I started quilting on this at the first of November. It's hard to quilt on a regular basis with Christmas emerging upon us. I'm quilting using six different threads. It's makes it more interesting for me. If I had to pick the thread again I would leave out the lightest (far left) and the darkest. I just think it would look better. But, the top of the quilt frames shows the last row so I'm going to continue on since I'm close to being finished.
I finished embellishing the right front of my denim jacket. Here are both fronts together. This isn't a hard project but the embroidery is time consuming. I picked out a design for the collar below and I love the way it looks but I keep making mistakes and have almost done as much unpicking as sewing. I worked on it for an hour yesterday and later realized I'll have to pick all of that out. I'm learning a lot as I go. I'm a beginner at this Sashiko Embroidery so I have sore fingers and that makes it hard to do much hand quilting too. I finally ordered a palm thimble so I'm hoping that using it will make things go forward a little better.
This is the pieced denim and I've cut out the back of the jacket and yoke. It is awaiting embellishment.
We had our Christmas Quilt group potluck on Monday. I wish I had taken pictures of all the show and tell. This quilt was just made out of random scrap blocks. It turned out really well.
When you're with other quilters even the stack of coats is coordinated - ha!
We went and got my Christmas present yesterday. Two weeks before Christmas is not a good time for an oven to quit working. I never had a black and stainless steel stove before. I already miss my white one. The white brightened up the kitchen so this is going to take some getting used to.
This is my husband's Christmas present. It was delivered in a big wooden crate and so he, with very little help from me, managed to get it on a piano dolly to push to the back yard for uncrating. He is so pleased.
My other Christmas present was an unexpected root canal I had to have last week. It's been an expensive month.
Christmas sure is a different holiday as we get older. I'm at the point where I give my six children and their families money because I don't know what anybody wants. They have started their own family traditions (which is good) so we don't do as much together as we used to. I'm not complaining. I'm usually too tired to go do anything in the evenings and their days are full. But, I love them all and they love each other (a big blessing) and I look forward to the times when we're all together.
Minimal decorations but maximum quilty goodness.
I'll just close with this (really bad) picture of a headstone. I do a lot of family history and when I came across this headstone I just had to share. What a sweet thing to say about someone.
I hope you're finding joy in the season,
Robin
6 comments:
Your house quilt is so beautiful;))))--and I think your jacket is coming along so well--I can understand your having sore fingers working on that sashiko...
We also give $$ presents except for the two little grandgirls who get gifts from their Amazon Wish lists in the mail. My older grands appreciate the cash and, like you, I have no idea what they want/like these days...
I am not a big fan of holidays...for me I miss the "old ones" who've passed ahead....
I hope your fingers heal and you are enjoying your jacket adventure...hugs, Julierose
I really like your snowballs quilt, especially how you used the tan sashing and several colors of cornerstones. I hope you'll post of photo of the whole quilt when it's finished. I'd love to see it! (And why do you call it the whale quilt?)
Your jacket looks great! So much detail to look at, and such interesting stitching. I'm so sorry about the stitching on the collar. It looks great to me.
It's too bad about your stove. I love having a white one (which I don't at the moment). We usually don't buy appliances until the old one breaks, and then there's the disadvantage of having to buy what the store has in stock. I hope you get used to this one quickly.
I can't tell what equipment your husband got but it's great he's pleased with it!
I am like you when it comes to Christmas gifts for family members. If our grands lived closer I think it would be easier to know what they're interested and and might like for Christmas. I sent checks to all of them. I suppose that makes a little more work for their mom, who will have to take them to the store or order for them online. (My grands are ages 4, 6, almost 10, and almost 12, and 13.)
Don't you wonder what the story behind Roberta Pettie's gravestone inscription is? Was she a teacher, a social worker, a foster parent....
Merry Christmas to you!
I am loving watching your denim jacket come together. It's going to be a very special jacket and people will stop you on the street to ask about it.
We changed up the way we gift this year, too. Ours are all teenagers but I gave the parents the money to do the shopping for me. They will get what they want but it won't just be cash.
We are hanging on to our way of doing things as long as we can but are feeling it more and more each year.
Your quilt looks quite pretty in that frame. Your Christmas decorations look beautiful! Is that a snow blower for your husband? Congrats on the new stove. We have had "darker" appliances for a few years now, and I agree they don't brighten the kitchen like white ones do. Hope you have a great week!
your collar sashiko is exquisite! anxious to see more of this as you progress...christmas is boring here...only dinner at daughter's christmas day....but i'll have my traditional clam chowder christmas eve as usual...it's our family tradition and connects us in spirit...
Your whale quilt is so pretty, I hope you will show a lot of photos when it is finished. The denim sashiko jacket is turning into a real masterpiece! We're doing similar to you, unless we come up with a couple of good ideas the grands just get money at Christmas except for the little ones. My son and his family will be here for Christmas, and I'm hoping he will help with the cooking since his kids will be more likely to eat whatever he prepares. The grands are picky eaters and I'm never sure what they will all like except for my cookies and morning pancakes lol.
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