Year End Thoughts

This weekend marks the second turning of the year -- when in the respective hemispheres -- north and south -- change places for the second time in twelve months, and here up north, our daylight hours begin to increase, while those down south of the Equator begin to decrease.  

In the depths of winter here, we're moving toward light, the spring and the summer.  In the waning days of summer, our Australian friends (for example) are moving toward days of shorter light, into autumn and on to winter.

I'm someone who loves the light -- metaphorically and in reality. These short days are hard for me...even as I treasure the cloke of quiet, candle-light reflection that starts my days, especially now.  

As I write, I'm watching the sun set --  it's 4:07 p.m. Mountain Time -- and I'm preparing to light the candles for this 6th night of Hanukkah, in keeping with my late husband's traditions.  Remembering, too, that Jesus was born into a Jewish family, i smile to think he and his parents -- and siblings, eventually, for there were many -- might have also lit lamps, using precious oil, to mark that miracle wrought in days of old.

But I won't get into that here. Suffice to say that as this year draws to a close, and the new year hovers in the wings...

I want to wish you all blessings, strength, resilience, creativity and courage for 2026.

Makers need to make -- because making keeps us whole, sane, sensible, reflective and strong in the face of the whirlwind around us.

I'm in for another year. Will you join me, Gentle Readers?

First, I am continuing with my Keep It Out Of the Landfill Project, which means I'm continuing to make quilts (throw-sized) to give away.  I've now finished the 2025 BOM (Block of the Month) from Sheri at A Quilting Life.  I've decided that given its size, it's likely that I won't add a border -- even a narrow one -- but rather will sandwich, quilt and bind "as is" -- at 54" (or so) by 72" (or so).  I tried to arrange the blocks so that the distribution of the focus colours -- blue, red, green and gold -- would be fairly evenily distributed. This was a challenge, given the 'directional' nature of some of the blocks.

This project accomplished two things for me: first, creating a new piece with the log cabin block as its inspiration; and second, using up almost all of the last of a line of Thimbleberries fabrics that I've had in my "stash" for well over 20 years!

With that top finished, I've moved into one of my favourite annual projects: Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville Mystery.  This year the title is "Lupines and Laughter", inspired by her recent trip to Iceland.  I love lupines and have lots of them in my flower beds and wildflower "meadow", so I was immediately "IN" for this project!

Bonnie's quilts are always big, so once again I'm reducing mine by 25% which this year, means taking it from an expected 80" square to 60" square. Although I can quilt a top this size on my domestic machine, I still might have it long-armed because Bonnie's scrappy style makes for many pieces, and many seams.  Making it smaller than called-for simply means there's a better chance I'll use only fabrics from my stash for the top -- and maybe even for the backing -- and only have to pay for batting and (probably) quilting.

I've finished all the units I need from Clue #1, and the first set of three for Clue #2:

As this weekend's forecast is for bitterly cold temps, I think I'll stay cozy indoors and finish Clue #2!

In my last post, I was in the throes of making Christmas gifts.  The two stitched ones have been delivered to their recipients, and I finished the socks for that young man in my family:

I also remembered -- at last! -- to take a photo of the gloves I knit for my son:

Thick and serviceable -- from a pattern used to make them for soldiers in WWII!

And I've tucked gift cards into the socks and gloves, just for fun. 😁

I took my box of Warm Things -- a couple of hats, a couple pair of socks, a shawlette and the child-sized mittens I showed in my last post -- to the church to be distributed, and while I was at it, gave our pastor a pair of long-cuffed fingerless mittens, because her hands are always cold.  She was thrilled, and put them on immediately.

I have to thank my cyber-friend, Kate, of the "Arts and Socks" blog, as this is her pattern -- and they turned out beautifully! For those interested, it's "Lawn Bowling Mitts", free on Ravelry. I used the last of the yarn that I'd also used for the child-sized mittens: Schoeller & Stahl's Limbo Mexiko Color, colour-way #2594.

Now that the Warm Things box is empty, I've begun a new item for the next go 'round: the Sylph Cowl.  It's named after a particular yarn, which I don't have, but I've found two stash yarns -- knitting them together -- that seem to be working.  Because it's knit flat, it'll take some time, but it's a broken rib pattern -- interesting enough to keep from being boring, but simple enough to be meditative and relaxing too. Too early for a photo...so stay tuned!

I've also picked up a couple of sweaters I started last winter, in hopes of finishing at least one of them before the winter's over.  

