Afterglow

Wreath with Snow

I hope you have all had very happy holidays! We have been enjoying ourselves and our families over the past week too. If you’d like to take a peek at our annual Eggnog & Dessert Party, you can see that over on the other blog. On Christmas Eve we had snow again, which seems like some sort of record to me – twice in one year. It snowed off an on for a good portion of the afternoon and evening.

I appreciate all of your sweet comments on my stitching pieces that I’ve decorated with this year. I missed showing you a few, but probably you’ve seen them before. I did need to share this though. Remember my little sheep? Well, he was of course all decked out for the holidays as well. And that sweet little hand-painted wooden spool? That was a gift from my friend, Ava.

All Hearts Come Home

There hasn’t been a whole lot of stitching going on over here, but I thought I’d show you what little progress I’ve made.

I’ve stitched on Sweet Treats a little bit. Working on those side borders.

Sweet Treats 122709

I also made a start finally on my Marbek Nativity. You may remember I was supposed to start this at Thanksgiving. But, I did start it on Christmas Day. I am stitching this with DMC on 36 count Sapphire linen from HeavenLee Creations. I love the fabric, it is gorgeous in person. My little white blob there will eventually be a sheep. I’m starting on the center panel first.

Center Panel Nativity 122709

And, in case you couldn’t tell, I’m having a hard time settling down to any one piece. So, I’ve also been stitching on an ornament I started a long time ago. In fact, here’s what it looked like the last time I worked on it – January of 2009.

Mele Kalikimaka 012509

And here’s what it looks like as of this morning. This is Mele Kalikimaka by Monsterbubbles from the 2004 JCS Ornament Issue. It’s stitched over one on 32ct with Silk n Colors. But being over one, with solid fill in, is slow going. Which is why, apparently, I keep picking it up and putting it back down. I’d like to finish it sooner rather than later, because it is really pretty. I’m working on the ocean currently, and still have the sky to fill in plus the little bit of backstitching.

Mele Kalikimaka 122809

And, in the hopes that I really will get some quilting done this coming year (oh I want to be like Laurie!!), one of my Christmas gifts was this quilt kit from The Country Sampler. Here are a couple of photos of the quilt from their blog (the one on the bed). Isn’t it pretty?!?

Winter Trees Quilt Kit

I can’t wait to get started. But, first I need to finish that little baby quilt. Yesterday I got the quilting done. Today, I should be able to get the binding done, and then voila, on to other things!

Oh, I’ve also been reading. On Christmas morning I finished this…

The Hunger Games book

This book came highly recommended, so I thought I’d give it a shot. And no, there are no vampires in this, Gloria. Although I was hesitant to start anything else after finishing Drums of Autumn, this was the perfect choice. It was so good and immediately had me hooked. It was a very quick read, I think it took me a week or so. I am definitely going to be keeping this one in my library, and buying book 2, Catching Fire. This one was not on my Book Challenge list, but boy it was well worth deviating from the plan for it. After finishing this, I attempted to pick up the book for my next book club, but I quickly came to the decision that while I’m on vacation, I should be reading something fun, rather than reading about Impressionist painting, which can be a little dry. So, you can see what I picked up on my sidebar. It will be another quick read, then I can get back to the Impressionists.

Hope you’re all enjoying your last bit of stitching before the end of the year. I have some other crafting to share with you, as well as a New Year’s start that I’m really looking forward to. Until next time, stay warm and stitch on!

I am grateful for family and a man who spoils me.

34 thoughts on “Afterglow”

  1. Glad you have been enjoying the holidays! We have had a nice time too.

    I love your painted spool – so clever – and, I love the Hawaiian ornament design!

  2. Glad you have been enjoying the holidays! We have had a nice time too.

    I love your painted spool – so clever – and, I love the Hawaiian ornament design!

  3. Oh I loved looking at all those pretty things.
    Love your Christmas decorations.
    Love that beautiful blue fabric and look forward to seeing Nativity progress.
    And your Hawaiian Christmas – love, love, love it!
    Happy New Year and wishes for a wonderful year in 2010.

  4. Oh I loved looking at all those pretty things.
    Love your Christmas decorations.
    Love that beautiful blue fabric and look forward to seeing Nativity progress.
    And your Hawaiian Christmas – love, love, love it!
    Happy New Year and wishes for a wonderful year in 2010.

  5. What lovely photos. I am glad to see the sheep back sporting his holiday finery! And you bad girl–had me clicking all over the web, salivating over the quilt kits, and checking out that gorgeous fabric which will be just perfect for the Marbek. And I liked your Hawaiian Christmas ornament, but now I love it with all the teensy over-1 water. Sigh–you choose the best stuff!

  6. What lovely photos. I am glad to see the sheep back sporting his holiday finery! And you bad girl–had me clicking all over the web, salivating over the quilt kits, and checking out that gorgeous fabric which will be just perfect for the Marbek. And I liked your Hawaiian Christmas ornament, but now I love it with all the teensy over-1 water. Sigh–you choose the best stuff!

  7. Love the sheep and the painted spool. YGG… I’m so happy that you bought a quilt kit from Country Sampler. They do great kits and don’t skimp on the fabric. Now… get that baby quilt finished so you can start on your new kit.

