Countdown to Christmas

Greetings friends! Here I am, another late night with our crazy schedule... and I just wanted to pop in and share some holiday musings. I don't know about you, but this time of year, I have a really hard time trying to accomplish everything on my list. The balancing act is real, while I try to complete work, family, and home obligations...as well as make gifts and prepare for Christmas and the New Year...why do I always feel the need to be an overachiever this time of year? I try to make as many of my gifts as possible...and this year, I am finding myself a bit behind. I am doing my best to spend this holiday season with a happy and grateful heart...and I hope things will fall into place with the holiday rush. 

This week, I managed to get an overdue finishing order complete and shipped at the last minute...content photographed and filmed for my upcoming Therm O Web blog post (cross stitch ornament finishing)...two projects and photos completed for a Poppie Cotton Christmas Countdown (coming soon!)...a pile of sewing done for my Etsy Shop (if you are looking for my project bags, go take a look)...and some of my gift making complete. We had several challenging household things going on this week that hindered our sleeping schedule, that in turn took time away from my to-do list...so I am scrambling a bit. A few gifts may arrive to their recipients a bit late this year (SIGH!).

While it has been a struggle this week, there were moments of kindness and joy that brightened my week. Last Saturday evening, my neighbors had a watch party for the new Hallmark Christmas movie Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story. This movie was filmed in Kansas City in July and the city has been a buzz about it for months...hence several of our neighbors got together for a watch party. My husband was working, but it was still fun to get together with a group of our favorite neighbors and enjoy good food and a cheesy holiday movie. We had appetizers and hot cider and laughed - A LOT - it was good for my soul. We will get together with the same group, plus a few more, for a KC Christmas light tour later this month (a bus has been rented!).

...and, see that beautiful evergreen wreath at the top of this post? - my dear friend Katie gave that to me for Christmas to make my home look and smell like the holidays. I am still yet to get a Christmas tree (as we have discussed), so it is nice to have this beautiful wreath on my dining table. It is real pine and needs watering...and it smells amazing.

To close out this update - I mentioned I was gifted an incredible advent box in a previous post. This was a complete surprise and touched me deeply...not only the gift, but the very special card and note that were included. Truth be told, I have been feeling a bit down on myself and kind of like a failure (all work related) ...and the note included made me feel encouraged and loved. This is from Missouri Star Quilt Company - it is Jenny's Countdown to Christmas 2024 Box. When I tell you that each year I go out and look at this box and dream about it - even watching the unboxing videos each year, I am not exaggerating. It has never been something I could justify or afford. This surprise was definitely a gift from the heart and I am extremely grateful. Since this is a quilty/creative box, I thought I would share the box and the first five packages in today's post. This is not really a spoiler, as everyone who has this box should already have the first five gifts open - but if you do not want to know what was in each of the first five packages, stop reading/looking now...
Click on images, if you want a larger view...

Day 1: Scrappy Fabric Card Making Kit
This kit is really sweet with lots of stencils to cut scraps of
fabric and fusible adhesive, plus the cards and envelopes
to sew them too...plus a little booklet of ideas. I love this!

Day 2: Adorable Iron-shaped Tin with Embellishments
A very fun iron-shaped tin with cute buttons, beads, bows, bells, and pins.
A great mix of useful items! Now to decide what to keep in the tin....

Day 3: A Set of Quilty Measuring Bowls and a Gingerbread Recipe
Aren't these wonderful?! I was sad to find the 1/3 cup shattered from shipping
(it is the one that is barely visible)...but I sent MSQC an e-mail
(which I thought was a longshot) and they are sending me a replacement
as soon as it is available...phenomenal customer service!
These may end up in my sewing room in some capacity...

Day 4: Welcome Home Quilt Pattern and Special Fabric Panel
I think this is such a fun idea..you use doors printed on the fabric panel for
each of the houses in the quilt. Each door is different and you pick your favorites.
I would love to make time to create this mini quilt!

Day 5: Wooden Quilt Hangers
Believe it or not, I have had sets of these in my Amazon wish list
for a couple years! I am super excited to try them out.
My husband already picked a spot to hang them...now I 
just have to pick one of my quilts to hang.

So, there you have it - the first five days of the advent box - each day has been a real treat to open and I am thoroughly enjoying this heartfelt gift for the season!!