As for stitching, I've put "A Quilter's Dream" away until our next 'date', in February, but here's what it looked like when I took it up at the start of November:

And here's what it looked like at the end of November:

Fabric: 40-count "Porcelain"
Floss: 'Pippy' and 'Greater
Porpoise' -- all from Roxy Floss Co.

I've moved well into the next section of the pattern!

To follow on from that focus, I first stitched another little Modern Folk Embroidery pattern, "Cranky Owl", which seemed to suit my mood from time to time as the daylight hours grew shorter.  And yes! I even Fully Finished it in a wee embroidery hoop.  It now hangs in my sewing studio, and makes me smile whenever I see it:

Fabric: 40-count "Wren" from 
Picture This Plus
Floss: "Gomez" from Roxy Floss Co.

Having finished my last Sunday Stitch, "Hope" from Carolyn Manning Designs (see my last post), I started a new one: "A Thousand Hills" from Plum Street.  This is an older pattern (2017) but I was inspired to acquire it when I saw it worked by Carol Whitchurch ("Saltbox Stitcher" on YouTube).  It's substantial, but it's going to be beautiful!  It's early days yet, so I've no photo to show you, but I can say this: I'm loving the stitching thus far.

I'm working it on a piece of 'mystery' fabric, estimated at 40-count, using a combination of DMC and hand-dyed flosses, one strand over two fabric threads.

For a 'regular' stitch, to mark the official start of Winter, I've taken up a tiny piece entitled "Wintertime", designed by Cathy Jean at The Victoria Sampler.  It's one of her "Bitty Buttons" patterns, and is absolutely delightful!

I'm working it on a scrap of 28-count linen using DMC and the occasional over-dyed floss, using 2 strands over 2 fabric threads.  It'll finish at about 4" square so I'll probably turn it into a pillow.

And speaking of pillows, I have another Fully Finished Object to show you that's...well...sort of a pillow.  It's the biscornu I mentioned in my last post. It's only the second one I've ever made, and I had to put on my Big Girl Pants to stop procrastinating and "Just DO It"!

Here's the view from the top:

And here's the view from the under-side:

The pattern is "Flanders Fields Biscornu" from Heartstring Samplery, and it was given me by a friend for my birthday in 2024.  I worked it on 36-count "Grey" from Weeks Dye Works, using mostly the called-for flosses, 1 strand over 2 fabric threads. 

And is there still one Fully Finished Object that bears mentioning? Why, yes!  

Again, in my last post I talked about having one more Hinzeit kit to finish: "Coffee" -- complete with charms.  I really didn't want to turn it into a pillow and doubted I could find a frame to fit, so what to do? I wanted to give it to neighbours for Christmas.

Inspiration struck!  Coffee, as we all know, Gentle Readers, has become very expensive.  It's now up there in the "suitable as a gift for neighbours" or a "hostess gift" and the like.  So...I bought a package of dark roast coffee and made a 'sleeve' for it!

Measuring around the package, I trimmed the excess even-weave of the stitch, and attached borders and backing in a dark coffee-coloured print.  I top-stitched the lot, and added snaps:

I then wrapped it around the package of coffee and snapped it closed. Here's the back view:

And here's the front:

I put it in a gift bag with a card and left it at their door yesterday while they were out!  Truth be told, I don't care whether or not they can fit this 'sleeve' around any other coffee container.  It's served my purpose and was a fun project to do, so I'm leaving it at that! 😊

With all my Christmas/holiday cards written and mailed, and all the 'away' parcels delivered, I'm left with only a bit of gift-wrapping for my family, who'll be here Christmas Day (weather permitting) -- and with a wee bit of grocery shopping for the casual buffet of nibbles I'm offering this year. No big meal, because my son and his family will have one later that evening, and my daughter will likely dine with friends that night, both back home in Edmonton.  Keeping it simple, guarding against the Antics of Young Cats, I'll have only my nativity scene out on display, and forego the tree for yet another year.

The best part of Christmas for me is the candlelight service on the Eve, and the gathering with my children on the Day.

Meanwhile, I'll link you to Nina-Marie's Off the Wall Friday, where this week she's trying to stay on top of her 'To Do' list.  

I hope that however you celebrate this year, which has been a tough year for so many of us in this ol' world, that your "list" is short, and that you and yours are safe, well, and able to...

Patterns from Hands On Design,
stitched by me.

Blessings to you all, Gentle Readers, as we close out 2025 and open a new door to 2026.  Until then...a bientot!