Santa's Helper

Last week, I mentioned that I had made a surprise gift for a friend.  This block was one of 12 free blocks --part of the Quiltmas Spectacular Block sampler that is available for free until the end of December 2020.  I have printed all the blocks, hoping to make several over the next year or so --somehow incorporating them into gifts for next year.  This block is called "Santa's Helper". 

 My quilty friend, Sandra, posted the picture below on Instagram recently, and once I saw this block pattern, I knew that I had to make it for her. 

I gathered up some fabrics from my stash in the right colours to match Sandra's ensemble.

I made this little quilt in one day and sent it off in the mail.  I heard from Sandra this week that it had arrived and that she loves it!  I told her it was a portrait of her from the knees down!  So fun to surprise someone with a fun little gift at this time of year!

I have been doing some more knitting on my orange facecloth this week. 

I also still have a few secret projects that can't be revealed until after Christmas.  I will have to wait another week to post them on the blog. 

Guess who is visiting at my house?  My daughter lives alone so she was allowed to come to our house for Christmas.  Finn was very excited to see us. In the background, you can see the fence we have around our Christmas tree to keep him away from the water reservoir and the ornaments.  Finn is currently keeping my left leg warm while I type. 

My daughter finished her bee blackwork this week.  I was on FaceTime with her as she put in the final few stitches.  It took a lot longer than she anticipated but she loves how it turned out.   I love looking at all the different patterns she stitched in the hexagons. This picture was taken before it was washed and ironed for framing. 

I would like to introduce you to Santa, our newest to us Christmas decoration.  Santa was painted by my MIL when my husband was a child.  She used to do a lot of ceramics.  I think he is quite jolly!  Santa is on display on the shelves in our living room. 

I participated in a Secret Santa gift exchange through one of my guilds and received these cute ornaments as well as a small zipper pouch and some fat quarters. They are hanging on my tree and I love the bits of fabric my SS used!  So fun to get a package in the mail!

We decorated the tree last weekend and I found this ornament that my friend Meridyth made for me many moons ago.  1988!  I was not married yet in 1988!

I just starting reading this book for the book club at the library...we will be discussing it in January on Zoom.  Interesting story so far!

I will be linking up with Kathy for slow Sunday stitching in the morning.