Christmas excitement!

Yes, my home is buzzing with Christmas crafting excitement! And here is why...

My Sinterklaas quilt is finished. I have fallen in love with this little table quilt so much so that I am already looking forward to November 2010 and being able to set it out on my table when Sinterklaas arrives back in Holland once again.

Since I decided to use our quilt group's charm theme for this quilt, I wanted the quilt work to be visible and yet not over the top. After all, your eye has to see all those various fabrics. So I pulled out my gold metallic quilting thread yet again and quilted some simple lines. Now if you use metallic quilt thread, you must use larger quilt stitches in order for the quilting to show up well.

But what to do about that black fabric I used as a border? I needed something to bring out all those charms even more. This fabric did just the job. Now how to quilt it? All the little berry like shapes on it gave me the idea for freehand quilting half circles in varying sizes all around the border. And so another finish for 2009 is the first excitement!

Dagi had maybe too much excitement yesterday for his 12th birthday. Poor little old man. I am tempted to simply lay down beside him for a Christmas cuddle but no I have to share my next excitement...

I love nutcrackers! When I learned to drive at 16 I started going to see the Nutcracker ballet each year. I went each year for very many years until my health prevented me from being able to sit through the length of the ballet. Now I watch various versions on video for the holidays each year.

This year, I did not decorate as much as I normally do and most of my nutcracker collection has remained packed away. I pulled out only a few.

While browsing on eBay, I was inspired with a fun idea. I have a number of nutcrackers ornaments on my Christmas tree. This set below were a gift from my mother and when I found this...

...a deliciously pink feather tree for only 1,99 British pounds (lets not discuss the cost of postage), I knew exactly what I would do with it. The things I show in the photo with the ornaments are a hint.

So I am very excited to get started on this project but I will not say too much more about it. Come back soon and see what I do with this tree. I will share progress on my nutcracker tree as I go. Until then, my lips are sealed. *grins*

On this Christmas eve, as I sit here by my festive Christmas tree with the glow of candles, I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas!