My Christmas shopping is just about complete, so I found time to get up to the sewing room to work on the Winter Village project. It would be nice to finish all the blocks before the holidays. The layout is pretty simple, so, with any luck (and no procrastination), I could even get the whole top finished by Christmas!
The blocks in this quilt top are the trees, which are all the same except for color variation, and houses, of which there are four different types. I have finished versions one and two, and have version three all cut out and ready to sew. Then the last set of houses won’t take long, and I will be ready to lay out the blocks.
In other news, I cooked an outstanding recipe for a simple mushroom tart. On Monday and Tuesday, we were in the Bay Area for Dennis’ second cataract surgery (which went great), and ate out all the time, so we were both ready for something vegetarian and lighter when we got home. This mushroom tart consists of one puff pastry sheet, smeared with a goat cheese/garlic/olive oil mixture, and topped with sauteed mushrooms and shallots. It was divine. Do check out the recipe if you like mushrooms and want an easy vegetarian meal. We had it with a green salad and were smacking our lips and saying how lucky we were to be able to eat such good food at home.
“What is this?”, you. might ask. Well, Eva has been busy spending her allowance (for the entire year, it looks like) putting together gift baskets to give to her loved ones this Christmas. I may have helped a smidge. She put together the most thoughtful baskets, containing a mug, a candle, cocoa mix, soothing face masks, and, of course, lots of chocolate. Who wouldn’t love to find that under the tree on Christmas? She really put so much thought into it. But now we have a dilemma. What the heck do we do with all this until she is ready to give it out at Christmas? For now, as you see, it is living on my dining room table. I am going to have to get creative, I can see that.
I hope you are all well, settling in for the holidays, and finding something really good to read! Have a great weekend, everyone.
21 Responses
Such a fun post! Love all the photos.
Thanks VIckie!
Hope you do get your top done by Christmas. That mushroom tart looks delicious. Your granddaughter is so sweet and thoughtful!
My husband will be gone for three days next week, having his infusions. With all that time to myself, I’ve got no excuse not to work on that project!
I really like house quilts. I made one that is in my favorites stack not to be given away yet. I love when people take the time to create a thoughtful gift. She’s developing her love language. The gifts will be so fun to give and to receive. My daughter has given me an advent calendar box this year. Well thought out and fun gifts. Giving is an art.
My son gave me a Fortnum and Mason tea advent calendar, which has been so fun to open each day. Every day a different tea.
What a charming village quilt and I applaud your progress! Hope life lets you sew and sew and sew while Dennis is away next week.
Eva’s baskets are perfect for each family member and her care in choosing the contents is what gifts are all about.
We awoke to about 4″ of snow and it’s still snowing. The high today is forecast to be 36*F so not much melting will happen. Brrrrr!
Hugs!
I’ve been reading about all the snow! It has been chilly here, but we’ve had blue skies and no rain.
Yes, while Dennis is away next week I will have no excuse not to work on my projects!
Wonderful progress on your Winter Village project. I really love house and tree blocks, so this one really “tickles my fancy” !!
The tart looks delicious, and Miss Eva has put together some wonderful gift baskets for Christmas. She is truly a great girl and testament to the good influences and guidance she has had in her life. 🙂
I have had so many other irons in the fire lately that sewing has really taken a back seat to the other activities. Our son arrives next week, and I will be more occupied than ever. If I want to make any progress on this Winter Village project, my only chance will be early this next week when Dennis is away!
Your village ‘construction’ is coming right along! I love the softer, but seasonal, colors. Can you re-locate Eva’s wrapped gifts to a spare bed for safe-keeping? She’s so generous to spend her allowance on gifts for her loved ones. You play a big part in developing that & should be proud of her for so many reasons!💚❤️
Truth be told, I was kind of happy I didn’t have to help her make dozens of little candles or bars of soap this year! One year we did baked clay figurines for everyone and it was a lot! Oh gosh, and one year we made hot cocoa mix and had to bag it up for everyone. This year, we just shopped and put together baskets. A lot less work!
The quilt is so cute and needs to be finished! Everyone will enjoy the basket of goodies for sure! Enjoy your days of sewing ahead.
She was so thoughtful about the things she chose to include in those baskets!
Such a sweet quilt the village quilt will be!
Thanks Erin.
Nicole,
I know you will get your beautiful quilt done! The tart looks delicious! I am going to have to make it. What thoughtful gift baskets Eva has made. She is a wonderful reflection of all those who have helped her become the young woman she is today.
Eva just naturally seems to be the best of all of us!
Do try the tart, it is easy and so delicious. Leftovers great for lunch the next day too!
I just love house quilts. I am seriously considering making another one of a pattern I already have done… or maybe Rosie’s “Come On-a My House”.
I think the lovely gift baskets will look very nice sitting on your table for a bit. Very festive!
Love your village quilt! How thoughtful and organized of Eva to have all her shopping done and wrapped! I’m seriously impressed! Also need to try that tart! I love me a good mushroom on pastry!
Your Winter Village project is looking good, what a beautiful quilt to add to your Christmas decor. Eva must be a very thoughtful young lady, she’s put together some lovely gifts. It’s wonderful to hear that Dennis’ cataract surgery was successful, it’s always a relief.