

A Midnight Clear - A Christmas Quilt Finish

 

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas! We had six kids (4 step-grands ages 14, 11, and 9yo twins) and our two Littles (age 9 and 6) and three adults (our daughter, son-in-law, and his Mom, Florence) visiting on one of the warmest Christmas day we've ever had. The kids were sweet, and we had good food and good times - a truly lovely, memorable day.

The quilt and the embroidered pillow were gifted to my daughter and son-in-law for Christmas The quilt was inspired by a simple pattern on Susies-Scraps.com found via this post on Jocelyn's blog. You can read more details about the quilt in my previous post and the pillow (from an embroidery pattern by Joy) in this post.

Blowing in the wind

The rich dark green of the sashing and binding was the inspiration for the name "A Midnight Clear".

I made this little mug rug for Florence, who has become an unexpected friend!

The pattern also has a pumpkin version - you can find it on Etsy right here.

Edyta Star's Silent Night is my Christmas project for next year, inspiration by Karen - go see her beautiful flannel version here. My daughter has already claimed it based on this one un-pieced block!

This post is linked to the following:

Kate's Life In Pieces

Melva's Melva Loves Scraps

Brenda's Monday Musings

Merry August-Mas!

Christmas flimsy

While searching for inspiration for Melva's Christmas In July blog hop, I found 50 sixteen-patch blocks hidden in my closet! I had completely forgotten about them. I used 49 for a 7X7 layout, added sashing and cornerstones, and now have a finished flimsy ready for backing and quilting - thanks Melva! I plan to finish this in plenty of time for Carol's 2025 Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange on December 1-4. Now I want to start another Christmas-y project!

Successfully finishing and delivering the wedding quilt opened up a whole new world for me - a world quickly filled with the desire to do everything. I started by focusing on a quilt for my newly graduated granddaughter. One thing led to another, and now I have a few projects started and even more in my head. I decided to stop scolding myself for being distracted by "squirrels" and just enjoy myself!

Checkered Garden by @piecesandpiement on Instagram

I saw this block in the Instagram "story" of  Kris at Pieces and Pigment @piecesandpigment . The block is Checkered Garden, with a tutorial for it on the blog of Film in the Fridge. I made a few blocks in Sammy's favored pinks, light purples, and yellows. and I think it will work just fine for her quilt. 

I first saw this block on Carolyn's blog. She is making blocks for quilts for victims of the Kerrville TX floods. Hugs For Texas is sponsored by a quilt shop - Carolyn has more details about it here - let her know if you are interested in participating. The blocks are 12 inches and easy to make. I have the pieces cut to finish a quilt to send to her.

Quilter's Cache Pinwheel #8

I saw this block on Viridian's blog and couldn't resist trying with some fat quarters I've been holding onto since 2022. The pattern is Pinwheel #8 from Quilter's Cache. After sketchily making one with paper templates, I realized I could just measure and cut the fabric, so that was easier. I am still struggling with points coming out right, but I will keep trying. I think I might come up with a better name than Pinwheel #8 - lol!

Look at this pretty pattern, it is called Plaidberry. It was originally part of a 2022 sampler QAL and is now being sold as a standalone block by Kindred Quilt Co. I have a fall-ish fabric pull for this one, but it would be pretty in Christmas colors or especially in Tilda fabrics (of which I have none!)

Joining the following linkups:

Brenda's Monday Musings

Melva's Sew and Tell

Kate's Stitching Stuff

Alycia's Finished Or Not Friday