Hello my lovelies. I hope you’re all enjoying the run up to the new year. There’s only twenty days left in 2017. Before we hit the new year, I will be celebrating Christmas. I haven’t put any Christmas decks up yet but I have been thinking about it though. I just can’t seem to muster up the energy yet. I am looking forward to the quiet break.
Winter has hit my little corner of the northeast of England. We don’t usually get much snow where I live. And in the twenty-four years I have lived here I can only remember having a white Christmas three times at most. Yesterday, we got a nice dusting of snow. My Sarah and I stood in the front window watching big fluffy flakes falling gently on the ground. It was cold enough that it didn’t melt immediately. We woke to enough snow on the ground which meant that the roads could be treacherous in places, not to mention the black ice in strategic places such as intersections. I stayed home today but Sarah had to make her way to university forty miles away.
Now that winter is finally here I plan on spending more time in my sewing room. So, today I decided to have a little play. I should really have been tidying up but I really wanted to flash up my sewing machine to make something. So, I pressed some fat quarters, layered them up and did some simple quilting …..
I cut the little quilt up and sewed it back together in a different order …..
And turned said quilt into bucket bags …..
It was a pleasure using up some of the fat quarters I purchased a couple of years ago. These prototypes turned out pretty good. Now that I have a better idea of what I’m doing I can make a few more in different sizes. And using up some of my stash is brilliant.
I have been quietly working on my Patchwork of the Crosses. I was hoping to have it all finished by the end of the year but that’s not going to happen. I have joined 36 blocks together so far. This equates to 6 across by 6 down, the blocks measure 11-1/2”, that makes my quilt 69” square at the moment. I plan on adding another 13 blocks making it 7 across by 7 down and should measure 80-1/2” square. And I will finish off with a plain fabric border (not EPP) but keeping the integrity of the EPP shapes. I haven’t decided how I’m going to quilt it yet. One thing I do know is that it will be machine quilted because it will be too big to hand quilt.
I’ve made great progress on my Sweet Dresden Lollipop quilt. All it needs is a bit of embellishment. I plan on adding a few beads, buttons and yo-yos, just enough to give it some texture. I thoroughly enjoyed designing and piecing this latest quilt. I have no idea where I found the inspiration for this one but I think the brighter fabrics on a white background is lovely and fresh. A cheerful finished project to enjoy in the new year.
So, you can see that I’m not just lounging around watching television every day all day. I am always working on something in the background. I realised recently that quite often over the last couple of years I have said things like someday when all this is finished, I’m going to start doing this or that. So, with 2018 just around the corner, I’m going to try to make all those things that I promised myself happen. My promises may have to be altered a little but they should come to fruition in some form or other that suits my way current way of life. All too often life chips away at us and we stop believing in ourselves. It’s important to get up every day and try again and again to make things happen. I have new ideas for projects for the new year. And I certainly will carry on stamping my personality to my home. I think I need to be surrounded by a few more girly things. I can start making that happen by decorating for Christmas.
So, for this evening, this very happy and super ambitious quilt maker will be working on piecing more blocks for the excellent Patchwork of the Crosses project. I’m finally getting somewhere. I hope you all have a super cosy evening working on something that makes you happy. Until you read me again,
Happy stitching ♥♥
it’s lovely to be crafting indoors, when it’s cold outside ^^
Hi Claire, I agree. Hiding in the sewing room on a very cold day is the best. It’s a treat. I hope it’s warmer where you are in France Claire. Thanks for popping in today x
not really much warmer, no. And very damp at the moment.
I have been enjoying your posts throughout the year and particularly enjoy seeing your EPP projects and applique projects, particularly the dresden quilt you showed today. Have a very happy Christmas (no snow here in Somerset yet) and look forward to many more of your interesting posts in 2018.
Hi Kath, Firstly, thank you so much for your very kind words. I really enjoyed working on my Sweet Dresden Lollipop this year. I have another design drawn out and part of the blocks stitched but it’s going to be a longer process. I guess that one will be revealed at the end of 2018. It’s good to have goals and targets. I wish you and yours a very happy Christmas and every good that 2018 has to offer. Thank you for popping in today x
Hi Lucie
I love your two quilts, and the bags are super! Have fun decorating the house for Christmas, the in the New Year have fun decorating in your own girlie style!
