Sitting at Home and Christmas Stitching

I am making progress with my Vintage Christmas Cross Stitching.

I started this project last December and after much thought ... 

I decided to use the blue Aida 11 that had been in my closet for years.

The pattern is 

Vintage Christmas Sampler by Lori Holt

This year when it came time to stitch the motifs,

I decided to limit my color palette to white, red, green, golden yellow

 and gingerbread brown.

My motifs are a variation of those in the pattern.

Some of the changes are intentional,

some are a "design option" created by a counting miscue,

like the left handed mitten.

It is not perfect but I am enjoying the process.

I hope to have this done before I put away my Christmas decorations this season.

That may or may not happen as I have an image in my head that will

involve extra stitching and finishing steps.

Happy Stitching! 

Day 29 ~ 149 Days Until Christmas ~ Getting Ready

This is my Christmas in July Quilt Conundrum

Today I went spelunking in my fabric stash cave

and came up with these treasured gems.

I am making a Christmas Quilt, in August, actually.

My daughter and I are both sewing along

and making Christmas quilts with the

The Ultimate Beginners Quilt Along @ Fat Quarter Shop

They have released the 

Beginner Quilt Fabric Requirements & Coloring Sheets PDF

They also have a lovely kit in solids

Ultimate Beginner Quilt Kit for Fat Quarter Shop

but I want to make a Christmas quilt and I want to sew my stash.

So I went stash splunking today and came up with these choices: 

(1) North Pole by Stacy Hsu for Moda Fabrics,
which was my favorite Christmas collection from last year
and I scooped up these beauties in the after Christmas sales.
I would add a white solid for the sashing, I think
The print on the upper left is enough for the backing.
I think I would use the red text print as the binding
and the green snow print on the right as the outer border.

(2) Kringles Sweet Shop by Maude Asbury for Blend Fabrics.

This is all yardage and I think there is a gray cookie print that eluded me 

in my search. If I picj this one I will have to explore my stash closet again.

The red and white basic is a Christmas Basics by Lori Holt for Riley Blake fabrics.

I might use a white solid instead. 

(3) Ring the Holly Days by Mary Carey for Henry Glass Fabrics.

The pretty metallic vines is a yard of Bonnie and Camille's Vintage Holiday 

and it is a good color match for the sashing or border.

The red and green dot is another Christmas Basic by Lori Holt for Riley Blake.

(4)  Season's Greetings by Sentimental Studio for Moda Fabrics.

This fat quarter bundle was bought on deep clearance a few years ago 

and I know I have a couple of yards of one of the blue background

fabrics ... somewhere.  I will find it if I pick this one.

The colors are very rich and it has an old-timey Christmas vibe.

I have always wanted to make a quilt with this but I have just never gotten 'round to it.

(5) Last bit not least is this lovely

Glad Tidings FQ Bundle by Brenda Riddle for Moda Fabrics.

I love Brenda Riddle's designs and colors.

If I pick this I will have to look for fabrics to match it.

It should be an easy with these colors 

or I might go find one of these prints online.

I would likely use white or gray sashing as there are light gray prints 

as well as white.

Well those are the choices!

Which would you choose?

I will, of course, also be consulting with my quilty kitty helpers,

my hubby and anyone who stops by. 

Here is Katniss inspecting today's Kinship Sampler quilt block.

Here is Katniss sitting on the block to get an ear rub.

Here, without further furry help,  is today's block!

Day 29 ~ Block 29

#100days100blocks2019

One Monthly Goal ~ January

I am joining in the

One Monthly Goal Linky Party

hosted by

Elm Street Quilts

My January goal is ...

... to complete all the cross stitching on my 

Vintage Christmas Sampler started HERE

Too often I put aside a holiday or seasonal project once the day and time has passed.

I am back in my sewing room which was Christmas Planning Central

for a month and my machine is uncovered 

and I have projects to sew.

I need to take a few minutes a day and get this cross stitch done this month.

I do enjoy sitting and slow stitching.

This is a good goal.

Wish me luck!

I used to have quilty list for myself each month.

and I have let it slide the last year or so,

I am thinking I need to revise my monthly list.

Not to stress myself out.

Just to organize myself.

I need to keep it simple so I can cross things off

and feel accomplished.

Do you set monthly goals?

Xmas XStitch

My progress on my 

Vintage Christmas Sampler Cross Stitch

I am using 

Aurifloss 2021 Natural White for the borders

and a blue Aida 11 count that I had in my craft closet. 

My sewing room cutting room table is gift wrapping central

and my sewing machine is covered for the duration.

Also, our Katniss had to go to the vets and she is convalescing there

to keep her quiet and away from the other rambunctious kitties. 

I am loving this peaceful hand project ... <3 

Trying Something New ~ Stitching In Hand

"Stitching in hand"

which means stitching without a hoop or frame.

I learned this method from
Kimberly Jolly @ Fat Quarter Shop Flosstube
which I watch every week
whether I am actively working on a cross stitch project or not.

Then

I last worked on this project, 

 Vintage Christmas Sampler HERE.

and was using this heavy wooden frame.
It worked well, but I want my project to be easier to carry with me
to stitch wherever I happen to be.

Since I am a seasonal stitcher and quilter,

I put this away during the warm weather and growing season.

It is cold here now and we had a killing frost last night.

Time to bring out the cold weather projects.

and 

Now

So I am trying this new method.
So far so good.

Linking up today with



Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts

Lots of lovely projects in the links.

Happy Sunday Stitching!

The Daily Blog ~ Day 2

Adding Color to my Vintage Christmas Cross Stitch Sampler!

I completed the frame last night.

I decided to do the borders first this time after 

I made a small count error on one of the border frames

of the Fall Sampler.

This method works much better for me

and I have saved the best part for last!

Win = Win

Cross stitching again has been such a pleasant past time for me 

that I am adding to my 2019 works.

I found these out-of-print  Snowman of the Month
cross stitch cards from Curtis Boehringer

and plan to stitch one a month
on the same blue Aida 11 background.

I find I can do this for a few minutes at a time before my eyes blur and hands cramp.

So this will be slow stitching.

Midnight has found me putting in a few more X's most nights lately,

and counting my blessings.

You may have noticed "The Daily Blog" title to this post.

I am going to make an effort to post everyday for 365.

Most days may just be a photo or short message.

My plans are to take things one day at a time

and one stitch at a time for 2019.

I have resolved not to make any resolutions 
but to sew and stitch whatever catches my interest at any given time ... 
which is pretty much what I always do in my sewing happy place. 

What are your plans for 2019?

Have a Happy Quilty New Year ... ♥️