  8. Love the sheep and the painted spool. YGG… I’m so happy that you bought a quilt kit from Country Sampler. They do great kits and don’t skimp on the fabric. Now… get that baby quilt finished so you can start on your new kit.

  9. The dessert and eggnog party looks like fun!

    You’ve been much more busy stitching than I have. I need to quit cleaning and sit down and stitch!

  10. The dessert and eggnog party looks like fun!

    You’ve been much more busy stitching than I have. I need to quit cleaning and sit down and stitch!

  11. Oh I love all the pictures! Your sheepie all decorated for Christmas with that neat spool! And your Hawaii Christmas ornament is wonderful too. That quilt kit is to die for! I so want to get a quilt kit from the Country Sampler ladies — their website is sooo tempting! Your Sweet Treats is coming along — and your Marbek Nativity is going to be stunning! I love the color fabric you chose!

  12. Oh I love all the pictures! Your sheepie all decorated for Christmas with that neat spool! And your Hawaii Christmas ornament is wonderful too. That quilt kit is to die for! I so want to get a quilt kit from the Country Sampler ladies — their website is sooo tempting! Your Sweet Treats is coming along — and your Marbek Nativity is going to be stunning! I love the color fabric you chose!

  13. seriously, I could barely get past the red door pic with the wreath! Someday, I’d like a red door of my very own! lol Lovely Christmas Decorations and great wips too!

  14. seriously, I could barely get past the red door pic with the wreath! Someday, I’d like a red door of my very own! lol Lovely Christmas Decorations and great wips too!

  15. Great kit! I got lucky and was gifted with a kit too. Not for a pretty Christmas one, but my kit is made up from Moda’s Hushabye which has rabbits – which is killing me I love it so much.

    Your Monsterbubbles is looking great!

    Now I haven’t read it yet (but it is on my shelf) but you may want to try “Battle Royal” it’s available in English as of last year and is supposed to be fabulous. I’ve seen the movie which was good but I bet the book will be even better.

  16. Great kit! I got lucky and was gifted with a kit too. Not for a pretty Christmas one, but my kit is made up from Moda’s Hushabye which has rabbits – which is killing me I love it so much.

    Your Monsterbubbles is looking great!

    Now I haven’t read it yet (but it is on my shelf) but you may want to try “Battle Royal” it’s available in English as of last year and is supposed to be fabulous. I’ve seen the movie which was good but I bet the book will be even better.

  17. Its wonderful that you had such a nice Christmas. The kit looks scrumptious & I cannot wait to see some progress pics. My dad got me a basic sewing machine for Christmas. It should get here soon & then I can start sewing some things. it is snowing…..again. I have Hunger Games on reserve & the second one in my hands. Have a wonderful New Year.

  18. Its wonderful that you had such a nice Christmas. The kit looks scrumptious & I cannot wait to see some progress pics. My dad got me a basic sewing machine for Christmas. It should get here soon & then I can start sewing some things. it is snowing…..again. I have Hunger Games on reserve & the second one in my hands. Have a wonderful New Year.

  19. Love the stitching, Michelle! I loved your blog post, I just sat with open mouth, following the various links, and then basically wanted to run around the house flapping my arms in excitement and ‘wow’. That quilt is going to be STUNNING. I want to be Laurie, too. I will enjoy watching your progress on that & the Marbek Nativity! 🙂 Happy 2010.

  20. Love the stitching, Michelle! I loved your blog post, I just sat with open mouth, following the various links, and then basically wanted to run around the house flapping my arms in excitement and ‘wow’. That quilt is going to be STUNNING. I want to be Laurie, too. I will enjoy watching your progress on that & the Marbek Nativity! 🙂 Happy 2010.

  21. Sounds like you’re having a wonderful holiday time, Michelle! Love that sapphire blue fabric you’ve chosen for the nativity.

    Wishing you a very Happy New Year!!

  22. Sounds like you’re having a wonderful holiday time, Michelle! Love that sapphire blue fabric you’ve chosen for the nativity.

    Wishing you a very Happy New Year!!

  23. Nice to read that you had a great Christmas season.
    It was fun looking at all your WIPs. You started soemthing very big. I wish you good luck with stitching the Marbek Nativity. It’s worth it.
    I wish you a great start of 2010 and look forward to seeing your new start in the new year.

  24. Nice to read that you had a great Christmas season.
    It was fun looking at all your WIPs. You started soemthing very big. I wish you good luck with stitching the Marbek Nativity. It’s worth it.
    I wish you a great start of 2010 and look forward to seeing your new start in the new year.

  25. I recently saw a photo of someone’s finished Marbek Nativity. That’s the one with 5 panels, right? It’s really impressive; that’s a lifetime project! Your Sweet Treats is coming along so nicely. The border is quite lovely and gives the whole set a really nice feeling of cohesiveness. And I love the Mele Kalikimaka ornament, but the fact that it’s over one kinda puts me off. 🙂

  26. I recently saw a photo of someone’s finished Marbek Nativity. That’s the one with 5 panels, right? It’s really impressive; that’s a lifetime project! Your Sweet Treats is coming along so nicely. The border is quite lovely and gives the whole set a really nice feeling of cohesiveness. And I love the Mele Kalikimaka ornament, but the fact that it’s over one kinda puts me off. 🙂

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