Hi Anne, after visiting a friend last week and seeing how girly her home is, I feel the need to girlify my home too. And why not. The Christmas decks will be brought down from the loft by Friday hopefully. The new year can’t come soon enough. A new year a proper new start. Thanks for popping in today Anne x
All of your projects look wonderful. Enjoy the winter weather.
Hi Lori, thank you for your very kind words x
Hi Lucie,
I love your quilts and bags! I am always looking forward to your posts. I hope that you and your daughter have a wonderful Christmas together. My children and grandchildren are the most important part of my holidays. They are so much fun and I am so happy to be able to enjoy Christmas with them.
I am looking forward to the new year and all of the exciting things that are sure to happen. I will remember you and yours in my prayers! And I can’t wait to see what neat things that you have up your sleeve for 2018.
Best regards,
Jeri from Iowa- where is sure to be snow!
Hi Jeri, Let it snow. That’s one thing I truly miss at Christmas. Every year I wish for a white Christmas but have rarely had one in the last twenty-four years. I wish you and yours a fab time this Christmas. Christmas is a time for togetherness. So enjoy every minute with your grandbabies no matter their age.
Thanks for popping in Jeri x
Hello Lucy, your work is just beautiful, you are very talented. It is time now for decorating, just jump in and get going. A nice warm drinky, ha ha, will get you through it in no time. Well, here it is minus fourteen, tomorrow through the night and the next day, we will be having an accumulation of about 25 cm of snow or more. Get out the snow blowers! Ah, well…welcome to Montreal.
I did not respond to your last two letters as I lost one of my beautiful cats. It is harder on the one still here, but we will get through it, just like you and your daughter. Life goes on and make your home yours, now. Girly is goog!
So, everyone who reads this and you Lucy, have a wonderful warm evening.
Joanna. xx
Hi Joanna, it’s lovely to hear from a fellow Montrealer. I hope to be decked out by the weekend. I think a couple of glasses of Prosecco will see me thru the process. I’m quite jealous of all the snow you’ll be getting this winter but I don’t envy your cold temperatures.
I’m very sorry that you lost one of your cats. I’m sure you’re no different than I am with regards to your pets, they’re part of the family so when they’re poorly or the die, its very sad. I hope you have a cosy evening indoors away from the wintry weather. Thanks fir popping in x
Hey Lucie, lovely to see a catchup post & to hear & see what you’ve been up to. The lollipop quilt is gorgeous & very girly. Your EPP quilt has certainly grown since we last saw it. Hope you find the oomph for Xmas decorating soon & can we see some of the girly decorating when it happens. Take care & huggles.
Hi Susan, it’s great to hear from you. Christmas seems to have overtaken me and now I’m trying to catch up. I hope to be decked out by the weekend. Thanks for popping in xx
Happy Christmas, we have snow too in Lincolnshire. It is lovely to have an excuse to stay home and do things that just make you happy. I really like the fabric baskets, they are something I have often thought I must make for myself, so useful. x
Hi Kay, the bucket baskets are rather easy to make. I like simple projects that helps me use up some of my stash. Thanks for popping in today x
Have missed your frequent letters, but delighted that you are time filling in a happy productive way for you and Sarah. Her term will soon be over and she will be home for the holiday. Yes. Have a wonderful time, and keep us all posted when you have a mo.
God bless. Mon
Hi Monica, I’m looking forward to spending time with Sarah over the holidays. It seems the theme everywhere this Christmas us being together. I couldn’t agree more. I wish you and yours a fab time this holuday season. Thanks for popping in today x
Love seeing your work Lucie. Always looks fabulous. I’m doing some EPP at the moment, always a pleasure in front of the fire wth something lovely on the telly. Best wishes to you and Sarah.X
Thank you for your kind wishes. I’m sure this is going to be a great Christmas. I agree with you, EPP is such a fab armchair project. Thanks for popping in x
Hi Lucie Hope you and Sarah have a lovely “freee” Christmas. (Just to let you know, My Brother Adrian died on Friday. but at least the Quilt lay across the bottom of the bed). Look forward to 31st January xxxx
Hi Brigid, thank you for your very kind wishes. I’m so sorry for your loss x
Dear Brigid, I know we do not know each other, but I am sorry for your loss.
Bless you all for Christmas. Joanna