Quilt Ta Da & My Homespun Christmas

Well, you are probably sick to death of seeing this, but my quilting friends will appreciate it.  I am done with the Christmas quilt.  I quilted it on my Singer One, in a sort of all over, loops and swirls stitch.  The stitches are long in some places, but it takes a lot of practice to get that constant hand to foot speed control for nice even stitches.  But over all, I am quite happy with it.  I backed it in an aqua with red polka dot.  I cut a red and white stripe on the bias for my binding.  I sewed the label to the back corner, using a blanket stitch.  I wasn't very careful about how even those stitches were, I was tired, and ready to wrap it up.  I hung it up using 4 glass head straight pins, as I always do to hang small quilts and wall hangings.  I put it in the foyer, and it is the first thing I see coming out of our bedroom and down the hallway.  That wicker piece is not usually there, but I have some things moved around for the holidays.  I can see by this photo that I need to move the chest to the right slightly.

This quilt was pure joy to work on for me.  I absolutely loved every stitch!

Hang on, I am going to move that chest over to the right two inches.......................
Okay, I'm back.

Remember how I said that less is more this year for Christmas?  Well, I am done with the holiday decorating.  All except for our tree.   We will do that this week, or weekend.  I didn't even have Greg take down about half of our boxes.  No lighted garlands.  No wreaths.  No snow village.  Just didn't feel like having all of that stuff to deal with.  And I am just fine with the way the house is right now.  A couple of pretty poinsettias and I will be all set.

That little vintage yellow seat is in constant use in my kitchen.  But it gets moved all over the place.  So the basket sitting atop is not very practical at all.  Oh well.  That Snowman used to sit in the window sill of the family cabin.  The vintage santa was a thrift find last year.  He has the other vintage star earring on his hand that matches the one I put on the top of the ecru colored sweater tree.

The buffet in the kitchen is a piece I love. I found it on Craig's List and only paid 50 dollars for it.  It is a good hardwood piece of furniture, and I got a steal!  I change it up all the time.  I made the subway art table runner from some burlap fabric I got at Hobby Lobby back in the summer.  Remember Elaine, Patty, and Shelly?  I tucked it away and almost forgot all about it.  I cut it into widths I wanted and made runners.  I sewed a six inch ruffled piece onto each end.

My favorite thing this year, is the little Hot Cocoa Station I set up, using my growing collection of Santa Cups.  I had to change it up a bit, and put this three tier plate stand on the lazy susan to hold more of the Santa Cups.

I have a few more Santa Cups up above the stove with two holiday plates and some greenery.

And more in the kitchen sill.

A favorite holiday cook book, and some snowman measure cups.

My happy Christmas Tree Thermos, and a Cookie Plate on the other side.

That little sitting area at the end of the kitchen is where we will put our tree.
The family room is the room that we live in.  I have put our dining table in here, and we love it.  We will be putting a hanging light up before Christmas.  The room is plenty big, but long, and difficult to arrange.  The way we have it now suits us to a tee.  We love dining in here, and having the table to do other things, and often, just to visit with friends.

The Noel log was made for us a few years ago by our dear neighbor Carl, who passed away last year.  I treasure it.  The AnaLee Dolls are just a few in my collection.  Mice are all over the house, as that was my nickname, given to me by my Dad.  Most of them them were from him, but since he has passed, my brother Mark has carried on the tradition, and gives me a Christmas Mouse every year.
These were last years.  I love their big wonky feet, and felted dresses!

They are sitting atop a vintage tree skirt that I found up in Big Bear over the summer.  I couldn't wait to pull it out this year.  I love the aqua blue and little mice and woodland animals.

The pottery boot I painted the year Drew was born, almost 26 years ago.  I can still remember sitting up at the kitchen bar and painting it at night after the kids were in bed.  The three mice are labeled with our children's names.
The bookcase behind the sofa holds a couple of my Heather Goldminc pieces.  A Mouse House and a Church.  Both are elevated up a bit onto small cake plates.  The white stand in the center is a cake plate that I inverted.  I put the moss ball on top, and filled the inside with greenery.

The quilt behind it on the wall, I made about 10 years ago.

The quilt to the right and not all the way visible, is a monthly pattern that I did several years back.  I haven't done all of the months though.  I loved December!  The cute stockings, with candy canes and holly in them.  I did a small stipple on the entire thing, and used a machine feather stitch to outline the stockings.

The foyer is where we moved the piano when I moved my sewing room to the living room, and I quite like it there!

Atop the piano is another Christmas Mouse from my brother Mark.

Looking from the foyer into the family room.  The first room to your right, is the old living room, and my new sewing room!

Sitting atop the little chest beneath my new Christmas quilt is another cute pair of mice, dressed in their Christmas finery.  Also a gift from my brother.

Last weekend Geeps put the lights on the house, and Noah and I put a few things on the porch.  

Dolly Mouse got her "ugly sweater" on.  It is getting chilly in our neck of the woods.

My Christmas swags hang on my red front doors.  

The antique sled sits nearby, just in case we get snow!

Reba Reindeer greets you at the post.

Probably made some time in the 70's, she was a thrift store rescue a couple of years ago.  

A few Christmas boxes, some quilts, Christmas mice, Santa cups and greenery....and there you have it.  My homespun Christmas.  

Thanks so much for stopping by.  We have a lot going on in the coming days.  I will try to post it all!!!

XO  Kris