The boys are back!
The nutcracker collection began with a gift from my mother shortly after we were married. She gave us two or three more. I've acquired the rest at TJ Maxx, estate/rummage/garage sales, and thrift shops. They're all German.
I made Good Cheer in 2013 from swap blocks.
The rest of the nutcrackers are providing a backup chorus for the Christmas tree.
Just as forecast, it began snowing at noon Saturday and continued all night long. This was the view from the front door this morning. 9" accumulation.
I shoveled the front stoop and walk. My next door neighbor and the neighbor next to him got the driveway cleared at noon.
I didn't go out at all!
Snow days = sew days, and I did.
The Blue Shirt Bow Ties quilt is finished. I had just the right medium blue in the backings stash (2004 on the selvedge but I got it some years later on clearance).
I quilted it with rust-colored thread using the serpentine stitch.
Another shirting project! I cut all the fabric earlier in the week so it was ready to assemble Saturday.
This is my version of Flutterby, the Running Doe top-along for October. All shirts except for the lime green solid. (It was the November top-along (finished a couple of weeks ago) that began what turned out to be a month of thrifted shirts. I have already pulled fabric for the December top-along -- not shirts!)
# # # # #
Placemats: check.
Giveaway: just 2 yards.
Sew faster: I did pretty well with these finishes in addition to the bow ties. (I've reported on each one as I've made them.)
Stash report for November: Fabric OUT 89-3/8 yards. Fabric IN: 48-1/2 yards, $49, average $1.00 per yard.
Stash report YTC: Fabric OUT 837-3/8 yards. Fabric IN: 1338-1/2 yards, $1217, average $1.09 per yard.
Busy week ahead with two holiday luncheons, a holiday dinner, a concert, and more. I have some gifts to order and holiday cards to address. I'm beginning to mull over some quilt projects with 2026 deadlines. I will not perish from inactivity.
Linking up with OMG report Oh Scrap! Sew and Tell Monday Musings Design Wall Monday
You have so many memories of Stevens being there as you did certain things, like holiday decorating. The good times will be remembered the most. I love your nutcracker collection. I think my daughter started her small collection while they lived in England.
ReplyDeleteYou ended up getting lots of snow! It's the perfect backdrop for getting out your Christmas decorations. Flutterby is a neat design - looks great in the blue shirtings. And I love your photo of Stevens with your nutcrackers - a happy smile!
ReplyDeleteSigh, the first year is the hardest, or so I've been told. He would be happy to be with you this year if he could. But I like how busy you've been recently. You are moving so many quilts forward. Snow was on our forecast this am -- it said something like 30 minutes of snow and that was it for the whole day. Except all we had was 30 minutes of very little rain. I was happy we didn't have to take Sunny out in the rain or snow. But it's been cold enough to snow off and on this last week. It's in the forecast this week but maybe the forecast will change, it often does! Take care and happy sewing.
ReplyDeleteStevens has such a happy smile! He enjoyed your nutcrackers! It is good to have memories. Wise move to stay indoors and make it a "sew" day on a snow day! I am impressed with your shirtings projects! --TerryK@OnGoingProject
ReplyDeleteaw....i know how you feel...lovely christmas decs...tree up and decorating today...i sewed most of sunday to get 'dreams' finished...sooon....true snow days ARE sew days!
ReplyDeleteI love your nutcracker collection! The snow is pretty, but being Texan, I would be at a loss in trying to deal with it.
ReplyDeleteHugs and thinking of you and Stevens. Your nutcracker collection is impressive! I love the quilts you made. That serpentine stitch on the bow tie quilt is perfect! Wonderful placemats as well! Your snow is way more impressive than our coating! More for us tomorrow but I doubt we will even touch what you accumlated! Wow!
ReplyDeleteHow nice to see all your boys. And all your snow. A newly moved here neighbor from your region asked who we have contracted with to clear our driveway. I said we will finish blowing off the last leaves and that will be that - oh, they meant clear of SNOW. I explained that here in the rare instances of snow everyone just stays home. Not sure I was convincing.
ReplyDeleteCeci
Your sweet Stevens 💗💗 Your RSC quilt is fabulous with so much texture in this setting. Another to add to my possibilities???
ReplyDeleteWishing you peace and sending big hugs.
That is an impressive collection of nutcrackers and I'm sure most of them have a story to tell. I love the Good Cheer quilt too. Changed out all the quilts today, my first attempt to get the Christmas spirit going. We have snow on the ground and expecting more tomorrow and again later in the week.
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely nutcracker suite! Ah, memories of Christmases past! Be careful shoveling all that snow. And I see you definitely will not perish from inactivity!
ReplyDeleteOh it looks so pretty - love your decorations! and the new quilts you've started.
ReplyDeleteHugs to you -holidays are hard without our loved ones
You always accomplish so much! I love that you share your fabrics with others too. Quilters are a giving group.
ReplyDeleteI must admit that I've always been a little creeped out by nutcrackers. I know a lot of people love them but I can't get past their teeth. Maybe I'd be happier had I ever seen the ballet, but I've never had the opportunity.
ReplyDeleteGreat projects. The Flutterby shirting quilt is inspiring me. I think I have some worn out shirts set aside. Love the nutcrackers and what a special photo of Stevens with them.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends! Your casserole looks quite intriguing with the combinations of veggies and textures. I am impressed with your holiday decorations minus the jolly old fella. Lovely to see his smiling face again. And keep on quilting, you do so many wonderful things and are such a lovely lady!
ReplyDeleteYou've definitely been busy! The bow tie quilt turned out beautifully, the colors work so well together. The nutcrackers are very fun. We have an eclectic collection of nutcrackers, they all have guitars in their hands. It's hard to celebrate when your person isn't there to enjoy too. Hope you are doing OK, the first everything after loss is so hard.
ReplyDelete