"Buttons and patches and the cold wind blowing,
The days pass quickly when I am sewing"
~Author Unknown

Monday, February 6, 2012

It's kind of beginning to look like Christmas...

For me the Charles Dickens quote is something I take literally...

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." 
 - Charles Dickens 

For this reason, I keep a Christmas tree, with my free prim ornaments I designed for my blog, up year round. It was for this reason, when I had to put aside my Christmas tree pillow project in order to have time to crochet gifts for my quilt group and make other gifts, I felt I could. It will be hanging in my quilt studio regardless so I do not feel pressured about a time limit.


This morning, while work is going on in my home and in between giving our handyman coffee and cake, I decided to sit and get my last pillow sewn onto this tree and finish the rag bows and tassels.


I have been working on this together with my friend Bep (no blog) and we thoroughly enjoyed having SAL days...so much so that we are continuing them now although our project is completed. We have them once a month and choose a theme for lunch. We both bring part of the lunch and enjoy a day of needlework and lots of chatting and laughter. 



It was fun to make the little rag bows out of two coordinating fabrics held together by the miniature tassels. Now my tree is complete and I can enjoy keeping Christmas in my heart and studio...


"Out hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time." 

- Laura Ingalls Wilder

24 comments:

natalysneedle said...

Wonderful finish!

Anonymous said...

I love your tree Heidi and the way you have put the cotton reels in between each branch.

Thank you for sharing.

Hope all is well in your world.

Love Hazel

Anneke said...

Love it! It turned out great and it will be lovely to have it around you all year long.

It's a great design.

Anonymous said...

Oh Heidi, deze is ook erg leuk geworden, wat is het volgende project???

Liefs en huygies, Bep.

Carolien said...

Your tree looks very nice, Heidi!

Hugs, Carolien

barbara said...

You are SO talented and creative!!

garden2day said...

I love it! I have to keep something up that is Christmas all year long and would be decorated for Christmas year round if I could. Take care!

Patricia said...

What a lovely idea Heidi. Your sewing and lunch sounds good too and what a lovely way of catching up with friends

Hazel said...

It's a beautiful tree Heidi. Love the way you have finished it. x

Christine said...

That is just gorgeous, no wonder you want to keep it up all year round

Rowan said...

Your tree is so pretty. It's a nice idea to have a monthly sewing day with your friend too.

Kathy Ellen said...

What a delightful Christmas tree, with all of your beautiful prim ornaments! There is nothing like stitching with a very special friend...your SAL luncheon days with Bep sound like great fun!

Julie said...

Adorable, how fabulous.

Jenny said...

I love your tree Heidi and the quote from Dickens has always been a favorite of mine. I too am keeping Christmas out this year as I am making ornaments for my daughter all this year. I also keep a very special nutcracker out. He was given to me by my husband and kids and every year when I pack away all the other nutcrackers I just cannot put him in the box...grins...so he stands guard all year in my bedroom and he makes me smile all year long. Hugs from CA.
Oh P.S. I absolutely fell in love with your afghan in the header so among other things I have pulled out my yarn stash and plan to start my own in memory of my Grandmother.

Penny said...

What a wonderful idea - I love it! :)

Catherine said...

That is so cool! Great job!

Ginny said...

I really like this tree! And the idea of keeping a bit of Christmas in our homes year round. I bought a three foot pre-lit tree before Christmas with the intention of displaying all my cross stitched ornaments on it year round, but so far, I haven't been able to find a place to put the tree, so it's sitting on the piano bench. (Hope no one wants to play . . .) Little Miss Cassie thinks artificial tree branches are for biting, so I need to find a place where she can't get to it. Somehow, I think your tree is much more appropriate!

Anonymous said...

How nice to have a friend to share lunch and sewing.

The tree is wonderful.
Lillian @ lillianscupboard.wordpress.com

onlymehere said...

Great project and so wonderful to have it completed. I love the idea of Christmas in your heart all year and this is a gentle reminder of that to you. Love it!

Sonja said...

Another UFO finished. Or was it 'only' a SAL?
And I am not surprised anymore that you like christmas all days of the year!

Brigitte said...

Such a great tree - and so creatively put up and decorated. Wonderful!

Jo said...

Lovely finish! And the little rag bows ARE perfect

Nancy said...

I am catching up on blogs now that I am home and have my computer back. The tree really came out well. Very nice Miss Pickles.
Love Mom

Hilda said...

Dear Heidi,
I just found my way over Carols Stitching Dreams blog to yours and I am deeply impressed of this wonderful tree!
It is stunning! I love it!
Your wrote, you made it from your freebies for your blog - can the charts be found somewhere?
Thank you for showing, it is a really crative design!
Hugs
Hilda