I love Christmas, but I also like the quiet time after, "my time", when I can just enjoy now peaceful, but still festive house.

paper snowflake made by our granddaughter

The weather got colder for Christmas, but still no snow in our part of the world. Since Christmas Day the temperature really dropped, -7°C last night, coldest so far. I know, this is nothing comparing to temperatures in Nordic countries, but it is cold enough for us. 

Robin, the metal sculpture, which is a new addition to our garden (Christmas present), was probably feeling a little chilly this morning.

Nothing is happening in my work room right now, this the most tidy it has looked for weeks!

Only the knitting needles are little busy, making a trim for the afghan blanket you had seen me making earlier;
little mindless really, just counting rows to make the next twist.
It will need to be 5.5 m long!

This gorgeous set was also a Christmas present.

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2014

when Christmas Eve was over

                                                           

                          and everyone had gone.

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2014

winter house

Firstly, I wish you all, my blogging friends, a very Merry Christmas!

I hope you are having a wonderful time and Christmas you have wished for.

It has been hectic, right up to the last minute. The fabric for my new curtains arrived just a few days before, and so I spent the weekend making them (with a couple of near misses, which happen when you rush things). But they are up and looking wonderful.

So is my new wall hanging, The Winter House.
(Pattern by Cowslip )

Although hanging up, it is not actually finished; only partly quilted so far, and yes, I know, you don't sew the binding on until you finish quilting. Also the grey blocks in the border - they should had been nine patch, but again, not enough time. I really wanted the wall hanging for my new dining area.

Despite all of that, it looks great. Buttons from Barbara Smith compliment the whole picture.

Enjoy the rest of the holiday season; I will come to see you soon!

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co uk 2014

how many sleeps to Christmas?

It is the same every year - I think I have loads of time and suddenly it is just a few days.

While I have been waiting for the fabric for new curtains to arrive (due in tomorrow), I have been working on 3 projects, not exactly at the same time, but close.

The central panel and inner borders of St Germain quilt are now ready to be stitched together. But this is when I realised  that I have trimmed the central block too much and now it is 1/4 in short on all 4 sides.To adjust the borders is not an option here, so there will be only one thing for it - adding another very thin border around the central panel. Actually, it might look quite nice.

But this might have to wait until after Christmas.

I am concentrating on the Winter House wall hanging, I really hope to finish it for Christmas.

I am working on the borders now.

I am also hand quilting Four Seasons Chicken quilt and this just sits next to the sofa for whenever the time allows.

No rush with this one.

I wish you all a calm week ahead!

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2014

Friday Night with Friends and new wall hanging

As I said in my last post, I joined Cheryll (thank you, Cheryll, for hosting this evening) and others for Friday night stitching. It is quite interesting, sitting there and stitching, knowing that a group of ladies are doing the same thing at the same time (in their time zones, of course). 

Was anyone indulging in mince pies? I was :-)
Or maybe something stronger?
Well, it was cold and frosty outside.

What was I making? Again, a last minute idea. Our dining room is nearly finished and I have decided that one of the walls is just crying out for a new wall hanging. I had this pattern at home for a long time, so now is the right time for it.  

The pattern for Winter House Quilt comes from Cowslip and it makes a quilt, or the central block can be used for a wall hanging. It can be adapted for any time of year, of course.

                                 

  Before last night I got as far as this,

                                and last night I added 2 doves at the top.

I have been trying different shades of gold for the stars, but I am still not sure which shade works best. 

Unfortunately the difference can't be seen very clear here.

The border comes next.

I wish you all a very good weekend!

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2014

St Germain quilt - inner border and Friday Night with Friends

How many "sleeps" to Christmas? It is approaching very fast and so much to do!

DH finished dining room ceiling and now he is laying the floor, it will be ready for Christmas......

I am waiting for some fabric to make new living room curtains; out of stock at the moment, but hopefully due in shortly, so I still should have enough time. Yes, that's me - last minute decisions!

This week I have been working hard on the inner borders of St Germain quilt.  I have only two more orange peel shapes to stitch on and then all 144 will be in place, all stitched using a needleturn applique.

Tonight I am joining Cheryll and others over at Cheryll's blog  "Gone Stitchin"'
for Friday Night with Friends.

Big THANK YOU to Cheryll for hosting it. Why don't you join us there?
Come back on Sunday and I will show you what I will be stitching tonight.

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2014