Thursday, December 27, 2018

Merry Christmas 2018

I'm running late, but here's hoping all my lovely readers had a very Merry Christmas, and I wish you all a Happy New Year. And if Christmas isn't your particular thing, know that I'm sending Seasons Greetings your way with a happy heart! xox

I really hoped I'd get a post in before this year is over, I can't believe how fast 2018 has flown by. Each year I make a commitment to try and document the creative elements of my life more often, but time seems to run away from me and I find myself thinking about it rather than doing it. I'm starting to wonder if it might be time to post more to Instagram as it's much faster ... I'll have to think on it, as I really don't want to give up on blogging entirely.

So, to keep you up to speed on what's been going on here - as tradition dictates I put together a little gingerbread something something for the festivities:

This is something I drew up based on some things I've seen on Pinterest - what a fabulous resource that is. The circle base is cut out the size of our everyday dinner plates, and the hexagon shape has 4" sides. The hexagon is the base of the 'gazebo' and though it's an unlikely prospect in real life, the inside of my gazebo has royal icing snow on the floor. The tree is simply an icecream cone decorated with green royal icing piped thru a star tip.

I always use brown royal icing for construction - it hides all kinds of sins, and IMHO it gives a much neater finish. When it's dry I can come back and make things pretty with white royal icing. I've used gelatine sheets for glass in the windows, the criss cross pattern almost looks like leadlight. The walls were 4" wide by (I think) 5.5" tall, and I thought it would be nice to make the windows a little interesting. I don't mind confessing I was concerned that the roof would fall in before it dried - I had a slightly taller pointier roof in my mind, but that's not what I managed to bake. During construction I also put a string of Ikea battery operated LED's inside so it would light up. Fun!


And this is the finished gazebo. I was pretty happy with the finished piece. The only thing that bugs me about it is that I managed to miss a little row of dots on the front window there, and by the time I realised I'd missed it I'd cleaned up and had no icing left. Oh well, we can't have all things perfect :-)

And now that all the Christmas festivities have concluded for the year, I've had time to work on a little of the hand quilting on Phebe. I'm enjoying it again, and have been looking forward to each time I get to move the hoop and work on the next section.

Though now I'm on holidays, it's all I can do not to work on a new project. One of the sweet ladies that comes to class is working on the Rajah quilt by Lessa Siegle - I just love it and really want to make it too. I can't promise that I won't get started on it ... and you know I'll share if I do, but I have to show restraint. I have so many other things that I need to be working on!

Well, that's it from me, I hope you've all had a lovely week of festivities, and I promise to check in soon. xox

9 comments:

Quilting Babcia said...

I hope you won't be giving up your blog, as I've just discovered it! That gingerbread gazebo is about the prettiest gingerbread construction I've ever seen. Your hand quilting is beautiful.

Karen in Breezy Point said...

Your gazebo is wonderful--I never would have noticed the missing dots (and had a hard time seeing where they should have been) if you hadn't mentioned it. I love how your quilting is coming along--happy stitching!

Chookyblue...... said...

Merry Christmas and a happy new year . .. Instagram is not the same as blogging..... I've had a lull die to life but I love blogging and hope to be more regular again in 2019.. . Great ginger Bread house.. .

Anonymous said...

Please don't give up your blog. I look forward to every post. Your quilts and quilting are an inspiration.

Kyle said...

Love your gingerbread gazebo and all the details. A new year and new projects. Isn't that the way it's suppose to work? :0) Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

QuiltGranma said...

If you leave this venue and go to another I will miss you. I ONLY do email and facebook. Not gonna start another feed.

Phyllis said...

Wow, you are as good at making gingerbread houses as you are at making beautiful quilts. I understand what you say about blogging, I should have blogged a month ago but just did not get around to it, it does take a lot of time..... difficult decision... but love your blog.

Anonymous said...

❤️

B xxx

jude's page said...

I have to say stick to blogging. I don't put anything on facebook, and not on instagram. I know that it does take more time, but it's more like visiting a friend and getting to know them and is a good record to look back on, or get printed into a book. Well done on all that hand quilting, not on my agenda, and love the gingerbread houses you do each year. Thanks for blogging and Happy New Year.

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