Still Life and Snowman

New Year's Day was a marathon of putting away all the Christmas Decorations--I decorate only my downstairs living areas, but that includes living/dining room, kitchen, fireplace mantle in the sewing room, open stairwell, hallway, and the powder room.  I think I'm up to seven or eight boxes of Christmas decorations, not including tree lights, house lights, and wreaths.  That's a lot of organizing.  There is still a pile of linens and quilts on a chair that haven't made it upstairs yet...

I wanted to share a last couple of Christmas decor photos--my sister Kathy made these fun gingerbread houses and tree using a downloaded template from Better Homes & Gardens magazine.  She mostly free-form scored the house detail, but also used textured fun foam and added some details not included in the original design.  Smearing powdered sugar brought out the details.  Sugar in the glass vessel holds them upright.  I'm leaving these out for a little longer as I think they go with the bears and pine cones I put out for January decorating. 

The mini quilts I have slowly been making for my 12" quilt stand include this Christmas tree.  I did not make the beautiful paper-pieced block, it was from a swap some years ago from an online group I belonged to.  Some simple borders, stitch and turn finishing and a tube hanger made it quick and easy.  I believe my count of minis is about six but I'd like to make more from orphan blocks to switch out through the year. 

Pretty terrible meandering but it holds the mini quilt together!  The snowman finally got finished last night, again with a simple stitch and turn method and tube hanger.

I did only a quick stash search for black buttons and these may be a little big.  And maybe too close together!  He's looking over two silly black bears on ice--gifts from a friend.

Pattern from Quilts & More magazine, Winter 2013

Minimal quilting again, just going around the snowflakes and the snowman, as well as the center background square.  I'm going to enjoy seeing Mr. Snowman all month :)   My sympathies to all of you suffering from the Arctic freeze and early winter misery.  Hope it eases up soon.