Tour of Projects

This post is a tour of projects!  This is sewing season for me and I am doing my best to ignore everything that really should be and needs to be done, in favor of hiding in my project room.  There is a sense of urgency to my work.  My time is limited and now that we are past the winter solstice and the return of the light, I can be sure that spring work is coming!

Here's what I have been working on since I parked my tractor the middle of November!  First, a couple finished projects...

I made David and Roni Jo each a Christmas stocking for a wedding gift.  When Alicia moved home and would have her own home, it seemed appropriate to make her one too!  I love these designs by Shepherd's Bush.

I also made David and Roni an advent calendar for a wedding gift.  Alicia needed one too!

Each pocket has a suggestion for something to do during the advent season.

Another finished project, and Christmas gift, again, for Alicia.....

At one point this fall Alicia mentioned that she would like a car quilt for her car.  I made this for her from a set of pre-cut 10" flannel squares.  It went together very quickly.  I like how it turned out.  Not every quilt project needs to be intricate and time consuming!

Kathy Woods does the machine quilting on all the quilts that I piece.  She did a wheat motif on Alicia's car quilt.  

 And now, a few that are in progress.

This is a wool quilt for Roni and David.  I will do the quilting by hand, sewing along each seam with a feather stitch.  This is relaxing and satisfying work for me.  

The safety pins are securing the back, the batting and top together so that I can do the hand stitching.  

Now this is a project that I started last winter.  The fabric came from my "stash".  I've been working on it the last few weeks and it's coming together nicely, though it's a bit time consuming.

This is what the finished product will look like.  The colors are a deep chocolate brown and a pretty neutral.  It's part of the seasonal quilt series!  A king size fall quilt for our bed.  

Another fairly simple quilt in the works.  This is the back of the quilt that I call "The Chenille Quilt".  I am planning to hand quilt this project, using an utility stitch with yarn.  I'll put it on a quilt frame to do the work, but before that can happen all the pieces need to be pinned together.  

Next the batting is laid on the back and taped down.

Then the top.  

All layers will be pinned like the wool quilt in the above photos.  I used an old chenille bedspread that I've had for years to put between the flannel squares.  I'm really looking forward to finishing this.  It's much different than anything I have done.

There are more of course, waiting in the wings.  Every year I endeavor to limit the purchase of new projects.  My intentions are good and true.  This year, I am making it my first and most important new year resolution.  I am going to try my very very best, not to get anything new for a whole year!

Christmas Eve Progressive Dinner

We started what I hope will be a new tradition on Christmas Eve.  We had a progressive dinner! 

Appetizers were at our house....

Shrimp cocktail and....

Stuffed mushrooms at Rolinco Road.

Reynald ate more shrimp than those placed at his table setting!

The main dish was at Alicia's.......

Alicia had her table set for the season. 

She has decorated her home with decorations that grandma was willing to part with!

Our main dish was a gumbo type stew with black rice, butternut squash, carrots and homemade sausage.  So good!

And dessert was at Grandma Jo and Grandpa Jim's.......

Grandma's famous sugar cookies.  For nearly 60 years my mom has made this recipe which she got from an elderly neighbor, when mom and dad were first married.  

And vanilla bean ice cream with homemade chocolate sauce.  The chocolate sauce recipe is the one my grandma, mom's mom, always made.  It's still the best chocolate sauce.

Sugar cookies, ice cream and chocolate sauce and a cup of coffee.  A perfect dessert and a perfect way to end our progressive dinner!

It was a really terrific way to experience the warmth of our homes, share a meal and appreciate the decorations that help to celebrate the season. 

Vintage Christmas

When I was a child, the best part of the Christmas season was when the Harrington Lion's Club put up the town decorations.  Garlands were strung across the main street of our town, with lights and these wonderful giant ornaments, that didn't look so giant because they were quite high above the street, especially when you were a little kid!

The garlands with lights are still strung across the main street, but the giant ornaments have long been replaced.  A little over a year ago, someone decided it was time to dispose of those giant ornaments as they were just taking up storage space.  Fortunately, my friend Beth caught wind of this and suggested that the ornaments be sold for donation.  I snapped some up as quickly as I could!

A few days ago, Reynald and Alicia hung the ornaments on our house and chicken house.  They have been renovating them with new paint, wiring and LED light bulbs.  I love these so much.  They make me smile when I look at them, and remind me of the quiet simplicity of our small town. 

Hanging ornaments at the corner of the west bay of the house was Reynald's idea.

Charlie and Baxter had more fun playing than helping with the ornament hanging!

Or being distracted by the scent of some rodent that no doubt has taken up residence in the old drill.

Even the chicken house has an ornament. 

This one has one side that was broken beyond repair so Alicia cut a piece of plastic to put on the back side.

Baxter is certain that if he stares at the door long enough, it will open and he can gain entry to great chicken carnage.

Our festively decorated chicken house!

 Close up photos of the ornaments.....

chicken house

West porch.  These are two sided which means we can enjoy them from the living room in the house as well as outside.

Barn Concert Prep

Alicia and two of her flute friends, Clara and Jennifer, are giving a recital in the barn this Sunday, December 10th at 3pm.  The sun was shining brightly today, so even though it was chilly outside, the solar heating on the barn roof, made it quite pleasant for prepping the barn for concert goers!

These three master flutists have a fun and interesting program planned.  We hope you are able to take a drive in the country and enjoy their music.

The kids carried chairs up from the main floor when they were home for Thanksgiving.  That was a big help!

I still had fall decor laying around from our last quilt retreat.   And, we don't drink whiskey at quilt retreat, only wine.  Someone just brought this box to use for storage!

This corner is kind of a mess!

Chairs lined up, ready to be placed and wiped down.  They collected a fair amount of dust over the summer!

Reynald bought me a new shop vac for my birthday in April.  I LOVE it!  

Chairs set up!  The view from the back of the hall.

This looks a little better!  

I bought a fake Christmas tree at the Opera House rummage sale this past weekend.  When I got it out of the box, I discovered that the center pole is missing.  Back in to the box it went to be returned.

And doesn't this corner look nice again?

Louise donated these yard flags to brighten up our performance space.  I think I will put them in to old milk cans for display. 

 I almost finished my cleaning.  I just need to vacuum the entry way where Aunt Esther sits and the stairs.

Aunt Esther is ready to greet our concert guests!  

The sage bugs are so prolific this year.  The cold weather has slowed them down a little bit.  They are not a favorite of mine!