A Finish and Cross Stitch Progress

TaDa!  This quilt top was made at a Vice President's day quilting day at Oxford Quilter's Guild at least 3 years ago.  The idea behind VP day is to work on a simple pattern chosen by the VP that can be finished in one day. I found the top in my UFO drawer and took it to one of my retreats in November where I pieced the back, pin basted it and did 3/4 of the quilting.  This week, I finished the quilting and added an orange solid for the binding.  This will go in the baby quilt pile.  I like to have some gifts made ahead of time. 

You can see the quilting better in this picture.  I used 28wt  orange thread for the quilting.  The backing looks gray in this picture but it is actually a black on white print called cross stitch. 

I finally finished the mushrooms and trees on my winter cross stitch and have a good start on the Christmas tree  in this quadrant.  Progress is faster when you sit down to do some stitching each day...

Finn laid in the supervisors chair while my daughter worked this week.  I like how the heart on the blanket is right above his head!

Since taking this picture, my daughter has started the third side of the Christmas light border.  You can't tell from this picture, but the Christmas lights puff out a bit from the white background. She will be bringing this home at Christmas to work on it. 

I often attend the weekly sewing day at the guild and in December, they like to make a small project together.  They had admired one of the Wide Open Zipper Pouches that I made one day and asked me to show them how to make them for this year's December project. The free pattern is from Noodlehead. 

My quilting lines lined up almost perfectly...by accident, not by design.  It does look neat though!

Our Christmas tree is up and most of the gifts are wrapped.  I have one more gift to sew this week.  The big day is fast approaching!  I will link up with Kathy and Frederique. 

Christmas Events and Preparations!

This has been a busy week with lots of special Christmas events to attend and decorating being done at home. I added a few more stitches to my winter cross stitch picture, but not as many as I had hoped.  I don't have a deadline for this project so that's ok. 

Last night, the hiking club we belong to hosted a Spirit walk at a local conservation area.  My husband and I were tour leaders and lead groups of visitors along a candle lit path to see a magician, a children's choir, the Grinch, a singer, a hot chocolate and snack station and, of course, the jolly man in the red suit.  We had some snow this week so that added to the atmosphere! We were dressed warmly and enjoyed the evening.  

The sunset was spectacular last nigh--it looked like the sky was on fire!

We went for a walk one evening this past week to see the neighbourhood Christmas lights in the snow.  One of the houses had laser lights on a tree in their yard--I did a self portrait!

The snow is so pretty on the trees in our backyard. 

Our daughter is working on the next border of her crocheted Christmas blanket.  Finn approves!  He says its quite cozy...

I hung up my snowflake quilt in the front hall.  We have snow inside and out!

One of our favourite events at Christmas is the annual carol service at the Old St. Thomas Church.  It features church shaped cookies and apple cider, lots of singing accompanied by the Salvation Army band and a message from a local minister.  The church has box pews and the organizing committee always decorates it beautifully.  

After the church service, we went to Backus-Page house where dinner featured recipes from the 1850's served by appropriately costumed volunteers in the candle-lit dining room. Christine and her husband came with us.

The Elgin County Train Museum has a display of 300 Christmas trees decorated by local businesses and organizations.  It was spectacular! 

There was also a lego village featuring a train carrying gifts and Christmas trees, and of course, Santa.  

This week, I really must get back into my sewing room!  I still have Christmas sewing to finish!

I will link up with Kathy and the Slow Sunday Stitchers as well as Frederique.  Have a wonderful week!