For now, I am back to my sewing room - I have another pile of project bags to sew and list. Next up on the list will be a customer order...then gifts to make. I also must make time to write several blog posts and tutorials...plus put together a few videos. Here are a few dates for you to remember:

• December 13th - I have a special project for day three of the Poppie Cotton Christmas Countdown
• December 16th - Cross Stitch Ornament Finishing Tutorial for the Therm O Web Blog
• December 17th - I have another special project for day seven of the Poppie Cotton Christmas Countdown

Finally, this Saturday, I got tickets for my husband and I to go the Overland Park Arboretum for the Luminary Walk. There are illuminated pathways through the gardens, along with musical performances throughout. The gardens glow with color, while candle-lit woodland walkways create a serene atmosphere...and the trees, buildings, and bridges shimmer with thousands of lights. Santa will be visiting, and the trains will be running in the Train Garden...plus hot cider and popcorn. The weather is supposed to be warmer and nicer this weekend, so I picked the perfect day! I am hoping to get good photos to share with you next week...

Pretty Project Bags

It's another late night/early morning post from me...I haven't been sleeping well for the last few weeks, so I have been keeping busy stitching/sewing/quilting into the wee hours each morning. I finished a couple large orders for my zippered project bags this past week..it is always enjoyable to work with the fabulous fabrics my clients supply for their custom bags...even when they send directional prints and prints with straight lines, it is still fun to play with all the different patterns and styles. This batch includes a few With Thy Needle and Thread "Stitcher's Rule" project bags that are created from a printed panel...but in true Belinda fashion, I made changes to the instructions to make them with the zipper across the top...and I've made several with a boxed bottom. Here are a few photos of my most recent custom project bags...

Tomorrow, I start some HUGE needlework finishing orders. My holiday deadline for needlework finishing was September 30th...and sure enough, the last week of September, packages started arriving. I always work in the order received and now it is time to steadily start working through those finishing projects. I'm thinking there are somewhere around 100 pieces in total, so I am going to be 'burning the midnight oil' to get them complete! These client orders contain some gorgeous needlework and I can't wait to share some of the finishes with you...

Wishing you a happy and productive week!

Birthday Blessings

I received an incredible birthday package from my very dear friend Robin this past week, so I have a few more inspiring/creative birthday gifts to share with you. You should have seen me smiling when I opened these packages - Robin knows me extremely well and spoils me beyond belief! She sent me another gorgeous cross stitch piece - she does BEAUTIFUL work - and this design is perfect for me...a quilt block with birds!! It is finished as a stand-up with gorgeous quilting fabric on the back - it is LOVELY and I am extremely touched.

She also sent me some fabulous fabrics for my stash and a new book. Robin knows I adore mini quilts, so the book Simply Charming Minis from Moose on The Porch Quilts is right up my alley - there are 16 mini quilts included ranging from 13" - 21" and they are all made with scraps and/or charm squares - several of them are already on my "must make" list! The fabric included a gorgeous panel and a 1/2 yard of fabric from the American Beauty Collection by Beth Logan for Henry Glass & Co., Inc....along with several other marvelous prints that fit nicely in my fabric collection...

...and, as if all that wasn't way more than enough, she included a new squirrel for my collection...a miniature pewter squirrel pincushion. It is just shy of 1.25" tall and is completely adorable...I put two 1" applique pins in it and they almost look too big...it is just the cutest thing!

I had a wonderful birthday - my heart is full - it was a fantastic week and I am so grateful to all my family and friends - you all spoiled me rotten and I feel like a princess - thank you!

This afternoon, Travis and I are headed to his parents house for one final birthday celebration...his mom is making her homemade pizza (my favorite)...

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend...

Fabulous Fabric Finds

I was inspired by several fabrics and projects in my stash this afternoon....there is just something about taking a few moments and finding the right project for the right day. Today, I decided I wanted to start on a quick project "just for me"...something I rarely do! I found the cutest flannel fabrics and panel for a quick quilt last week while shopping with my friend Kimber...I saw this fun model hanging in the quilt shop and just had to have it...flannel fabrics are perfect the autumn season and provide much needed comfort during the winter months. The fabric collection is "Flirty Birdies" by Michele Scott for Northcott (I love the name!) and the adorable birdies make me smile. This will be a fun throw quilt and will feature the panel with the orange polka dot for borders...the multiple birdie fabric for the back...and the blue flowers for the binding. I actually pieced the borders today on my serger and look forward to doing some simple quilting in the next week or so...

