Welcome Christmas 2013

Welcome Christmas! Christmas means a lot to me. It means I have two weeks break from work and spend time with the family. It has been a busy and tiring year both personally and at work. I'm truly ready for a break! Every other year I have the pleasure to have my son and his family over for Christmas. This year is extra special because my grandson is big enough to understand and enjoy Christmas. My granddaughter Bella told me this year she can read her name on the gift boxes! So Yayah better have many little boxes ready for her! 

I am counting down to the last working day next Friday and this week at work is full of Christmas functions like, lunch, morning tea etc. Last weekend Kitiya came over and helped me putting up Christmas tree and decorations for the rest of the house. I didn't put too many decorations up this year. I didn't bring out the glass ornaments so there won't be unnecessary accidents with the little ones. 

I was making a little quilt to hang at the front door, but I haven't got time to quilt it yet, so I hung one my friend Cynthia gave me many years ago. It's a cute little quilt with hand quilting on it. I'm so lucky to have one of Cynthia's quilts. 

The Christmas tree is up and decorated. Our tree is only medium size, but by placing it on the side table it looks taller. Most of the decorations are handmade excepted the vintage baubles I have collected.

My favourite Santa quilt is out for another year. I have a good look at it each year and still can't believe I made it! It took a few years to finish all 16 blocks, but it's worth every minute of the time spent! I just love it!

Each year I try to feature some blocks from the quilt. This is a dear Santa with the tartan cape holding a wreath. I really enjoyed working on the block.

I love the quilting Santa figurines by Jim Shore. I try to get them on a Christmas sale, but I didn't see any of them last year so I don't have new ones to share. 

Instead of a tree with glass ornaments this year I found a branch from the roadside and decorated it mainly with the star blocks  I made a few weeks ago. I can fit a few more stars when I have time to add gold hangers on them! 

Another lovely quilt I made a few years ago. I hanged it over the mirror window in the hall way. I hand quilted it. I really love it!

I put a small tree in my sewing room. I decorated it with redwork and some red and white baubles. My sewing room is tiny and I don't work in it much. I tend to take projects to work in the living room, but I keep all the supplies in here.

A few more decorations and ornaments I have on the trees. I love bringing out the miniature bears collection. I made them years ago when my children were young. I did make bigger ones too, but I prefer the little ones more!

Still on Christmas. At my desk I normally decorate something just to keep the place happy and bright. This year I use some of the old books I have rescued from the discard trolley to make a tree with. It is unique and goes well in the library! 

I like the idea so I made another one at a table center piece for the department Christmas morning tea. It got the people talking about it. I can see that there will be a few more book trees popping up over the place.

I hope everyone is well and busy with your Christmas preparations and holiday plans. At the moment in Australia our weather is very unusual with lots of rain.The temperature has dropped to under 20'C. That BBQ Christmas that we are hoping for might have to change to a roast Christmas! 

Until next time

Nat