I also picked up a few fat quarters worth mentioning...not sure of their use yet, but they just spoke to me...

On the left - two fat quarters from the "So Happy Together" collection by Deana Rutter for Riley Blake...and on the right, two fat quarters from the "Cream & Sugar" collection by Ampersand Design Studio for Windham Fabrics.

Finally - I just have to share a very favorite collection...it just screams my name...Village Green by Carolyn Gavin for P & B Textiles...just seeing these fabrics I want to turn on my sewing machine ASAP and get to work...they are just wonderful!

With all this inspiration surrounding me, I definitely need more hours in the day! For now, I am back to my stitching nest to work on a fast approaching deadline. I did manage to get lots of new items listed in my Etsy Shop late last night..so if you have been waiting for something to be posted, go take a look. Tomorrow I will start cutting supplies for the "Mischief at Midnight" finishing kits - I only have limited yardage of several of the items, so I will make as many as I can...give me a few days to get them ready, then (as I mentioned previously) I will post the details here before posting them in my Etsy Shop. So, for now, I am off to take care of the dogs...and then it will be a late night in my needlework nook...

Cross Stitch for Christmas

It was a peaceful Christmas holiday in our home. We hosted Christmas dinner at our house - and I cooked a huge feast...and although it was only for four people, it was devoured, leaving little room for dessert. I had planned to take some photos of the meal for you and share some recipes - but the only photo I managed to get was of the table before our guests arrived (and it was taken with my smartphone - sorry). After a big meal and a small gift exchange, we enjoyed an afternoon of conversation in front of the fire...and then had dessert. It was a comfy, cozy, and quiet holiday...and when I say quiet, I mean it - I even turned off the phone and the computer for the day - something I need to do more often. After my husband's parents left - I walked Simba to the park (in the snow, ice, and bitter cold), cleaned up the kitchen, then spent the evening watching movies with my husband.

I did finish opening the Christmas package from my dear friend Robin in Virginia...and I just *had to* share the contents with you...because it included not one, but TWO cross stitched gifts! A beautiful ornament...and a gorgeous framed sampler - aren't they both treasures?! I feel so blessed to have these on display in my home...both exquisite reminders of  our friendship across the miles! Robin has a knack for making the perfect stitched gifts...she always picks colors that match my style - and designs that match my personality...and her work is superb. I love that the framed designed is personalized by having the letter "B" and the letter "R" stitched in black...it is so very special! I will be hanging this in my stitching nest, along with the lovely friendship piece my friend Mary gave me a couple weeks ago - two gorgeous stitched samplers from two amazing friends. I am proud to hang their heartfelt gifts among my personal stitching and BRD models. I must say, I am so very blessed....my heart is full. Robin - thank you for sharing your beautiful talent with me and for giving me so much to be thankful for this holiday season!

*UPDATE* from Robin:  the chart for the framed piece is called "Sew Sew" by iStitch Designs - the fabric is 32-count Vintage Buttercream from Lakeside Linens and the floss is HDF silks in Primitive Barn Red and BeGrimed.  I stitched the letters ‘B’ and ‘R’ in BeGrimed (they are my initials, they are your first initial and my first initial and they also stand for Blue Ribbon which was how our friendship began). The ornament details:  the chart is called "Merry Virginia" by Homespun Elegance - the fabric is 32-count Flax and the floss is Weeks Dye Works and DMC.


Remember the fabulous winter scene fabric Robin sent me?? Well, her package also contained several other beautiful cuts - including this unique bluebird panel from the Tend the Earth collection by Deb Strain for Moda...I haven't decided how I will use this unique panel yet - but it will be used for something special!

....and I have one more stitched gift to share with you...this beautiful cross stitched stocking was given to me back in October at the New England Stitcher's Retreat. It was stitched by one of the hosts - my sweet, sweet friend Gail. I met Gail at the very first New England retreat in May of 2010 and we have kept in touch ever since...she has attended all three retreats and is such a joy to be around! This year, when I arrived at the Shaker Dwelling House, she had a placed a fantastic gift bag in my room filled with treats - including this gorgeous stocking (it is about 6.75" H) - complete with a couple presents inside. Many of you know I just adore stockings and teeny tiny packages, so this LOVELY gift touched me deeply! I have been admiring it the entire holiday season and I just had to share it with you...

I hope you are having a magical and heartfelt holiday - filled with family, friends, food, and festivities!